5th Grade Newsletter

5th Grade News to Know

Greetings!

A Heartfelt Thank You!

As we wrap up this season, we want to extend a sincere thank you to our amazing families for the thoughtful notes, generous gifts, and continued support. Your kindness truly means more to us than you know and helps make our classrooms such a positive place to learn and grow.

As we look ahead to the new year, we are excited to continue guiding our students as they grow in confidence, responsibility, and independence—skills that will serve them well as they prepare for the transition to 6th grade and beyond. Thank you for being such wonderful partners in your child’s education. We are grateful for each of you and look forward to all that’s ahead!

Here's your new NEWS to KNOW:

The end of the second quarter was December 19th, and report cards will be available on January 13th. At this point, all grades for the second quarter have been finalized, and no additional assignments can be accepted for that grading period. We encourage families to continue checking Infinite Campus regularly and to have students communicate with their teachers as we move forward into the new quarter. This will help set everyone up for a strong and successful start.

We have our mid-year ELA assessments coming up. Students will begin their middle-of-year mclass evaluations, as well as take their second NC Check-In on January 8th. Please help ensure your child is prepared by coming to school on time with a fully charged Chromebook, getting a good night’s sleep, and eating breakfast. We encourage students to take their time and give their best effort. The information from these assessments helps teachers better understand student strengths and needs, guide instruction, and support small-group learning, including Pirate Lair planning. While these assessments are important, they are simply one of the tools we use to help students grow and succeed.

Classroom Wish List for the New Year

As we begin the new year, we are working to restock some classroom supplies that help keep our learning environment clean, organized, and ready for success. If you are able and willing to donate any of the items below, we would be so grateful!

Classroom Wish List:
Paper towels
Tissues
Hand sanitizer
Disinfecting wipes
Pencils
Pencil-top erasers
Sticky notes
Black Expo Markers

Donations are always optional, but any support is truly appreciated and goes a long way in helping our classroom run smoothly. Thank you so much for your continued support and generosity!

Drinks & Food Reminder

Please, no outside food or drinks in the cafeteria, and only water bottles are allowed in classrooms (i.e., no Starbucks, Dunkin drinks, fast food drinks, or energy drinks). We’ve had several spills recently, which not only create sticky messes but also attract ants into our huts. Water bottles with secure lids are the best way to stay hydrated and keep our learning spaces clean and pest-free. Thank you for your cooperation!

Stay Connected!

While there may still be an occasional bump in the road, moving forward, parents can now log in to the PCS app and message their child’s teachers directly without needing a magic code.
The process is simple:

Download or update the PCS app.
Tap Rooms.
Enter your phone number.
Type in the verification code you received by text.

📌 Transportation Reminders
For any changes to your child’s transportation, please email the designated transportation email address or call the school office directly. Teachers are not always able to check email or the Rooms app during the school day. To ensure your child receives accurate reminders or updates about their transportation, all changes must go through the office. The office staff will notify your child’s teacher directly. (Email: tms@pender.k12.nc.us School Phone #: 910-270-2612)

Dress Code Reminder

As a reminder, Pender County Schools’ Student Dress Code (Policy 4316) asks that students come to school dressed in a way that supports learning and positive interaction with others. Clothing should not be disruptive, provocative, unsafe, or otherwise interfere with the school day. One concern we’ve noticed is when shirts are too short—if a student raises their arms, their stomach should not be showing. Please check that your child’s tops provide appropriate coverage throughout normal movement at school. If a student is out of compliance with the dress code, they will first be allowed to make adjustments before any consequences are assigned. Thank you for helping us maintain a respectful and distraction-free learning environment.

Cooler Weather Reminder
As the weather begins to change and temperatures drop, please make sure your child comes to school dressed appropriately for outdoor Physical Activity (PA). Jackets, hats, and other warm layers help students stay comfortable and focused during their time outside.

Please also take a moment to label all outerwear with your child’s name. Each year, our Lost and Found fills up with unclaimed jackets and sweatshirts that are eventually donated. Labeled items are much more likely to find their way back to their owners!

Here are a few things to note-

Earphones Needed for Learning Programs-Each day, students use online learning programs such as I-Ready and Studies Weekly to engage with new skills, reinforce what they’ve learned, and enrich their understanding. These programs offer read-aloud features to support comprehension, making earphones an essential tool for success in our classroom. To ensure students can fully benefit from each lesson without distractions, please make sure your child has a working set of earphones at school. Thank you for your support in helping all students get the most out of their learning!
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.
Students are bringing home their Chromebooks daily. Please remind your child to bring their Chromebook to school every day, as they are used regularly in our 5th-grade classrooms and some Encore classes. Additionally, ensure the Chromebook is charged each night. Since daily assignments and assessments are completed on them, it's essential that your child also brings their charger to school, as teachers do not have 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!
Submit absence notes within 3 days to avoid unexcused absences. TMS allows 5 parent notes; after that, a doctor’s note is required. Email notes and transportation changes to tms@pender.k12.nc.us.
Fifth grade will have 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 8:10 AM to 3:35 PM. Wireless earbuds are also not allowed.
Fifth-grade students have ENCORE every day from 9:15-10:00. You can see the 5th-grade Encore Schedule HERE
Fifth-grade Lunch is at 12:31-12:56 and Recess is from 12:58-1:23.

Student Use of Wireless Communication Devices (Policy 4318)

We want to make you aware of a recent update to Policy 4318, which covers student use of wireless communication devices such as cell phones, smartwatches, earbuds, and other personal electronics on school campuses.

While the changes to the policy are minor, the expectations for student device use remain the same. Pender County Schools has consistently enforced this policy to support a focused and safe learning environment, and we will continue to do so in the 2025–26 school year.

What’s New?

The policy title now refers to “wireless communication devices” to reflect a broader range of modern devices.
A new definition section outlines the types of devices included.
Instructional use is now more clearly limited to teacher approval, accommodations in an IEP or 504 Plan, or documented medical needs.

What Hasn’t Changed?

Students may bring personal devices to school, but are not permitted to use, display, or have them turned on during instructional time unless authorized.
Disciplinary consequences for misuse remain the same:
- 1st offense: Warning
- 2nd offense: Device held in the office; student retrieves at end of day
- 3rd+ offense: Device held in the office; parent must retrieve
- Students who misuse devices for academic dishonesty, bullying, or inappropriate content may face more serious disciplinary consequences.

Thank you for partnering with us to help students stay focused and engaged throughout the school day. If you have any questions, we encourage you to contact your child’s school.

SAIL Matrix

Curriculum Spotlight

ELA

Wit & Wisdom® – Module 2: Wordplay

Wit & Wisdom® is our English Language Arts curriculum. It builds students’ knowledge of key topics in history, science, and literature through the study of engaging, high-quality texts.

In Module 2, our 5th graders are exploring “Wordplay” — discovering how authors use humor, puns, figurative language, and creative word choices to engage readers and express deeper meanings. Students are reading rich texts, discussing how language shapes understanding, and creating their own writing inspired by these ideas.

As part of this module, students will read The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. This classic novel follows Milo, a bored boy who receives a magical tollbooth and drives into a whimsical world filled with literal interpretations, wordplay, and imaginative characters. Along his journey through lands like the Kingdom of Wisdom, Milo learns important lessons about curiosity, perseverance, and the power of learning.

Throughout our Wit & Wisdom lessons, students will focus on:
- Identifying puns, idioms, and figurative language in the text
- Analyzing how authors use wordplay to develop humor, meaning, and theme
- Exploring how Milo grows and changes as a character
- Discussing big ideas about learning, boredom, problem-solving, and creativity
- Creating their own writing that uses wordplay techniques modeled in the novel
This module is always a student favorite—it's fun, clever, and full of meaningful literacy work! Families can find Wit & Wisdom Tips for Families here to support learning at home.
📘 Freckle Practice at Home: Students have been using Freckle in class to strengthen their reading and language skills. Freckle automatically adjusts to each student’s learning level, providing personalized practice and review. This program can also be accessed at home for additional skill practice and reading enrichment. Encourage your child to spend a few minutes each week on Freckle to reinforce what we’re learning in class and continue building confidence as a reader and writer! Students can log in through My Apps/Renaissance using their school account.
We're excited to announce that our library visits will be twice a month on 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 every day. This will allow them to return their current books and check out new ones if needed, keeping their reading experience fresh and engaging. Your support in nurturing a love for reading is invaluable!

Math

This week in mathematics students will begin Module 4 Topic A in which students represent decimal numbers to thousandths by using models. They also name decimal numbers to thousandths in unit form, fraction form, decimal form, standard form, and expanded form. Family Math Letter

Science

We are coming to the end of our Ecosystems unit. Students should expect a test at the end of this week.

Social Studies

Mrs. Brinkley's friends are taking a short break from Studies Weekly for a special winter experience focused on the Northern Lights. Students have been reading and taking notes on the history and old myths surrounding the Northern Lights, and then exploring the real science behind what causes them. We’ll wrap it all up with a fun activity that I can’t wait for you to see!