5th Grade Newsletter

Greetings 5th Grade Families!

Communication between home and school is key to a successful year, so please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns. We value your partnership and look forward to working together to make this year a fantastic one for our 5th graders. Thank you for your continued support. Let’s make this a great year!

Here are a few things to note for this upcoming week-

• Please check your child's agenda each night as it's an important tool for communication between home and school. You can use it to stay informed about daily assignments, upcoming events, and to send notes directly to the teacher. Please sign it to verify that you've read it.
• Progress Reports will be sent home on Tuesday, September 24th. If you have any questions, please encourage your child to check Infinite Campus on their Chromebooks, as all students have been instructed on how to access this information. Please remember to sign the Progress Reports in the quarter one parent comment section and return them to your child's homeroom teacher the following day.
• We completely understand that last-minute changes can happen. However, we would like to kindly remind all parents about the importance of notifying us of any transportation changes well in advance. This helps ensure that we can make the necessary arrangements without any delays, especially as we approach dismissal. For any future dismissal changes, please contact the office after 1:30 PM to accommodate your requests. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

• Students are expected to bring their Chromebooks to school every day as they are essential for daily classroom activities and some Encore classes. Please remind your child to charge their Chromebook each night. Since assignments and assessments are completed on these devices, it is also important that they bring their charger to school, as there are no extra chargers available.
• To ensure the safety of all our students, please remember that we are a peanut-free school. This means that no peanut products should be brought to school for snacks or lunches. We kindly ask that you double-check any food items to ensure they do not contain peanuts. Thank you for helping us keep our school a safe environment for everyone!
• Absences shall be recorded as unexcused until a note is presented. The note should be presented within three days of the student's return to school.
• Fifth grade has a snack time daily. Please make sure to provide your child with a healthy snack each day to help keep them energized and focused throughout the school day.
• Students are welcome to bring a water bottle to class. Please ensure that the bottle has a secure, closable lid to prevent spills on desks, materials, or the classroom floor.
• According to board policy, cell phones and smartwatches must be completely turned off and kept in your child's backpack from 7:00 AM to 2:30 PM. Wireless earbuds are also not allowed.
• You can see the 5th-grade Encore Schedule HERE
• Fifth grade Lunch is at 10:20-10:45 and Recess is from 10:45-11:10

ELA

• Wit & Wisdom® is our English curriculum. It builds knowledge of key topics in history, science, and literature through the study of excellent texts. By reading and responding to stories and nonfiction texts, the students will build knowledge of the following topic in Module 1: Cultures in Conflict. Wit and Wisdom Tips for Family can be found here.
• We're excited to announce that our weekly library visits will be Mondays. Your child will have the opportunity to bring home books to enjoy both in the classroom and at home. Research suggests that reading for at least 15 minutes each day can significantly boost reading skills, with even greater gains observed when reading for over 30 minutes. We kindly ask that you encourage your child to read each night and ensure they bring their library books back to school on Mondays. This will allow them to return their current books and check out new ones, keeping their reading experience fresh and engaging. Your support in nurturing a love for reading is invaluable!

Math

• This week in math we will begin Module 1 Topic C in which students use methods based on place value to find quotients of whole numbers with up to four-digit dividends and two-digit divisors. They estimate quotients, then use tape diagrams, area models, and vertical form to record quotients and remainders. Here is the family math letter.

Science

• Students have been enjoying many hands-on science investigations that have really helped them understand states of matter. We will be learning about melting and freezing points along with physical and chemical changes. Students should make sure to complete their weekly Flocabulary assignments by Friday each week.
  

Social Studies

• We will begin with Social Studies Unit 1, Early North America & European Exploration. Throughout this unit, students will explore topics from American History (North America’s First Peoples to the French and Indian War) and demonstrate an understanding of these topics through a variety of activities. Students will use different sources of information that researchers use to learn about historical events, people, and time periods.

Upcoming Events:

• September 24th - Progress Reports

• September 30th- Color Run Kick off

• November 7th - Math NC Check-In

• November 13th - Reading NC Check-In

• November 15th - Science NC Check-In

Operation Military Kids Club (OMKC) is kicking off on Friday Sept 20th. The club will normally meet the second Friday of the month (except in February and April due to conflicts). OMKC will meet after school until 4pm. If you or your child are interested, please register your child by going to the website https://operationmilitarykidsclubs.com/ and selecting Topsail Middle School. Attendance is not required, but the club members have a great time with activities and talking about experiences in the military. Those who are registered also receive a purple star in front of the school during April, the month of the military child. Sign up today!

• Amy Bowles amy_bowles@pender.k12.nc.us
• Stephanie Brinkley stephanie_brinkley@pender.k12.nc.us
• Libbie Fabbie libbie_fabbie@pender.k12.nc.us
• Hannah Fluke hannah_fluke@pender.k12.nc.us
• Chloe McVetta chloe_mcvetta@pender.k12.nc.us
• Shelly Vickers shelly_vickers@pender.k12.nc.us

Website: https://www.pender.k12.nc.us/o/tms/
Location: Topsail Middle School, Highway 17, Hampstead, NC, USA
Phone: 910-270-2612