Waters Landing Elementary School
Fifth Grade Newsletter
October 2013
Important Dates
October 1st
PTA Meeting
October 4th
Interims go home
October 4th
Data Note Books
go home
October 4th
Town Hall Mtg.
Subject : Respect
Grades 3-5
2:00-2:30
October 18th
No School
Teacher Conference
October 22nd
5th Grade to
Strathmore
9:30-12:30
October 24th
Cultural Arts
Assembly
2:00-3:00
October 31st
Halloween/Fall Fest
Parades and parties
*End of Quarter 1
Nov 1st
No School for students
Professional Day for
Teachers
Reading
We begin reading this month by switching from literary text to
informational text. We will focus on main idea, key details, relationships among individuals, events, ideas, concepts, analysis of
multiple accounts on the same topic, point of view, and integration of information from texts on the same topic. In order to accomplish this task much of our whole group reading material will
be Social Studies based. It will deal with events taking place in the
13 colonies prior to the Revolutionary War, and then the Revolutionary War itself.
However, we will continue our novel studies and take short
breaks from them in order to read and discuss informational text
in small guided reading groups.
Writing
In writing students will continue on
their STEM inquiry project. They have
been working with their homeroom teacher and Mrs. Zygmunt to
collect information on different types of energy resources. They
must then decide which energy source they believe the BEST to
power their small group designed amusement park ride. They will
compose an opinion piece individually for this portion of the inquiry project. We will continue other writing pieces as well during
the month of October.
Social Studies
We will study the impact of Colonial American leaders, their
points of view, the impacts and challenges of becoming a new
Nation. We will also look at the colonists reactions to the changes in
British policies, roles and viewpoints toward the 13 colonies.
Science
This month we are continuing our study of force, motion, and
mass. We will be conducting investigations in class, collecting qualitative and quantitative data to back-up our hypothesis’ and our results. In addition we will study forms of energy (potential and kinetic) and the conversion of energy.
5th
Grade
Math
We will begin working with decimals to the thousandths place,
comparing and rounding them. This will be followed by adding and subtracting decimals to the hundredths using numbers, drawings, models;
employing place value strategies to help solve operations between addition and subtraction. This is followed by 2– and/or 3– digit division.
It is imperative that your child can use quick recall of basic multiplication and division facts through out this unit. Please encourage him or
her to study them with flash cards.
6th Grade Math/Math A
During week 1, students will complete the Unit 1 Test and will use estimation and mental math to solve problems with fractions, decimals, and percent's,
explaining the reasoning involved. During week 2, students will use estimation
and mental math to solve problems with fractions, decimals, and percent's. Week
3 will include +, -, x, ÷ decimals and fractions, including mixed numbers, and expressing answers in simplest form Students will end the month by selecting appropriate metric measurements for a given a situation.
Conferences
Plan ahead. Parent teacher conferences are fast approaching. Please be
on the lookout for sign up sheets from your child’s homeroom teacher if you
have not scheduled a conference date and time.
Thanks,
Ms. Cook, Mr. Evans, Mr. Warner, and Mr. Chechick
Middle School Special Programs
School/Program
Type (requirements)
Coordinator
Date of Info
Clemente MS[1] (Humanities & Communication Program, and Math, Science &
Computer Science Program)
Eastern MS[2]
Application, test, grades, teacher recs*
Doug Nelson
301 601 0381
Thurs, Oct. 10
Application, test, grades, teacher recs*
Matt Kerwin
301 650 6654
Tues, Oct. 22
Takoma Park MS2
(Math, Science & Computer Science Pro-
Application, test, grades, teacher recs*
Scott Degasperis
301 562 5220
Thurs, Oct. 10
Argyle MS[3]
Lottery using Choice form
Peter Daddone
301 460 2400
Wed, Oct. 16
Loiederman MS3
(Creative & Performing Arts)
Parkland MS3
(Aerospace Technology)
Lottery using Choice form
Royce Wallace
301 929 2282
Donna Blaney
301 438 5700
Wed, Oct. 23
Lottery using Choice form
Wed, Oct 9
*teacher recs are due Dec. 13
Due Date for All Applications and Choice Forms is Friday, NOVEMBER 8.
 Application materials will be available online by end of September at
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms/

Testing date for the application magnet programs is December 7. See application booklet for time and location
details.
 Choice forms will be available online by mid-October at
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/msmagnet/



There are two general information meetings for all interested Grade 5 parents and students. The information
shared will be the same on both nights, so interested families need only attend one of the following meetings:
Thursday, September 19 7:00 p.m. at Wheaton High School, or
Monday, September 23 7:00 p.m. at Richard Montgomery High School
Students may participate in the Choice lottery AND apply to the application programs.
By mid-September, prepared resources for you will be available in Outlook (Public Folders--All Public Folders—
Conferences—Curriculum—AEI—Middle School Magnet Programs).
If you have additional questions about any of the Middle School Special Programs
please contact Mrs. Laureno as she is our school’s coordinator.
*** We have a limited number of paper copies of the applications. If you are in
need of one, please contact your child’s homeroom teacher. We will distribute
them until we run out, then they will need to accessed by you on line.
Halloween
Dear Parents,
Our Halloween party will be on October 31st from 2:15PM till 3:15PM! We
are asking each child to donate $5.00 to cover the cost of the food, crafts, and/or
games for the party. Please send your child's donation, in cash, in an envelope with
his/her name on it by Monday, October 21st. If you and your family do not celebrate Halloween, please let us know: send us an email or a note. There will be an
alternate activity in the media center; a donation is still encouraged to cover the
cost of any materials used. If you would like to help with the festivities, please
send a note to your child’s teacher.
Our Halloween party will be on Thursday, October 31st. Children are allowed to bring a
costume to wear at the party. (Children are NOT required to wear a costume.) Please
send your child’s costume in a bag labeled with his/her name on it on Thursday October
31st. The costume should be easy for your child to dress him/herself.
Your child should not bring any kind of weapon such as a sword, gun, etc. We will have
the children change into their costumes right before the party. They will change back into
their regular clothes after the party.
We will have our outdoor parade at 2:15p.m. Students will come out of the
building one grade at a time, and then they will return to their rooms for their parties.
Cell Phones
Students are not permitted to carry a cell phone to school unless they
have a contract registered with the main office. Cell phones, once on school
property, must be turned off and kept in student backpacks. They are not to
taken from the backpack until the student is off school property. Cell
phones are not to used during lunch or recess. Contracts were sent home with
students approximately two weeks ago. To date very, very few have been returned.
Room Parents
We are looking for two room parents per teacher this year. Please check
with your child’s homeroom teacher to see if you are needed to volunteer to be
the room parent. Some classroom may already have the positions filled, but not
all three 5th grade teachers
have all positions filled. Thanks in advance for your help.