'TIS THE SEASON

THIS IS ALWAYS A SPECIAL time of year for all of us!  I am grateful for the opportunity of teaching fifth grade again and for a wonderful class of 27 students.  With students coming from throughout the 90-square mile district to a new 5/6 school, I am very impressed with the quality and talent represented in the students of Room 602.  Thank you, parents, for all that you do to make their lives successful at White Pines.  Thank you for your kindness this holiday season and for supporting our recent gathering at the Chittenden Home.  May you and yours have a joyous holiday!

The Chittenden kitchen was flooded with delicious holiday delight.

Sam, Josh, and Josh load their plates with festive food.

Brandon, Evan, Ray, Josh, Kera, Sam, and Kiya enjoying the potluck.

Kiya played an arrangement of of "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" on piano.

Evan and Josh performed from the balcony on cello and viola.

Braily performed several songs on the piano.

Destiny sang a song, "Christmas Eve," that she had written.

Evan donned a special look during the party.

Hannia, Claire, Emily, Sanora, and Lexi looking impressively dressed.

Garrett, Ray, Emily, and Destiny took first place in a 22-balloon stuffing.

NOVEMBER NEWS

THE  FIRST TRIMESTER will conclude next Tuesday.  It’s hard to believe we have already completed 1/3 of our fifth grade year.  Report cards will be sent home the week of December 10.  

Ashley received some final encouragement as
she approached the high ropes at Camp Pendalouan.

OUR STUDENT COUNCIL is conducting a drive in cooperation with the Feed America Truck to collect NEW hats, mittens/gloves, or scarves for children.  Please help our students in this holiday service project with your donations by November 30.  Congratulations to Claire Cowman and Lexi Fritz who represent our classroom on this council.

OUR CHRISTMAS POTLUCK will be held Thursday evening, December 13, at the Chittenden Home in Spring Lake.  Students will be asked to provide a salad, main dish, or dessert to share.  More information about this special holiday event will be coming home soon.

THE SCHOOL WEB SITE continues to receive modifications after our reconfiguration into a 5/6 campus.  An important STUDENT SERVICES page was just created and includes information that you should read.  The school calendar is constantly updated with information about school events, concerts, delayed starts, holidays, etc.  Be sure to visit whitepines.ghaps.org on a regular basis.

Student Services is the "go to" place for both students and
parents regarding messages, extended absences, counseling,
and a host of support services.

 WE JUST COMPLETED our third unit of study in mathematics and social studies.  Following a brief review of some basic geometry principals, we will launch into understanding fraction concepts.  In social studies, we are beginning a study on the European Age of Exploration to discover how and why they came to the New World.

GUIDED READING GROUPS have been formed to focus on a theme of determination as we share in the reading of several adventure novels.  Students also receive instruction on 8 specific reading strategies during this period.

EARTH AND SPACE science continues with current lessons about solar and lunar eclipses.  Ms.  Westerman will begin to focus on our solar system and students will complete research on a planet.

Our class with our Planetarium instructor, George Jaeger, learning
aboutmoon phases, eclipses, and many other celestial events.

A WRITERS' CELEBRATION will take place in our classroom after Thanksgiving to celebrate our writing of personal and imaginative narratives this trimester.  Students will be given an opportunity to read a selection of their writing on the classroom stage as we all celebrate our progress.  Music and refreshments will be provided.

 ORCHESTRA CONCERT

Thursday, December 6 ~ White Pines Auditorium

            Fifth/Sixth Grade Orchestra performs @ 7:00 p.m.

PTA Meeting

Tuesday, December 11 ~ Library/Media Center

The monthly meeting begins @ 6:00 p.m.

CHOIR CONCERT

Tuesday, December 18 ~ White Pines Auditorium

            Monday/Wednesday Class performs @ 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday/Thursday Class performs @ 7:30 p.m. 

WRAPPING IT UP

Click on any photo to view a larger image.

ANOTHER YEAR is nearly over for fifth grade students at Lake Hills. I still retain that frozen moment of opening the coatroom door and greeting these students last September. I could tell it would be a great year.  We have progressed in so many ways and I will miss seeing the Class of 2019 on a daily basis.

OUR GVSU student teacher, Nick Tejchma, returned for a visit during the Coast Guard Picnic.  We're all hoping he will find a permanent home as a teacher in our district next year.  Thank you, Mr. Tejchma, for an outstanding contribution to our learning community this year.

OUR CLASS PLAY allowed time travelers to return to previous productions to capture literary characters such as Bilbo Baggins, Robin Hood, Little Red Riding Hood, and Sacagawea.  Mason and Nate appear in this capture scene of Bilbo Baggins, from J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit."  A wide-screen DVD of the production will be available for students.

DURING PRODUCTION WEEK, our class migrated to the centrium in order to make room for our audiences.  We presented 6 campus performances of the play and one evening performance to more than 100 friends and family.  Students are seen here working on electronic concept maps for the production of "Time Journey 3: Once Upon a Time."

GRADUATION NIGHT at Lake Hills was special this past week.  Kaitlynn, Kearstin, Isabel, Kelly, Trinity, and Macy wait together just before the fifth grade graduation ceremony.

COUNTLESS STUDIES have shown over the years that chess strengthens a child's mental clarity, fortitude, stability, and overall health. Many schools are now finding chess as an inexpensive but essential way of helping kids grow mentally. Kelly and Mason were both awarded trophies in the Lake Hills Chess Tournament.  Kelly took the first place, fifth grade girls title.  Mason received his award for first place, fifth grade boys and school champion.

THE COAST GUARD PICNIC was a huge success this year with an array of fun activities planned by our parents.  Burgers, vegetables, and tasty desserts were a part of the pavilion picnic and students finished the afternoon with a game of kickball between the two fifth grade classes.

Kelly shows good form during the kickball game.

SPRING BREAK BEGINS

With more than two-thirds of the school year behind us, we head into our spring break this afternoon.  We appreciate all our parents who attended the recent student-led conferences.  The evidence of student achievement at Lake Hills is a powerful story of student success.  School resumes on Monday, April 9.   

REHEARSALS for our class play began this week.  "Time Journey 3: Once Upon a Time" will take the audience back in time to "capture" the literary adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Little Red Riding Hood, Sacagawea, and Robin Hood.  This is the twelfth, and last, production that Mr. Chittenden has the privilege to direct at Lake Hills.  He will be teaching fifth grade at White Pines Middle School next year. Be sure to reserve the evening of May 16 for our 6:30 p.m. family performance.

Robbie and Nate run lines for our class play,
"Time Journey 3: Once Upon a Time."

Mr. Tejchma is our student teacher from Grand Valley State University. 
He enjoys teaching American history to all fifth grade students.

Mason serves juice to members of our class who received a pancake
breakfast for their recent participation in Spirit Week.

Mr. Tejchma, Mason, Justin, Faith, Tyler, and Kaitlynn enjoy our
recent field trip to the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

Trinity, Robbie, Kelly, Macy, Alexis, and Sam 
participate in the chess tournament. 

ADVENTURES AT PENDALOUAN

OUTDOOR EDUCATION allows students to share in a variety of team building activities and to grow in the open air of YMCA Camp Pendalouan.  This year nearly 50 students and 15 adults participated in our two days of Snow Camp.  Here are some photo highlights of our time together.  You can click on any photo to view an enlarged image.

Josh, Robbie, and Mason (foreground) join their activity group for
some cross-country skiing.

Caleb, Morgan, China, and Robbie reference their compass and map
for information during Gold Rush.

Kaitlyn lines up for a brief orientation to skiing.

Sam carefully finds the right path during a challenge activity.

Grace collects tinder and kindling during her survival class.

Mr. Stafford helps Elliott, Jesse, and Dylan build a fire.

Kaitlynn and Isabelle succeed at building a shelter.

How will this group work together to solve their problem?

 Broomball is always an exhilarating elective.

Kearstin and Matthew head out on the trail.

The Gaga Pit was a favorite place to burn off some extra energy.