5th Grade Newsletter

5th Grade News to Know

Greetings!

Here's your new NEWS to KNOW:

As we quickly approach the end of the 4th quarter, it’s important that students stay on top of their work. Addressing missing assignments now will help ensure a strong finish to the school year! Report cards will go home on May 21st; however, please note that grades will be finalized prior to that date. Thank you for your continued support!

📍 5th Grade EOG Testing – Important Dates & Information

📅 EOG Testing Schedule:

Math: May 8th
Reading: May 12th
Science: May 14th

These End-of-Grade (EOG) assessments are very important, as they measure student learning and progress across the school year.

📊 Why This Matters:

EOG results help us:

Understand each student’s strengths and areas for growth
Reflect on overall progress this year
Ensure students are prepared for the next grade level

📝 Student Expectations:

It is very important that students:

Are present and arrive on time each testing day
Get a good night’s sleep before testing
No Backpacks!
If students have to bring their phones, they need to know how to completely power OFF their phone (not just silence it). We do not want a phone to go off in the middle of testing and lead to a misadministration.
Bring a hoodie or light jacket for comfort in the classroom.
Only a plastic water bottle is allowed on testing days.
Take their time and give their very best effort

🎯 Our Goal:

We want every student to feel confident, prepared, and proud of their hard work. These assessments are an opportunity for students to show all they have learned this year!

💙 Mrs. Vickers’ & Mrs. Brinkley's Homeroom Families – Special EOG Surprise!

I have a special (and secret!) way we’re encouraging students during testing week!

I’m asking each parent to write 3 short encouraging notes to your child—one for each test day (Math, Reading, Science). These messages can be simple reminders of how proud you are and how much you believe in them.

✉️ What to do:

Write 3 notes labeled: Math, Reading, Science
Place them in a sealed envelope with your child’s name
Send to school by May 7

📧 You may also email them to me, and I will print them.

🤫 Please keep this a surprise!

5th-grade teachers will begin collecting Chromebooks and chargers the week of May 4th. All Chromebooks and chargers must be turned in no later than Wednesday, May 6th. This will help ensure all student devices are on campus, charged, and ready for EOG testing. Having all technology at school will also support our end-of-year inventory process with Mrs. Engle.

If your child is missing a charger, here is an Amazon link to order a replacement.

Thank you for your support in helping our students be successful during this important time of year!

🍦 5th Grade End-of-Year Celebration!

We are excited to celebrate the end of 5th grade with a Build-Your-Own Sundae Party on Thursday, May 21st, at 11:30 AM! 🎉

Families are welcome to join us, donate supplies, or both as we make this a fun and memorable celebration for our students.

📦 Donation Reminder:
If you would like to contribute, please send in all items by Tuesday, May 19th.

Thank you for helping us celebrate our students and all of their hard work this year—we can’t wait to make it a sweet send-off! 🍨✨

⚠️ Attention 5th Grade Families

As we enter the final nine weeks of 5th grade, our focus is on preparing students for a successful transition to 6th grade. A large part of that preparation includes developing responsibility, independence, and strong study habits.

Please review the following expectations with your student:

Any classwork not completed during class time should be finished as homework.
If a student is absent from school, they will have five school days to complete and turn in missing assignments. However, if an assignment was given prior to the absence, it will still be due on the original due date. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate with their teachers and notify them when assignments have been completed.

Agenda marks will continue to be given for students who are not prepared for class, disrupt lessons, or interfere with the learning of others.

Major and Minor referrals remain in effect for the remainder of the school year. Please note that after three minor referrals, the fourth referral becomes a major referral and will result in ISS.

We appreciate your continued support in helping students stay organized, responsible, and accountable for their work during these final weeks of the school year. These expectations are designed to help students build the skills they need to be successful in middle school. Thank you for partnering with us as we prepare your student for the transition to 6th grade.

⏰ Early Checkouts

If a student checks out early from school, they are still responsible for any assignments, classwork, or assessments that take place during the time they are absent. Students should check with their teachers and make sure all missed work is completed and turned in within the appropriate time frame.

🚫 Toys & Fidgets at School

Recently, items such as NeeDoh and Squishy toys have become a significant distraction during the school day. Because these items are very popular, they often become a high-interest commodity among students, which has unfortunately led to disruptions in class and situations where items are taken or misplaced. We strongly advise that students do not bring toys or novelty fidgets to school. If these items are brought to school, they may be collected by staff, and the school cannot be responsible for items that are lost, taken, or damaged. Thank you for your support in helping us keep the focus on learning during these final weeks of the school year.

🚫 Outside Food & Drinks Reminder (Hut Classrooms)

To help keep our learning spaces clean and pest-free:

✔️ Please do not bring outside food or drinks into the huts
✔️ Only water bottles with secure lids are allowed
❌ No Starbucks, Dunkin, fast food drinks, or energy drinks

Spills and sugary residue quickly attract ants, creating sticky messes that are difficult to manage in our outdoor classrooms. Water bottles are the best way to stay hydrated while protecting our learning environment.

Thank you for helping us keep our huts clean, comfortable, and ready for learning! 💙🐜

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.

🌤 Spring Weather Reminder

As we move into the spring months, temperatures can vary throughout the day. Please make sure your child comes to school dressed appropriately for outdoor Physical Activity (PA). Layers such as light jackets or sweatshirts can help students stay comfortable during cooler mornings and warmer afternoons. 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 bring 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

📝 End-of-Module Project (Major Grade – 70%)

Students have begun working on their A–Z Project Presentation via Google Slides or Canva, where each letter represents a reading skill or key element from the text.

Students will complete at least 2 letters per day using their notes that were completed through a mix of teacher support, small groups, and independent practice
Check with your child to see when their completed project is due.

📚 Reading Update – EOG Mode!

We are officially entering Reading EOG Mode in class! Over the next few weeks, our focus will be on reviewing key skills, practicing test-taking strategies, and building confidence as we prepare for the End-of-Grade Reading test.

Students will be working with a variety of passages and questions that mirror the EOG format, while also revisiting important skills like:
✔️ Finding text evidence
✔️ Understanding vocabulary in context
✔️ Analyzing theme and main idea
✔️ Responding to questions using strong reasoning

This is a great time to encourage your child to read at home each night, talk about what they’re reading, and stay focused as we finish the year strong. We are so proud of the growth they’ve already shown and are excited to see them shine! ✨

💻 Practice at Home: Freckle

Students use Freckle in class for personalized reading and language practice.

✔️ Accessible at home through My Apps/Renaissance
✔️ Adapts to your child’s level
✔️ Helps reinforce skills and build confidence

Encourage your child to spend a few minutes each week practicing!

📖 Library Reminder

We will not be visiting the library for the remainder of the school year. All library books are due back to the media center. Please note: If books are not returned, a fine will be assessed. This fine will remain on your child’s school account until it is paid. To help avoid any fines for missing books, please check with your child using the Destiny Discover school app to see if they have any books currently checked out. Thank you for your help in making sure all library materials are returned on time!

Math

This week in mathematics, we will complete Module 6 Topic D, in which students create and analyze graphs to understand real-world situations. To make sense of data, they determine the real-world meanings of x- and y-coordinates. Students graph points and discover that a trend emerges. They make sense of patterns and use the patterns to solve problems. Students will also review for the Math EOG assessment, which will be given on Friday, May 8. Family Math Letter

Science

Students are wrapping up our final science unit and we are beginning to prepare for our Science EOG on May 14th.

Social Studies

Students have enjoyed learning how WWI started and how it impacted the United States. We will continue learning about the United States in the 1920s and how life changed for Americans during that time.