Farewell

It is with excitement and sorrow that I announce my resignation at SJS. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you and your children this school year. I feel blessed to have experienced the last seven years at SJS. I am relocating with my family to Walla Walla where I will be teaching middle school Science for the remainder of the school year.
God bless and Merry Christmas!
Love,
Kathy Pickel
kathy.pickel87@gmail.com

Re-scheduling Conferences

I would like to meet with all of my parents. Please review the following list of dates and contact me at Kathy.pickel87@gmail.com to schedule. The conferences will be 15 minutes in duration and take place in the classroom. The conferences will begin at 3:15 and end at 5:00 allowing for seven conferences per day.
The conference dates are:
Tuesday, Nov. 15th
Wednesday, Nov. 16th
Monday. Nov. 21st
Tuesday. Nov.22nd
Monday, Nov.28th
Wednesday, Nov.30th
Thursday, Dec.1st

Electronic Hour

The class has earned their first Marble Jar prize-one hour of electronic time. We will have this on Wednesday, Oct. 19th from 2:00-3:00. Students can bring their hand-held electronic devices from home to play with and share.

No School-Friday

There will not be school this Friday as there is a teacher in-service in Yakima.
Have a great three- day weekend 5th graders!

This Week's Fun Run Challenge

A fantastic lady (Ms. Kim) who works in our daycare has laid out the following challenge:
the class with the most pledge money COLLECTED THIS WEEK earns a McDonald's lunch.
I have added to this challenge:
if our class wins, I will provide a McDonald's dessert.

"Go out and get those collected pledges 5th graders!"
Fun Run is Sunday, Oct. 2nd at 3:00 at the KEHS track. Please be there by 2:45 for sign-in.

Math M.A.P. Testing

We will have Math M.A.P. testing this Thursday and Friday afternoons from 1:00-2:30 p.m. in the computer lab. Please be sure your child is well rested and has a healthy sized lunch for these days so they can feel their best . "Good luck 5th graders!"

M.A.P. Reading completed

The M.A.P. Reading testing was completed today by the fifth graders and parents will see these results at conferences next month. If your child was absent, he/she will be scheduled for make-up testing in a couple of weeks.

SJS assignment notebook

Students: You should complete your assignment notebook every day as instructed during the school day. You should take it home every day to share with your parent(s).
Parents: Please ask to see your child's assignment notebook every day. This helps you know what they are doing in school and what your child should have for homework. You may sign at the bottom of each day to help with communication from home to school. Thanks!

Access Jupiter Grades

If you have received an e-mail notification from Jupiter Grades and you want to know more information, please access the link at the bottom of the e-mail.
Create a password for your child's account information and use this password throughout the year!

Book order

The book order is due this Friday, Sept. 23rd. Thanks!

MAP dates

Our class will be doing the Reading MAP tests on Tuesday, Sept 27th and Thursday, Sept.29th from 1:00-2:30 p.m. We will be doing the Language Arts MAP tests on Thursday, Oct. 6th and Friday, Oct. 7th from 1:00-2:30 p.m. The final set of tests will be for Math and they are on Tuesday, Oct. 11th and Thursday, Oct. 13th from 1:00-2:30 p.m.
I am looking forward to sharing your child's MAP testing results with you at conferences. The parent-teacher conferences are Monday, Oct. 24th through Friday, Oct. 28th in the afternoon.

MAP testing around the corner!

SJS will be hosting the school-wide MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) testing soon. I will let you know the exact dates once the tests are scheduled. We will have three tests: Reading, Language Arts, and Mathematics. It is important that students get plenty of rest and a good breakfast and lunch on testing days so that they can do their very best.

Hot Lunch Starts Tomorrow

The SJS Hot Lunch program will begin tomorrow. Remember it is offered every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I will be asking the students to let me know if they have hot lunch and I will record this information and send this to the office in the morning. This is very different from the system we have used in the past so please be patient. If your child does not know if he/she has hot lunch but does not have a cold lunch, I will mark them down as receiving hot lunch. It will be the parent's responsibility to have the necessary funds in their child's hot lunch account. If you have any questions, please call the office. Thank you!

Internet Grading System-yipee!

I have started entering students' grades into the Jupiter Grades program. This is an internet based grading program that will alert the parent if and when their 5th grader has a missing assignment or their grade falls below a C. I am using the e-mail addresses that you put on your school registration forms so if this is inaccurate please let me know a.s.a.p.

Calling all 5th grade parents!

Members-Please spread the word to the other 5th grade parents to get on this blog for school updates and class information. Thank you!

First book order!

Our first book order of the year will go home on Tuesday and is due back to class on Friday. Book orders are really important because when you order books for your child the class receives bonus points. These bonus points are used to purchase books for the classroom library.

Throw a pie in a teacher's face!

Next Friday, Sept. 9th at the Fun Run rally students will have the opportunity to throw a whipped creme pie in a teacher's face. Each pie costs $1 and pie tickets can be purchased through your child's teacher. Let's show some SJS Fun Run spirit!

A couple reminders

Milk will begin next Tuesday, Sept. 7th.
9/11 Memorial service on Monday, Sept. 12 th at 8:30 a.m. At the SJS flag pole.
$6 to school office for SJS assignment notebook
Mark your calendars for the first field trip. The class will be going to Chief Joseph M.S. In Richland the morning of Sept. 22nd to see the Willy Wonka play! I have pre-ordered 8 driver/chaperone tickets. First come,first serve.

This week's activities

We will be working this week to complete the beginning of the year Reading assessment.
Specials will start this Wednesday. You will not dress down for P.E. As it is free dress this week. Please be sure to wear the P.E. Uniform beginning next week.
We have First Friday Mass at 9:30 this Friday. Please join us if you can do so.
We have our first Fun Run Rally this Friday at 2:15 in the PAC. If all of my 5th graders receive their t-shirts at this rally, the class will receive an ice cream party!
No school next Monday due to Labor Day. Enjoy the 3-day weekend with your families!

School begins tomorrow!

I can't wait to see all of my 5th graders bright and early tomorrow morning! Please remember it's free dress this week and Monday and Tuesday are half days. We will gather on Mrs. Frankovic's porch. This is on the right hand side as you look at the middle school building. Please remember to bring your supplies and a snack. We will have a great year!:)