February 9, 2010
This week we will be taking the second District Benchmark Assessment. We will
be taking two subtests, Reading and Math. Make sure your child gets a good
night of sleep and a healthy breakfast in the morning.
On Friday, we will be having a small Valentine's Day party. It will take
place from 1:20-2:25. If you want, you may send in some snacks. Students may
bring in Valentines! If they do, they need to have one for everybody! A
letter regarding the party as well as a list of all the children in the class
was sent home on February 9.
February 2, 2010
Our Haiti fundraiser was a smashing success! We raised $1373.91! I am so
proud of the effort put forth by my students to rally behind this cause.
Along with Mrs. Erwin's class, we ran an entire campaign to solicit donations.
Students created and performed announcements and decorated and hung posters.
We even got a thank you email from the superintendent!
Progress reports were due yesterday. As of this morning, I still have a
couple that have not yet been returned. Please send those back immediately!
We are finishing up a book unit this week. Students have a project that is
due on Monday, February 8. We have dedicated class time to working on this,
but more than likely it will need to go home to get it done. Students have a
menu and graphic organizers to help them complete the project.
The next few week will be very busy as we have three field trips coming up.
On February 8, we will be going to Popejoy Hall to see the production of
"Chasing George Washington." On February 10th, we will be going to Casa San
Ysidro. The final trip will occur the following week when we go see the
rescheduledNMSO performance at Popejoy Hall. Please see the events calendar
for timesand details. As always, parents are welcome! Permission slips were
sent homeyesterday and are due back on Friday, February 5. Only two were sent
home because we already collected permission slips and money for the George
Washington performance.
Congratulations to Hanna, Lela, and Kestrel for hitting the first two
benchmarks in the Sunshine Math Program and Paul for achieving the first
benchmark. Keep up the great work!
January 25, 2010
Progress Reports go home today! Please sign and return them by Monday,
February 1.
This Thursday, January 28 is our Science Week Experiment Day. We are
scheduled to participate from 10:50-11:35. We are still looking for
volunteers to help us that day. On Friday, January 29 we will have an evening
session. Grades K-2 are scheduled for 6:00-7:00 and grades 3-5 are scheduled
for 7:00-8:00. We hope to see you there!
Our class has been hard at work trying to raise money for Bandelier's Haiti
Relief Fund. Our class, along with Mrs. Erwin's, has made posters, written
and performed announcements, and are currently working on presentations to
give to every 3-5 grade class. We are trying to get as much money as we can
on January 29! Every little bit counts!
We have several field trips planned in February. Please refer to the Events
section of the website.
January 19, 2010
We are back in the swing of things! We have had a great couple of weeks back
from Winter Break.
Our Mission to Mars is off to a great start! We are currently writing sagas
and creating mission patches. Ask your child to sing his/her saga to you!
Progress Reports will be sent home on Monday, January 25. Please return them
to me by Monday, February 1.
PLEASE help your child remember his/her Nightly Reading! I am getting fewer
and fewer of them each week!
Science week is fast approaching! On Thursday, January 28 our class is
scheduled to have some fun with science! From 10:50-11:35, we will be doing
some experiments and practicing the scientific method. For this to run
smoothly, we need your help! We are looking for volunteers to help monitor
our time. A letter was sent home last Thursday asking for volunteers. If you
can make it, we would love to see you there. In addition to the school time
experiments, we will also be holding an evening session on Friday, January 29.
Grades K-2 are scheduled for 6:00-7:00 and grades 3-5 are scheduled for
7:00-8:00. We hope to see you there!
January 6, 2010
Happy New Year! I hope everybody had a nice, relaxing break.
I want to thank all of you for your wonderful generosity. I really enjoyed
all of the cards and gifts sent my way. It means a lot to me.
So here we go! This semester will be jam packed! Besides the curriculum, we
also have middle school transition, Mission to Mars projects, testing, puberty
units, and 5th grade moving up activities. More information will be provided
as we get closer to those dates.
Over the last few weeks, I have started to notice some homework assignments
that were completely done wrong! Please check over your child's work. Use
the Family Letter, which is sent home at the beginning of each unit to guide
you. If you still are not sure about a concept, give me a ring!
There is no Nightly Reading this week!
December 14, 2009
This Friday, we will be having our end of the semester party. I meant to send
a letter home today, but it did not happen! I sincerely apologize! Anyway,
it WILL go home tomorrow, but here is a sneak peek!
Dear Parents and Families,
Mr. Beg’s 5th grade class is having an end of the semester party Friday,
December 18. It will be a pot-luck. Each student has signed up to bring a
dish or other contribution to our fiesta! We will eat around 12:30. All
families and parents are invited. We’d love to see you here!
There will also be a gift exchange this Friday. The rules are simple:
1. The gift must cost $5.00 or less.
2. The gift must be able to be enjoyed by a boy or a girl.
3. The gift must be wrapped.
The only way that you can get a gift at the gift exchange is to give one.
Remember, this is totally optional. However, if you really want to
participate and can’t afford it, talk to Mr. Beg. We hope to see you there
and have a safe and happy holiday!
Sincerely,
Mr.Beg’s Fifth Grade Class
Pot Luck Sign–up List
Utensils
Plates…………………. Kestrel
Spoons & Forks……… Deb
Cups………………….. Chris
Drinks
1. Graham
2. Andre
3. John
4. Merrick
5. Cael
Desserts
1. Jacob
2. Nina
3. Rachael
4. Deja
5. Ysabelle
Main Dishes
1. Breeze
2. Nic
3. Yasamin
4. Lela
5. Tyler
6. Eryn
Sides
1. Hanna
2. Naila
3. Paul
4. Shanta
5. Cody
Just a reminder, school will dismiss for Winter Break on December 18 @ 3:30.
Students are expected to return on January 5, 2009!
Have a restful and happy holiday season!
November 30, 2009
I was very pleased to meet with all of you during conferences. It's hard to
believe that we are over 1/3 of the way through the school year!
We have our Explora! field trip this Friday. We will leave the school at
10:00. Students must bring a sack lunch. Also, students need to wear
appropriate walking shoes.
We will be having an end of the semester party on December 18. Times and
details will be announced soon. We'd love to see you there!
I want to take this time to offer congratulations to the following students
for their 1st trimester performances:
Perfect Homework (No missing assignments including NR and Agendas)
Hanna Alley
Lela Beer
Naila Gonzalez
Kestrel Kiegel
Jacob Martinez
Paul Onor
John White
Yasamin Zamanian
Perfect Attendance (No absences/Less than three tardies):
Cody Brown
Deb Goldenberg
Excellent Attendance (1 absences/Less than three tardies):
Hanna Alley
Cael Apodaca
Deja Brown
Graham Glasgow
November 16, 2009
Conferences are next week! You should have received confirmation of your
time. If you have not, please give me a shout and I can get that info to you
immediately!
The Thanksgiving Holiday Meal is this Friday, November 20. Our class is
scheduled to eat from 12:55-1:40. The students will be at recess until 12:55.
Permission slips for our next field trip went home today. We will be going to
Explora! Children's Museum. We will be going with our kindergarten buddies.
The cost is $6 per child plus $.70 for bus fare ($.35 each way). Adult
admission is also $6 but the bus fare is $2 ($1 each way). If you would like
to meet us there, you are welcome to do just that. However, you would miss
out on the thrill and excitement of public transportation!
If you have an Explora! membership please see me about the plan of attack.
The students and I met this morning to talk about what it means to be a great
student. Some of the kids needed a reminder. There are no major issues, so
don't worry! It's just that every once in a while kids and adults alike need
to have a refresher course on expectations.
November 9, 2009
Conference confirmations went home today. Please let me know if you cannot
attend the time I've scheduled for you. As of today, I am still missing
conference request forms from 4 students. Please get those in ASAP!
As a follow up to the letter sent home last week, we will not be attending the
NMSO Concert on Tuesday due to labor disputes. The powers that be have
assured us that they will try to reschedule the concert in February.
Wednesday is Veteran's Day. School is not in session.
I will be out of the classroom Thursday and Friday.
We are still accepting donations for the Bandelier Food Drive!
November 2, 2009
Conference slips are going home today. Please indicate your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
choices of conference times and return ASAP! Scheduling will be done on a
first come, first serve basis. However, I will try to accommodate parents by
offering earlier/later dates and even phone conferences.
I am still missing a few census cards, so get those in!
I will out of the classroom on Wednesday afternoon from 11:45-3:10.
We still need donations for our food drive (see information below).
October 27, 2009
Bandelier is having a food drive. 5th graders are responsible for bringing in
canned fruit and vegetables, packaged cookies, and gravy. Donations are due
by November 16! Let's make sure all the families at Bandelier have happy
holidays!
October 26, 2009
It was nice to see so many of you at the Halloween Carnival Saturday Night. I
hope you all enjoyed this wonderful community event!
Speaking of Halloween, this Friday we will be having a small party to
celebrate the end of the first trimester. A letter regarding this will be
sent out today. As per tradition, Bandelier will have a parade to start the
day. Students are allowed to dress up, but keep in mind it is an elementary
school. Costumes that are too bloody/scary will not be allowed! Also, even
if they are part of your child's costume, weapons of any kind will be
confiscated. Leave them at home for the weekend. If you choose to have your
child not participate in the activities, an alternate activity will be set up
for him/her.
Census cards will be sent home today! Please fill them out to the best of
your ability and return them by Friday, October 30! If all cards get returned
by Friday, the students will earn an extra 10 minute recess.
Our pizza party went off without a hitch! The students were well behaved and
hungry! I want to thank Deja's dad for supplying drinks to the students!
October 19, 2009
Tomorrow is our second field trip. We will be walking to Popejoy Hall to see
"Reflections in Black." We will leave around 10:00. We will eat lunch when
we arrive. The performance starts around noon. Since we are walking, please
make sure your child is wearing appropriate footwear. Also, a sack lunch (no
lunch boxes) is required.
This Friday, we will have our pizza party for meeting and exceeding our class
Bear-A-Thon goal. Students will not need to bring a lunch.
We have a new face in the class! On Friday afternoons, Nico Ponder will be
joining us. He is a student at Bosque Prep working on a community based
learning project. He is extremely enthusiastic and has been a great addition!
October 12, 2009
I hope you all had a great Fall Break!
Progress reports went home last Thursday. They are due back to me signed this
Wednesday, October 14! If you have any questions about them, please don't
hesitate to ask!
Good news! Our class raised a whopping $1000 during the Bear-A-Thon fund
raiser. They obliterated our class goal of $550, thus earning a pizza party
from me! There still is the possibility that we also earn the school
sponsored pizza party as well.
October 5, 2009
October! Wow! This is a big week! Many things are happening.
Reminder-Bear-A-Thon money is due this Wednesday, October 8!
First, we have two major projects due this week. On Thursday, our Biomes
Posters are due. Students have been conducting research and most have begun
their posters!
Students who have me for reading have a big due date as well. The students'
board games need to be finished Thursday. We have been working hard in class,
but some might need to go home in order to be completed on time.
Also on Thursday, students will take home their first progress reports. These
serve as an overall snapshot of the first 6 weeks. They will need to be
signed and returned by October 14.
Finally, permission slips went home last Thursday for two Popejoy Hall
performances. Please return these permission slips no later than-you guessed
it-Thursday! Please include $4 to cover the costs for the performances. As
always, if you'd like to attend, you are more than welcome!
There will be no school on Friday, October 9. It is APS Fall Break!
September 28, 2009
On Friday, 2008-09 Standards Based Assessment (SBA) results went home. Please
take a look at your child's scores. If you have any questions, come talk to
me. I do not have any other information, but I can give you an idea of what
I'm seeing in class. Please remember I was not your child's teacher last
year, so I cannot specifically speak about last year's results in the context
of last year. If you do have concerns or questions, talk to your child's 4th
grade teacher!
Our field trip is this Wednesday! Please remember to pack a sack lunch for
your child. Also, students MUST wear pants (no shorts) and MUST have closed
toe shoes (no sandals, etc.). If you are planning on going with us, more than
likely you will be able to ride with us on the bus. However, there is a
possibility that you may have to drive your own vehicle or carpool with
another parent. This is all based on the number of seats available.
I want to take this time to remind parents that they should still be signing
their child's agendas on Thursday nights. This has fallen off a bit in recent
weeks. Students should be coming to you to do this, but a friendly reminder
is O.K. too!
Progress Reports will be sent home on October 8.
There will be no school on October 9. It is Fall Break. Enjoy!
September 21, 2009
This week, we will begin our first big project. Students will be placed in
groups of 3-4 to research Biomes. Most of the work will take place at school,
but your child may want to use resources at home as well.
Thursday is the 2009-10 Bear-A-Thon. It is Bandelier's biggest fundraiser of
the year! We could use some parent helpers to either mark students as they
complete laps or man the water station. LMK if you can join us. If you do
not want your child to participate (illness, asthma, injury, etc.), please
send me an email or a note outlining your wishes. Collection envelopes went
home last week. Money is NOT due on Thursday!
September 14, 2009
Open House was a huge success! I loved having the opportunity to see all of
you again. I received very positive feedback from parents and children alike.
Thank you for supporting and appreciating our efforts!
Permission slips for the September 30th field trip will go home today. Please
sign and return them by Friday, September 18.
Picture order forms are due this Wednesday, September 16. If you are planning
on purchasing pictures, please send in payment by then.
Entertainment Books are due back to Bandelier by Thursday, September 17.
Please return the book (if you are not buying) or payment (if you are buying).
Also, this Saturday, Mary Erwin will be having a work day for the Bandelier
Gardens at 9:00 am. Please come by and lend a hand.
Salutations and greetings to all and sundry,
First, a GIANT THANK YOU to all the families who came out all summer long to
water and maintain plants during the long and mostly dry summer months. It was
fun to share potlucks and stories around our construction project. I
appreciate your help and dedication to this project.
Second, the construction is done! It looks fantastic and our shed (now
affectionately being referred to as our 'barn') was delivered by APS Salvage
yard last week. We have irrigation for our future fruit trees and edible
landscape plants and a wonderful seating area for classes to work. Water can
now safely drain and the problems caused by erosion have been taken care of.
And most importantly, we have water right there!!!
Now, the Bandelier Garden and Outdoor classroom NEEDS YOU!
We are planning a volunteer work day to spiff-up our garden beds and help to
get them ready for another school year.
This will take place beginning around 9:00 AM on Saturday, September 19th and
going until we get all our 'honey do' items on our list.
Bring your tools, your know-how, your willing hands and backs to help with the
following list of items:
1. Barn needs a paint job (paint will be provided, please bring a paintbrush
to use if you have one)
2. Barn also needs a door and some windows. I would LOVE to consult with
someone about what supplies we need to do this...
3. Compost, need to build a compost system out of hay/straw bales
4. Garden beds to need a good coat of stain on the outside to protect from
weathering
5. Garden beds need new fabric or plastic to replace the torn ones
6. To protect the new tops, we need to replace the chains that go along the
ends to keep them from flopping open and onto the ground
7. Add dirt to beds and pull out any dead or dying plants, get beds ready for
seeds and seedlings
Our fundraising efforts from the PTA account last year will pay for the
supplies, but you will need to bring your own tools.
Children are welcome to come help, but parents will need to supervise their work.
I will also provide food, so please let me know if you plan to come help, that
way I can make enough for everyone.
Hope to see you all on the 19th!
Mary
September 8, 2009
Entertainment books will go home today! If you do not want to purchase the
book, please send it back ASAP!
Open House is this Thursday! Please plan on attending! Come get a first hand
glimpse of how the classroom is run. The festivities start at 6:00.
We started Reading Buddies! Last Friday was our first visit to Mrs.
McNellis's kindergarten class. We spent our time getting to know the
youngsters we will be working with this year. This is a great opportunity for
5th graders to be role models and to be a positive influence in the lives of
fellow Banda Bears. We will be reading with them, helping them out with
projects, and even escort them on a field trip or two.
August 31, 2009
Your children did an outstanding job adjusting to a new teacher and a new
classroom last week! I am so proud of their studious attitudes and the work
ethic that I witnessed. This bodes well for the upcoming year! Thank you for
sending me such amazing young people!
Pull out classes begin this week. If your child has an IEP, you should have
received notification about this.
I am still missing a few of the Discipline Policy handouts (salmon color),
some Parent Feedback packets (purple cover), and some Phone List information
sheets (white). If you still have any of these, please send them in!
August 28, 2009
Nightly Reading did NOT go home today as was reported in the homework section!
We had some copier issues! It will go home on Monday, August 31!
August 24, 2009
We have successfully established a classroom mission statement to guide us
during the upcoming school year. As a class, we used our personal reasons for
being at school to find common ground to establish a group goal. The students
worked extremely hard to do this. Please check it out on the Mission
Statement page.
Also, each student has created a personal mission statement. Ask your child
to share it with you!