Important Dates:

2/28 – 4^th/5^th Grade Religion Vocabulary Quiz

2/28– Writing Assessment “Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution”

2/28 – Father Jim Visits Classrooms

2/29 – 5^th Grade to Daily Mass – Wear Red!

2/29 – Spelling Test “Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution”

2/29 – 10:30-11:30 – Island of Hope Presentation

3/01 – School Auction

3/05 – 1:00-1:45 Maryknoll Brothers Presentation

3/07 – 9:00 All School Mass – Wear Red!

3/07 – Noon Dismissal

3/14 – FULL DAY OF SCHOOL

3/14 – Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

3/17 – Non-Uniform Day

3/17 – 5:30 K of C Potato Bake

Curriculum Notes

Religion: The quiz on fourth and fifth grade vocabulary words will be this Thursday. Over the next two weeks, we will be taking a closer look at the liturgical season of Lent. This week, we will be working with the pages in our textbook on this season (296-303). Next week, we will look at some countries highlighted by Catholic Relief Services for this year’s Operation Rice Bowl. Students are encouraged to continue buying bottled water in support of the 7^th grade service project as a part of their Lenten alms giving.

Science: In our continued study of entomology, we will be observing the growth and development rate of the Tenebrio Beetle under different environmental conditions. We will also closely observe the body structure of diplopods, comparing this to what we have learned about insect anatomy.

Math: We have started chapter nine – Patterns. By the end of the week will take the concept of patterns to the coordinate grid and begin some basic graphing.

Literature: This week we are reading “Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution.” The material in this selection mirrors exactly what we’re reading about in our social studies text. We’re working on making connections between the texts and noticing when one book gives more or less information than the other.

Language Arts: We will focus this week on some grammatical conventions including capitalization, titles, and quotations. We will be looking at selected lessons from unit 5 in our English book.

Beginning next trimester, students will receive a spelling grade on many content area assignments. In order to prepare students for this change in my grading policy, spelling scores will start appearing on selected assignments this week. These scores do not yet count toward the spelling grade on the report card.

Social Studies: We have started our study of the Constitution – chapter nine. This week we will focus our attention on the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and why the nation decided a new plan of government was necessary.