Greetings from Your Teachers

Dear parents,

Distance learning poses new challenges and opportunities for students, teachers, and parents. One of beautiful elements of the classroom that can be lost in distance learning is the personal aspect of learning between teachers and students.

In an effort to bring a piece of that back, each of the 5th grade teachers and ATs has written a letter to their students. We would deeply appreciate it if you would share the letters of your 5th grade children's specific teachers with them. 

Please remember that these letters are posted on a private blog and should not be shared on social media or other platforms without the permission of the authors.

Best regards,

The Fifth Grade Teaching Team

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Most humble greetings kings and queens of the royal house Pevensies,

I hope everyone had a wonderful spring break and I look forward to hearing about how you have spent your time. Believe me when I say that you are being dearly missed by Miss Kelly and me. Without your presence in the classroom both of my plants have died and Billy and Fred are being more reclusive then ever!

Although the circumstances we are under can cause excitement and joy, or uncertainty and confusion, I would highly suggest using this time wisely to be creative and exploratory, to learn to enjoy the things that this busy life usually does not allow us time to do. I am challenging myself to read more, write poetry, and bake.  Over this time period I would like to offer up some of the following suggestions to challenge you to spend your time wisely.

• Play a board game with your family
• Learn a new poem
• Write letters to friends, family, teachers ;)
• Draw to your heart's content
• Spend more time outdoors
• Read, read, read
• Write your own play and act it out
• Make a vision board
• Play chess
• Teach a family member one of our poems

The list can go on and on! I hope everyone remains happy and healthy. We will keep in touch these next couple of weeks as much as possible. Please reach out if there is anything I can do for you. 

Much love,

Ms. Carrigee

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Hello 5B Oakenshielders!

I have missed discussing with you, chatting with you, and especially reciting poetry with all of you!! I hope you have time to rest, relax, and read some over this extended spring break. Over spring break, I had time to read, relax with family, play games (bananagrams, puzzles and cards) and catch up on chores (mowing the lawn is my favorite). Now, I am in the middle of reading Willa Cather’s My Antonia. Some of you may have siblings that have read it! Over spring break, I started picking up an old hobby of water coloring. It has been the perfect time to watercolor some cards to send out as part of headmaster Keffer’s letter writing campaign! 

I look forward to hearing what you are reading and how you have spent your time! Since our class has made it through Paul Revere, I want to challenge you to finish memorizing our Misty Mountain song..Maybe when we are all back we will be able to say it together?! I would love to keep up with the dwarf riddle of the week! If you have any you would like to send in, ask your parents to email them to me or Miss Franzmann and we will send them out to you every week. I miss all of you and hope to keep in touch these next few weeks as much as possible. 

Your teacher and fellow Oakenshield dwarf,

Miss Sims 


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Hello 5th Graders! 

I hope you all had a great Spring Break! Things are certainly a little different now, but I hope you have been enjoying your time at home. 

Over the last two weeks I have been writing, reading and doing some more wedding planning. 

I am curious about what you have been doing in your free time. Maybe you have been diving into that activity you've always wanted to do, or maybe you have had more time to draw (I love all your drawings!) At this point you might be getting a little restless in your home and that is understandable. You might have had so much time on your hands that you have rearranged your room multiple times or counted the leaves on the tree outside your window for the tenth time and now you are wondering what to do next. I want to encourage you to think outside the box and consider picking up a new hobby during this time. You might find something you really enjoy doing! 

I miss you all; especially during recess as I watch you play football or soccer, hear a lot of you running around yelling, "save the mud skippers!" or talking with a group of you about what is going on during your week.

I look forward to the time when I will see you again!

Take care,

Ms. Kelly

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Good Afternoon House Baggins and welcome to the Shire!! 

I am imagining all of the things you have been doing the last couple of weeks! In my mind’s eye I can see some of you…

• practicing their back handsprings in the backyard
• playing virtual table football with each other
• on pointe dancing in their kitchens; 
• finishing the Harry Potter series
• writing and illustrating your own book and writing your own ghost story
• practicing your hand lettering and making everything super cute
• learning a new craft and figuring out how to serve others
• keeping your basketball skills sharp for when we get to play intramurals again 
• And reading all the books on the Harvard Classics book list!

Needless to say, I miss you so much! I hope you are all diligently working on your learning packets and giving your best effort! I expect EXCELLENCE from House Baggins and I know you will not disappoint! Everybody cheer…

B

B-A

B-A-G-G-I-N-S

That’s Baggins

That’s Baggins

We’re the very BEST!

Love,

Mrs. Conrad

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Dear Students of 5D,

Current circumstances have reminded me that being with you is the best part of my job!  I miss you and I miss sharing the things I love with you.  I hope that you and your loved ones are in health, and I hope that you are spending your time making memories.  Practice self-mastery.  Mastering your body and mind at the start of the waking day is key to strengthening your willpower.  Those of you who have family or neighbors to interact with—count yourself fortunate!  During these times in which we may feel as though we cannot get away from each other, it can be tempting to please ourselves first.  You will probably fight with siblings and friends (if you have not already), but you must forgive and seek to understand those you live with.  Don’t expect to become  a perfect sibling or friend overnight.  Each new morning ask yourself,  “What is one small thing I can do to make myself a better person today?”  I keep your names in my thoughts.

Best regards,

Mr. Eberlein

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Dear 5th graders,

I hope all of you are doing well and staying safe! I miss you all and keep you in my thoughts every day. I wanted to share with you all some things I have been doing to stay busy and healthy. Miss Sims and I have been working on a 1000 piece puzzle which is frustrating but also so rewarding! I have also challenged myself to get better at guitar and write a song a week for practice. It is a perfect time to take a skill that we haven't been able to practice very much and get really good at it. I can’t wait to see everyone again and cultivate that creativity! 

Miss Milligan

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Dear 5th grade mathematicians,

I wish I could be in a classroom with you as we continue our exploration of algebra and, soon, move forward to discover negative numbers and coordinate graphing. However, I'm excited to see how we can learn from different tools and methods than usual. 

Continue to check this blog for more surprises from your teachers. 

Stay healthy and care for your families!

Your teacher, 

Miss Franzmann