Hitting Our Stride

Where has this month gone!?  We can't believer it is already the end of January!  Time definitely flies when you are having fun, and we certainly have a lot fun in 5th grade at Doniphan.

Birthday Celebrations
With this week marking the end of the month of January we celebrated our January birthdays one more time.  We enjoyed a Super Bowl themed cookie cake.  Happy Birthday again to all of our January birthdays!

Middle School Band
As we continue to work towards May our 5th graders will continue to get more and more information about what middle school will be like on a day-to-day basis.  This week we had the Director of Band for the district come and talk to our students about the band departments at both middle schools.  Nick Porter was a good sport and put on some of the band uniform for his classmates to see what they would look like if they did want to join band next year.  Please check your student's Friday folder for more information.

Super Bowl Celebration

Thanks to all the students who dressed up or our Super Bowl celebration today!  It was fun to see you all in wearing your jerseys!  Have fun watching at your Super Bowl parties.

Have a great weekend!

The Fifth Grade Team

Exciting Things are Happening

So many exciting things are happening in our classroom this week.  We dove right into our Collaborative Enrichment Program (CEP).  It is so exciting to see fifth graders working on broadcasting skills, creating their own computer programs, and researching on their own topics to create amazing presentations.

Did you know that the average temperature in Antarctica is -56 degrees?  Did you know that sun never sets in Antarctica?  These are a few amazing facts that we learned this week when we did a live feed with explorers in Antarctica!  It was so amazing and fun.  Students got the opportunity to tweet out questions to the explorers that were in Antarctica.  We got to sit and listen as they answered different questions asked by students.

Who doesn't like a little magic?  We had so much fun with a school wide magic show.  He came to our school and taught us that if we put our mind to it, we can do anything we want to do in life.

~Heather Porter

A Look into the Second Week of Second Semester!

What a great start to the semester we have had so far with so many changes in our 5th grade blended learning classroom! Here are some events and things we have been focusing on this week:

*William Jewell Men's and Women's Basketball team members volunteered at Alexander Doniphan on Monday, January 13th to read to students. We had three players read to each of the 5th grade classes in our room. Students really enjoyed this and they had the opportunity to ask the basketball players questions about college and basketball and their other hobbies! It is great to have role models like these basketball players for our students to look up to!

*Beginning Performance Series tests

*An introduction to a "Flipped" Style math lesson where students learn the math material/content at home by watching a tutorial or video on how to do the concept and then come to class the next day to discuss questions and concerns about what they learned. In class they will also complete a worksheet or activity that goes along with what they learned to see if they know the content. This way, they are working on the "homework" in class and are able to ask questions whereas if they did it at home, they don't have the teacher right there to ask questions. This is an effective method if used in the right way and can be very beneficial for students if they take advantage of it and do what they are supposed to at home.

*Students are working on a debate with a partner for writing in which they will have to be prepared to defend both sides of an issue.

*Students are being introduced to a new end of the day class routine where one class is learning about Coding (Hoffman's class), one class is beginning a broadcasting project (Baldwin's class) and one class is having a genius hour (Porter's class) where students are able to research a topic of their choice and present on that topic using a presentation tool we have learned about in class this year.  We are calling this time our Collaboration Enrichment Program (CEP) because students will be collaborating with one another on an advanced subject for 30 minutes each day at the end of the school day. Students will rotate groups after 2 weeks of working with that teacher.

                                          Here is our very own Tyson, practicing coding!


We have a lot of great things going in 5th grade at AD, and on behalf of the 5th grade team, we are really looking forward to the rest of this school year!



-Ms. Hoffman

A Helping Hand

Parents,

Our time in the classroom over the past week-and-a-half has been full of collaborative projects and setting firm foundations for the students' coming school years in middle school.

5th Grade Small Mall
As we mentioned in the previous post, this year at AD each grade is raising awareness and financial assistance for a cause outside of our community.  As a grade, we have chosen to sponsor schools and students in India.  Most of the students and families that we are going to be helping live on less than $1.00 a day.  In order to raise funds, 5th grade is hosting a "Small Mall" for all AD students to shop from for holiday gifts for their families during the week of December 3-6 between 8:00-8:45 in the morning.  5th graders will usher younger students throughout the store and help make gift choices based on the amount of money the student wants to spend.  Once the week is complete we will donate all proceeds to Carole Rogers (a retired AD teacher) who will travel to India in the Spring of 2014.  Our goal is to send Carole with at least $1,000, which would go a long way in providing essentials for students and families in India.  To give you an idea of just how far it would go; you can provide a uniform from head-to-toe for a student for $5 and build a brand new school for $300.  We cannot wait to see all the students here at AD catch the vision for this project like our 5th graders have over the past two weeks.  Please see the video below for more information from Carole Rogers about her work in India.

We are still in need of 5th grade helpers and parent volunteers for the small mall.  Please email either 5th grade teacher for more information on how you and your student can help!

Classroom Communication via Our Blog and Edmodo
This year we have been using technology as much as possible in place of paper communication.  The following information is going to clarify how we are using two tools to communicate with parents this year.

Blog- We are using this blog as a place to update parents on activities and big events happening in our classroom.  This is not the place to check for homework, planner, and other day-to-day happenings for your student.  With Mrs. Rhea taking a leave of absence earlier this year, it has taken some time to redistribute her responsibilities between Mrs. Porter and Mr. Baldwin.  We appreciate your patience and grace in that time, but now you can expect an update on the blog on a weekly basis.

Edmodo-  Edmodo is the avenue we have chosen to communicate with students and parents on a day-to-day basis.  This is where students will find their homework every day and where they will take quizzes for morning work daily.  You, as a parent, can have access to this information by signing up for an account at www.edmodo.com and selecting the "I'm a Parent" link on the home screen (see screenshot below).  Once you have an account email Mrs. Porter for a classroom code so you can be added to our digital classroom.  Please feel free to email either Mrs. Porter or Mr. Baldwin with questions or concerns about Edmodo or the blog.

Upcoming Events (See your student's Edmodo calender for a description of these events)

November 27-29: No School
December 2-6: 5th Grade "Small Mall" Open (8:00-8:45 AM)
December 2-6: Canned Food Drive for Liberty Community Christmas Tree
December 2-6: Toys for Tot Drive

Have a great holiday!

AD 5th Grade

A Whirlwind

The past two weeks in 5th Grade have been spent doing a whirlwind of different activities.

Parent/Teacher Conferences
During the week of October 21 - October 25 Alexander Doniphan held their Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences. Parents were updated on their student's progress so far this year, as well as, .  It was great to see all of our fifth grade parents and to share a little bit about each of our students during this time.  If you were not able to make it to a conference please contact your kiddo's teacher so we can arrange a conference at a convenient time.

Fall Party
On Thursday, October 31 Alexander Doniphan celebrated the season with our fall parties!  Our students went above and beyond with some great costumes this year.

We want to say a huge "THANK YOU!!!" to our party planners and parent volunteers who through a fantastic party for our kiddos!  YOU ROCK!

Visiting Author
On November 5th our students had the opportunity to hear from one of their favorite authors, Kelly Milner Halls.  Ms. Halls love to write about subjects that tend to gross and creep other people out, such as ghosts, dinosaurs, and other things.  We had a great time asking her questions and hearing about all of her crazy adventures.

Passion-Based Learning
This year, Alexander Doniphan wants to instill a sense of responsibility for the world around us in our students by having each grade take on a worldwide or nationwide cause to raise money for by doing different activities.  This past week our 2nd graders raised over $400 for endangered animal protection by raffling off different prizes.  The Grand prize was a hot-air balloon ride.  Way to go 2nd grade!  Be looking in the near future for announcements about 5th grade's passion-based project!

Birthdays in October
We celebrated our one birthday, Addy Shiddell, at the end of the month with caramel apples.  It was a great fall treat and we all had fun celebrating with Addy.

Continue to look here for updates and posts about what's going on in class from week-to-week.  If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to email or call your kiddo's teacher.

Have a great day!

Fifth Grade Team

Week 9: An End to First Quarter

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Take a look inside your student's Friday Folder tonight.  Inside you will find a note from your child's teacher with your conference date and time.  If for some reason your time will not work, please email your child's teacher.


United Way Week 2013 - October 14-18th
Monstrous Monday - October 14:Let's bring in some Monstrous money donations to help the United Way of Greater Kansas City today! The class that brings in the most donations will win an extra 1/2 hour recess this week! Also, there will be "Black Cats" on a silent auction all this week! We have some cute kittens donated to us that are looking for a good home. For a donation to United WAy, one of these baby kittens could be yours to take home on Friday after school as long as parents give permission! You will receive a phone call on Thursday night if you are a lucky winner!
 

Trick-or-Treat Tuesday - October 15: A Pop Shop and Candy Corner will be set-up today at recess. Bring your $1.00 donations and get a Fun Treat! You can also guess the weight of the donated pumpkin from Carolyn's Pumpkin Patch for a .50 donation. If you're the closest to guess the actual weight, you will win the pumpkin and a pizza party! 2nd and 3rd place will win a pizza party too!

Wizardly Wednesday - October 16: Are you someone who is extremely skilled at creating things? If so, you can enter the homemade pumpkin decorating contest! Be as creative as you'd like to make/build your own pumpkin (paper, clay, etc. - however you want to create it.) Bring your pumpkin to the office by 9:00 today. Staff members will vote for the top three pumpkins from each grade level to be put in the finals round at recess today. The pumpkins can then be voted on for a .50 donation by all of your Doniphan peers and staff members. The winner from each grade level will win a pizza party and if you vote for the winning pumpkin, you will win a treat too!

Thrilling Thursday - October 17: It's going to be a "Thriller" of a day! A staff constume parade will start at 8:45 a.m. Lollipops will be on sale in the morning and at recess today - $1.00 each. Voting for your favorite Staff Costume will be at recess too. (.50 per vote - vote as many times as you'd like.) If the staff member you vote for wins you will win a treat too!

Freaky Friday and Parent Night Out - October 18: Kids - Wear your must unusual colthing/hairstyle to school today. Parents - You can dontate and participate in leaving your kids at school tonight until 6:00pm to enjoy a Parents Night Out! This event will be supervised by staff members. The cost for the evening is $10.00 for the first K-5 child and $5.00 for each additional K-5 child. Snacks, drinks, music and a movie (Monsters, Inc.) will be provided. Please sign-up by Thursday, October 10th. Please send a check made payable to United Way of Greater KC or cash is fine too. Please send money to the office in an envelope marked: Parents NIght Out!



Upcoming Events
October 10 - Early Out @ 1:35
October 11 - No School
October 14-18 - United Way Week
October 18 - Runnin Club @ 8am
October 19 - KC Kids Marathon
October 22 - Parent Teacher Conferences 4-8
October 24 - Early Out @ 1:35
October 24 - Parent Teacher Conferences 2-8

Thanks for another great week, and for all you do at home!

~Mrs. Rhea

Week Eight and Events to Come

Science Experiment
 
Get your hypothesis and observation eyes ready...we are back to it in Science again!  We conducted another experiment this week in the Balloon Rocket launch.  Which balloon will go the farthest?  What is the independent variable?  What are the dependent variables?  This is always a great experiment that the students truly enjoy.  In case you all were wondering, the "Squiggly" balloon was the winner of the balloon launch.  I wonder how many hypothesises were correct?  Ask your kiddo how they did!
 

 

 
 
Fall Tailgate
 

See you at the Annual Fall Tailgate tonight!

* Dinner is served from 5-6:30pm

* Judging for the student back-off is at 5:15pm

* Kickball starts at 5:30pm

* Each student receives a ticket to the LHS football game

 
 
Early Out and NO School

Next week, on Thursday, October 10th, we will have an early release starting at 1:35. The following Friday, October 11th, there will be no school for students.
 
 
 
P/T Conferences

Parent Teacher Conference Sign-up forms went home tonight in Friday Folders. Please fill out the times that work best for you and we will try our best to accomodate. Please have those forms back to us on MONDAY. Thank you!
 
 
 
Clubs Choice
 
REMINDER: Club Choice delivery pick up is NEXT Wednesday, October 9 in the GYM from 4-6 PM. This is the ONLY pick up date. Please have someone pick up your orders on this day. 

Fall Box Top Drawing

From October 7 - 18, each family may enter by submitting 25 Box Tops.  There’s no limit to the number of entries per family.  Each entry of 25 Box Tops should be submitted either in a small plastic bag or envelope labeled with the family name and a phone number or email address.  

 
United Way Week 2013 - October 14-18th
 
Monstrous Monday - October 14:Let's bring in some Monstrous money donations to help the United Way of Greater Kansas City today!  The class that brings in the most donations will win an extra 1/2 hour recess this week!  Also, there will be "Black Cats" on a silent auction all this week!  We have some cute kittens donated to us that are looking for a good home.  For a donation to United WAy, one of these baby kittens could be yours to take home on Friday after school as long as parents give permission!  You will receive a phone call on Thursday night if you are a lucky winner!
 
Trick-or-Treat Tuesday - October 15:  A Pop Shop and Candy Corner will be set-up today at recess.  Bring your $1.00 donations and get a Fun Treat!  You can also guess the weight of the donated pumpkin from Carolyn's Pumpkin Patch for a .50 donation.  If you're the closest to guess the actual weight, you will win the pumpkin and a pizza party!  2nd and 3rd place will win a pizza party too!
 
Wizardly Wednesday - October 16:  Are you someone who is extremely skilled at creating things?  If so, you can enter the homemade pumpkin decorating contest!  Be as creative as you'd like to make/build your own pumpkin (paper, clay, etc. - however you want to create it.)  Bring your pumpkin to the office by 9:00 today.  Staff members will vote for the top three pumpkins from each grade level to be put in the finals round at recess today.  The pumpkins can then be voted on for a .50 donation by all of your Doniphan peers and staff members.  The winner from each grade level will win a pizza party and if you vote for the winning pumpkin, you will win a treat too!
 
Thrilling Thursday - October 17:  It's going to be a "Thriller" of a day!  A staff constume parade will start at 8:45 a.m.  Lollipops will be on sale in the morning and at recess today - $1.00 each.  Voting for your favorite Staff Costume will be at recess too. (.50 per vote - vote as many times as you'd like.)  If the staff member you vote for wins you will win a treat too!
 
Freaky Friday and Parent Night Out - October 18:  Kids - Wear your must unusual colthing/hairstyle to school today.  Parents - You can dontate and participate in leaving your kids at school tonight until 6:00pm to enjoy a Parents Night Out!  This event will be supervised by staff members.  The cost for the evening is $10.00 for the first K-5 child and $5.00 for each additional K-5 child.  Snacks, drinks, music and a movie (Monsters, Inc.) will be provided.  Please sign-up by Thursday, October 10th.  Please send a check made payable to United Way of Greater KC or cash is fine too.  Please send money to the office in an envelope marked:  Parents NIght Out!
 
 
 
Upcoming Events
October 4 - 5th graders sing at William Jewel in the evening (for those that signed up)
October 4 - AD Fall Tailgate from 5-6:30
October 9 - Club's Choice Pickup from 4-6pm
October 10 - Early Out @ 1:35
October 11 - No School
October 14-18 - United Way Week
October 18 - Runnin Club @ 8am
October 19 - KC Kids Marathon

Thanks for another great week, and for all you do at home!

~Mrs. Rhea