Mrs. Plond

4th and 5th grade

2010-04-21T11:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents,

We have four Stanford tests tomorrow and we will be finished. The auction seems to be going well and everyone is excited for the carnival. I'm looking forward to sloppy joes, hot dogs, and nachos....and cotton candy!

We started our heath book and just took our first test today.

We found a neat site for making kaleidoscopes on the computer. www.zefrank.com/detoy_vs_byokal/

We have two Stuhr Museum trips next week on Monday and Tuesday. Monday is from 9-11 am and will cost $3.50. Tuesday is all day from 9:30-2:30 and will cost $7.50. Their nation notebook is due next Friday.

The fifth graders have been working hard on their research reports. We will be working on the bibliography, title page, and final copy next week.

Have a blessed week.
Mrs. Plond

2010-04-11T11:19:00.000-07:00

I apologize for not being as regular a blogger as I was last year. The 4th and 5th grade are traveling to Hastings Museum on the 15th for the free Raptor Recovery from 10-11. There will be owls, hawks, and falcons, but first we'll view the movie Journey into Amazing Caves. The students will need to bring $4 for the movie on the LIED screen. We will be back at the school for lunch. Mrs. Feely and Mrs. Erdmann have offered to drive us. Thank you!

The students need to continue working diligently on their Nation Notebook. It is due at the end of April. It has been an independent assignment. Next year I am thinking we will work on a Nebraska Notebook throughout the year, a separate state project, and a President Project during the 4th quarter of the year. I would like for us to take a field trip to the state capitol building, science museum in Lincoln, and a couple other trips for Nebraska history besides the Stuhr Museum field trips.

Don't forget to tell your friends about the online auction. People love to go to auctions and bid. They'll enjoy bidding online too. Give them the opportunity.

The carnival is coming up quickly. Keep an eye on the calendar that goes home on Mondays and Tuesdays.

We have a busy two months left with the auction ,carnival,open house for K4 &K5, Enrollment sign up for next year, field trips, field day,graduations, our the regular school days, and spring sports. In Christ all things are possible.

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Mrs. Plond

2010-03-17T11:21:00.001-07:00

I love October when we get that extra hour of sleep! We seem to function better. Alas, that has passed, and we are up an hour earlier and still looking sleepy! We are back to getting up in the dark. It should be getting lighter soon.....

The next spelling tests will be Tuesday the 23rd and the 30th.We watched two videos about castles and Great Britain this week.

By Wednesday the 24th, the students should have finished reading their biography book. We will begin writing the book report rough drafts Thursday. We will be at Stuhr Museum on the24th from 9:30-2:30. The students need to bring $6 and a sack lunch. We will learn about the Civil War.

The will be Chapel next Friday and parents are always welcome.

I was thinking the Raptor Recovery in Hastings was at the end of March, but it is April 15. We will see "Journey into Amazing Caves" from 9-10; then we'll go to Raptor Recovery (10-11)in the museum. There will be live hawks,owls,and falcons. The students and adults will need to bring $4 for the movie.

2010-03-01T09:33:00.000-08:00

The fourth grade began cancellation today in math. We continue to use divisibility rules with our fractions. We are pushing to be very quick with our math facts.

In history we are learning about Great Britain. Some of the students are making castles or drawing them for extra credit projects.

We continue working hard as we look forward to spring break. The students need to begin focusing on their country notebook. They'll have goals to reach in their notebooks as we set our focus on finishing out the year in a strong manner.

March Madness makes us think of basketball. Our class is beginning Bible March Madness. The students pick a book of the Bible they've wanted to read, and they are reading it chapter by chapter. Every time they finish a chapter in the Bible they write their name and the book and chapter on paper basketballs on our classroom door. Their goal is to write their name and Bible chapter- 96 times on the basketballs on the door. Ninety-Six chapters in the Bible is a wonderful goal for March!

Family Day is a half day of school on Wednesday. We are looking forward to the program.
Conferences are Friday. It is hard to believe another quarter of school is done on Wednesday!!

Fourth and Fifth Grade

2010-02-25T05:42:00.000-08:00

We are working on fractions in fourth grade and graphs in fifth grade. Everyone has selected a biography for the next book report reading selection. The fifth grade needs to be finished reading it by March 24. The fourth grade have until March 19th to finish reading their biographies.

Book-It Bedtime Story Across America was really enjoyable. The students enjoyed wearing their PJ's, listening to John Lithgow read his new book Carnival of the Animals, and reading to one another all morning. We heard a variety of favorite stories.

We are busy preparing for the upcoming Family Day program and investigating the Book Fair. The selection is huge once again.

The Association Meeting for families and friends of Grand Island Christian School is tonight. The potluck part starts at 6 pm.

January

2010-01-12T13:39:00.000-08:00

We started with a few cold days this month. We began reading book report books. Fifth grade needs to be finished by February 5th and 4th grade needs to be finished reading theirs by January 29. Shortly after February 9th, the fifth grade will choose a biography to read, and it will be the beginning of their research report.

We are getting ready for history and science exams. If we miss any days of school, the students know we will take the test the day we return. Fortunately it looks like we will have at least a week of beautiful weather.

We are working on commas in fifth and nouns in fourth grade. Our Bible lessons are in the book of Joshua. We continue to work on expression and smooth reading voices in reading.

Today we created animal poems that rhyme for language,learned more about decimals and fractions, and we took our trial test in spelling.

We have a field trip to Stuhr Museum the 28th and all the students need to bring $7.50 for the field trip which will be an all day activity.

The students should be getting ideas for their Valentine box. Every year I have art students judge the creations the 4th and 5th graders make and give out ribbons. This year I will have the Hillsdale College art students judge them again. The 4th and fifth grade need to have their Valentine boxes here by February 5th in order for me to take pictures of the creations and get those pictures forwarded to my daughter . She then gets fellow art students voting on them. It's fun all around. The hard part for me is finding the ribbons for the categories the Art students create.

Chapel is the last Friday of the month.

Mrs. Plond

2010-01-06T10:27:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!
We start the our 2010 school year with a ground blizzard. The Lord blesses us with all we need, including snow and safety and warmth.

2009-11-16T08:32:00.000-08:00

We have begun our Christmas Program practice. Everyone came home Friday with things to memorize.

We will be going to Riverside in December on the 1st at 10:30 We'll need a driver. We will also be going to the library December the 4th from 12-2pm to research and look through the magazines, encyclopedias, books, and the computerized information. The students will bring their lunches and we will eat lunch there and then search the various areas.

Their next book report book will be The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. They will begin this later in the week.

Everyone is completing their Book - It goals. Several have reached their goal for November as of last Friday.

We have Chapel this Friday and the students need to wear Chapel clothes. We won the Campbell soup award at the last Chapel. The students were generous in sharing with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade the day of the award. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd shared with us the month before. There was a generous Christian spirit being roused.

Blessing on your Thanksgiving.
Mrs. Plond

2009-10-21T10:09:00.000-07:00

The students are reading Noah Webster. The 5th grade needs to finish reading it by October 30; the 4th grade need to have it read by November 6th.

November Scholastic book orders are due Nov. 4.

Book-It reading goal- The students need to read out of the newspaper,encyclopedia, magazine, and books. We have one more week left this month. Two of the seven students have turned in their sheets.

Our field trip to the Rural School at Stuhr was cold, damp, and foggy but the building was toasty.
Mrs. Erdmann drove us out and back. Thank you so very much!!

We have taken our 9 week exam in Science and we took our first Bible test. I'll have those online quickly.

I surely like saying October is National Pizza Month. We will celebrate by making enough pizza on Friday,October 23, 2009, for our class and the teachers. Lunch will begin at 11:00 as we create our lunch. The students wrote the supplies they are bringing in their planner on Monday.
Here is a copy:
pizza sauce-Reece
mozzarella cheese-Reece
pizza dough-Harrison
cheddar cheese-Breana
bacon-Breana
sausage -Andrew
garlic-Andrew
olives-Joel
oil-joel
pepperoni-Stacie
pan-Stacie
ranch dressing-Danae
pineapple-Danae
ham-Mrs. Plond
pans-Mrs. Plond

The science game boards turned out as a very good study tool. They are enjoying playing the science games with their questions. There are a variety of board creations and styles of play.

We have a nine week exam coming up in history at the end of next week or the beginning of the following week. We'll use their game boards and the students will make up questions for five history chapters.

2009-10-16T14:13:00.000-07:00

Book-It reading is going on and the fourth grade goal is 200 pages and the fifth grade goal is 300 pages. They need to read out of the newspaper,encyclopedia, magazine, and books. We have two more weeks left this month.

I enjoyed our conferences on the 9th. The last day of the quarter is this Wednesday. We will have a nine week science test and a Bible test on Wednesday.

The students did an amazing job on their mammal projects and presentations. They are hanging up in the hall near the office. This is a hard working,creative class.

Our field trip to Stuhr was cold and damp, but the information about the Great Plains Pawnee was worth the time and chill; we did enjoy cocoa when we got back to the school!
This Tuesday, October 20th, we have the Rural School Field trip to Stuhr from 9:00-11:00. The students will need to bring $3.50 for the Stuhr Field trip. Let me know if you'd like to drive; we need to leave by 8:40.

Fire Prevention Day was today and the students saw a video today about practicing an escape route from home in case of a fire. It also covered meeting at a designated place in the front yard. Don't forget to check your smoke alarms, and the smoke alarms should be replaced every ten years. The batteries should be replaced every 6 months. Third,fourth, and fifth grade went into the smokehouse and practiced the correct way to check a door and exit after the smoke alarm has gone off.

October is National Pizza Month. I thought we would help celebrate by earning enough minutes this month to make pizzas on Friday,October 23, 2009, for lunch rather than having breakfast club this month. The students were all for the change, and we will be making cheese pizza, meat lover pizza, and pepperoni pizza. The students have earned 42 minutes of P.A.T.time and I am hoping we'll have 60+ minutes by Friday. I'll get a list of supplies ready to send home with the students on Monday.

The students have a bit of homework this weekend.
They have History Chapter check up work, studying for a history quiz on Monday, studying spelling, studying Bible, and working on their science project.
They are making a science game board and writing science questions and answers using their chapter check up and comprehension checks in their books. They need to have a lot of questions from Chapter 3 and questions from Chapters 1 & 2. The questions and answers cards are a fun way to study, and this needs to be done first. They can work on the game board later. The game board can be finished up on Monday if needed.

I'm getting caught up with correcting papers and should have grades online by Sunday. Thank you for all your well wishes and prayers while I had the flu. I am feeling much better.

2009-10-05T14:47:00.000-07:00

The Association Meeting and PTF meetings were well attended and quite a few things were accomplished. The students really enjoyed their backwards day the 25th of September. We did quite a few backward things that day,and it really was enjoyable for everyone. The next PTF meeting is the 29th at the Wiegert house.

Everyone that went to the Scarecrow Patch enjoyed the fact we were the only group out there!! I can't wait to see the pictures.

On October 1 the 3rd,4th and 5th went out to the Boy Scout Camp-Camp Augustine for Archery instruction. Ranger, Ed Wiles and my husband Dave Plond taught the archery class. Every one of the students hit the target at least once. The students earned the time in class for this field trip. They built up the Preferred Activity Time(PAT).

Book-It officially began October 1st. The fourth grade will read 200 pages and the fifth grade is challenged to read 300 pages. They need to read out of the newspaper,encyclopedia, magazine, and books.

We are finishing our final drafts of our first book reports.

October 9th is Conference Day. I look forward to chatting with everyone. The students have been working very hard.

October 12 is the due date for the students Mammal Project.

October 14th we have a field trip to Stuhr from 12:30 - 2:30 Great Plains Pawnee, and October 20th we have the Rural School Field trip to Stuhr from 9:00-11:00. The students will need to bring $3.50 for the Stuhr Field trips.

Fire Prevention Day is the 16 and the end of the quarter is the 21st of October.

2009-09-21T10:20:00.000-07:00

The Association Meeting is this Thursday the 24th. It's a parent and school supporter meeting. The school is discussed after a potluck dinner at 6pm. This is where parent input is a necessary part of the school. It is held only two times during the year, and your ideas are necessary to run this school today and in the future. Babysitters are available during this meeting. Bring your favorite dish or your favorite take out and spend an hour sharing your ideas and hear how the school year is going.

To encourage parental attendance, we are offering the students a dress-down backwards day on Friday(the 25th) for students whose parents attended the Association meeting the night before. They may wear casual clothes inside out and backwards. We do have Chapel that day if you would like to join us in the Auditorium at 8:45

Several field trips are coming up. The trip to the Scarecrow Patch is on the 29th.Everyone will leave at 8:45am in order to get there by 9:00. The cost is $4 per child which includes a s'more and a drink. Adults are free unless you would like a s'more and a drink, then the cost will be $2. The school is going, but I have hay allergies and I won't be going. The 4th and 5th will help with the younger grades and enjoy being out there. We need drivers. If you are available to drive,please let us know.

On October 1 the 3rd,4th and 5th are going out to the Boy Scout Camp-Camp Augustine for Archery instruction. We will leave a little after 1:00 and get there by 1:30. The Camp Ranger, Ed Wiles and my husband Dave Plond will teach the archery class. They are proving the equipment and are well trained. Ed is also a bow hunter. I'm taking advantage of their skill and their offer to teach this class one afternoon. If you have any questions, email me or see me after school if possible. There is not cost to this Physical education class.

October 9th is Conferences, October 14th is a field trip to Stuhr from 12:30 - 2:30 Great Plains Pawnee, and October 20th we have the Rural School Field trip to Stuhr from 9:00-11:00. The students will need to bring $3.50 for the Stuhr Field trips.

The students should finish reading their book report book by October 2nd. On the third of October we will write book reports.

I sent home 4 Scholastic Book order sheets for October. If anyone wants to order books, have the orders in by October 2nd. I do the order online, so please make checks payable to me.

The students may also do some of their spelling homework online at spellingcity.com. I'll be setting it up so I'll be able to tell who practiced and how much of the list they practiced.

The fourth grade girls got the annual tea party invitation from the Library. This should go home today. I appreciate your notes on the weekly quiz/test sheet that you sign and send back to school. Thank you.

Danae Burdett is back from her trip to the East Coast. She gave a wonderful oral report this morning about the Burdett family trip. What a blessing for all of us! Wouldn't that make a blessed field trip!!

Busy School Days

2009-09-18T16:37:00.001-07:00

Time is flying by and we are covering a lot of material. There have been several quizzes and everyone is settling down and deciding to do their homework and study for quizzes and tests. That is what 4th and5th is all about-learning that studying skills are necessary. School up until now has been learning to read. 4th and 5th are the years it switches to reading to learn.

We have a few field trips coming up. One is a trip to the Scarecrow Patch. The school is going,but I have hay allergies and I won't be going. The 4th and 5th will help with the younger grades and enjoy being out there. We need drivers. If you are available to drive,please let me know.

October 1 the 3rd,4th and 5th are going out to the Boy Scout Camp-Camp Augustine for Archery instruction. We will leave a little after 1:00 and get there by 1:30. The Camp Ranger, Ed Wiles and my husband Dave Plond will teach the archery class. They are proving the equipment and are well trained. Ed is also a bow hunter. I'm taking advantage of their skill and their offer to teach this class one afternoon. If you have any questions, email me or see me after school if possible. I've wanted to do this for a couple years and we have the opportunity now.

There is a ground water festival at Central Community College every spring, and this year is the sign up year. There are so many schools that sign up everyone only gets to go once every three years. I am hoping we get to go this spring. I sent in our application two weeks ago. I'll let every know the date as soon as I know.

We had a great beginning to our card sales, our first fire drill practice was on Thursday, and the Association Meeting is coming up on 24th. The students get a casual day/backwards day on Friday if their parents come to the Association Meeting Thursday night. I look forward to seeing everyone Thursday evening for a potluck meal and sharing school information.

The First Day of School

2009-08-19T12:43:00.000-07:00

Everyone looks healthy and excited to be seeing friends again. It's good to see their excitement about school.
I'm just as excited as they are. I love to teach God's word in our daily lives. The classroom is ready and the A Beka schedule is set, yet I find God equipping me. Just when I think I have done enough and planned enough, God humbles me. He reminds me these are His children. I appreciate all that you parents share with me. Please continue to share concerns with me. I'll keep taking the concerns to Christ in prayer.
This first week we will be talking about forgiveness, gossip, and bullying. I am so thankful we can discuss the forgiveness though Christ Jesus in school. This will be a topic all year.
I also wanted to remind everyone to bring a lunch throughout the school year. We will still have pizza on Fridays. We will get the cost of Friday pizza soon. Milk is 30 cents.
The students will be able to bring water bottles into class if our temperatures rise into the 90's. Our water fountain is a few steps from our room.
The students will get a copy of our classroom schedule this week. You are welcome to visit the classroom anytime. There is a round table in the back of the room you're welcome to use.
Parent Teacher Fellowship is a good way to get to know the school families. The first one is scheduled at the Burdett home.
Have a Blessed Day.
Mrs. Plond

It's August! School is around the corner!

2009-08-11T13:34:00.000-07:00

The classroom is almost ready for the students. If you'd like your child to bring their supplies in early, the school is open and we'll be here.

If you'd just like your child to practice rusty skills, they can go onto spelling city.com ; thatquiz.org ; aplusmath.com ; mathplayground.com ; coolmath-games.com and freerice.com

Parent Orientation is on the 18th and school is on the20th. Chapel is on the last Friday of the month-the 28 and the school picnic is the last Saturday-the 29th.

We are still recycling newspapers at the school. We are also recycling cardboard, paper, and magazines. Feel free to unload them here on the north side of the building. There are four recycling containers.

Your child may bring water bottles into the classroom if the temperature is going to be in the upper 80's - 90's.

The school has a new look. The lower halls and restrooms are sporting beautiful new colors! We were blessed to have a painter donate his time and talents to the school. Come take a peek!

I'll keep everyone updated with news about our new year!

Blessings to All,

Mrs Plond

Last Week of July

2009-07-26T15:23:00.000-07:00

The last week of July is upon us. A few leaves have fallen from the trees after the last storm and not all were green leaves. Fall is around the corner as is our next school year. I'm getting my ABeka Schedule fine tuned for the new year and have my classroom almost completely moved downstairs. It's been a slow,yet nicely paced move.

I will have a final summer school session the first week of August from the 3rd to the6th. I will review math and Language. It's from9am to noon. If you are interested give me a call or show up that Monday morning. The fee is$60 per child payable to me.

If you'd just like your child to get practice, go onto spelling city.com ; thatquiz.org ; aplusmath.com ; mathplayground.com ; coolmath-games.com and freerice.com

School begins in less than a month-Orientation on the 18th and school on the20th. Chapel is on the last Friday of the month-the 28 and the school picnic is the last Saturday-the 29th.

All of my spelling lists are all ready online for the year(most are hidden at the moment) and I'm currently working on penmanship for the three grades. We will be doing more writing in Language and penmanship. I'm eager for the year to begin, and I'm also enjoying every minute of my summer break!

I'm also looking at some different field trips for the class this year.

I'll keep everyone updated with news about our new year!

Blessings to All,

Mrs Plond

Summer is here.

2009-07-09T13:15:00.000-07:00

July is in full swing and I'm getting my classroom ready for the 2009-2010 school year. I've had one summer school session in June. Next week is the last July session. It's Monday through Thursday...the 13-16. We are reviewing math and language from 9am to noon each day.

I've added a fun spellingcity.com spelling list. If you're feeling idle and need something to do there are fun games on there to play. Look under Mrs.Plond when you get to the site.

First Week of Summer

2009-05-28T09:44:00.000-07:00

This first week of summer finds me catching up with friends, spring cleaning and adding to the Grand Island Christian Rummage sale, updating Facebook, and beginning to look at the A Beka schedule planned for next year.
The student Summer Book Order should be arriving soon!