Week of October 1-5

In MUR...
This week we will be reading the story "The Gold Coin" from our Jr. Great Books curriculum. We will work on our critical thinking skills and show them off in our seminar on Friday. Students are graded by participation in the seminar discussion.
Students who missed words on last week's spelling test will be retested on those words on Friday. Make sure that you sign the spelling sheet to say that your child worked on these words throughout the week.
We will also continue working in our Analytical Grammar packets focusing on nouns the first week.

In MUM...
This week we will wrap up Chapter Two: Estimation with a short quiz. Then we will move into Chapter Three: Whole Number Multiplication and Division. Students will be learning about multi-digit multiplication and long division.
Students will receive math homework on Monday that is due by Friday. This packet will contain a few basic fact worksheets and will also contain a few pages on the topic that we are working on during the week. There may also be homework that comes home during the week, of in class work is not finished in class. This work will be due the following day.
Please check Infinite Campus grades regularly at home so you can keep up with how your child isdoing in class. 

In Writing...
This week we will learn how to write a friendly letter. We will be sending these letters to pen pals in Massachusetts! We will correspond with these pen pals throughout the year.
We will also be spending 1-2 days per week in the lab working on our typing skills. The free website that we will use is http://www.freetypinggame.net if you would like to access it at home. Another great site that you can encourage your child to use at home is called http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/.

In History...
In history we will be doing the first two units which are on mapping and world mountains. Students will learn how to read a map and about different kinds of maps during the mapping unit and will learn about the tallest mountains in the world and how mountains affect people, weather, and how we live in the mountains unit.
There will be a small quiz after each unit which will last about 2 weeks. 
The mapping quiz is this Tuesday, October 2nd. Please see the email that I sent with the study guide for more information.

In Literature Circles...
We will start practicing the process of literature circles as a whole group over the first few weeks of school. Students will be learning and practicing the roles in order to be prepared for small group/independent work. We will start by reading the book "Among the Hidden" by Margaret Peterson Haddix.

What we are reading for read aloud...
I always kick of the year by reading one on my favorite books called "The Underneath" by Kathi Appelt. We started the story today, and the students are already very excited to keep reading! 

Week of September 24-28

In MUR...
This week we will be working in our Wordly Wise books on Lesson Two. Students will also be assigned these words as their spelling homework for the week. Students will be given a test on the vocabulary words and definitions on Friday.
Spelling homework will be sent home Monday and is due Friday.
We will also continue working in our Analytical Grammar packets focusing on nouns the first week. Expect to see grammar homework throughout the week.

In MUM...
This week we will continue to work on Unit Two: Estimation. Students will learn all about factors and multiples.
Students will receive math homework on Monday that is due by Friday. This packet will contain a few basic fact worksheets and will also contain a few pages on the topic that we are working on during the week. There may also be homework that comes home during the week, of in class work is not finished in class. This work will be due the following day.
Please check Infinite Campus grades regularly at home so you can keep up with how your child isdoing in class. 

In Writing...
We will continue to work on the 6 + 1 Traits of Writing topic of Word Choice. Students will write a tribute poem that using great word choice to describe someone that they cherish in their lives.
We will also be spending 1-2 days per week in the lab working on our typing skills. The free website that we will use is http://www.freetypinggame.net if you would like to access it at home. Another great site that you can encourage your child to use at home is called http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/.

In History...
This week Mrs. Slavik's group will start with me and my students will be going to her for science. They will be doing a unit on meteorology. See her blog for more information.
In history we will be doing the first two units which are on mapping and world mountains. Students will learn how to read a map and about different kinds of maps during the mapping unit and will learn about the tallest mountains in the world and how mountains affect people, weather, and how we live in the mountains unit.
There will be a small quiz after each unit which will last about 2 weeks. 

In Literature Circles...
We will start practicing the process of literature circles as a whole group over the first few weeks of school. Students will be learning and practicing the roles in order to be prepared for small group/independent work. We will start by reading the book "Among the Hidden" by Margaret Peterson Haddix.

What we are reading for read aloud...
I always kick of the year by reading one on my favorite books called "The Underneath" by Kathi Appelt. We started the story today, and the students are already very excited to keep reading! 

Spirit Week Reminder

Spirit Week Starts MONDAY!

Monday: Comfy Clothes Day (this is in lieu of PJ Day in an attempt to keep it appropriate for all staff and students. Younger grades can still think of this as PJ Day). Crazy hair is also allowed

Tuesday: Dream Job Day

Wednesday: Picture Pizzazz Day! Dress your best

Thursday—Sports Day

Friday—School T-Shirts and jeans

***School T-Shirts will be delivered early next week and sent home with students before Friday. J

Jeans are allowed if it matches that day’s description (for example, you can wear jeans with a jersey on Thursday). However, if students don’t participate in the day, they must wear a uniform. It is not a free dress day.

Staff has permission to wear jeans on Monday if you find them comfy. J

Have a great Weekend!

Week of September 17-21

In MUR...
This week we will start working with the Jr. Great Books curriculum. Students will read the story, "Thank You Ma'am" by Langston Hughes. We will be reading the story, coming up with critical thinking questions about the story, and then ending the week with a discussion seminar about the story as a whole group. Students will be assessed based on their participation in class during the week and their participation during the seminar.
There is no spelling homework on the weeks that we use Jr. Great Books.
We will also continue working in our Analytical Grammar packets focusing on nouns the first week. Expect to see grammar homework throughout the week.

In MUM...
This week we are going to continue going through Unit One: Place Value of Whole Numbers and also move onto Unit Two: Estimation. We will continue to work with number patterns and ordering numbers and then get into estimation and rounding.
Students will receive math homework on Monday that is due by Friday. This packet will contain a few basic fact worksheets and will also contain a few pages on the topic that we are working on during the week. There may also be homework that comes home during the week, of in class work is not finished in class. This work will be due the following day.

In Writing...
We will continue to work on the 6 + 1 Traits of Writing topic of Word Choice. Students will write a tribute poem that using great word choice to describe someone that they cherish in their lives.
We will also be spending 1-2 days per week in the lab working on our typing skills. The free website that we will use is http://www.freetypinggame.net if you would like to access it at home. Another great site that you can encourage your child to use at home is called http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/.

In History...
This week Mrs. Roth's group will continue the first two unit in the history books, which are all about geography. We will be learning all about maps and famous world mountains. These units will take the first three weeks of school to get through and then Mrs. Slavik's class will join me for round two.

In Literature Circles...
We will start practicing the process of literature circles as a whole group over the first few weeks of school. Students will be learning and practicing the roles in order to be prepared for small group/independent work. We will start by reading the book "Among the Hidden" by Margaret Peterson Haddix.

What we are reading for read aloud...
I always kick of the year by reading one on my favorite books called "The Underneath" by Kathi Appelt. We started the story today, and the students are already very excited to keep reading! 

Spirit Week - September 24-28

Spirit Week is just around the corner!

Monday: Comfy Clothes Day. Crazy hair is also allowed.

Tuesday: Dream Job Day

Wednesday: Picture Pizzazz Day! Dress your best

Thursday: Sports Day

Friday: School T-Shirts and jeans

Please take note:

Jeans are allowed if it matches that day’s description (for example, you can wear jeans with a jersey on Thursday). However, if students don’t participate in the day, they must wear a uniform. It is not a free dress day.

 

Let's Win a Computer Lab!

Congratulations Cologne Academy! You are a finalist in our Minnesota Computers for Schools Computer Lab Contest!

A committee reviewed the essays and Cologne Academy was voted among the top 5 finalists based on your essay showing a proven need that access to computers will help students develop the skills, knowledge and confidence required for success in school, their community and future career endeavors.

Now that you have made it into the finals it is time to rally the troops for attendance at the Guinness World Record for 'Largest Mobile Gaming Party' on Saturday, September 15, 2012.

As stated in the contest rules, a committee did review the essays and determined the top 5. Those essays will be posted on the Roseville Visitors Association Facebook page by September 10, 2012.  The final winner will be judged by the number of votes received at the Guinness World Records Angry Birds Attempt on Saturday, September 15, 2012.

Each attendee will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite school...so the more people your school can involve in the World Records attempt the more votes you will have. Limit one vote per person. We also highly encourage you to participate in our record breaking attempt!

Minnesota Computers for Schools Executive Director Tamara Gillard will make the presentation to the winning school after the Guinness World Record Awards ceremony presentation.

Parent Involvement Night September 25th

Parent Involvement is one of Cologne Academy's Core Principles. All parents and guardians are invited to participate in a Parent Involvement Night on Tuesday, September 25th from 6:30 to 7:30pm. We have planned an interesting mix of activities, including an introduction of room parents, opportunities to get to know other families and Special Education information. This event is brought to you by a subcommittee of the school board in conjunction with the special education staff.

Thanks all, we appreciate the hard work you bring to ensure the best educational opportunities for all students at our school, and for your efforts to partner with parents to achieve this goal.

Parent Involvement Night Committee Members – Melissa Mase, Julie Olson, Lisa Schlough