We Need BIZTOWN Volunteers

Dear Families,

We are in desperate need of some volunteers who would be willing to be a part of the BIZTOWN experience for our 5th graders. Volunteers would need to attend our BIZTOWN event on May 4th from 8:00 am -2:00 pm, and one of the two orientation training events: Tuesday, April 18th 6:00-7:30 pm or Tuesday, April 25th 10:00-11:30 am. Both trainings will be at the Junior Achievement office on 7830 SE Foster in Portland, OR. Please let me know if you're interested. Thanks for your support!

-Mr. Pfaff

Upcoming Dates and Events To Be Aware Of

Dear 5th Grade Families,

There are a lot of special events going on right now at V. Duncan Elementary School, and I wanted to make sure and spell them out for you. Next week is our Celebration of Learning/Spirit Days which align with our Book Fair. The theme is "camping" and you'll notice some major changes around the building should you enter it in the coming week. Here are the days next week and coinciding events to be aware of:

Monday 2/27: Wear your favorite college team or sport team. BOOK REPORT PROJECTS ARE DUE. Our class blog (mrpfaffsclass.blogspot.com)  has a link with all the book report ideas

Tuesday 2/28: Career Day- Wear clothes that suggest what you want to be when you grow up (occupation).

Wednesday 3/1: Wacky Wednesday- Wear clothes that don't match or are generally loud, unusual or 

strange. Dads and Donuts before school event- 7:15 am - 7:45 am. 

Thursday 3/2: Class Theme- We will decide on Monday what our class theme is going to be. Stay tuned. Celebration of Learning Night will take place at school from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm (there will be a free book station, a choir performance, grade level learning experiences, and the Book Fair will be open as well). 

Friday 3/3: Camping/Flannel Day- Wear camping related attire or your favorite flannel. 

Wednesday 4/8 (end of trimester): All the 5th grade classes will be taking a short field trip to see a musical performance (thanks in part to Mrs. Jordan for setting this up).

FYI- In March we will begin learning and preparing for BIZTOWN, a 5th grade culminating field trip (May 4th) and right of passage. Much more information will be coming home about all the exciting learning that we'll doing to get ready for that field trip, but right now we are starting to recruit parent volunteers who might be interested in working at the BIZTOWN facility during our simulation. If you are interested in learning more about what this would require, please contact me at your earliest convenience. There is a training that you must attend prior to the field trip, and I've heard nothing but great things from other parents who have volunteered in the past. 

I hope some of this information helps clear up any questions, and as always let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns. 

-Brian Pfaff

Book Reports Not Due On January 30th

Dear Families,

There is not a book report due on January 30th. Due to the lost days in January, and the fact we postponed the last book report from mid-December into early January, many of our students were not able to access a book to read thoroughly and produce a book report by next week. The other 5th grade classes already canceled the previous book report for lack of time.  I want the quality of the product to be very high, and have decided that we needed to look forward to our February 27th book report due date. That book will need to be either Realistic Fiction or Fantasy (based on what book they choose for their January 3rd book report). 

I hope this helps. Thanks for your continued support from home. 

-Mr. Pfaff

Keep These Things In Mind

Dear Dragonfly Families,

This week is going to fly by very quickly, and I wanted to highlight a few dates, events, and projects for you to be thinking of in the coming days and weeks.

1) Assuming the weather is compliant and we have school on Friday, December 16th we will be having a small "class party" involving a read aloud game and "Mug Exchange". This Mug Exchange is tradition we are starting where every student brings in a coffee (hot chocolate) mug to exchange in our read aloud game. I will supply mugs to those who are not able to bring one in. The mug can be anything, but the more interesting the better. Please wrap the mug before bringing it in. Some students have been filling the mug with something sweet. This is optional. We will exchange mugs then have hot chocolate. Students can begin bringing mugs in any day this week, but Friday is our deadline. 

2) Book Report Projects are not due on Friday, December 16th, but rather on Tuesday, January 3rd. The two acceptable reading genres are Realistic Fiction and/or Fantasy. I can help students who need some guidance finding a good book. In addition, I have created a link on my blog (mrpfaffsclass.blogspot.com) to both the LINCC (county library) database as well as a Lexile database where students can look for books based on genre and their Lexile # (sweetspot - Zone of Proximal Development-ZPD included in report card envelope).  The various projects that each student can choose from can also be found on the blog. If you need a copy of those project ideas, please let me know and I will copy the packet for you. I want all my students to work on those this week so that they are able to enjoy their vacation. 

3) On Wednesday, December 14th from 1:00 pm - 1:40 pm there is a 5th grade choir performance (those performing with the choir group will be performing only). Parents of those children should have a flyer in their child's HW binder today. Regardless, anyone who would like to hear the singers perform are welcome. 

Thanks,

Mr. Pfaff

Jog-A-Thon

Dear Families,

Tomorrow, October 21st is our annual Jog-A-Thon event. This fundraiser culminates with a 30 minute running event Friday morning. If you have collected donations please make sure that they come to school with your child tomorrow morning. In addition, please make sure that your child is dressed appropriately for activities and being outside, it could be wet. The theme revolves around being a "Superhero" so students are allowed to wear capes or simple accessories that are not considered weapons. Simple masks over the eyes are allowed, but nothing creepy or outside the superhero theme is accepted. They will only wear these items during the actual event, and will be put away during the academic day.  Also, each student will receive a Jog-A-Thon T-shirt to wear during the run. I'm hoping for dry weather, and know it will be an exciting overall event for our school. Thanks for your support of our activities and students.

-Brian Pfaff

Book Report Projects due October 10th

Dear Fifth Grade Families,

As you may have noticed from your child’s homework binder (on the Reading/HW Log, October calendar and Weekly HW Checklist), we have a book report project that is due next Monday, October 10th.  I have asked students who need a hard copy of the possible book report/project options to let me know so that I can make a copy to send home.  In addition, if students need supplies to complete their project I need to know as soon as possible. There is a pdf version of this book report project list under "Helpful Links/Websites", to the right of the page.

This month I have asked the class to choose from either a mystery or biography book/text.  I have several options in the class, and have encouraged students to take their books back and forth between home and school.  This report does not carry with it a required presentation in front of the class, but that option will be provided.  If you have any questions about these reports/projects please email or call me at your earliest convenience.

Thanks,

Brian Pfaff

(503) 353-3270 ext. 39127

pfaffb@nclack.k12.or.us

Walk To Math Groups

October 3rd, 2016

Dear Fifth Grade Families,

This week our fifth graders will begin our first round of flexible math groupings that we refer to as Walk To Math (WTM). As a result your child may receive math instruction from one of the other fifth grade teachers for the course of a unit/ trimester.  

The concept behind WTM is centered around students’ receiving math instruction at their individual level. We all know that students’ construct meaning in different ways, and at their own particular pace and style. Mathematics is unique in that lessons and topics often build in progression upon previous math skills and concepts. Therefore, if students have not mastered the previous skills and concepts, they are often confused and have difficulty grasping the new ones completely. We believe that WTM will provide us the best opportunity to ensure your child’s success.

In addition to WTM, we will continue to support math procedural proficiency with ongoing math fact practice/assessment as well as other supplemental programs within the homeroom setting.  

Please feel free to contact your child’s homeroom teacher with any specific questions or concerns you may have. Below you will find all the fifth grade teachers’ email addresses for your convenience throughout the unit.

Sincerely,

The Fifth Grade Team

Mike Jette       Brian Pfaff Stephanie Schie

jettem@nclack.k12.or.us       pfaffb@nclack.k12.or.us schies@nclack.k12.or.us