January 19th-23rd

• We are excited that the Voyagers will be going to American Village!  You should have received a letter in your child’s take home folder last week about this trip.  We will be going on Wednesday, February 4th.  The cost for students is $13.00. This fee can be paid on www.myschoolfees.com.  Any chaperone that wishes to attend is welcome to join us.  We will have you meet us there so that we have ample space for our students on the bus.  The cost for chaperones is $9.00.  This fee also can be paid on www.myschoolfees.com.  The payment for this trip is due by Monday, January 26th.  If you are interested in chaperoning this trip, please contact your homeroom teacher.  This will be a wonderful day!
• Valentine Grams will be sold by the Student Council beginning Feb. 2 and ending Feb. 9.  They will sell them in the lobby of Brock’s Gap beginning at 7:30 each morning.  The grams can be given by students to other students at our school.  This is a fundraiser for our student council.  The cost will be $1.00 for each heart gram, and they are asking for dollars rather than coins.
•  On Tuesday, January 27th and Thursday, January 29th, students will take their mid-year Global Scholar assessment. This assessment will measure growth of the students since the beginning of the year.  We are looking at growth specifically in the areas of Math and Reading.  These assessments will be taken in the morning.  Please, if at all possible, be sure to have your child here on time on these mornings as well as making sure that they have eaten a good breakfast on these mornings.  Thank you so much!
• Our ACT Aspire test dates have been announced for 5th grade.  We will be taking these state assessments beginning the Tuesday after Spring Break.  They will continue throughout this week.  The dates are April 7th-April 10th.  Please mark these on your calendar and avoid appointments on these dates. Thank you!
• Please see the following link to see the Brock’s Gap eNews: Brock's Gap eNews

 Important BGIS Dates for This Week

• Wednesday, 1/21:  First Priority at 7:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, 1/21:  Lego-Robotics (check your child’s schedule for his or her day)

 Important Academic Dates for This Week

• Friday, January 22nd:  Math Comparing and Ordering Fractions Menu due 

• Friday, January 23rd-Reading Log and IXL Grammar due; IXL Math due

 Upcoming Important Dates

• Monday, January 26th:  American Village Field Trip Money Due
• Tuesday, January 27th:  Global Scholar Testing (Reading)
• Wednesday, January 28th:  Social Studies Test on Revolutionary War
• Thursday, January 29th:  Global Scholar Testing (Math)
• Wednesday, February 4th:  American Village Field Trip
• Tuesday, April 7-Friday, April 10:  ACT Aspire Testing (more info to come)

 Curriculum News:

Math: Topics of Study –  We are deep into our study of fractions!  We are working on comparing and ordering fractions, finding equivalent fractions, and recognizing unit fractions in relation to their placement on the number line.  All of this is building to our study of addition and subtraction of fractions with unlike denominators.  We will not have a computation test this week because students will be completing various activities related to fractions in class.  These will be the components of our weekly grades.  We will begin addition and subtraction of fractions with unlike denominators next week.  

Science: Topics of Study –  We are continuing our study of Space this week.  We will focus on the relative size and distances of the planets and technology used to explore space.  NASA has a very cool free program you can download called Eyes on NASA.  It is fun way to learn about our solar system, planet Earth, & planets orbiting other stars.  Here is a link: http://eyes.nasa.gov/

Language Arts: Topics of Study – This is a Writing/Spelling week, however, we will not have Spelling this week due to a shortened week. We will add Spelling words next week. We will begin our Unit on Informational Writing and we will be working on Informational Writing over the next couple of weeks. No tests for this week.

 Social Studies: Topics of Study –   We will be focusing on the people that impacted the Revolutionary War.  A study guide came home today on Causes of the Revolution, Battles of the Revolution and Important People of the Revolution. Our test on this unit will be January 28th.

                   We hope everyone has a great week!