Last week of school

June 21, 2010

Wolf Ridge was a success! EVERYONE had a wonderful time and learned a bit about themselves and each other. It was great seeing students in a different environment and watching them achieve goals they had never dreamed possible. It was nice to see the kindness in each student and how well they worked cooperatively.

The ropes course was a challenge for everyone mentally and physically, but they all made it and the zip-line at the end was a great reward. Canoeing was a first for many and it could not have been more beautiful out on the lakes. Ask your son or daughter what a smammal is? They should have some good stories to share.


June 22--all school photo, please wear blue.

June 23---last day for switching for math and reading

June 24--- field day, please read over the flyer that was sent home.

June 14, 2010

June 10, 2010

Dates to remember: June 15, 2010 6th graders will be taking the last part of their NWEA. Be sure to get a good nights rest and do your very best.

June 18th 6th graders going to Wolf Ridge will depart at approximately 9 am. Those students not attending are still expected to be at school. A teacher will be made available to them to work on missing or current work.


June 22 is the all school photo.

June 24th is the last day of school and it will be a fun filled day. Be sure to dress comfortable and wear your tennis shoes.

Social: Due to NWEA testing we will only have one day of social this week. Each student will be assigned a chapter on Immigration and will be finding information on their chapter. Each student will also look for a current article on immigration and the US to share with the class.


Science: Students have wrapped up their ocean animal projects that was due on June 9th. There are several students who still need to get it turned in. We will continue to work on ocean movement and life which is in their science packet. Please look through the Excel Energy workbook and complete the kit.

LA: The personal narrative will be due on June 16th. Don't forget to "show" not tell your story. Use figurative language to add depth to your writing.

Math: Ms. A's math class will be finishing up Course One Text book before the end of the year.

Ms. Wallwork's class will be taking a test on June 17th and finishing up the year on lesson 110 followed by a last test. We are covering slope and exponents this week.

Reading: Ms. A's class will be finishing the novel The Rats of Nimh and working on comprehension.

Ms. Wallwork's reading class will finish up our short speech unit but continue working on presentation and proper audience etiquette. Students will also be put into groups of three and read from the same book. They will then practice their presentation skills by presenting back to the class.

June 7th

The end of school is drawing near, here are a few dates to remember:

NWEA's for 6th graders will be on June 9 and 15th be sure to eat a healthy breakfast and get a good nights sleep.

June 6th is the pancake breakfast feed to be held at the Sauk Rapids legion from 8am - 1pm.

June 8th the band and choir concert to be held at Westwood Community Church. The 3rd through 6th graders will be performing at 7pm.

June 14th is the volunteer appreciation BBQ to be held at Riverside Park from 5:00 to 7:30.

June 16th a select group of choir members will be performing at the Mall of America.

June 24th the last day of school and your field day filled with fun!

Social: On June 9th you will have a test on the Industrial Revolution. Be sure to study the vocabulary.

Science: June 9th your Sea Animal research project is due.

LA: We wil continue to work on our Personal Narrative Writing piece. Don't forget to be descriptive, show don't tell. We will also continue to prep for the NWEA test.

Math: Ms. Wallwork's class will have a test on June 8th. Don't forget to review the vocabulary specific to you for the NWEA test. Ms. A's class is working on percents, compound interest and simple interest, and reviewing proportions and ratio boxes.

Reading: Ms. Wallwork's class will continue to work on the techniques needed to be a good speaker and good listener. Ms. A's class will be starting the Rats of Nimh on June 7th. They just finished up Where the Red Fern Grows.

June 1, 2010

June 1, 2010

Welcome back, we hope all of you enjoyed your time off.

NWEA's will be upon us shortly, be sure to put your best effort into them!

Social: We will be finishing up our unit on the Industrial Revolution. Be sure to look over your vocabulary words in preparation for the test.

Science: Working on science packet

LA: We will not have spelling this week due to the shortened week. We will begin a fun Narrative Writing unit by using music!! We will also be preparing for the NWEA's.


Math: Ms. Wallwork's class is working on angles, positive and negative numbers, and finding the length of a semicircle and its area.


Reading: We will work on public speaking by learning first what a good audience looks like and what a good speaker looks like. Each student will read a short children's story to their peers to practice proper speaking techniques.

4th Quarter is a very exciting time in physical education. The students have finished their spring fitness tests and are anxiously awaiting the 5th annual STRIDE field day. Spring fitness test reports will be sent home in Thursday Folders next week. The majority of the remaining physical education classes will be outside. We will be having units in t-ball/softball and cooperative games. Thank you for helping make this school year great. I am looking forward to finishing the year off with a lot of fun in physical education.

Updates and Reminders:


Pancake Breakfast
It is time for the 2nd Annual STRIDE Academy Pancake Breakfast.

-What: Pancake Breakfast
-When: Sunday, June 6th, 8:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M.
-Where: Sauk Rapids Legion on Benton Drive
-For: Funds to support the growing extracurricular program

May 3, 2010

May 3, 2010

Can you believe it is May already?

Social: This week in social we will be watching Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens and continue our coverage of the Industrial Revolution. Vocabulary is due on Friday, May 7th.

Science: Students are taking an Ocean's test Monday, May 3rd. Then they will be continuing with the Xcel Energy project. Each student upon completion of this project will receive a packet containing an energy saving shower head, two energy saving light bulbs,a filter alarm for the air-filter on your furnace, and a water saving faucet for your sink. At times they will be working on this project in homeroom and study hall.


LA: Yes, we will have spelling this week, lesson 21 for most of you and we will continue to cover grammar rules, this week being verbs. It is also our final week of Julius Caesar. Students will have 3 days in class to finish their presentations. We will start presenting on May 11th. Our next unit will cover narrative writing.

Math: Ms. Wallwork's class will be taking a test on Tuesday with Study Island to follow on Wednesday. We will be working in the 7th grade area to continue to work towards growth with our NWEA's. The remaining of the week we will be working with angles.

Reading: Ms. Wallwork's class will continue with the aftermath of the trial of Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird. At the end of the book we will be watching the movie, To Kill a Mockingbird staring Gregory Peck.

Ms. A's class is starting their first novel, Where the Red Fern Grows. They will be doing comprehension and vocabulary questions throughout.


Gym: 1st-6th Grade: The students will be finishing their fitness tests this week. I am very impressed with how hard the students have been working. Keep an eye out for your child’s fitness report in their Thursday folder in early June.

Reminders and important information: Your son or daughter should have brought home a liability release and a health form for Wolf Ridge. These forms need to be turned in before intersession. Also, if your child has a balance due for the trip please ask them for the amount or call Ms. Wallwork at 230-5340 ext 155. This trip is a great way to end the school year with a lot of team work involved.

Remember, any F's on mid-quarter will disqualify you from attending Wolf Ridge.

Our last day of school before intersession is May 14th. Be sure to check out the activities that will be available.

April 26, 2010

It is our last week of MCA testing. We will be taking the math portion on Tuesday and Wednesday. Be sure to get a good nights sleep and eat a healthy breakfast! Have a great attitude and give it your best, you will do fantastic.

Mrs. Swanson's last day is today, Monday, April 26th, Ms. Ahmed will be taking over her classes while she is gone. If you have questions direct them to Ms. A.

Social: Only one day of social this week. Questions for chapter five are due on Thursday and we will be learning a little about Charles Dickens and his contribution during the Industrial Revolution.

Science: We just wrapped up the salinity of the oceans and will be having a test on Thursday. Also, we will be spending one day in science on a new Xcel Energy project. Look for a letter in Thursday folders explaining a bit more. Some time will be used during homeroom and study hall also for this project.


Language Arts: We will return to spelling this week, so don't forget to study your words. Also, we will be finishing up questions for Julius Caesar and working on your individual projects. Be sure to be working on them outside of school.


Math: Ms. Wallwork's math class will be working with scientific notation, solving two-step equations, and inequalities, and finding probabilities. No test in math this week.

Mrs. Swanson's math class will be covering two step equations, area of complex shapes, and identifying rotations, translations, and reflections. No test in Mrs. Swanson's math class either.


Reading: Ms. Wallwork's Literature II class has had some great discussions about To Kill a Mockingbird. Be sure to ask your child about what they have read and learned. We will continue with chapter 13 on Monday along with discussion, comprehension questions, and vocabulary.

Ms. A's class will continue with Tom Sawyer and working on vocabulary and comprehension questions.

Reminders and updates:

Gym:

1st-6th Grade: The students will be starting their Physical Fitness Testing. The tests measure physical fitness by using the following tests: pull ups, sit ups, shuttle run, sit & reach & endurance run/walk. Please encourage your child to do their best. These tests help STRIDE measure the effectiveness of the physical education program and help set physical education goals for next year. Once our testing is finished, you will receive an individual fitness report. These reports are valuable in developing an exercise program to enhance your child's overall level of fitness.


Music:

Kindergarten – 6th grades are busy preparing for their spring concert. Kindergarten – Second Grade concert will begin promptly at 6:00P.M at Westwood Community Church on June 8. Grades 3-6 and the STRIDE Academy Band will perform at 7:00P.M.


The STRIDE Academy Select Choir has been chosen to perform at the Mall of America for their 2010 Music Concert Series. What a great honor! The choir will also perform for our upcoming spring concert. Thanks to all for supporting the Music Program at STRIDE!!

April 12, 2010

The middle school groundbreaking was this past weekend, if you got a chance to check it out, it was wonderful. Mrs. Swanson and Ms. Wallwork walked around trying to decide which classroom to have next year! We are very excited to see the expansion and can't wait to prepare our classrooms.

Social: We have begun our unit on Industrialism, Capitalism, and Socialism Unit. We will start off this week learning how farming became more efficient during the Industrial Revolution.

Science: Our Ocean Structure unit is underway. This week students will work on completing a model of the ocean floor and it's features with a partner and mapping out the ocean floor using the idea of sonar. Students will be assigned their at-home lab for this unit on Thursday and it will be due on Friday, April 23rd.

Language Arts: We are still preparing for MCA's. Don't forget to get a good nights sleep and eat a healthy breakfast every morning. We will begin Act IV of Julius Caesar this week and review literary terms.


Math:

Ms. Wallwork's class will be learning how to collect like terms and multiplying algebraic terms to simplify algebraic expressions.

Mrs. Swanson's class is working on fraction-decimal-percent equivalents, algebraic addition of integers, compound experiments, and ratios problems involving totals. Students will also take another assessment on Wednesday.

Reading: Monday, Ms. Wallwork's class will be previewing To Kill a Mockingbird. We will begin each lesson with the vocabulary and ending with discussion about what we have read. This is a higher content book that will create in-depth discussions.

Specialists:

P.E.: Students will be finishing up a whiffleball unit and will be continuing their preparation for the fitness test.

Music: Students are busy preparing for their spring concert. Please put June 8th on your calendars as this will be the evening that the spring concert will take place at Westwood Community Church. More information will be coming in regards to times! Thanks for your continued support of the music program at STRIDE Academy!

Updates and Reminders:

Information was handed out at conferences about the end of the year trip to Wolf Ridge. Please start filling out this information and returning it as soon as possible. In this weeks Thursday folder you will find the health form that will need to be filled out and returned.

Please remind your child to bring a white t-shirt into school by Wednesday, April 14th. Next week the sixth graders will create t-shirts to wear on MCA testing days. Those dates again are Tuesday and Wednesday April 20 and 21st for Reading and Tuesday and Wednesday April 27 and 28 for Math.