Welcome to 5th Grade!

Welcome to the 2026-2027 School Year!

Welcome Back!

We are so ready for this school year!! 
This year, you will be working with a team of teachers.  I will be your ELA (Reading and Writing) and Social Studies teacher. Mrs. Wiles-Stasko will be your Math, and Science teacher.

We have a lot of fun activities planned for this year.  I am very much looking forward to this school year to begin!  

* Secret Snowflake *

‘Tis is the season of spreading kindness.  In class I’d like our students to participate in the concept of a “Secret Snowflake”. 

It isn't about buying anything, but more about making something/doing something nice and from the heart for our secret pal each day.  

   

This activity helps build upon the caring community in our classroom.  It also reinforces that one person can make a difference.

On the days below you will leave a special treat for your secret snowflake.  On Wednesday and Thursday you can secretly give me the card/poem and I will put them in the student mailboxes.  You may also leave a clue as to your identity if you wish. It is nice to put time and effort into these special treats for your classmates.  On Friday we will sit down and each student will open their gifts one by one.

 I have done this for the past few years in class, and each year I am blown away with the thoughtfulness behind these acts of kindness. 

  Wednesday Dec. 21st - Handmade Card

A card wishing your classmate well, to show you care.

Thursday Dec. 22nd - A Decorated Poem 

Could be an acrostic of  the recipients’ name or any poem about the recipient!

I will provide special winter themed paper if needed.

Friday Dec. 23rd - Handmade Gift 

This gift is made from the heart!

You will have from (Dec. 12th ) to work on this gift. 

I look forward to seeing the creative and thoughtful gifts made for your classmates!! 

Some Helpful DIY gift ideas:

-Your person loves to read? Make some cool Bookmarks!

-Someone likes Graphic Novels? Write one for them where they are the main character!

-Likes sports? Like Soccer? Make an ornament of a soccer ball with their name on it!

-Has a certain favorite animal? Make a stuffed animal of it with felt and cotton balls!

-Loves games? Make a board game!

Some Helpful DIY gift websites:

https://www.parents.com/fun/arts-crafts/kid/gifts-kids-can-make/

https://dreamingindiy.com/the-best-do-it-yourself-gifts-fun-clever-and-unique-diy-craft-projects-and-ideas-for-christmas-birthdays-thank-you-or-any-occasion/

https://www.thriftyfrugalmom.com/20-inexpensive-homemade-gifts-kids/

https://www.prudentpennypincher.com/100-best-christmas-crafts/

Balloons Over Broadway

Over the past few days we have been working on our own Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon activity.   We read the book, Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet. We also looked at the balloon line up for this year's parade and then created our own balloons and wrote about what kind of balloon we felt should be in the parade and why.  
Macy's Balloon Line-up

( I can't take credit for the cuteness of this project, as I got it from a teacher I follow on instagram 😂)
Here is our parade route: