Monday, March 21, 2016

March 21-25, 2016
Runner, Athlete, Sprint, Race,
General Announcements:
  • On Friday, March 25th, we will have our 5K for Causes here at Brock’s Gap. The students have a flyer pertaining to this, but we are also attaching it here:  5K for Causes All students MUST have the 5K for Causes flyer signed by a parent to participate.  This is one of the best days of the year at Brock’s Gap!!  This is our version of a Field Day, and we will enjoy the day with our students!
  • Scroll down to see the schedule of our day on Friday!!
  • Our front office has created a document that will help as you navigate our recent rezoning changes.  Please see this link for information on what students will attend Brock’s Gap:  Brock's Gap Rezoning Information
  • Please check your child’s grades from time to time on INOW.  


Important Dates for This Week
  • Friday, March 25:  Brock’s Gap 5K (See Schedule Below!)


Important Curriculum Date
  • Thursday, March 24:  Language IXL Contract due
  • Thursday, March 24: Math Test on dividing Decimals by Whole Numbers, and possibly some on the metric system.

Looking Ahead
  • March 28-April 1: Spring Break
  • April 11-14:  Standardized Testing/ACT Aspire
  • April 14th:  Physical Maturation video and parent meeting at 5:30
  • April 19th: Fine Arts Night/PTO at 6:00-7:30 p.m.
  • April 21st:  Physical Maturation Lessons with students
  • May 2nd:  Elementary (5:30 -6:30) and Intermediate (6:30-7:30) Transition Night


Curriculum News:
Math News:
**Math: We are still working with decimals. Due to our testing schedule, I have decided that while we are learning about multiplying and dividing decimals, it would be a great time to talk about the metric system. This week, we will go back and forth between dividing decimals, and using our understanding of decimals to work within the metric system.
homework: Math Computation
Science News:
**Science: In science, we are wrapping up our look at how measuring mass and volume helps us determine density, and how that affects the buoyancy of substances. Knowing the density of certain objects, we can make fairly accurate predictions, as to whether something will float, or not. For our next big unit, we will begin to look at the connections and patterns we see with the stars in the night sky, our sun, and how the earth travels through space. We will specifically look at how constellations change over time, and the connection between the sun, seasons, and shadows.
homework: Look at the picture of the stars spinning in the night sky, from your Google Classroom Document, and be prepared to discuss reasons why the picture looks like it does!
Language Arts News:
Topics of Study -
**Reading: Our focus this week will focus on identifying the theme of a poem. Different activities include, reading poems around the room, completing task cards on various poems, listening and responding to poems being read aloud.


**Language/Language IXL- We will continue to work on skills that will be present on the ACT Aspire.  We will not have our usual morning work this week (DOL), but there will be an IXL contract due on Thursday to continue to practice important skills.  


Social Studies:
Topics of Study – We are continuing to learn about Westward Expansion.  Our blog has several resources of things we are studying/have covered.
                   
We hope everyone has a great week!

5K Day Friday, March 25:
8:10-8:25- Edge Tennis/Warm Up Station (basketball area of courtyard)
8:30-9:10- Start Line/Run (on the track)
9:15-9:35- Hydration Station (front tennis courts)
9:40-10:00- Concessions (concession stand at stadium)
10:00-10:45- Cheer (Stadium)
10:45-11:15 Lunch (in classroom)
11:20-11:52- Nutrition Station (in the cafeteria)
11:55-12:27- YMCA Fun (competition gym)
12:30-1:02- Tug-of-War (field by softball field)
1:05-1:37 Inflatables (on the Wonder Field near tennis court)
1:40- Everyone will go to stadium
1:45-2:30- Closing Ceremonies (in stadium)



Tuesday, March 15, 2016

March 14-18, 2016
General Announcements:
  • On Friday, March 25th, we will have our 5K for Causes here at Brock’s Gap. The students have a flyer pertaining to this, but we are also attaching it here:  5K for Causes  The cost is $20 and this covers a t-shirt, water bottle, and running packet.  This is payable on www.myschoolfees.com only. If you want your student to participate, and you are unable to access www.myschoolfees.com please let your homeroom teacher know.  All students MUST have the 5K for Causes flyer signed by a parent to participate.  This is one of the best days of the year at Brock’s Gap!!  This is our version of a Field Day, and we will enjoy the day with our students!
  • Extended Day's Spring Break Camp is open to interested BGIS students.  Please see the attached flyer.  The deadline to register has been extended until March 9, 2016. Extended Day Flyer
  • This evening, March 15, is Brock’s Gap night at Brixx.  We will get a proceed of all dine in or take out orders all day.  Please see the flyer here:  BRIXX BUXX FLYER
  • Hoover Elementary and Intermediate Transition Night will be held on Monday, May 2nd.  Elementary schools will be open from 5:30-6:30.   Brock’s Gap will be open from 6:30-7:30.  On this evening, all students can visit their new schools.  Students and parents can do the following:  school tours, Q & A with principals and counselors, classroom visits, and visit school areas for viewing.  This will take the place of transition field trips that usually take place in the Spring.
  • Our front office has created a document that will help as you navigate our recent rezoning changes.  Please see this link for information on what students will attend Brock’s Gap:  Brock's Gap Rezoning Information
  • Please check your child’s grades from time to time on INOW.

Important Dates for This Week
  • Tuesday, March 15:  FINAL Payment due on myschoolfees.com for the BGIS 5K ($20)
  • Tuesday, March 15:  Brixx Pizza Fundraiser
  • Wednesday, March 16:  Report Cards


Important Curriculum Date
  • Thursday, March 17th:  DOL Week 22 Test
  • Friday, March 18th:  Language IXL contract due


Looking Ahead
  • March 25:  BGIS 5K
  • March 28-April 1: Spring Break
  • April 11-14:  Standardized Testing/ACT Aspire
  • April 14th:  Physical Maturation video and parent meeting at 5:30
  • April 19th: Fine Arts Night/PTO at 6:00-7:30 p.m.
  • April 21st:  Physical Maturation Lessons with students
  • May 2nd:  Elementary (5:30 -6:30) and Intermediate (6:30-7:30) Transition Night


Curriculum News:
Math News:
**Math- We are moving to the last related part of fractions, decimals, and percents. We started looking at dividing decimals, today. This is a very difficult concept for them to learn, so there will not be a math quiz on it until sometime next week. I have started this by comparing the relationships and connections we can make to multiplying and dividing fractions. We will continue this thinking, as we also introduce the metric system, with its division and multiplication by powers of ten.
Homework: Math Computation
Science News:

**Science- We are connecting our understanding of volume and mass in helping us better understand density. With density, we will look more closely at buoyancy, or why things float or sink. Later, we will start to have some labs outside, as we talk about the relationship between shadows , the sun, and the earth.


Language Arts News:
Topics of Study -
**Reading:  We will continue locating the main idea and details this week and will begin to move to Theme.  It is important to know that we use main idea when reading nonfiction texts.  Theme is in fictional passages.  I have added lots of websites to get some extra practice on the Language Arts page of the blog.  Please encourage your child to spend time practicing these skills.   As a 5th grade, we are assessing the students each week with two passages and questions that resemble those on the ACT Aspire.  
Homework: Read, Read, Read!! Article questions due tomorrow!

**Language/Language IXL- We will continue to work on skills that will be present on the ACT Aspire.  We will not have our usual morning work next week, but there will be an IXL contract due on Friday to continue to practice important skills.  
Homework: All skills due on Friday!


Social Studies:
Topics of Study – We are continuing to learn about Westward Expansion, in particular Lewis and Clark's Exploration as well as Trails West.
                   
We hope everyone has a great week!

Monday, March 7, 2016

March 7-11, 2016
General Announcements:
  • Link for 5K for a Cause: Click Here to View/Print off form
  • We are so proud of our students and how excited they are about reading right now!  Please encourage them to keep reading their Reading Rally books!  We will begin voting for our favorite book on March 8th.  
  • On March 18, 2016 we will be donating all items in our lost and found to a non-profit organization.  Please ask your child to check lost and found for any lost items.
  • Extended Day's Spring Break Camp is open to interested BGIS students.  Please see the attached flyer.  The deadline to register has been extended until March 9, 2016. Extended Day Flyer
  • Please check your child’s grades from time to time on INOW.  
  • Additional information on rezoning has been added to the following website:  HOOVER REZONING WEBSITE.


Important Curriculum Dates This Week
  • Thursday, March 9:  Language Test
  • Friday, March 11:  Greek and Latin Roots Unit 8 Test


Looking Ahead
  • March 8, 9, 10:  Voting for Favorite Reading Madness book
  • March 11:  Winner of Reading Madness Announced
  • March 16:  Report Cards Come Home
  • March 28-April 1: Spring Break
  • April 11-14:  Standardized Testing/ACT Aspire
  • April 14th:  Physical Maturation video and parent meeting at 5:30
  • April 19th: Fine Arts Night/PTO at 6:00-7:30 p.m.
  • April 21st:  Physical Maturation Lessons with students


Curriculum News:

  • Friday, March 11- Math Test on Dividing Fractions
Math News:
**Math: I have been very impressed with the quick understanding of multiplying and dividing fractions. The class has done a great job. We will continue to work with this concept, but focus it more with problem solving and multi-step word problems. Our next area of study will take us into the metric system, where our understanding of decimals and powers of ten will help us tremendously.
Math Homework: Math Computation 
Science News:
**Science: We are still talking about matter, and will start a new hands-on lab dealing with mass, volume, and density. We will use this knowledge to help us better understand buoyancy.
Language Arts News:
Topics of Study -
**Reading:  Our focus this week will be locating the main idea and details from a passage.  It is important to know that we use main idea when reading nonfiction texts; we use theme in fictional passages.  
Homework: Read, read, read!


**Greek and Latin Roots:  We will begin Unit 8 this week.  Definitions were passed out today to use with activities for the rest of the week.
Homework: Look over the definitions/word for the week


**Language/Language IXL- We will continue to work on skills that will be part of the ACT Aspire.  Continue to encourage completion of Language IXL.
*For the first skill on Monday's DOL, the students only have to reach 60! We had LOTS of time to work on this in class and most finished already.

Social Studies:
Topics of Study – We finished our study of New American Government last week. Today we began our study of Westward Expansion, which will carry on for the next several weeks.
                   
We hope everyone has a great week!