THE GALES OF NOVEMBER

NOVEMBER is right around the corner.  Hopefully, you have been able to witness some of the fury of Lake Michigan this week. Traffic was backed up into Spring Lake on Wednesday evening to get a glimpse of the spectacular shoreline show.

Great photo taken by Marc Blondin, a long time friend of mine.

THE FUN RUN was held on Thursday afternoon, October 21, to help the PTA in their efforts to fund a variety of school activities this year.  Our classroom goal is to raise $1200 and we've almost reached the halfway mark.  Students are asked to bring in the pledges they collected for Lake Hills as soon as possible, but before this Wednesday, November 3.  Thank you for your generous support of this primary fund raising effort.

Fifth graders begin their Fun Run to help support our school.

TOTAL TREK QUEST continues to train for their 5-kilometer run on November 13 at Grand Haven High School.  Sixteen third through fifth grade boys are enrolled in the program this fall.  It has been a pleasure to work with them along with Coach Levi and Coach Landon on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. 

Albin, Andrew, Cameron, and Ben and the TTQ team in a Thursday run.

OUR HALLOWEEN PARTY today was a big success.  Walking tacos, fruit kabobs, and refreshments were a big hit.  Special thanks to Wendy Walters for coordinating this event.  Check out the photographs of each team in costume.

GOOD TIMES ARE HERE

OUR FUN RUN is set for Thursday, October 21.  Help the PTA reach their budget goal and support the fun run with your generous donation.  Come join us for this major fundraiser.  Students should wear sports shoes, bring a water bottle, and dress in our grade color, GREEN.

TOTAL TREK QUEST involves third through fifth grade boys in an after-school running program in preparation for a 5 kilometer run at Grand Haven High School in November.  Members of the team from our class include Harry Reck, Ben Reck, Zack LaVercombe, Andrew Walters, Cameron Nogar, and Josh Huttenga.

The Total Trek Quest team forms a tunnel at the
end of their 3-mile Wildwood Springs loop.

OUTDOOR EDUCATION is a wonderful part of fifth grade life at Lake Hills.  Students will participate in two days of Snow Camp on January 26-27 at YMCA Camp Pendalouan.  Our candy bar sale will begin on November 17.  Thank you for sending in the recent request for these kits.  Students can earn their entire tuition for camp by selling two kits of America's Finest Chocolate.

Alexis and Cole partner together for a game of Factor Captor.

OUR STUDENT COUNCIL meets once or more each month with the principal and provides leadership in the school and community.  They assist with the Thanksgiving Food Drive and operate the school store.  Our class elected Caitlyn Cooling, Alexis Walker-VanSingel, and Andrew Walters today as representatives to the fifth grade student council.

Harper and Josh tutor each other during our word study/spelling.

MEAP TESTING begins next Tuesday at Lake Hills.  Fifth grade students will complete assessments in reading on Tuesday and Wednesday.  The following week students will complete a math assessment on Tuesday, October 19, and a science assessment on Wednesday, October 20.  Please do not schedule any appointments for these test days.  All students MUST complete the Michigan Educational Assessment Program.

GEOMETRY was the focus of our second math unit.  Students will take a test on Monday which will focus on determining the perimeter and area of rectangles, parallelograms, and triangles.  We have also continued a review of multiplication factors and products.

OCTOBER ARRIVES

THE CRISP AIR is a pleasant reminder that my favorite time of year is here.  It was also an "awakening force" during my 6-mile bike ride to school a few times this week.  That same force is providing stamina in the classroom as we are now quite settled into the routines of our busy schedule. This is a great class!

THE FUN RUN is a wonderful way for students, parents, and staff to help raise money for our PTA in their efforts to provide support of various initiatives at Lake Hills.  On Thursday, October 21, we will help raise money for field trips, educational assemblies, Spring Fling, and other projects by participating in a healthy event of running and walking for dollars.  Our classroom goal is to raise $1200 for our school.  The Fun Run will replace all PTA fund raising efforts--and make life much easier for all of  us at Lake Hills. Thank you for supporting our first Fun Run!  ONLINE PLEDGES will accept all major credit cards and PayPal securely.

THE PTA helped make several wishes come true during this week's Scholastic Book Fair.  They donated FIVE books I requested for our room library.  Two books are by author Mary Downing Hahn; another is from an award-winning author, Frances O'Roark Dowell; a Newberry Honor book by Jacqueline Kelly; and the fifth is an interesting title, "The School of Fear," by Gitty Daneshvari (an interesting name).

ART CLASS with Mrs. Sipe is a favorite Friday morning special.  Students have been constructing tissue paper collage boxes.  They are made from card stock, tissue paper, acrylic glitter glaze, sequins, metallic paints, corks, glass globs, and sea glass.

Alexis dries her glazed tissue paper in art class.

I ENJOY teaching social studies to both fifth grade classes.  Recently, we completed a basic study of geography in preparation for our focus on American history.  This week we have considered how American Indians adapted to different environments in North America.  Students enjoy taking their social studies tests using our CPS response keypads.

BOXTOPS for Education are a "painless" way to help us at Lake Hills. Students may still bring the boxtops for an October 10 and October 20 pickup.

MEAP testing is soon upon us.  This past week we have focused on a review of many concepts in mathemtics--numeration, algebra, geometry, measurement, and statistics.  Last week we completed our first unit test and our class average score was an impressive 88% achievement.

Harper's Superdad and Supermom drawing for the book fair.