Weekly News Letter 10/1-10/5

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5

Dates:  October 1-5, 2018


Dear Parents,

Curriculum Information for the Week: 
(This is a 3 day week. 5JV will focus on the ISA testing and preparing for conferences.)

Conferences:
This week students will continue to reflect on their learning, set goals and will prepare to talk with their parents during conferences about their plan.  Parents, please plan to bring your child to conferences on Thursday or Friday so they can share all they have done in 5th grade so far. Your child and their teacher will be sharing about their learning and goals.

Literacy: 
The students will continue to read picture books during class and as part of the Home Learning.  Students will go more deeply into one book or story to write their literary essay. They will continue to discuss connections, predictions, characters, setting and most importantly THEMES (life lessons). You can support your child by making sure that your child is reading for 30 minutes a day (365 days a year!) at home on a just right book (graphic novels/comics count!). 
During writing, the students will continue to work on making a claim (opinion) about a theme(s) of a short story or novel and provide evidence from the story to support their claim.

Math:
We have started our fraction unit! Students started with a tuning in, showing what they know about ordering fractions, identifying fractions and comparing.  Students will begin to model different types of fractions as well as adding and subtracting fractions with different denominators.

Unit of Study:  The students have been introduced to various forms of government, focusing on monarchy, democracy and dictatorship.  We have discussed the advantages and disadvantages of these government systems. This work helps us to explore the essential question: How does government affect people’s lives?

For more information and ways to support your child please visit the Parent Learning Connection page.

Important Reminders/Information:(also see GLC updates)

• ISA testing Monday, October 1st and Tuesday, October 2nd.
• Tuesday, October 2-Parent Band Workshop
• Three Way Conferences on Thursday, October 4 and Friday, October 5,
• G5 Melaka Trip Parent Information meeting and Q & A on Thursday, October 11 from       9:15-9: 45 am in the ES Community Room. Parents are invited to attend.  
• G5 Social Change Makers Conference will be on Thursday, October 11 from                      10:30 am-12: 30 pm. A list of presenters will be available shortly. Parents are invited to attend.
• Please complete, sign and return the Melaka parent permission, medical information and emergency contact form by Wednesday, October  3.

Band Master Class continues:
Day 1-Flute
Day 2-Clarinet
Day 3-Saxophone
Day 4-Trumpet
Day 5-Trombone
Day 6-Baritone and Tuba
Day 7-Percussion

Highlight from Last Week:
The new playgrounds have opened! Much more space to run around and wonderful places to just sit and socialize.

Weekly Newsletter 9/24-9/28

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5

Dates:  September 24-28, 2018 

Dear Parents,

Curriculum Information for the Week:

Digital Literacy: It takes a team to support our students as they learn to be educated, digital citizens. We are lucky to have Mr. Steve Katz as a resource for us. It is also important that you are talking with your child (in any language!) at home about the choices they are making online (this includes ISKL email). This week we reviewed with fifth graders on three important topics…
How to keep your passwords private (ONLY share with parents and teachers).
What to do if you come across inappropriate content online.
ISKL email is for school-related items. Students should not be chatting with each other through ISKL email. If you or your child needs support with other online communication options, please talk with your teacher.
Check out Common Sense Media for resources such as Here's the Secret to Raising a Safe, Smart Kid and other ways to support your 5th-grade digital citizen!

Literacy: The students have completed their book club novels and will begin focusing on or short stories. They will continue to discuss connections, predictions, characters, setting and most importantly THEMES (life lessons). You can support by making sure that your child is reading for 30 minutes a day (365 days a year!) at home on a just right book (graphic novels/comics count!).
During writing, the students will continue to work on making a claim (opinion) about a theme(s) of a short story and provide evidence from the story to support their claim. This practice will prepare the students for writing literary essays. 

Math: Students will begin Unit 2, Adding and Subtracting fractions. We will begin our week reviewing vocabulary and tuning in with a variety of fraction stations. These will include equivalent fractions, comparing fractions and ordering fractions.

Unit of Study:  The students will be introduced to various forms of government: monarchy, democracy dictatorship etc. and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these government systems. This work helps us to explore the essential question: How does government affect people’s lives?

For more information and ways to support your child please visit the Parent Learning Connection page.

Parent Learning Connection page(also see GLC updates)

• Picture Day is this week Monday, September 24: Individual Photos (Smart-Casual)  Wednesday, September 26: Class Photos (School Uniform)
• Tuesday, October 2-Parent Band Workshop
• Three Way Conferences on Thursday, October 4 and Friday, October 5, watch for your appointment time coming home this week. 
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• Thursday, October 11-G5 Melaka Trip Parent Information meeting and Q & A from 9:15-9:45am in the ES Community Room. Parents are invited to attend.  
• G5 Social Change Makers Conference will be on Thursday 11 October 11. from 10:30am-12:30pm. A list of presenters will be available shortly. Parents are invited to attend.
• G5 Melaka Trip First Parent Information Letter will be sent home with your child on Monday, September 24. Please complete, sign and return the parent permission, medical information and emergency contact form by Wednesday, October 3.  

Band Master Class continues:
Day 1-Flute
Day 2-Clarinet
Day 3-Saxophone
Day 4-Trumpet
Day 5-Trombone
Day 6-Baritone and Tuba
Day 7-Percussion

Parent Learning Connection page
RED HAT LEADERS are everywhere at ISKL! Fifth graders were spotted…
Collecting over 2000 RM for free dress day (money to be donated to charity)
Helping clean up the common area
Being role models throughout the hallway
Choosing to be KIND

Weekly Newsletter 9/18-9/21

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5

Dates:  September 18-21, 2018 


Dear Parents,

Curriculum Information for the Week:

Literacy: The students will continue to read and discuss their book club novels or short stories. They are using ‘thinkmarks’ to promote rich discussion about their books. They will continue to discuss connections, predictions, characters, setting and most importantly THEMES (life lessons). During writing, the students will begin to develop skills to identify topics in their reading.  These topics will then be developed into  making a claim/theme statement (opinion) of a short story and provide evidence from the story to support their claim. This practice will prepare the students for writing literary essays later in the unit. 

Math: The students will continue to work on using their basic division facts, extended division facts and dividing larger numbers by multiples of 10, 100, 1000 in order  to prepare them for using the partial quotients long division algorithm and solving division problems with double digit divisors.

Unit of Study:  The students will be introduced to various forms of government: monarchy, democracy dictatorship etc. and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these government systems. They will also work on types of government on their Home Learning Choice Board. 

For more information and ways to support your child please visit the Parent Learning Connection page.

Important Reminders/Information:(also see GLC updates)
No school this Monday 17 Sept. due to Malaysia Day holiday.
After School Activities continue on Tuesday 18 Sept.
G5 Social Change Maker’s Conference will be on Thursday, October 11 from 10:30am-12:30pm.
A list of presenters will be available shortly. Parents are invited to attend.
G5 Melaka Trip First Parent Information Letter will be sent home with your child on Monday, September 24  Please complete, sign and return the parent permission, medical information and emergency contact form by Wednesday, October 3.  
Band Master Class continues:
Day 1-Flute
Day 2-Clarinet
Day 3-Saxophone
Day 4-Trumpet
Day 5-Trombone
Day 6-Baritone and Tuba
Day 7-Percussion

Highlight from Last Week:
Hari Raya Cultural Day assembly and hallway activities were a great success last Friday!
MAP reading and math testing completed.

Reading Buddies

Melati's visit

Here are photos from Melati's visit on Friday.

News Letter 9/12-914

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5

Dates:  September 12 - 14, 2018


Dear Parents,

Curriculum Information for the Week:
Literacy: Book clubs continue. We have started out Literary essay unit, which will integrate reading and writing, with a focus on themes and providing evidence to support our thinking.

Math: Using what we know is the focus of math this week. This relates to powers of ten, multiplication and division! It is amazing how it is all scaffolded, supporting our ongoing learning.

Unit of Study:  Students will begin to understand that individuals have rights, responsibilities and roles in relation to broader society. We will discuss our deserted island simulations from early in the year and talk about the advantages of government systems.

For more information and ways to support your child please visit the Parent Learning Connection page.

Important Reminders/Information:(also see GLC updates)
No school this Monday and Tuesday as we celebrate King’s birthday and Awal Muharam
After School Activities continues Wednesday September 12th
Friday is Hari Raya Cultural Day-Wear your Malaysian cultural clothes to celebrate Malaysia's independence!


Change Maker’s Conference will be happening on October 11th
MELAKA...is 41 days away!!!!
Band Master Class continues:
Day 1-Flute
Day 2-Clarinet
Day 3-Saxophone
Day 4-Trumpet
Day 5-Trombone
Day 6-Baritone and Tuba
Day 7-Percussion

Highlight from Last Week:
The soccer field is ready!
Melati Wijsen came to talk to us about using re-usable bags instead of plastic bags!
Bye Bye Plastic Bags Ted Talk
Bye Bye Plastic Bags Website 

Weekly Newsletter 9/3-9/7

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5

Dates: September 3-7, 2018


Dear Parents,

Curriculum Information for the Week:
Literacy: In reader’s workshop, we will be learning about ways to record our thinking when reading texts so that we can provide evidence for our ideas.  We will practice having group discussions that are focused and keep the conversation going. Students will also begin taking the ideas they gather to write effectively about a text.

Math: We will be continuing our work with powers of ten and move into multiplication, becoming more effective and accurate with multi-digit problems.  We will also start reviewing long division and move towards solving problems with double digit divisors.

Unit of Study: Grade 5 will continue with the ideas of leadership that were presented during Red Hat training and start to look at the different forms of government.  We will look at how the structures of leadership change and the how that may affect the citizens in the community.

For more information and ways to support your child please visit the Parent Learning Connection page.

Important Reminders/Information:(also see GLC updates)
Please remember to bring a hat and water bottle on PE days.  The new artificial turf field is ready to use and PE classes will be going outside this week.  Hats are required when going outside.
After School Activities (ASAs) begin Monday, September 3.
MAP testing will take place this week:
Tuesday, September 4-Grade 5 MAP reading
Thursday, September 6-Grade 5 MAP maths
Friday, September 7-Guest speaker Melati Wijsen (Co-founder Bye Bye Plastic Bags) will present to G5 students in our common area from 1:30-2:15pm.

Band Master Class continues:
Day 1-Flute
Day 2-Clarinet
Day 3-Saxophone
Day 4-Trumpet
Day 5-Trombone
Day 6-Baritone and Tuba
Day 7-Percussion

Highlight from Last Week:
Thank you for attending Open House Parent Night. It was a wonderful opportunity to share information about Grade 5!
Free Dress Day was a roaring success as donations totalled over RM2,050. The newly crowned Red Hats did a wonderful job collecting money in the morning and 5JV were the lucky money counters. Our next Red Hat’s free dress day is September 21.