Dear Parents:

Since we are getting close to the end of the 2011-2012 school year for your sixth grader, I wanted to make sure you were informed about some upcoming dates and activities.

Important Dates—

-Wednesday, May 23: 3rd/6th Grade Buddy Writing Project (1:20-2:40)

-Friday, May 25: Marie Murphy Olympics (8:45-11:30 & 2:20-3:20)

-Tuesday, May 29 – Thursday, May 31: Mini-Book Fair in ITC

-Wednesday, May 30: Walk-a-thon (9:00-10:15)

-Thursday, May 31: Portfolio Evening for students and families (6:00-7:00)

-Wednesday, June 6: Dr. Reed’s Retirement Assembly and Reception

-Thursday, June 7: Locker Cleaning and Sixth Grade Picnic (11:20-3:20)

-Friday, June 8: Awards Ceremony (8:00-9:00)

-Wednesday, June 13: Report Cards Published

Our recent outdoor education experience was a success for those that were able to join us. The Outdoor Education blogs are suppose to be sent to me on Tuesday, May 15. If I don’t receive them by the close of Tuesday, they will be considered late. We are just finishing up our Forensic Science unit. The unit study guide is due on Wednesday followed by a test on Thursday. Next week, when I return from the Science Olympiad National Competition, we begin our study of viruses and bacteria.

In Social Studies, sixth graders have been studying the Middle Ages, conducting research, and reading a piece of historical fiction. The novel Crispin, by Avi, is one of the best to demonstrate daily life of different social classes and the influence of the Catholic Church during the Middle Ages. Medieval presentations begin on May 14.

In math class, students have been studying percents recently. In fact, there will be a test on Wednesday. After being introduced to percents and proportions, students watched a movie version of the book If the World Were a Village, which examines percentages by shrinking the world down to a village of 100 people. They were surprised to learn that 26% of the world’s population is undernourished, and they were very motivated to do something to help this great need.

Students discussed various options and voted to carry-out a walk-a-thon in support of Heifer International. Heifer donates chickens, goats, and other animals to people in need and then teaches them to care for these animals thus providing people with a source of food for their family as well as some extra income which can be earned when they their surplus. It follows the classic proverb of “teaching a man to fish” versus simply “giving a man a fish.”

The Sixth Grade Walk-a-Thon will be taking place on the morning of Wednesday, May 30, with a rain date of May 31. This provides students with about 3 weeks to ask family members or close family friends for support. Students were asked not to go door-to-door throughout their neighborhood, but instead to only ask people they know well. Sponsors may chose to do a flat amount (easier if the person isn’t someone the student sees very often) or an amount per lap (more motivational for walking as much as possible). The students are very excited to be supporting such a great cause!

Our second service project will involve collecting slightly used books to donate to a tutoring/community center in Rogers Park called Centro Romero. The students had talked about organizing a used book sale to raise more funds for Heifer when a New Trier student contacted us regarding the community center’s need for books. Over the next couple of weeks, please help your son or daughter look through their bookshelves and weed out any old books they no longer read that could be donated. What a great way to clear out your shelves and help a community center in need!

Thanks for your anticipated support in both of these service learning projects and throughout the year! We are looking forward to a great finish to our sixth grade year!