Summer Camp options for our future 3rd-5th graders!

The days are slowly winding down until the end of the school year, why not start thinking about the great summer program opportunities here at St. Ben's! For our upper grades we have some really great programs that will truly catch your eye and keep you wanting to learn even more. Check out the LEARN MORE ABOUT SUMMER PROGRAMS link on the St. Ben's home page to get all the details. 

5th Grade Field trip to The Grove

Learning the colonial history of the Kennicott family

Students learn more about the importance of the Blacksmith Shop during this time

Our pioneers at work candle dipping

Students slicing apples to prepare our deliscious meal over a wood burning stove

Students learn more about how the candles were made and the use behind them

Students practice the short process of weaving

Rope-making isn't so easy, and our pioneers learned how much work and strength was put into it

Our busy pioneers learned how to weave, make rope, tin punching, candle dipping and helped make and prepare a tasty lunch for everyone to eat. What a great field trip!

Spirit Week!!!! March 12th-16th

Monday, March 12th - Spirit Day                                                                            Students and teachers may wear ANY St. Benedict’s gear. Jeans are permitted.

Tuesday, March 13th - Chicago Sports                                                                     Students and teachers may wear their favorite Chicago sports team gear.  Jeans are permitted.

Wednesday, March 14th - Country Western                                                                    Giddy Up, Bengals! Students and teachers may wear their best cowboy and cowgirl outfits.  Jeans are permitted.

Thursday, March 15th - Color Day                                                                            Show your grade level pride. Each grade is assigned a color to wear on this day.              Jeans are permitted.
Kindergarten: Red                                        Third Grade: Orange
First Grade: Blue                                         Fourth Grade: Purple
Second Grade: Yellow                                   Fifth Grade: Black & White

Friday, March 16th -  St. Patrick’s Day and Get Up and Dance                                   Students are encouraged to wear GREEN! NO face paint, NO colored hair spray.

On the agenda this week: January 23-27, 2012

Important Dates:

Sunday, Jan. 29 --> Catholic Schools Week begins! Mass/ Literacy Fair/ Open House from 10-1pm

Tuesday, Jan. 31--> All school Literacy Event: Skype with author of Owl Moon, Jane Yolan

Wednesday, Feb. 1 --> All School Mass at 1:45pm (Students must wear dress uniforms)

Friday, Feb. 3 --> Talent Show at 1:00pm

What we are learning in 5th grade:

Spelling: Unit 18 Review

Writing: Students are finishing their Poetry books and preparing for our Poetry Slam at our Open House on Sunday.

Readers Workshop: Students have been assigned a character from the Westing Game and are tracking their every move as they read the chapters. Working in partnerships, students are also following clues given to them to try and figure out who the main cultprit is in the story.

Math: Students have finished Unit 6 and will be moving onto Unit 7: Exponents and Negative Numbers.

Social Studies: We are learning about the New England, Middle, and Southern Colonies. Students have been working in groups to present their six colonies and preparing for a billiboard they will be creating.

Religion: We are learning about the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism and Confirmation. Students will be reviewing for their upcoming test on Friday,  Feb. 3rd.

On the agenda this week: January 9-13, 2012

Happy New Year! Welcome back to a new year with many new events and fun activites for 5th grade.

Reminders:

Friday, Jan. 13 --> Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Service at 2pm

Monday, Jan. 16 --> No School in rememberance of Martin Luther King Jr.

Wednesday, Jan. 18 --> Student Council Meeting at 7am

Monday, Jan. 23 --> Progress Reports are sent home

Thursday, Jan. 26 --> Parent-Teacher Conferences 4-7pm

Friday, Jan. 27 --> Parent-Teacher Conferences 8:30-12:30

Sunday, Jan. 29 --> Catholic Schools Week begins/ Mass at 10am/ Literacy Fair & Open House 11-1pm

What we are learning in 5th grade this week:

Spelling: Unit 16 (silent and complex consonants)

          Challenge Words:

           1) gnarled

           2) hustle

           3) symptom

           4) subpoena

           5) condemn

Writing: We have started our Poetry Unit and students have been introduced to a variety of poems. We are currently creating a Poetry book to display the work of our fine poets.

Readers Workshop: Students are learning about the Mystery genre and all the ingredients we need to make a mystery successful. We will also begin reading our first class novel, The Westing Game.

Math: Unit 6- Using Data; Addition and Subtraction of Fractions. Students have been organizing data and reviewing landmarks. We are also learning about the different ways we can plot data that we collect.

Social Studies: We have finished our unit on Early English Settlements and will be re-enacting the scene of our three colonies. Students will also watch and analyze Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech and discuss the importance of it.

Religion: We are focusing on with the Sacrament of Initiation: Baptism and Confirmation.