Dear parents,

We are running short of snack volunteers for the rest of the school year. If you could sign up for a week, that would be super helpful. Here’s the link: https://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/atpix

Thank you!

Dear parents,

Last week was Literacy Week, with several events going on in the school: the spelling bee on Tuesday and our Literacy night on Thursday, ending up with a “readathon” on Friday afternoon, along with other literacy themes in the classroom. We’ve been reading the book “Wonder” in class and decorated our door with individual pictures and precepts from the book.

In math, the 6th graders have started working on algebraic equations and inequalities. The  5th graders are focusing more on fractions at the moment, specifically adding, subtracting and multiplying, and the 4th graders are recognizing mathematical patterns before moving on to fractions as well. A reminder of the IXL works that can be done now and in the near future:

6th grade: The following blocks should be continued to work on: I1 – I10 (fraction review); J1 – J9 (add and subtract fraction); K1 – K13 (fraction multiplication); L1 – L8 (fraction division);  M1 – M6 (integers); N1 – N11 (operations with integers); 01 011 (mixed operations); R1 – R9 (ratios & rates); S1 – S8 (percent); U1 – U7 (money problems); X1 – X6 (coordinate plane); Y1 – Y6, Y9 – Y14 (algebraic expression).

5th grade: The following blocks should be continued to work on: E1 – E3 (exponents); F1 – F7 (factors & multiples); G1 – G17 (decimals); H1 – H8 (add & subtract decimals); I1 – 19 (multiply decimals); J1 – J5 (divide decimals); K1 – K12 (fractions); L1 – L23 (add/subtract fractions); M1 – M10 (multiplying fractions); O1 – O4 (mixed operations); T1 – T5 (number sequences); V1 – V11 (variable expressions).

4th grade: The following blocks should be continued to work on: D17 – D27 (multiplication); E1 – E19 (division); F1 – F11 (mixed operations); H1 – H4 (function tables); L1 – L9 (patterns and sequences); M1 – M9 (money).

In cultural studies, the 6th graders have finished off working on the European Reformation with Henry VIII and will be moving back the geopolitical history of the USA, from Lewis and Clark’s exploration, through to the Civil War. The 5th graders have completed their studies of Greece, before moving onto their final ancient civilization: Rome. The 4th graders have been studying early man and neanderthals, before moving back to their historical studies of Utah by looking at the post-statehood era with reference to the economy and culture. All grades have been working on the tropical and temperate Forest biome, with reference to its fauna and flora, its position and influence on the planet and problems that it faces.

The 5th graders were given their Engineering project last week. They have been given a log book and asked to think about constructing something that can be of some practical use. This project was started by the school last year and we have provided a log book to help guide the students. Also, when looking on the web, there is plenty of help there. Here are some of the more promising websites:

Websites that offer engineering ideas and projects

http://www.education.com/science-fair/engineering/

http://www.projects.juliantrubin.com/science_fair_project/elementaryschool/5th_grade/5th_grade_engineering.html

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/Intro-Mechanical-Engineering.shtml

https://thehomeschoolscientist.com/100-engineering-projects-kids/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Project-Based-Engineering-for-Kids/

Or simply Google:

• Engineering projects for kids; or

• Engineering project ideas for 5^th grade

I hope this helps and please email me if you have any questions. The projects will be displayed in the school Kivas from March 28th – 30th. The students will also present to the class.

The 4th graders were also given their Utah History Detective Project this week. This can be sourced from seven potential areas: Utah culture, economics, geography, history, political science, sociology and local history. There are a variety of ways to present their project (71 listed!) and the standard way that students used last year was with a poster board. The project packet contains a list of websites for them to access, along with research possibilities at the local libraries. Presentation is for the days of April 12th – 13th and again will be displayed in the Kivas with an in-class presentation.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Many thanks – John

Dear parents,

Just a reminder for 5th grade parents that maturation is on  Tuesday March 6th starting at around 8.45. You are welcome to attend, girls are in the library and boys will be in my room (Room 18). The 4th and 6th graders will be either in the Kiva, and/or outside while maturation is going on.

The 6th graders are having a social dance on Friday March 9th from 3.30 – 5. Food is pot luck, 6th grade parents are welcome to provide their child with something suitable.

The JA Biztown 5th grade field trip is on Wednesday March 14th.  There are two 5th grade parents who have volunteered to go as chaperones, but if you are still interested, please let me know. Please return the permission slips to me ASAP and the requested donation/payment is $5. You can pay by cash or check, or through this online payment link: https://secureinstantpayments.com/sip/cart/event.php?EID=1573

Also, this Thursday March 1st is Maria Montessori Academy’s 4th Annual Literacy Night from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. There are door prizes and you will be able to visit some enchanting worlds for Story Time, Trivia, Map Making, Wand Making, Karaoke, Participlay, Grammar Madlibs, Literacy Games, Watercolor Bookmarks, and Sight Word Twister! Lots of different events to go to!

Finally, a reminder that our School Gala is on Saturday March 17th with a St. Patrick’s Day theme. Always lots of fun with good food, friends, opportunities for prizes and lively auctions!

Thanks everybody and I hope you have a great week!

John

Dear parents,

The 6th (and 8th) grade science fair is this Wednesday. Please make sure that your child has their completed poster board installed in the gym no later than 8.40 am. Please do not bring any live animals or plants into the gym. If you have chosen an engineering project then either bring photographs, or if it is small enough the actual apparatus. If you have taken videos, or still shots of the experiment and wish to show them at the fair, then the student is responsible to bring in their own device. There will not be room to charge the device, so make sure it is charged before the fair. Make sure your video is only a couple of minutes long, as judges have a maximum of 10 minutes to spend at each project.

Parents are welcome to come and view the fair after 3 o’clock and we will be ending the open session at 4.30. Please encourage your student to leave their science fair board until the next day, when they can collect it first thing in the morning. Please do not come in to view the fair during the day (from 8.45-3 pm).

The following week on Tuesday February 27th is the school-wide spelling bee competition. Three students will be selected from each class to participate in the competition. Lower el is from 9-10 am and upper el and Junior High from 11-12. There are some very keen students in the class at the moment who are studying hard!

Maturation this year is scheduled for Tuesday March 6th and you will be receiving the permission slips for this event shortly. Maturation applies only to 5th graders.

Our next class field trip is scheduled for Wednesday March 28th to the Utah Museum of Fine Arts in Salt Lake City. The 5th grade field trip to JA Biztown is scheduled for Wednesday March 14th and usually requires two or sometimes three 5th grade parent volunteers. For the field trip to the museum of Fine Arts we will be asking for parent drivers/chaperones again. More information nearer the time regarding the Fine Arts Museum, but if you wanted to put your name forward for the Biztown trip (held at the Discovery Gateway Museum in Salt lake), please email me ASAP. It’s a great event for the 5th graders and they get a lot out of it!

Thanks everybody! Hope you’re having a great Presidents’ Day weekend!

John

Dear parents,

This Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are Parent Teacher Conferences, from 1.30 till 7 with a break from 5-5.30. If you haven’t signed up, please follow this link and create an account, or simply click on “Event Sign-Ups,” find my name and make an appointment. Here’s the link: https://www.trackitforward.com/site/mapa.

This means that Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are early outs. School finishes at 1 pm. Likewise, there is no school on President’s Day, Monday February 19th.

Wednesday is Valentines Day. The students normally bring in a box and we exchange candy and cards at the end of the school day (as it is an early out, this will be at around 12.30). Students are not permitted to eat candy in school.

The science fair is on the Wednesday of the following week. The 6th graders are required to be in the gym from roughly 9 – 11.30. They can be excused earlier once they have been judged 3 times. They need to have set up their poster board by no later than 8.40 am. We are still looking for judges, or anybody who is interested in scoring. If you think that you can judge or score, or know of anybody who can, please contact me ASAP.

Again, please email me with any questions.

With thanks – John

Dear parents,

Thank you for your patience regarding PTC sign ups. Here is the procedure to sign up using the new Track it Forward website from MAPA (MMA’s PTA):

Dear parents,

Thank you to those parents that have volunteered to drive the students to The Leonardo (I will supply you with maps and parking instructions in the Morning). We will be leaving from the North Shore parking lot at 8.30. We start our field trip at 10 am and we will be leaving around 1.45 pm in order to return for 3 pm pick up. Please make students are in a Friday dress code and bring a sack lunch.

I have set up sign ups for PTC through the Track it Forward website. However, I still need to confirm a few issues I have with confidentiality before I post it on the web. I hope to have this posted either by tomorrow evening or Monday. I apologize for the delay.

The science fair is coming up soon and we are in need of volunteers. The school has asked us to put out this request:

Dear parents,

The school Gala is on St. Patrick’s Day this year (Saturday March 17th) and of course the theme will be St. Patricks. Hopefully, you will have received a flyer with information about the event and possibly read about it through school emails and blogs. It’s a great event, and each year every class puts together a basket for silent auction. This year, our class basket will be for a “date night.”  So, if you could donate items for a date night (i.e. gift cards, movie passes, cookbooks, cute appropriate games, throw blanket, etc) that would be very kind. You can drop these off in the classroom at any time before the end of February. (Please note: the items need to be appropriate – just in case the kids are snooping!)

Remember, next Monday week, on February 5th, is our trip to The Leonardo Museum. We’ll be leaving from North Shore promptly at 8.30 and returning for 3 pm pick up. Sack lunches and Friday dress code is appropriate. Also, if you can volunteer to car pool us down that would be wonderful. At the moment we have two parent drivers signed up.

Next week, we also start our mobile book report presentations for 4th and 5th graders. The 6th graders science fair is on Wednesday February 21st. Just over three more weeks to go. Also, next week is the “Chili Cook Off” on Wednesday January 31st from 5.30-7. Unfortunately, I can’t be in school on Wednesday during the day, as I have a workshop in Ogden to attend. Therefore, we will be doing a simple slow cooker recipe during the day. If you wish to sign up to present your own family dish, please follow this link: https://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/wgkpp

Again, please email me if you have any questions.

Many thanks – John

Dear parents,

Interestingly, this will be the first full week since the start of school after the holiday break. Monday should be a fairly normal day. We will be reviewing the Scholastic News magazines, continuing with the informational essay for the week with Utah Compose, using Scholastic News for some reading groups and touching on some math. In the afternoon is cultural work, looking at the European Reformation with the 6th graders, the climate zones of Earth for 5th graders and Neanderthals with the 4th graders.

On Monday February 5th we will be going to The Leonardo Museum in Salt Lake. This will be by car pooling, so please contact Alisha Coakley at eventhair@yahoo.com if you can carpool us to the museum. Permission slips will be going out early next week and please return them as soon as you can. We will be leaving from the North Shore parking lot at 8.30 am and returning for 3 pm pick up. Realistically, we need at least 5 drivers to get all the class to the museum. Friday dress code and a sack lunch please for the trip.

I’ve copied and posted the annual chili cook off information for Wednesday January 31st. Follow this link if you want to enter a pot of chili for the event: https://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/wgkpp.

Thank you everybody, I hope you all had a lovely weekend!

John

Dear parents,

There is a meeting in the library at 6.30 this Wednesday evening about the Junior High. Especially if your child is a 6th grader this would be a good event to attend, as it has information not only about the Junior High program, but also the new build.

As I mentioned before the Christmas break, the school is very keen for parents to complete the parent survey. So, if you have a few spare minutes could you follow this link. Thank you!: http://www.advanc-ed.org/survey/public/section/response/begin?surveyConfigId=738200

With thanks – John