Upcoming Events

There are a few upcoming events for you to know about.

• On Monday, March 26th, the third, fourth, and fifth grades will take part in the Freedom Trail Scholars Program where we will learn about significant events that were part of the birth of our nation. This program is supported by grants from the Becket and Washington Cultural Councils which are local agencies supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. 
• The fifth grade and Becket Washington PTO are sponsoring a 1950's sock hop on April 13th. The fifth graders will be in charge of decorations, advertisements, and food. They are very excited about this event whose proceeds will benefit their end-of-year events.
• In preparation for the Fifth Grade Moving Up day on the last day of school, I am asking for 3 -4 pictures of your child through the years. One photo should be a baby picture. You can share these with me digitally or you can send the photos in so I can scan them and then return them to you. Please look for a letter tomorrow with preliminary information regarding this very special day.

We Are Past the Halfway Point!!

It is difficult to think that we are closing in on the 100th day of the school year, but according to our first graders, this is the case.

In fifth grade, we have a few noteworthy things going on. First, we all would like to welcome Marisa Sprague from MCLA who is completing her certification requirements by student teaching with us until early May. Marisa will slowly take control of the entire class under my supervision. Currently, she has taken over math instruction and will take the reins in social studies next week. This is a wonderful opportunity for all students because we will be able to give them much more individualized attention at a crucial time of the school year.

The second noteworthy item in fifth grade is that we have begun a Legacy Project. Many of the students have spent their entire school career at Becket Washington School and are nearing the end of this time. As a way to give back to the school and benefit those who will be students long after these fifth graders have moved on, we are creating a library of QR coded audio books. Students are working with partners to read and record picture books for our younger readers. This QR library is being shared with pre-school, kindergarten, first grade, and the library. We hope that these books will be listened to and read for many years to come.

The Annual Becket Washington School 

Food Drive

Beginning November 27th and running through December 7th, Becket Washington School will be collecting non-perishables to benefit the Parish of Becket Food Pantry. Please consider a contribution to assist us in this community service project. No donation is too small. 

Second Quarter Has Begun

Wow!! Where did the first quarter go? 

With the start of the second quarter, we have begun our nonfiction reading and writing units. These units will be integrated with social studies and science. In social studies, we are learning about the pre-Columbian civilizations of the Aztecs, the Mayas, and the Incas. This will then lead to native Americans. In science, we are finishing up Living Systems and will soon begin Earth and Sun.

The Chromebook pilot program is off to a good start with students being very responsible for their devices. We have almost figured out how to work on Docs offline which will mean that you will be seeing your child doing more schoolwork on them.

DATES TO REMEMBER

    Book Fair         November 6-9 

                               Fifth grade will visit on November 9th

    Parent Teacher

    Conferences       November 7 Early dismissal

    Veterans Day      November 10 No School

     B.O.C.               November 15

                               Need snack, lunch, drink, and appropriate                                         clothing and footwear.

     Thanksgiving

     Break                November 22 is a 1/2 day. No school on the                                       23rd or 24th.

     Picture 

     Make-up           November 30.

                               You must return the original picture packet.

CHROMEBOOK  PARENT MEETING

I wanted to remind everyone that on October 3rd, we will have a parent meeting to launch the pilot program of bringing Chromebooks home. 

The meeting begins at 6:30 P.M. and will take place in room 212.

Fifth Grade Makerspace

We need your help in stocking our fifth grade makerspace. A makerspace is an area where students can create, invent, and learn. Often times, a challenge may presented and students are asked to create a strategy to accomplish that challenge, carry it out; often times with a partner, and then revise the plan based upon the outcomes.

                                         

Below is a list of suggested supplies which would greatly improve the class makerspace. If you can help, just send materials in with your child. As you will see, many of the items on the list are materials that are often times thrown away or recycled.

Makerspace

Materials Needed

Can you help us stock our fifth grade makerspace? We need any small interesting materials. Below are some suggestions.

Small boxes Paper towel tubes Tape

Pipe cleaners Corks Popsicle sticks

Toothpicks Sponges Paper cups

Wire Straws Clay

Playing cards Beads Egg cartons

Foil Waxed paper Plastic tubing

Short pieces of plastic piping Floral wire

Rubber bands Q-Tips Paper plates

Cupcake liners Duct tape Cotton balls

Buttons Velcro sticky dots Coffee filters

Welcome to the New School Year

The year has begun very well and we have already jumped right into the fifth grade curriculum. Below are some important upcoming dates:

• PTO Meeting: September 6, 2017   6:30 P.M.
• Open House September 12, 2017    6:30-7:30
• Early Dismissal September 15, 2017                        11:20 A.M
• Becket Outdoor Center October 17, 2017