Updates: Week 2

Thank you for taking the time to stop by our blog and read about what's going on in 5th Grade. Please be sure to check the Google Calendar that is linked at the top of the blog for important updates. 

Announcements

• 3rd-5th Grade Curriculum Night will be this Thursday, September 2, from 6:30-7:30. (Each grade will be in a different room. We will email later this week about which room we will be in.) During this evening, we will share a presentation with important details, guidelines, and procedures for 5th grade. We will share our presentation after Curriculum Night, so if you aren't able to make it, you'll still be able to access the information. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. 
• If you have not yet done so, please take a few minutes to complete your child's Student Information Form online. Your teacher has emailed this link out to you, but if you do not have it, please email them for it. This is a very important document and we really appreciate you completing it. 
• This Tuesday, the 5th graders will have the opportunity to attend an information meeting to learn more about Safety Patrol. Once we have the meeting, Mr. Shelby will begin to create a schedule for all those participating. We will share that schedule on this blog once we have it. Thank you, in advance, to all of the 5th graders (and their families) that have volunteered to participate. If you have not yet seen the letter that went home regarding safety patrol, you may access it here. 

Classroom Communities

• We have worked hard to foster safe and comfortable learning communities in our classrooms through various activities during the first week. One of the activities we did was to invite the learners to create their own class code. Ask your learner about his/her class code! 
• Last Friday, the learners participated in Growth Mindset stations. During this activity, they learned about a growth mindset vs. a fixed mindset. Ask your learner if he/she can tell you the difference! 
• We have emphasized that at TCE, we are one big family. In keeping with that theme, we will be showcasing family pictures in our classrooms again this year. If you have not already done so, please send a picture of your family to your child's teacher. You may email the picture or send in a printed picture. Thank you for your help with this! 

Curriculum Tidbits

Math

This week in Math we will be focusing on Whole Number Operations. The learners will be reviewing multiplication and division concepts.

Science

This week in Science we will be continuing our discussion of science writing, the scientific method, and the Engineering Design Process.

Reading

In reading, we will take the data from our genre pretest to create self-paced blended learning opportunities based on learner needs. Once the learners have learned about each of the genres, they will be able to create a small project to share what they've learned.

Writing

Last week the learners started the year with two writing assignments! They wrote about the legacy they want to leave at TCE, and their personal hopes and dreams. Be on the look out for these displayed in your learner's classrooms. This next week we will begin our narrative writing unit. We are excited to dive back into the narrative writing process and watch as our learners get creative with their writing.

Social Studies

Last week we started our first unit of the year: Geography. This week we will begin to dive into our study of map tools and the physical geography of the United States!

Finally, thank you again for taking the time to read our blog. We know how important it is for our TCE families to know what is happening at school! If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to ask. Our contact information is linked below for your convenience.

5A Morgan Peccarelli - mpeccarelli@coppellisd.com

5B Kate Seifert - kseifert@coppellisd.com

5C Marly Natherson - mnatherson@coppellisd.com

5D Jenna Taylor - jltaylor@coppellisd.com

Important Papers Coming Home/Student Info Forms

Please be on the look out for a few important papers that have been sent home with your learner. The first is a pink packet, and it includes our Responsible Use Policy. The second is a neon yellow paper, and it is a Safety Patrol permission slip. You may read more about Safety Patrol on that letter, and you and your family may decide if your son/daughter will sign up. 

Both of these forms are due this Friday, August 26th. 

Finally, please make sure that you have completed the Student Information form that your child's teacher has emailed about. If you do not have the link, please don't hesitate to email and ask your child's homeroom teacher as this is an important piece of communication and safety for us. 

We hope you and your family have enjoyed the first week of school as much as we have! 

Meet Miss Seifert

Hi! My name is Kate Seifert and this is my fourth year of teaching and my third year to be teaching at Town Center. I am so excited to get to share in your learner’s 5th grade year!

I grew up in Coppell, Texas and graduated from Coppell High School in 2008. After high school I attended the University of Arkansas (GO HOGS!), where I earned my Master of Arts in Teaching. In my spare time I love spending time with my friends and family, watching movies, spending time outside walking or riding my bike, and listening to great music.

Meet Miss Taylor

My name is Jenna Taylor. I am so excited to be teaching at TCE for my third year!

I grew up in Garland, TX with a large family. I am lucky enough to have the support of three wonderful parents: my mother, father, and step-father. I also have three brothers and one sister.

During my first two years of college I moved to east Texas where I had the amazing opportunity to attend Kilgore College as a Rangerette. I then packed my bags and moved west where I attended Texas Tech University. In May 2014, I graduated with my Bachelor's degree in Education and began teaching in Coppell that fall.

In my free time I love practicing yoga, cooking, reading, and watching movies!

Meet Miss Peccarelli

Hi! My name is Morgan Peccarelli and this is my third year to be teaching at Town Center! I have previously taught first grade and fourth grade and I am very excited to be teaching fifth grade this year!

I grew up in Coppell, Texas and graduated from The University of Oklahoma where I studied Elementary Education. I have recently decided to continue my education at SFA where I am pursuing a master's degree in educational leadership.

When I am not at work or studying, I enjoying spending time with my sister and parents. My sister recently graduated with her Doctoral degree in cell and molecular biology and lives in Arizona. I have loved visiting her and her new puppy!

Meet Miss Natherson

Hello! My name is Marly Natherson, and this will be my ninth year teaching at Town Center. I really love having the opportunity to loop with my learners, and I’m looking forward to an exciting and enjoyable year in fifth grade.

I, too, am a Coppell High School grad, and I studied Elementary Education at the University of Texas at Austin. When I’m not teaching, I am often spending time with my adorable nieces and nephew, traveling to some fun new place, catching a movie at Alamo Drafthouse, trying to learn how to better use my fancy camera, painting and crafting, or spending time with my friends.

With my large and blended family at my niece's second birthday party

Exploring and taking pictures in Palo Duro Canyon

I love being Aunt Marly!