Focus on Fifth

Fall Festival and Fun with Math

We have lots of exciting things to look forward to in the coming days.  Our annual Math Night at Publix and our PTA Fall Festival are coming soon.  Please note the following information.

DOWELL MATH NIGHT

at

Publix on Dallas Hwy

DATE: Thursday, October 9th

TIME: 6:00-6:45 Family names N

–

Z

6:45-7:00 PTA Meeting

7:00-8:00 Family names A

–

M

FOOD: Hotdogs

– Drinks –

Treats

Available to purchase

Dowell Spirit Wear

(Wear a Dowell T-shirt and be eligible to win a prize)

*All Students must bring an adult to participate.

The Fall Festival will be on Friday night, September 26, here at Dowell from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.  Tickets will be $7.00 per person and will cover all games and inflatibles. Conscessions will cost extra.  You may pre-order tickets for $6.00 per person.  Every child must be accompanied by an adult.                                                       

Testing for the Cogat and ITBS will begin next Wednesday and will run through the following week.  Please be sure your student is on time every day and has a good breakfast. 

Tuesday is early release.  Students are dismissed at 12:20

Please rememer to vote in the Tuesday election for the 'Special Option Local Sales Tax".  This money is used for many improvements to our school.

Coming soon - End of October "Red Ribbon Week"

Reading, Writing, and Math

   Testing, testing, testing!  I'll bet you parents have heard alot about testing lately.  Each year we assess students in order to be sure they are placed on the correct reading and math level.  We have completed numerous informal assessments and later this month will be taking the Cogat(intelligence test) as well as the ITBS (achievement test).  In addition to these tests we will be giving assessments all along the way to be sure that students are understanding the material that is presented.  Sometimes we will notify you several days in advance for testing in the subject areas so that you can help your child prepare.  Other times we will give quizzes or tests in class that you will not prepare for.  Please talk with your child and help them to understand that giving your best at all times will help teachers know who needs additional help. 

  The very best way to help your child right now is to be sure he or she knows all math fact and knows them well.  They should not have to stop to count on fingers or draw sticks.  They should know basic addition and subtraction 0-20 and all times tables 0-12.  Math will only become more difficult for those who do not know their facts!

  In reading parents can help by asking about and listening to what is being read from our media center.  Our new media specialist Mrs. Seigler, and Mrs. Maffee who has been with us for some time, are doing an awesome job of helping students find books they are interested in that are on their level.  We will begin our new reading series with brand new books on Monday.

We have completed our first class novel entitled The Stories Julian Tells. Look on the next AR report for this title to see what your student did.  Most everyone did exceptionally well.

We are sending home fliers today about our fifth grade t-shirts.  We would like every child to have one because it is a real keepsake.  The shirts are only $7 and that is the exact cost as this is not a fund raiser.  We will wear these shirts on special fifth grade days and on field trips.  No other grade level will be allowed to purchase this special shirt.

Remember to sign up in the e-mail box if you would like e-mail alerts when our blog is updated. 

We could still use some hand sanitizer if you would like to contribute to our classroom.  Thanks so much to those who have already sent in supplies. 

  Please make plans now to attend our annual "Math Night" at Publix on Dallas Hwy.  Students will complete math problems in the real world.  We will have a brief PTA meeting in the store that night.  Watch for more information coming soon.  Hope to see you there.