Beginning of the Year Greetings!

Greetings!
We are off to a great start in 5H. This week, we've begun to take a more academic path, diving into our math curriculum, getting spelling going, continuing to increase our reading stamina, and showing some of our writing knowledge. Please expect that the demands will increase gradually over the next couple weeks.

Potato Olympics!
Our afternoons have been dedicated to community building, sportsmanship, and a little bit of world news from the 2016 Summer Olympics. We've begun our own Olympics-inspired project -- Potato Olympics! Thank you, families, for your potato donations!

"Best Spuds"

The Germans

Italia

Homework: Please expect one page of math and 25 minutes of reading per night. Students will also have a spelling words list to practice as well as one spelling worksheet due on Fridays. Soon, I will be requiring a reading log, and may ask for signatures if it seems kids need help with accountability.

Open house is September 15th. I look forward to meeting you!

Band will be starting next week -- please check out the paperwork which will be sent home tomorrow. (*It should have been sent home today, but I set it down on my way to pick children up from Art, and forgot to pass it out when we returned.)  An Instrument Rental Night will be held directly following Open House on the 15th and the hope is for band to begin the next day.

Summer Reading

I hope your children have a happy and fulfilling summer. I always like to encourage reading so they can keep up with their skills.

This week I read the first chapter (or a little more) of a few books to pique their interest in some books I've enjoyed.

*Three Times Lucky

*The Luck Uglies

*The Phantom Tollbooth

Other books I've recently enjoyed:

*Walk Two Moons

*Out of My Mind

*Bridge to Terabithia 

*The Giver

*Stargirl

*Wringer

The Mustard Seed bookstore keeps a current selection of popular titles for children, including a section of Maine Student Book Award books. Patten Free Library also has an amazing children's wing and would be able to provide your child assistance in selecting an appropriate book for his/her interests and abilities.

This graphic provides a good visual for why it is important not to skip out on independent reading during the school year; however, I feel it could support why reading over the summer is not only a good choice, but a necessary one in keeping skills sharp.

May your summers be filled with fun, sun, and good books!!!

From First Day to Last Day

From the first day until the very last, I have loved you all. You have grown so much, and I am so proud of how far you have come. I wish you all the best in middle school and beyond!!

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...” ― Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You'll Go!

Mother's Day

Wishing a marvelous Mother's Day weekend to all of our magnificent moms!

Parents' Night at Bath Middle School

You are invited to ………

Bath Middle School

Parents’ Night

Tuesday, May 3^rd at 6:00 pm

Located at the

 Bath Middle School

• Come learn about what your child’s 6^th grade year will entail!

• Meet the Principal, Assistant Principal, School Guidance Counselor, Social Worker, and sixth grade teachers!

• Go on a tour of the Middle School!

• Bring any questions you have about the transition to middle school!

BMS Parents’ Night at 6:00 pm.

6 Old Brunswick Road, Bath, ME 04530

www.bms.rsu1.org

(207) 443-8270

Math Practice -- Multiplication Fluency

Many students at conferences mentioned they would like to work on practicing their math facts. Some suggestions that came up included:

• Timed tests (multiplication problem drills)
• http://www.math-aids.com/Multiplication/Times_Tables_Timed_Drill.html
• Flash cards (create your own using index cards, or purchase at Dollar Tree
• Worksheets
• http://www.softschools.com/math/worksheets/multiplication_worksheets.jsp
• Math games 
• http://resources.oswego.org/games/mathmagician/cathymath.html
• http://www.multiplication.com/games/all-games
• http://www.mathplayground.com/index_multiplication_division.html

Developing fluency/automaticity with multiplication facts can make higher math much easier and more efficient!

Save the Dates

We have many exciting happenings between now and the end of school. Please mark your calendars!

May 3rd - Parent's Night at BMS 6-7PM - Meet the teachers, take a tour, ask questions! 

May 5th - Transition to Middle School Talk - Middle schoolers and Guidance Counselor come to Fisher-Mitchell from 12:45-1:30 to talk with 5th graders about the transition to BMS.

May 10th -BMS Step Up Day - We will visit BMS 9:30-10:30 for a tour.

May 14th (Saturday) - Archery Tournament - Qualifying students will bring home more information.

May 19th - KELT Alewives Run Field Trip - Hoskins/Bakutis Classes go to Woolwich 12:45-2:15 to watch the alewives run. This supports our grade level’s Three Books, One School book title. 

May 24th and May 25th - Three Books, One School Workshops - Artist Rebekah Raye will come to FMS for workshops with our students on May 24th and 25th. On Wednesday, May 25th, there will be a book signing and activities from 8:30-9:15 (before school).

May 31st - LOCAL Community Garden Field Trip - Service Learning Field Trip 9:15-10:15am

June 10th - Boston Field Trip - 8:25am-6:00pm.

Wednesday, June 15th - Half Day - Last Day of School