Many thanks to our drivers yesterday: Mrs. Dunn, Mrs. Gutierrez, Mrs. Kirby, Mrs. Mercurio, Mrs. Stevenson, and Mrs. Thomson. Students learned about the tatters on a blacksmith's apron, flux, coke, the temperature of a blacksmith's fire, and so much more. It was an interesting day.

Walker Creek Forms
If you have not yet turned in your Walker Creek forms, please do so as soon as possible. These forms must be sent to Walker Creek. If you have lost the forms, please let me know. If you have decided against sending your child to Walker Creek, please let me know. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. Walker Creek payments are due by May 1.

Family Life
Fifth grade teachers will be teaching the Family Life unit the week after Walker Creek. This is an opt-in program. You will receive a form that must be returned, letting us know if you want your child to participate or not. Students will be separated by gender (all 5th grade boys will be in one classroom with Mr. McDonald and all the 5th grade girls will be in another classroom with Mrs. Dees and me). Students will have printed material and will view a video. We'll meet for about an hour each day. There will be a parent meeting, to give parents an opportunity to see the materials used for Family Life, on Wed., May 20, at 2:00 P.M., in Mr. McDonald's classroom. If you cannot make this meeting but are interested in viewing the materials, please let me know and we can make other arrangements. If you have any questions, please let me know.

STAR Testing
STAR testing begins next week. The fifth grade schedule is:

1. Language Arts--Wed., Apr. 29 and Thurs., Apr. 30
   
2. Science--Tues., May 5 and Wed., May 6
3. Math--Thurs., May 7 and Fri., May 8.

All tests will be given in the morning, before the morning recess. Make-up tests will be given the following week. One way to help your child do their best is to make sure they are well-rested and have had a good breakfast. These tests show not only what students have learned in fifth grade, but what they can do with what they have learned up to this point in school. I encourage students to do their best (as they should with everything they do), but I do not want students to feel stressed about the tests. They know a lot; here is their chance to demonstrate that.

We will continue to work on all our usual curriculum during STAR testing. And yes, students will still have homework.

Enjoy the weekend.

It was great to see everyone at Open House; thanks for coming to see a bit of what happens in our classroom. Wasn't it great to get the DVD of Ranchoburg? Thanks, Dan Edblom!

Our classroom library grew during the book fair. Not only did the PTA give each teacher $75 to spend, but several families purchased books for our classroom. Thank you very much! Your generosity is greatly appreciated, and I know the books will be read repeatedly in the years to come. Thank you.

Callling parent drivers! We need parent drivers for our April 23 field trip to the Petaluma Fairgrounds to see blacksmithing demonstrations. We will leave Rancho about 9 A.M and return by 2:30 P.M. All three 5th grade classes will be going. So far we have one confirmed driver. Please let Marianne Hill know if you can drive. Because one other school is joining us for the morning demonstration (1 or 2 classes from a Petaluma charter school) and the space in the bleachers is limited, we won't be able to bring extra parents on this field trip, beyond the drivers.

Even though Open House is over, we still have lots of work to do. We finished the math chapter about fractions, decimals, and percents, as well as the chapter about solid figures: nets, surface area, and volume. We have been using the concept of surface area to help us understand some science concepts as well. Students did well on the Unit 2 science test, and we have been working on Unit 3--water, weather, and the solar system. We did an exploration of pendulums yesterday to get a handle on the scientific method and the difference between the independent variable and the dependent variable in an investigation. Ask them what they tested!

Students finished their first literature circle books today. It has been very interesting to listen to their discussions each time they meet. We will begin new literature circles when we get back from vacation.

Students have started working on a 5-paragraph essay (yes, still a form taught and hopefully learned) about their trout experience. So far they have only worked on their introductory paragraph--still a long way to go.

Thanks for sending in the Walker Creek forms! For those who have not yet done so, please return the forms--the travel form (the smaller piece of paper), the 2-page Student Health form, and the Dietary form--as soon as possible. I know the packing list is on the back of one of the pages of the health form, so I will provide a copy of the packing list for anyone who needs it in the weeks before we go. If you have chosen to purchase something from Walker Creek (water bottle, sweatshirt, etc.), please send that form in as well. If you have any questions, please let me know. Walker Creek payments are due by May 1.

State STAR testing will begin the final week in April and end during the first week of May. A good breakfast and a good night's sleep will help them do their best each day.

Enjoy the week off!