Our 5th Grade Team
Mrs. HubbardRoom 25 |
Mrs. StelterRoom 20 |
Miss HendersonRoom 19 |
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Weekly Newsletters
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Announcements
6/1/2018: MINDFUL MOMENT
Spending a lot of time in your head causes stress. There are always new things to worry about, conversations to rehearse, and activities to plan. Research tells us that when you live in the moment--that is, getting out of your head and being consciously aware of your surroundings-- you will usually feel happier and experience less stress. With enough practice, you will learn to better control your thoughts and feelings. Here is one technique that focuses on smell to help you achieve this goal:When the breeze floats by, you catch the smell of the flowers and the trees. As you continue your walk, you notice the smell of freshly cut grass by a neighboring home. Volunteer Breakfast Where would we be without volunteers? Who quickly respond when a need appears – This is the way you have chosen to serve Our volunteer appreciation breakfast is what you deserve. PLEASE come to our Volunteer Recognition Assembly on June 6, 2018 from 7:45-8:45 AM There will be a coffee cart and awards given out during the Spirit Assembly that Wednesday morning. This will be graciously hosted by the Pacific teachers and staff. Hope that you can make it!! We appreciate YOU! 5/31/2018: Recommended Dress for Promotion -Girls may wear summer dresses or nice pants and tops. All clothing should be dress-code appropriate. Students will be sitting on risers, so girls should wear bicycle shorts under dresses, especially if they are sitting in the front row. We discourage high-heel or high-platform shoes as the girls will be up-and-down and on-and-off the risers numerous times during the 1.5 hour program. No hats please. -Boys may wear pants or nice shorts and a collared shirt. Boys are not required to wear a shirt and tie, but they may do so if they wish. Please - no logo t-shirts. No caps or hats please. -Flowers and/or leis are not encouraged, unless given during the reception after the program. Students will not be able to carry flowers or wear leis during the program. 5/17/2018: PROMOTION DVD On Tape Video Production will be creating a lasting memory of the 2018 Fifth Grade Promotion Ceremony and traditional 5th grade "Walk Through the Halls of Pacific School!" Your pre-purchase will include a DVD of the 5th grade promotion and the photo slide show! The DVD sets are expected to be ready by end of August, and you will be contacted by Susan Allen (5th grade parent) for pick-up. Pre-order your DVD SET by clicking here or returning the bottom portion of this form with your check made payable to "Pacific PTA" to the Pacific School office no later than Thursday, June 14th. 5/11/2018: MINDFUL MOMENT Spending a lot of time in your head causes stress. There are always new things to worry about, conversations to rehearse, and activities to plan. Research tells us that when you live in the moment--that is, getting out of your head and being consciously aware of your surroundings--you will usually feel happier and experience less stress. With enough practice, you will learn to better control your thoughts and feelings. Here is one technique that focuses on vision to help you achieve this goal:As you leave your home you immediately notice the bright blue sky, trees, and empty streets. As you pay closer attention you notice flowers along the sidewalk with a slight breeze causing them to tilt to their side every few moments. 5/8/2018: MBMS Round Table Breakfast This traditional event is a favorite of 5th grade students planning to attend MBMS! Six former Pacific students who are now seasoned 6th graders at MBMS will answer questions about life as a 6th grader at MBMS! A light breakfast will be served. Parents are invited to observe. The breakfast will take place in the Pacific Cafeteria on Wednesday, at 7:30 a.m. 5/4/2018: MINDFUL MOMENT Mindfulness can help to calm students for the process of testing. Instead of worrying about tests, being present for them enhances students’ chances for success. Asking students to take three deep breaths before a spelling quiz every week prepares them to do the same before taking tests for which the stakes are higher. Even small, mindful actions will help students. Students can put their hands on their bellies and observe their bellies getting bigger when breathing in and getting smaller when breathing out. Or they might notice the shoulders rising with each in breath and falling with each out breath. Tying the movement of the breath to the body can help students anchor their minds when they feel anxious. Paying attention to the breath stimulates the parasympathetic “rest and digest,” calming part of the autonomic nervous system and bringing the body into a state of equilibrium. Because the exhalation is actually what stimulates the relaxation response, children—and adults!—benefit by breathing in for four counts and then breathing out for eight. 4/27/2018: MINDFUL MOMENT Empathy is not a “you either have it, or you don’t” quality in human beings. We have the ability to be empathetic. On a personal level, empathetic people tend to be more generous and concerned with people’s welfare and tend to have happier relationships and greater wellbeing. But what exactly is it? Empathy is the ability to sense other people’s emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling. Inclusion STAND UP Commitment: I commit to Stand Up against hate, prejudice, violence and bullying and STAND UP for respect and inclusion. I will: -Speak out when I hear someone being targeted because of their race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, religion, ability, gender identity, or any other factor. If it is difficult to speak out, then I will stand next to the person who is being targeted and offer my support. -Talk about how stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, and exclusion make people feel and how they harm our society; -Ask myself, “How do I want to be treated?” Before acting or speaking, I will consider the other person’s feelings and be kind, respectful and caring: -Not allow a prejudiced slur to go either unchallenged or unreported. If I see something, I will say something; -Denounce online hate, bullying, and discrimination, and report hurtful conduct whenever possible; -Unite and engage with diverse communities and educate myself on how to be an effective friend and supporter; -Protect my neighbors by being inclusive and building communities where everyone feels welcome. 4/26/2018: MBMS Carnival for 5th Grade Students - Mark your calendar for Friday, May 11th (3:15-4:45) and register for this fun event created by the MBMS Student Council especially for 5th grade students! Students from all 5 elementary schools attend. Click HERE for the flier and HERE for the registration Sign-Up Genius. 4/21/2018: MINDFUL MOMENT Adults tend to feel greater empathy for an individual when they perceive the individual to be similar to them. They also find it easier to empathize with someone who is familiar. Research suggests that children have similar biases (e.g., Zahn-Waxler et al 1984; Smith 1988).As a result, one of the best ways to encourage empathy is to make children conscious of what they have in common with others. Another is to get out and meet people from different backgrounds, and learn about what life is like in faraway places. Conversations are helpful, but it's worth remembering that kids are heavily influenced by what we actually do, and less by what we say. Decades of research indicates that one of the biggest predictors of racial prejudice -- and a failure to empathize with members of other groups -- is having little or no contact with people who aren't like you. Studies also suggest that schools boost empathy in students when they foster multiculturalism -- an inclusive, warm attitude about cultural diversity. Moreover, this enhanced empathy is linked with increased happiness and scholastic achievement (Le et al 2009; Chang and Le 2011). 4/12/2018: Inspirational Speaker – Monday, April 16th from 7:55 a.m. to 8:05 on the upper field Allison Compton is a paralympic athlete and bronze medalist, mother of 3 daughters, and inspirational speaker sharing her story to people all over the world. She was born and raised in Manhattan Beach, connected to the game of volleyball. Allison grew up with a birth defect of an undeveloped femur. She has worn a prosthetic right leg since birth, but never let that get in her way. She is an olympic champion and champion of optimism. We’d love the opportunity for her to share her story with our runners. You can read more about her story at: www.allisoncompton.com We are so excited that she will be speaking to our Run Club from 7:55 to 8:05 this coming Monday, April 16th. Parents, teachers, and students are invited to Run Club Monday at 7:55 to hear this incredible speaker. 3/29/2018 - MINDFUL MOMENT: Are you one of those people who notices the bad stuff--like when someone cuts you off in traffic or your food doesn't taste quite as good as you wanted it too? Then you likely have trained your brain to focus on the negative, and your brain has gotten really good at it. It can be really challenging to undo this training. So instead, train your brain to be even better at focusing on the positive. Here are some suggestions: SuperBetter, Happify, and MindBloom(Davis, Tchiki. “Think Positive: 11 Ways to Boost Positive Thinking.” Psychology Today. 6 Mar. 2018 psychologytoday Web. 6 Mar. 2018) CALLING all STUDENT ARTISTS: Former Panther, Russell Blakey is doing an Eagle Scout Project whereby he is repainting our paw prints AND wants students to participate in a contest to draw a Panther for our handball court. All entries must feature the Pacific Panther on an 8 1⁄2 by 11 single-sided paper. They may be hand drawn or digital and due by April 20th at 12:40. 3/26/2018 - Pawprints: If anyone has participated in our PAWPRINTS student newspaper THIS YEAR and wants to be part of our Yearbook picture, please meet us after school this Wed,. 3/28/18 at 1:30pm in the office. 3/23/2018 - CA Health Kids Survey The CA Health Kids Survey was emailed to you last weekend. If you did not receive that email, you can find a copy of the form here. Please sign and return the form by Tuesday, 3/27. Thank you! MINDFUL MOMENT: Did you know that you might be able to increase your positivity just by memorizing lists of positive words? That is right. It is because when you force your brain to use positive words frequently, you make these words (and their basic meaning) more accessible, more connected, and more easily activated in your brain. When you go to retrieve a word or idea from your memory, positive ones can come to the top more easily. Perhaps have students generate lists of their favorite positive words to share with the class and their parents! (Davis, Tchiki. “Think Positive: 11 Ways to Boost Positive Thinking.” Psychology Today. 6 Mar. 2018 psychologytoday Web. 6 Mar. 2018) 3/15/2018 - MINDFUL MOMENT: Everyone needs a toolbox for stress. Students often need such a thing for test anxiety. Consider having your students make toolboxes for test-induced worries/anxiety. Items that might be included: photo of child’s “happy place”, a written mantra (“I can do it” or “I worked hard to prepare for this”), a written reminder to breathe deeply, a small mirror to make a silly face, etc. 3/2/2018 - MINDFUL MOMENT: We hear the word “mindfulness” a lot but what does it reallymean? Mindfulness is noticing what is happening in the present moment. Mindfulness can help us learn to pay close attention to many things. It can also help us calm down when we are angry, sad, frustrated, or have any difficult emotion. Mindfulness can help us notice when we are happy or grateful too. 3/1/2018 - Pacific Valet We need your help with valet service! Room 26 is responsible for the week of March 5th. Please click on the sign-up genius to volunteer your time. http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4fa5a62daafb6-panther80 Thank you! 2/16/2018 - MINDFUL MOMENT: Brain research studies confirm the power of practicing kindness. Brain scans reveal that neural pathways involved in detecting emotions are dramatically strengthened in people with extensive, focused experiences in practicing compassion. Other studies have shown that our brains are rewarded for altruism with release of dopamine during acts of kindness. We are hard-wired to feel good about doing good! PRIDE DAY: Pacific is having Pride Day - a chance for families and students to help clean-up and spruce-up our campus- on Feb. 28, 1:30-3:30. Families are encouraged to attend at any point during those two hours. Every student from our class that attends will add one marble to our class incentive jar! PTA will be checking people in at the front of the cafeteria by the Zone so we will have a record of who came out to help. Thank you in advance for your Pacific Pride! 2/15/2018 - Pacific Valet We need your help with valet service! Room 26 is responsible for the week of March 5th. Please click on the sign-up genius to volunteer your time. http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4fa5a62daafb6-panther80 Thank you! 2/11/2018 - This is MBMS Night Dear 5th Grade Families, We are looking forward to seeing you and your child on Monday, February 12th at This is MBMS Night. Monday morning you will receive an email from Sign Up Genius with your schedule for the evening. Please make sure you bring that with you to the evening because you will rotate through five different areas in the school. We will have our wonderful WEB and ASB students available to help you find your way. If you have not signed up, please do so here so you have a schedule. You will need to scroll down until you find an empty group. There are plenty of spaces for everyone! Students and parents will visit two classrooms to hear from a student, parent, and staff. They will also get to visit elective options for 6th grade (year-long drama now!!), and meet with the counselors and assistant principals to discuss the social-emotional transition. 2/9/2018 - Mindful Moment Think back on a time where someone gave you a compliment...memories like this have an incredible staying power and often remind us that we can act in the same way to help, encourage, or comfort someone else. Acts of kindness cultivate shared happiness, build relationships, and give people a sense of connectedness to a group, community, or place. 2/2/2018 - Mindful Moment We know from brain research that any act of kindness might seem small, but it’s actually changing the way we see ourselves, the way we see others, and the way others see us. As our kind actions affect the lives of others, we feel more compassionate, confident, useful, and in control. We find ourselves feeling more grateful for what we have, and optimistic about the future. Kindness Week is February 12th-16th! 1/26/2018 - Student Council It's that time again...another round of student council elections. The timeline is listed below: **Information Meeting: Tuesday, February 27th from 2:45-3:10 in room 4. ALL CANDIDATES must attend in order to run. **Candidacy Packets Due with parent signature (and email) by 3:00pm: Friday, March 2nd. Poster boards will be distributed at this time. **TYPED speeches and music/dance/cheer (for mascot and spirit chair) due by 3:00pm: Monday, March 5th **Posters Due before school by 8:00: Wednesday, March 7th and will displayed IN THE CAFE after school through Friday. **Election Day: Friday, March 9th from 9-10 in the cafe. ALL deadlines are firm in order to preserve the integrity of the process and to demonstrate responsibility and to be fair for all candidates. Meetings will continue to take place on Thursdays, after school from 2:45-3:15. ***Room Rep elections will be held in our classroom the following week- as all names of reps will be due on Friday, March 16th. There is only 1 rep per class that will function as a full, participating member of student council. They are expected to attend all meetings- and if they cannot make that commitment, should not run for rep. Complete packets for student council will be distributed at the meeting only. Room Rep permission slips and info sheets can be obtained by classroom teachers closer to the dates above. 1/26/2018 - Mindful Moment Low levels of serotonin in the brain are linked to aggression, anxiety and depression. Both laughter and serotonin make you feel good. But the positive effects of laughter on your mood could be the result of increased dopamine and endorphin levels and decreased levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Remember to LAUGH often! 1/22/2018 - 5th Grade Panoramic Pic The 5th grade panoramic picture was taken today. The order form is attached above. If you have not turned in an order you can do so until Thursday, January 25th . After January 25th there is a $8 late fee added to the cost of the panoramic picture. You can contact JW Photography directly at 310-640-7212 or Karen@jwpartypictures.com 1/12/2018 - Mindful Moment Known as “the seat” of your executive function, the prefrontal cortex affects self-regulation, decision-making, and attention processes. After high stress, this part of your brain can experience a decrease in its capability. From lessened blood flow on the left side to increased activity on the right, alterations in your prefrontal cortex can cause excess stimuli, emotional overwhelm, and (potentially) dark mood swings. Often the lower brain structures focus on the past or the future. Mindfulness deliberately places attention in the present moment, activating the cortex through an observational process that shuts down unnecessary instincts and emotions, while activating rational thinking. Try this exercise two to five times per day in moments of tension and also relaxation: 1. Deliberately pause what you’re doing. 2. Take a deep breath in; imagine in your mind taking a step back. 3. Turn inward; notice what you feel inside your body and mind. 4. Suspend judgment; let anything come up. Observe without evaluating. 5. Label what you notice (“I’m feeling _______________”). 6. Observe the experience as if you were watching a friend move through it. 7. Notice when the emotion or experience subsides. 8. Redirect your attention to a pleasant or desired focus. 1/10/2018 - We had an eventful day at the Griffith Observatory learning all about space! 1/9/2018 - Tomorrow is our field trip to the Griffith Observatory!
12/21/2017 - Mindful Moment: The neuroscience behind mindfulness is a huge component of the MindUp curriculum. Teaching children about the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus is crucial so that they might better understand brain function and how it relates to our actions. The brain is like a map for showing how we learn and why we behave the way we do. Challenge for the week: Review the functions of the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus. 12/11/2017 - There will be a Mid-Module 3 Assessment on Wednesday, December 13th. This assessment was not posted in last week's newsletter. Module 3 is much shorter than Module 2 and our half-way point has come so quickly! Students have been doing well on our Module 3 lessons, and I have full confidence that they will do well on the Mid-Assessment. 12/7/2017 - Room 26 Panther Valet Service Sign Up Our room is responsible for the Panther Valet Service during the week of March 5th. Please click on the sign up to view available slots. 12/7/2017 - Book Exchange on Dec. 21st I’m excited to announce that on Thursday, December 21, we will have our annual Book Exchange in Room 26. Please send your child to school with a new or gently used wrapped book for the exchange. We will have an old fashioned “Yankee Swap” in which the children draw names and each has a chance to either choose a book from the pile, or “steal” a book that has already been chosen. It’s great fun and everyone goes home with something new to read over the break! Please be sure that your child brings a book that he or she feels someone would be excited to receive. This is not the time to clean out unwanted books that might not be of interest to anyone. It is ok to send books that may be more likely to appeal to either boys or girls. This is usually sorted out during the “stealing” process. Additionally, students can always trade their books at the end of the game. Thanks in advance for your help with this fun Room 26 tradition! 12/1/2017 - Thank you to all those that have already signed up to donate gifts to our adopted family this holiday season. If you have not signed up to donate gifts, please click HERE to see which gifts are still available. There are still many options to choose from! All gifts need to be dropped off by Monday, December 11th. Please label your gifts. Thank you for your generosity! 11/30/2017 - This week, students will be harvesting vegetables in the garden during lunch recess. All interested students are welcome to join! On Friday, the vegetables will be sold right next to the ice cream station. Come and get some! 11/13/2017 - Our Module 2 Math Assessment has been moved to Wednesday, November 29th. We will spend this week finishing up the lessons from Module 2. When we return from Thanksgiving break, we will review on Monday and Tuesday, then test on Wednesday. 11/9/2017 - Pacific's Book Fair is November 13th - November 17th 8AM-3PM (Monday close time is 1PM and Wednesday close is 2PM). This year the book fair will be held in the cafeteria. Please check the schedule below to see when your child’s class will visit the book fair. Click HERE to sign up and volunteer. Parents, grandparents and siblings are welcome to come in and shop anytime. Pages in downtown Manhattan Beach will be providing our books and donating a percentage of all sold back to Pacific. 10/24/2017 - Goal-setting conferences will take place the week of November 6th. Please click on the link to sign up for your goal-setting conference. I look forward to meeting with you and working together to set personalized goals for your child. In addition to signing up for a time, please take a moment to fill out this questionnaire by Saturday, October 28th. By filling out the questionnaire, you are helping me prepare to make the most out of our limited time together. 10/20/17 - I've added to our "Kidblog" tab, step-by-step instructions for logging in for the first time. Students will first log in with the generic password "room26" before being prompted to reset their password. Students should reset their password to the same password they use for Tenmarks ("panthers_ _ _ _"). Our first Kidblog is due November 7th, but students can post their blog before the due date. Happy blogging! 10/20/17 - Pacific dress code update: 4th and 5th graders' shorts must be at/longer than where their middle finger touches when their arms are at their sides. 10/9/17 - Picture day proofs were sent home today. If you'd like to order prints, order directly through JW Photography. Please do not send orders to school. Picture make-ups are on Friday, October 20th. Please let me know if you want your child to retake their photo. 10/2/17 - Math Module 1 Assessments were graded and returned to students today. Please check your child's homework folder under "papers for parents" to see the report. Overall, the students did well! One way we personalize learning during math is to work in small groups and review/reteach concepts. During Module 2, I will spend some time reteaching concepts in small group instruction for those students that have not mastered the skill YET. In addition - FIELD TRIP NEWS! A letter will be going home tomorrow outlining important information for our field trip on Friday, October 13th. This letter includes the opportunity to volunteer as a chaperone. Also, attached to the letter is a form that must be completed and returned as soon as possible. Thank you in advance for your promptness! 10/2/17 - Bring Your Parent to PE is the week of October 23rd-27th. Come join us on Tuesday, October 24th or Friday, October 27th from 12:45-1:35 for PE! ...my dad and mother-in-law will be joining too! :)
9/28/17 - Interested in 3D printing? Click here to sign up for a free three-part workshop! 9/21/17 - Our first Math End-of-the-Module Assessment will take place this Wednesday (9/27). Students will have two days of review leading up to the test. They will be given a study guide to review. Here’s a list of concepts they will need to understand and apply:
9/14/17 - Our first science test is quickly approaching (Next week Wednesday). The best way to prepare for this test is to think of the “Big Idea” that we have talked about during this scope: “Plants acquire their material for growth chiefly from air and water,” and make sure you can explain this idea using learned vocabulary and examples that we have read about and discussed. Other useful study tools include your completed STEMscope packet and science journal notes. 9/11/2017 - There is a Social Studies test this Friday. Students should be studying nightly. Please see the homework page for Social Studies homework this week. 9/6/2017 - Next week (September 11th-15th), we will not be serving lunch in the cafeteria due to early dismissal for F&P testing. Please send a heavy snack for your child. If your child attends EDP and wants to order lunch, here is the information. Orders must be placed by Friday. MENU https://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/webmenus2/#/view?id=59693a696803fa6633fbc54f&siteCode=144 ORDER FORM http://mbcampuscafe.org/schools/mbusd_3007091943043438/otherdocs/GRADES_1-5_LUNCH_ORDER_FORM_WEEK_OF_SEPT_11,_2017.pdf 8/31/2017 - THANK YOU for a wonderful Back to School Night! I loved meeting you all and am excited to work together with you this school year. Below is the link for the BTSN powerpoint presentation. I realized (on my drive home) that I did not discuss Science curriculum with my homeroom families. I will send you an email this weekend with detailed information explaining the science slides that were shared this evening. |
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8/28/2017 - Sign up for your child's F&P Reading Assessment by clicking on the link below. Reading assessments will take place the week of September 11th with minimum days all week.
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080b4ea8af2ca2fb6-fpfall 8/23/2017 - Parents, please take a moment to fill out the following google survey regarding Parent Email. Email is a valuable resource for communicating between school and home, therefore we'd like to make sure we have your preferred email. Even if you've already received an email from me, please fill out the survey as it is a helpful tool for keeping your contact information organized. Thank you! |
