Week 31

The students did great this week taking their achievement tests. Their hard work each morning earned them some fun experiments and activities each afternoon. We learned about different animal adaptations through a couple of science experiments. We questioned why ducks preen their feathers and how polar bear blubber helps them stay warm. The kids formed hypothesis and then conducted their experiments, finding some exciting results. The kids also got to participate in a class math olympic games where they jumped and threw different items and had to measure their distances.

Blubber Experiment-The water is really cold without any blubber!

Why do ducks oil their feathers??

The oil repels water, keeping the duck dry!

Throwing the shot put (a cotton ball)

Long Jump Olympic Competitors

Relax and Read Day

Paper Airplane Measurement Practice with Mrs. Buergess' 5th grade class

Looking Ahead to Next Week:
Memory: Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  
Hebrews 13:5
Spelling: Lesson 26, chunk -oil, -ay
Grammar: Quotation Marks Review
Reading: Tall Tales
Math: Test Wednesday
Science: Animal Reports








































Information and News

• WHAT:     Titus 2’sday is a women's mentoring ministry.  We are blessed to announce that our guest speaker team for this year’s opening event is coming in from Seward, Nebraska: Jessica Brashear is a former counselor, a married mother of three, and a published blogger.  She and her mother, Susan Biel, are both wonderful Christian mentoring moms. They will present Parenting Through the Years.  Moms of young and old, as well as friends of moms, will benefit from this special presentation and open forum.  
• WHEN:     Tuesday, MARCH 31st, 6:30-8:30pm
• WHERE:   Zion Lutheran Church, 3866 S. Old Hwy 94, St. Charles, 63304. 636-441-7425 or zionharvester.org. 
•  Admission is free and refreshments are provided
• To find out more about upcoming Women’s Events at Zion go to http://zionharvesterwomensnetwork.org/ or Like Zion Harvester Women's Network on Facebook
• Our last day of school before Easter break will be a full day on Thursday April 2nd.  Good Friday begins our Easter break.
• 
  

Week 30

This coming week is Achievement Test week. 

Often times with testing comes apprehension. We strive to make our testing days as normal as we can, following our regular school schedule. We will attend music, PE and library as usual. I will add extra recess in as needed. There will not be any homework during this week. As a parent, you can help by providing a healthy breakfast and assuring a good night’s sleep. It is important to remember that standardized testing is only one indicator of your child’s ability. 

Our testing schedule breakdown: 

Monday- Word Study (30 min) and Reading Vocab (30 min.)

Tuesday- Math (60 min) and Math (60 min)

Wednesday- Spelling (40 min), Language (55 min), and Language (50 min)

Thursday- Environment (40 min) and Listening (40 min)

On Tuesday we will celebrate the life of one of our late dear preschool students. We will release bubbles behind the junior high building at 10:00 as we remember Drew A. and celebrate the wonderful gift he was to all of us at Zion.

Read and Relax Friday- On Friday, the 27th, students may bring in a small stuffed animal and a pillow along with some fun reading material (comics and/or magazines). This will be a nice treat after a long week of testing.

No Memory or Spelling this week

Reading and Writing: Opinion Writing and Reader's Theatre

Science: Chapter 2 Animals

There will not be a traditional test on this chapter, instead the students will have a final project consisting of an animal research paper and presentation.

Important Information and Reminders:

A Classroom Request: We are down to our last box of tissues, if you would be willing to donate a box or two of kleenexes, that would be greatly appreciated:)

Book It Forms- were sent home in Friday folders. I will be placing the order on Friday, March 27th. 

Zion’s Musical- Our school musical will be performed on Friday, May 8th. Watch the Banner and class blog for more information in the coming weeks.

Zion Auction- The Zion School auction is coming up! It will be held at Old Hickory Golf Club on March 27, 2015. The auction committee is still accepting donations!

Zion’s Easter Egg Hunt-

We are currently looking for volunteers to donate their time to help make the event a success as well as those willing to donate candy and fill eggs. Volunteering during the event is fun and rewarding! The more volunteers the better. Please see school banner for link to sign up!

The hunt will be on Saturday, March 28^th   from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM. Throughout the event, children will be able to enjoy a petting zoo, bounce house, games, face painting, and popcorn.

0:45

Summer camp is coming up.  Please be sure to enroll your children by the beginning of March to ensure your spot.  There are enrollment packets in the office and on our Zion webpage.  If you have any questions please e-mailsummercamp@zionharvester.org.

Week 29

This week we learned about onomatopoeias and inferencing. We looked at several different comics and even  created our own to help us learn these skills. We also monitored our bean plant growth- we were shocked that they had sprouted without soil!  Today was grandparent's day. It was so fun to watch kids spend quality time with family members! Using our Inferencing skills with comics The bean is growing! Looking Ahead to Next Week: Memory-The Tenth Commandment You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. Spelling-Lesson 25 ock/out clock, blocked, dock, shock, stock, knock, about, shout, scouting, sprouted Grammar/Phonics- Review of Plural Endings, Achievement Test Review Reading- The One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo Math- TEST Tuesday Science- Chapter 2 Animals. There will not be a test for this chapter. Instead, the students will be writing a research paper over an animal of their choice. Writing- Opinion Writing Other News: Today, Friday, is the end of the 3rd quarter. Grade reports will be sent home at the end of next week.  Achievement Tests will be taken the week of March 23 We are currently looking for volunteers to donate their time to help make the event a success as well as those willing to donate candy and fill eggs. Volunteering during the event is fun and rewarding! The more volunteers the better. Please use the link below to access the sign-up sheet: https://docs.google.com/a/zionharvester.org/spreadsheets/d/1cORJm3PMkv8sAlTbQcZr1LaFhrQwC591Bz8bI7FTWf4/edit#gid=0 If you are unable to volunteer, consider donating a bag of candy or two. We are collecting pre-wrapped, egg sized candy, to fill the eggs (not chocolate, because it melts). Candy is being collected in the school and church offices. Send candy in your child’s backpack and we’ll get it where it needs to go!

Week 28

    This week we began learning about plants in science. We began attempting to grow bean plants in a baggie with only a wet paper towel, air, and sunlight. The kids had to make a hypothesis on whether or not the plants would grow. We will continue to observe any changes to the beans this coming week. We also learned about pollination through a fun science "experience." The kids became pollinators and all were attracted to the scent and taste of their juice bottle flowers. They then got to eat their cheeto pollen and then flew around to other flowers, spreading their pollen wherever they flew.
    To celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday, we also read many Dr. Seuss books and designed and painted our own Dr. Seuss inspired character.
    Today we had a presentation from First Community Credit Union. The kids learned about the famous faces on money, about the importance of saving money, and left with a goodie bag complete with a dollar coin.

Will the beans grow?

Pollination 

Spreading Pollen Everywhere

Dr. Seuss inspired Paintings

Youth Finance Program

Youth Finance Program

Looking Ahead to Next Week:
Memory: 9th Commandment- You shall not covet your neighbor's house
Spelling: Lesson 24 Chunk -ou, -ow
Grammar/Phonics: Onomatopoeia and review of Adverbs
Reading: Comic Books
Writing: Personal Narratives
Science: Chapter 1 TEST Wednesday
Math: Lessons 106-109

News:
-Next Friday 3/12 is Grandparent's Day and we will dismiss at noon. Be sure to return the blue dismissal forms by then!