February Update

Classroom policies –
• Cell phones – Students have been bringing cell phones to school with more frequency. Ideally, cell phones should be left at home to discourage other students from taking them. However, I do understand that sometimes it is necessary for the students to bring them to school. In order to keep the cell phones from being a distraction students should:
o Turn off the phone
o Keep the phone in their coat or backpack
• Lip gloss – Girls bringing lip gloss and applying it throughout the day has been a distraction in the past. I have asked the girls to keep their lip gloss in their bags during the day. With the cold weather our skin can dry out, including our lips. I suggest bring Chap-stick or Vaseline to combat the dry lips. The lip gloss tends to be more fashionable than practical.

Poster board – I have asked that all students please bring a piece of poster board with them to school next week. We will be spending some time working on our science and reading portion of the exhibition.

Milestone #3 – Milestone #3 is due on Thursday, February 17th. Fun Friday will be on Friday, February 18th. We have been talking about the due date and the requirements daily in our Morning Meeting. The requirements for Milestone #3 are that ALL visual aids, for the interest (state) project, are completed and turned in. Examples have been sent home, and are on the classroom blog (mrslwmartinupa.blogspot.com) for assistance. If you have any questions about the requirements, please contact me as soon as possible.

Responsibility – We have been talking a lot in our class about taking responsibility for our actions. This is a concept discussed quite frequently in fourth and fifth grade. This conversation has mostly been centered on homework. We have had quite a few days where students have not completed their homework. We have also had some instances with students trying to sign papers for their parents. Please discuss with your student the importance of homework as well as not forging someone’s signature.

No School – There will be no school February 19th through February 27th. School resumes on Monday, February 28th. Enjoy your Mid-Winter Break!
Wax Museum – Students have been working on gathering information on poignant African Americans. The culminating activity is the students writing a paragraph about this person, memorizing it, and performing during the wax museum. The wax museum is scheduled for Tuesday, March 1st.