January 31, 2025
Dear Fifth Grade Parents,
We had a wonderful Catholic Schools Week!! Thank you so much for all the cards and flowers today! What a surprise! Ms. Semandiris
Please read an important note from the HRS Office:
Lice Case Increase in West Seattle
Recently there has been an uptick of lice reported in the West Seattle area, with some cases here at Holy Rosary. Though lice can be bothersome, they are not a health hazard and do not spread diseases. It is important to address lice quickly to prevent further spread and keep your child comfortable.
Transmission: Lice are primarily spread through direct head-to-head contact. Although less common, lice can also be spread through shared hats, brushes, or bedding, particularly during sleepovers or bed-sharing.
Symptoms: Indications of a lice infestation include:
- Itching of the scalp
- A tickling sensation in the hair
- Visible lice or nits (eggs) attached to hair strands
- Sores or scratches on the scalp
- Irritability or trouble sleeping
Identification: Nits are tiny, oval, and tan (unhatched) or white (hatched) specks glued to the hair shaft. Adult lice are about the size of a sesame seed and move quickly, making them challenging to spot.
What You Can Do
Regular Head Checks:
- Conduct regular head checks on your child. Early detection makes it easier to manage lice infestations.
- Look for lice close to the scalp, especially near the ears and neck. A metal lice comb and good lighting can help with identification.
If You Find Lice:
- Begin treatment immediately by following the instructions for the chosen method. Many effective over-the-counter and prescription options are available.
- Notify the school office
- Your child can return to school once treatment has begun.
- Follow up with comb-outs and checks over the following weeks to ensure all lice and nits are removed.
Valentine Party – We will have our Valentine Party on February 14th from 11:00am – 11:40 am. Room Parents will be sending more info about this. Students may make Valentine cards for students in their homeroom. This is optional! (If you are making Valentine cards you need to make one for everyone in the homeroom class please.) During the party we will have time when students pass out Valentines to our homeroom only. On February 14th students can wear Valentine/theme colors for free dress.
Upcoming Dates:
- Feb 6th – Vision & Hearing Screening
- Feb 7th – No School, Teacher-In-Service
- Feb 14th – Noon Dismissal, Valentines Day
- Feb 17th – No School, Presidents Day
- Feb 18th – No School, Winter Break
- Feb 20th – Vision & Hearing Screening
- Feb 21st – Bingo Bash
The following is a curriculum update for the week of February 3 – 6, 2025:
Religion
Next week we will begin Chapter 16, Gathered As One. In this chapter we will learn the following concepts about the Sacrament of the Eucharist:
- The wheat bread and grape wine become the Body and Blood of Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
- Participation in the Mass is a duty and a privilege
- Participating fully in the Mass, or serving in one of the many ministries at Mass, helps us to open our hearts to the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist
Math – Ms. Semandiris
Monday ((Feb. 3) – Ch. 6 Lessons 1 – 5 Quiz
Tuesday (Feb. 4) – Ch. 6 Lesson 6 Multiply Decimals by Powers of Ten
Wednesday (Feb 5) – Ch. 6 Lesson 7 Problem Solving Investigation – Patterns
Thursday (Feb 6) – Ch. 6 Lesson 8, Multiplication Properties
Friday – (Feb 7) No School
Math – Ms. McGuigan
Monday (⅔)- 7.5 Generate Patterns with Models
Tuesday-(2/4) Quiz
Wednesday (⅖) 7.6 Investigate the Pattern
Thursday (2/6) 7.7 Coordinate Planes
Friday (2/7) * No school – teacher inservice
Math – Mrs. Heuer
Monday (2/3) *2.6 Estimate with Percents
Tuesday (2/4) *2.7 Percent of a Number
Wednesday (2/5) *2.8 Solve Percent Problems
Thursday (2/6) *Review (Day 1)
Friday (2/7) *No school – Teacher inservice
Science
Next week we will be back to regular science classes. Students will be picking up where they left off and designing their parachutes in groups. Students will have to choose variables for canopy size and materials, and suspension line lengths to meet specific parameters for fall time and size of parachute. We will be testing their designs and deciding if a redesign would be necessary. Students will have a quiz on the parachute process the following week.
Social Studies
Next week we will continue working on Lesson 7, Comparing the Colonies. We are currently working on completing a chart in the book to explain the Reason for Founding, Geography and Climate, Economy and Government of six of the 13 English colonies. We are learning that there are three categories based on regions, New England Colonies, Middle Colonies and Southern Colonies. Looking ahead the test for Lesson 7 will be on February 11 for 5A and February 12 for 5B. The study guide will be available on Google Classroom on February 3rd.
ELA
Hello HRS families! Next week, we will continue our study of the novel Wonder. Keep your eye out for the due date of the first double-entry journal, which will be due when we finish Part One (page 80). This will probably be mid next week. There will be assigned reading for homework, which can also be found on the matrix. I ask that students stay on pace with the class, and avoid reading ahead. If students have their own copy of the book, they are welcome to use it. Reach out to me if your child could benefit from reading along with the audio book, too. Continue to use the ziploc bags when bringing books to and from school. We will also be practicing citing evidence and writing effective commentary to build skills in students’ literary analysis. We will start a new set of spelling and vocabulary words next week. Have a nice weekend!