Friday, August 28, 2020

Welcome! Thank you for taking the time to read our blog. We hope this communication will be helpful for you and your family. 

School Supply Pick Up

For our families that will be continuing with virtual learning after September 8th, we will be offering supply pick up on Friday, September 4th. More information about this can be found in the principal blog. In order to accommodate for these two windows of time, we will be altering our learning schedule for Friday, September 4th. Zooms won't start until 8:00, and they will all be over by 2:30. 

Principal Blog

Our Principal, Ms. Martin, has a Principal blog. We recommend reading this blog each time it's emailed as it is full of important information. 

Friday, August 21

Friday, August 28

District Return to School Site

Coppell ISD continues to update their Return to School site. We recommend checking this site periodically for updates as well. 

September 3rd from 5:00-6:00 PM

Virtual Curriculum Night 

September 7th 

Labor Day Holiday - No School

September 8th

First face to face learning day for families that selected that option via the CISD Commitment Form

Please reference the Scope & Sequence in the Course Information folder in each subject course for the upcoming content schedules. 

Each course has its own Scope and Sequence. Each document is organized by weeks and includes the learning objectives/skills for the week. 

Schoology Calendar & Zoom Links

All Zoom links and times will be stored in the calendar feature of Schoology. 

(See image below).

Checking Submissions, Scores, & Teacher Feedback

Want to know if your child has submitted all of their assignments for this week? Watch this video to learn about how to check submissions, scores/grades, and read teacher feedback. We know that it is really important for the kids to receive feedback from us, and we want to be sure they know where to find it. 

Signing Into Zoom 

Please see the following message from Coppell ISD: 

Starting Monday, Aug. 31, CISD will be requiring all learners to sign into Zoom using their CISD email address. This change will allow for better classroom management and will limit disruptions in the event the meeting link is shared to people outside of the district.

If your child is using a Zoom account not associated with their CISD email address, the next time they sign in, they will need to use their CISD login information — g.coppellisd.com or newtech.coppellisd.com —  to join the meeting. We have created documentation for signing into Zoom with their CISD login information, which can be found here: https://coppellisdhelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360053328653.

If your learner is already using their CISD email address to sign into Zoom, they will need to consolidate their account to be managed by the district. We have created documentation for consolidating the Zoom account, which can be found here: https://coppellisdhelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360052551674.

 

We have loved starting our day with live class meetings each day. We thought we'd highlight a few of the lessons we've had. 

Seven Habits of Happy Kids

We have started teaching our kids about the seven habits of happy kids, starting with the first habit: Be proactive. In these discussions, we've talked about "choosing our weather" and taking initiative. Ask your son/daughter what it means to "choose their weather." 

Circle of Control 

We also talked about our circle of control. We talked about things we can and can't control and how understanding this can help us to choose our weather and make the best of the day. 

Class Creeds

Finally, we want you to know that each class worked together to write a class creed last week. We are so impressed with the amazing ideas the kids shared about their vision and hope for their class. 

  

Thank you for taking the time to read our blog! 

 

Week of February 24

Welcome! Thank you for visiting our blog and taking the time to read this communication. We appreciate you!

March 2nd-6th: Spring Book Fair

March 5th: Spring Picture Day

March 5th: Open House from 5:30-7:00 PM

March 9th-13th: Spring Break

April 3rd: All Sky Ranch Paperwork due

April 7th: 5th Grade Math STAAR Test

April 8th: 5th Grade Reading STAAR Test

February Coupon

This year, we gave the students a coupon book with a coupon for each month. The coupon for February is in the image above. We plan to let the students use this coupon on Friday, February 28.  

Spring Book Fair

Lions, and Tigers and Books Oh My! Our Spring book fair is March 2nd - 6th, and we would love to have parents volunteer.  Please sign up on the link below. If you're interested in signing up to volunteer in the book fair, visit this link.  

Friendship Friday

A quick reminder that we will be having Friendship Friday every Friday for the rest of the year. 

Yearbook Pictures

Upcoming Parent Book Club

Our counselor and librarian will facilitate a parent book club this Spring in the Town Center library, and we would love for you to attend! It will be a great time to get to know and collaborate with other parents. The book study will start towards the end of March and go through April. It will be a total of five sessions, with each session lasting one hour. All participants will receive a free copy of the book, and it will be yours to keep. If you are interested in attending/learning more, please fill out this link. This will help us pick the day that works best for everyone and gauge interest in the book club. (This information is also in Ms. Martin's Principal Blog. If you complete the form on her blog, you don't have to complete it again here.) 

Our Spring Book Club Book:

Teach Your Children Well - Why Values and Coping Skills Matter More Than Grades, Trophies, or "Fat Envelopes"

6th Grade Parent Meeting - CMS West 

Please see the image below regarding a 5th Grade Parent Meeting at West. This meeting is only for parents of incoming 6th graders at Coppell Middle School West. As we receive information about parent meetings at East & North, we will share that information here. If you are unsure as to which middle school your son/daughter will attend, please contact Laura Fairchild, our Principal's Secretary, or Kelly Matlock, our Counselor. 

6th Grade Parent Meeting - CMS East

Colt Camp for all incoming 6th graders and their families will be on Wednesday, April 29  6-7:30 pm at East.  More details to come! 

Photos for 5th Grade Graduation Slideshow

The 5th grade room parents have created Google photo folders where you can start uploading photos of your learners with their TCE friends to be used for the 5th Grade Slideshow at the end of the year. The ideal photos to upload are of groups of 3 or more and have Town Center 5th graders in them. Please use the links below to upload photos to your homeroom teacher's album.

5A Schaaf: https://photos.app.goo.gl/MKzHHRr5ZM539zW89

5B Foroodi: https://photos.app.goo.gl/EKppkUJuzWkkVW23A

5C Natherson: https://photos.app.goo.gl/xb4Lyjm3zVrnUhGGA

5D Taylor: https://photos.app.goo.gl/NJgD6S8Ef7JyYKh49

Please click here for a digital version of the Sky Ranch information packet. The forms that will need to be filled out are towards the back of the packet. Please ask your homeroom teacher if you have any questions!

For access to a digital Google Folder that includes all of the required forms to be filled out and returned, please click here. 

Please remember that the required Sky Ranch forms are not due until April 3rd, 2020. However the sooner you get them in the better!

As you know, we have a payment plan for our Sky Ranch trip. You can view the information letter here. The third payment of $50 was due Friday, February 7th. You may pay by cash, check, or online via this link. Please contact your homeroom teacher or Mrs. Ford, the Assistant Principal, if you would like to discuss payment plans. 

Math
In math next week, we will be wrapping up our coordinate planes unit and moving to a unit on 2D figures. We are looking forward to beginning to explore types of triangles, lines, and angles. Be sure to check out the math practice sheet in the "homework" section of the blog for ways you can support your learner's skills!

Science

In Science next week, we will be exploring the characteristics of the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Learners will complete activities about the patterns found in our world and how they affect each other.

Language Arts & Reading
In reading, learners will deepen their research by developing more complex questions, as well as annotating their notes to create more purposeful reading. In writing, learners will read different information about chocolate milk that may shift their opinion. They will research more and take notes on their thoughts, opinions, and questions they have. You could help us out by talking to your son/daughter about claims, reasons, and evidence! In Spelling, we have just started a brief study of Greek roots. Ask your son or daughter to tell you about the Greek roots phon & graph.

Social Studies
In social studies next week, we will be learning about the Louisiana Purchase, which was land that the United States purchased. We will also learn about the events during the War of 1812.

As a reminder, all of the activities listed below are optional resources for you and your family. 

Math

With our state assessment quickly approaching on April 7th, we would like to begin providing some optional homework opportunities for the learners to practice the format and question set up they will see on the end of the year state assessment. Please click here to access a collection of mini-assessments on a variety of topics. For this upcoming week, we recommend learners work on pages 15-18. You will also find an answer key. Please let us know if you have any questions!

Reading & Language Arts

We would love for your son/daughter to spend time reading at home! They can read any text that catches their interest. We are currently in our Argument & Advocacy Unit, so persuasive texts, debates, or nonfiction articles would be advised. You can check out some interesting debate topics here.

Here are a couple of websites that offer current event articles targeted towards preteens and teens. With your guidance, they could choose articles of interest to read.

• NewsELA
• Dogo News
• Time for Kids

Updates: Week of March 5

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

• Open House - We would love for you and your family to come to visit our classrooms for Open House this Thursday, March 9th, from 5:30-7:00 PM. 

• The Book Fair is open all week this week. 

• Donuts with Dudes will be this Tuesday, March 7th & Wednesday, March 8th.
• As a reminder, we will have Spring Break from Monday, March 13-17th. 
• We will take the Math & Reading STAAR tests a week after we return from Spring Break on March 28 & 29th. 
• Coppell offers a great summer program called Camp Invention. Check this link to learn more about this opportunity. 

Sky Ranch Updates

• Please see our Sky Ranch flyer for updates and details about our trip. Within this flyer, we have included a link to our payment letter and a place for you to ask questions about the trip (should you feel the need). 
• The final payment of $50 is due Friday, March 10th. After this payment, your paid balance should be $200. If you are unable to make these payments, please reach out to your son/daughter's homeroom teacher.  Of course, we understand that sometimes budgets can be tight and it may be hard to make the payment by that date, and we are happy to help if we can, but we do need for you to communicate with us rather than just not pay. In addition, all paperwork is due on March 10th. Thank you for understanding! 

Coppell Middle School North Visits

• Coppell Middle School North counselors will be coming to visit our 5th graders on the morning of April 5th to talk about the transition to middle school and course selection. 
• In addition, we will be taking the fifth graders to North for an elective showcase on April 3rd. We will have more information about this trip in the weeks to follow. 
• Finally, please see the following flyer about a guest speaker at Coppell Middle School North. You can learn more about the speaker, Michelle Icard, here and here. 

Curriculum Tidbits
*We hope that you will periodically check our Twitter accounts as we tweet glimpses of what we're learning in class. You can find our tweets by searching the hashtag #tce5th or by going to our individual pages.

Math

In math, we have started our unit over geometry and measurement. We will be covering how to find the perimeter, area, and volume of 2D and 3D shapes, as well as how to convert measurement.

Science

In science, the learners have started a research project over fossil fuels and alternative energy resources (non-renewable and renewable). This project will wrap up our unit over Earth’s Changing Surface.

Reading, Writing, & Spelling

In reading, we will continue to review various genres such as drama, poetry, and nonfiction. 

In writing, we will continue to explore persuasive writing by researching both sides of an issue and developing arguments. 

Social Studies

We are learning about the various events that angered the colonists and eventually lead to the American Revolution. The learners will be working on creating a digital timeline to review what they have learned and how each of the Acts & events have affected American History. 

Homework Tidbits

• Reading Homework: 
• We are counting down the weeks until STAAR! Starting this week we will have your learners studying STAAR Reading vocabulary words for homework. They will also be exposed to these words during the school days and will be assessed on Fridays. 
• In addition, we will be starting our weekly Article of the Week (AOW) homework this week. If you were here last year, this homework will look similar to last year's homework. The learners will be provided with a current events article, and they will have specific tasks to accomplish each night. 
• Weekly Spelling List - Quiz on Friday: As a note, the learners do have a weekly spelling list that they are expected to study throughout the week. We include "Study for Spelling Quiz" in the homework section of our daily agendas, so if every your learner says they don't have homework, they do. While we do cover spelling in class, it is important for them to take the time to study at home as well. 
• Math/Science Homework: The weekly homework packet will be including Math practice and Science practice. The learners will have up to 5 Math questions and 5 Science questions a week. The learners also need to be completing their Reflex Math time. If their Reflex Math is not completed for the week, they will be required to spend that time in Homework Club during Texan Town. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact your learner’s Math/Science teacher.

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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

Book Fair Updates

Please see the following invitations for our Book Fair and Donuts with Dudes! Of course if you have any questions about either event, please don't hesitate to ask!