September 21th Chang’s Newsletter

Hello Parents/Guardians,

The McTeacher’s night was a success.  Thank you to all those who generously came to support.  We were able to raise $90 for the class.  These funds will be allocated for supplies, treats, and prizes.

Keep reading each night; the monthly Passport test on Thursday has finally arrived.  Grades are continually inserted throughout the week, so please log into family link to view them.  For safekeeping, do not throw away graded work but file away in the labeled, accordion folder.  Also, homework has been mostly graded as completion to allow practice without fear of point deduction.  Now that we have been getting familiar with the lessons, understanding will be assessed through quizzes and/or tests. 

What we have been learning in class:

Math Counting sequences, identifying even and odd numbers, and comparing whole numbers were worked on two weeks ago.  This past week, addition algorithm, subtraction facts, and missing numbers in addition were the focus. 

History This past week we focused on the creation account and how it differs from the worldview of the theory of evolution. We will continue to learn more about Old History, focusing on Asia’s Fertile Crescent.

Science The students began and will continue to study about minerals and rocks.

Health Life in the blood was studied.  This week, the heart will be examined.

Reading We have been reading the historical fiction novel Esperanza Rising set during the great depression.  We will continue reading this gripping account of Esperanza’s overcoming tragedy and hardships like the phoenix that rises from its own ashes.

Spelling and Vocabulary We have a new spelling list, which will be due this Wednesday and tested on Thursday. The same vocabulary (Worldly Wise) list will be further studied and tested on Thursday.

Homework Assignments and Assessment Due Dates:

Monday 21th	Tuesday 22th	Wednesday 23th	Thursday 24th	Friday 25th
Read 20 Minutes	Read 20 Minutes	Read 20 Minutes	Read 20 Minutes	Read 20 Minutes
Study for Passport	Study for Passport	Study for Passport	Passport Test	Study for Passport
Math Quiz (L1~L5)	Math L9 odds	Math L10 evens	Math L11 odds	Math L 12 evens
	Write Source pp.6-7	Spelling L2 & Cursive Vocabulary L1DE	Spelling L2 Test Vocabulary L1 Test	Bible Verse Test—Philippians 4:8

Important Dates

Sept. 24: Passport to Geography Testing

Sept. 28-Oct. 13: Cookie Dough & Magazine Sale

Oct. 1: School Picture Day

Oct. 8: Spirit Day-Cultural/International

Oct. 13: Cookie orders & payments due

Oct. 14: 1/2 Day Dismissal at 12p

Oct. 15 & 16: ACSI Convention—NO SCHOOL, child care is available

Philippians 4:8 (ESV): Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Spelling challenge words:

relent and taunting

September 14th Chang’s Newsletter

Hello Parents/Guardians,

Some of the information may be a repeat from last week; however, some adjustments have been made and may be made (in the future) to make the work load lighter for the students.

Come join us Thursday for McTeacher Night; the funds directly support the class.  Hope to see you Tuesday for PTF.  Please make sure to return any forms (if applicable) found in the Monday folder.  Students may re-take the bible memory verse this Friday for full credit.

Assignment Break Down: (Quizzes/Tests are underlined.)

Daily (weekdays):  Read 20 minutes of an age-appropriate novel.  Do not procrastinate, because this is a lot of reading time to catch up in several nights.  Read every day and get a Pizza Hut coupon. 

Mondays: Math Test (over five lessons, beginning after Math lesson 10 (weekly/bi-weekly)

Tuesdays:

·         Write Source Workbook Pages Packet (about 5 lessons)

·         Reading log is due the first Tuesday of each following month. 

Wednesdays (Weekly Homework):

·         Each spelling word written out three times (in cursive for a cursive grade)

·         Spelling Lesson Sheets (Each lesson has four sheets; the 3^rd and 4^th are homework.)

·         Vocabulary Lesson Sheets (Each lesson has five sections A-E; Sections ABC will be due one week and Sections DE will be due the following week.)

Thursdays (Weekly Tests):

·         Spelling Test

·         Vocabulary Test (Every other Wednesday when sections D-E are due.)

·         Science or History Test (1 or 2 each subject per quarter)

·         Passport Test (levels 1-5 (once a month; typically, the last Thursday)

Fridays (Weekly Tests/Quizzes):

·         Bible Memory Verse (in cursive for a cursive grade)

·         Health Quiz or Handout

Quarterly Projects: (i.e. Paper Bag Book Project, My Country Project, My Poetry Book Project, and Science Fair Project).  These projects are primarily to be completed in class (with the exception of the experiment for the Science Fair Project) to encourage their creativity and ownership of the project.

Homework Due Dates:

Monday 14th	Tuesday 15th	Wednesday 16th	Thursday 17th	Friday 18th
Read 20 Minutes	Read 20 Minutes	Read 20 Minutes	Read 20 Minutes	Read 20 Minutes
Study for Passport	Study for Passport	Study for Passport	Study for Passport	Study for Passport
	Math Lesson 5 (odds)	Math Lesson 6 (evens)	Math Lesson 7 (odds)	Math Lesson 8 (evens)
	PTF 5-6p (LIBRARY)	Spelling L1CD (only) Vocabulary L1ABC	Spelling Test L1 MCTEACHER NIGHT	Bible Verse Test—Galatians 5:22-23

Important Dates

Sept. 15: PTF Meeting 5p-6p (library)

Sept. 17: McTeacher’s Night (Sleater-Kinney)

5-7:30pm

Sept. 24: Passport to Geography Testing

Sept. 28-Oct. 13: Cookie Dough & Magazine Sale

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV): ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

September 7th--Chang’s Newsletter

Hello Parents/Guardians,

The past few days were a wonderful time to get to know each other, familiarize ourselves with the daily routine, and learn our subjects.  I have distributed my welcome letter/syllabus.  Please read and return it, signed.  Below I have given the breakdown of the typical dates for homework and tests.   

Assignment Break Down: (Quizzes/Tests are underlined.)

Daily (weekdays):  Read 20 minutes of an age-appropriate novel.  (Research has shown that children who read more books increase are more engaged in school.) The reading log is due the first Tuesday of each following month.  Read every day and get a Pizza Hut coupon.

Tuesdays (Weekly/Bi-weekly Tests): Math Test (over five lessons, beginning after Math lesson 10)

Wednesdays (Weekly Homework):

·         Each spelling word written out three times (in cursive for a cursive grade)

·         Spelling Lesson Sheets (Each lesson has four sheets; the 3^rd and 4^th are homework.)

·         Vocabulary Lesson Sheets (Each lesson has five sections A-E; Sections ABC will be due one week and Sections DE will be due the following week.)

Wednesdays (Weekly Tests):

·         Spelling Test

·         Vocabulary Test (Every other Wednesday when sections D-E are due.)

Thursdays (Weekly Tests): Science or History Test (1~2 each subject per quarter)

Thursdays (Monthly Test, typically the last Thursday of the month): Passport Test (levels 1-5)

Fridays (Weekly Tests):

·         Bible Memory Verse (in cursive for a cursive grade)

·         Health Quiz or Handout

Quarterly: Projects (i.e. Paper Bag Book Project, My Country Project, My Poetry Book Project, and Science Fair Project).  These projects are primarily to be completed in class (with the exception of the experiment for the Science Fair Project) to encourage their creativity and ownership of the project.

Homework Assignment Due Dates:

Monday 7th	Tuesday 8th	Wednesday 9th	Thursday 10th	Friday 11th
Read 20 Minutes	Read 20 Minutes	Read 20 Minutes	Read 20 Minutes	Read 20 Minutes
Study for Passport	Study for Passport	Study for Passport	Study for Passport	Study for Passport
NO SCHOOL	Highlight Seven Facts Each Policy		SPIRIT DAY BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT	Bible Memory Verse Test

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV): ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Important Dates

Sept. 7: Labor Day– No School or Child Care

Sept. 10: Spirit Day - Career Day

Sept. 10: Back to School Night 6:30p

Sept. 15: PTF Meeting 5p-6p library

Sept. 17: McTeacher’s Night (Sleater-Kinney)

5-7:30pm

Sept. 24: Passport to Geography Testing

Sept. 28-Oct. 13: Cookie Dough & Magazine Sale

Mrs. Chang’s OWL-standing Future Leaders 5th Grade Class

Blog: http://changfutureleaders.blogspot.com/p/homework.html

Contact: mchang@foundationcampus.org; (360) 493-2223 ext. 203

WELCOME to YOUR 5^th grade class at Community Christian Academy, and you play a BIG part in it!  We have a big class of 23 students!  Partnering with parents, I am looking forward to this year.  The class has been getting back into gear with learning and making each moment intentional and purposeful.  Students will learn many important lessons that are foundational for being skilled, wise, and godly leaders in the world and for the sake of Christ and His Kingdom. 

Communication: I believe communication is essential in providing the best learning experience for the student.  Due to not being able to access phone messages when not in my classroom, email during non-school hours and on weekdays.

CURRICULUM:  The following publishers are used: A Beka (Health), Purposeful Design (Bible, History, Spelling), BJU Press (Science), Saxon (Math), Hodkinson/Adams (vocabulary), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (mechanic, usage, and grammar), Heinemann (genre study), and several authors (class novels and their audiobooks).

STUDENT SUPPLIES: Bring the supplies on the list (provided at registration).  Do not forget to bring the most important item not listed—willingness to learn. 

CLASS EXPECTATIONS: Every student in the room has the right to learn in a positive, pleasant, and respectful environment. CCA policies (i.e. dress code, tardy, food allergies, electronics, etc.) and behavior expectations are enforced to ensure such an environment and to avoid negative consequences (i.e. verbal warning, detention, call to parent, meeting with principal, suspension, etc.). 

MAKE-UP POLICY: Upon request to the office or the teacher by 8:30 a.m., missing work for an absent student will be sent to the office by 3 p.m. for parent pick-up.  For “planned” absences, please make arrangements with the teacher prior to the day(s) of absence.  (For more details on when missing work is due, see CCA Absence Policy.)

HOMEWORK: Assignments and their due dates are verbally and visually posted and updated immediately on the whiteboard in the classroom and by 4 pm on my blog online.  Students are encouraged and directed to record these due dates in their planners. Late work will be deducted 25% each day until it is turned in.  Missing work will be left blank in the gradebook and greatly affects the student’s grades.

GRADING: The grading scale is as follows:

A =   100-90          B =   89-80          C =  79-70          D =   69-60       F =   59 or below

CHEATING/PLAGIARISM: Direct copying, cheating on a test/quiz, and plagiarism (paraphrasing or copying verbatim without proper citation; giving credit to the original author or source) will result in a grade of zero and severe consequences will result. 

While a student may get help when trying to solve a problem, the student is responsible for producing his/her own written answers.  Aiding the student to complete work is encouraged; doing the work for the student is not.  Losing confidence, invalid assessments masking opportunities for improvement, and/or resorting to poor study habits (i.e. cheating) may result.  Especially in the area of written performance, the student should never feel expected to write above or beyond his/her potential and grade level!

DRESS CODE: On Chapel days (Tuesdays), please do not wear shorts.  For P.E. (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and every other Fridays), bring a pair of athletic shoes. Athletic/mesh type shorts or swim shorts and worn, tattered or revealing clothing may not be worn.  When uncertain, bring prior to wearing the article of clothing for approval.  (For comprehensive list detailing attire, see the CCA Dress Code Statement.)

MOVIES:  I would like to show PG or PG-13 films or clips that have been previewed for appropriateness by the teacher for the purpose of complementing and enhancing the lesson.  If not desired, please check the box on the next page.

VOLUNTEERS: Volunteers are welcomed and a blessing in joining, chaperoning, and/or driving the van on field trips; helping with in-class at-home tasks; group projects; and more.  We have a fun and eventful year ahead!  Parental help and involvement will only make it a fuller one.  Parents, your time and willingness to invest in our youth will yield future leaders who model your servanthood.  You are most appreciated!