Fifth Grade Events

Important Upcoming Dates:
Friday, May 30th - Poconos Trip
Monday, June 2nd - Ballroom show!
Tuesday, June 10th - Senior Luncheon (9:30 - 1:30)
Thursday, June 12th - Teacher vs. Student Ballgame - Parent Volunteers needed!
Friday, June 13th - 154 Picnic
Monday, June 23rd - 5th Grade Graduation (9:30 a.m.)

Care Packages for U.S. Soldiers

Ms. Sheehan's class is currently collecting items to place into care packages for soldiers currently serving in Iraq. We would like for each student to bring in at least one of the following items to donate:

CANDY

Candy (heat resistant)
Fruit Breezes (throat drops)
Twizzlers

CORRESPONDENCE

Writing Paper and Envelopes
Pens/Pencils

DENTAL

Floss
Mouthwash
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste

DRINK

Coffee (instant)
Coffee Creamer
Gatorade
Powdered Drink Mixes
Tea Mixes (sweet)
KoolAid bursts- to freeze

FOOD (including dry goods, snacks)

Sugar packets
Bars (Clif or Balance)
Beef Jerky
Canned Fruit (pop top cans)
Cereal (in small boxes)
Girl Scout Cookies
Granola Bars
Gum
Oatmeal (instant)
Pop-Tarts
Ravioli (pop top cans)
Tuna Kits

GAMES

Board Games
Checkers (travel size)
Chess (travel size)
Crossword Puzzles
Playing Cards

MUSIC

CD Fanny Packs
CDs
Tapes
DVDs new and used
Hand held electronic games
Sodoku books

PRINTED MATERIALS

Books (novels, short stories)
Newspapers (local)
Magazines

TOILETRIES/HYGIENE

Baby Wipes
Nose spray
Eye Drops
Deodorant
Femine Hygiene Products (for female soldiers)
Foot Powder
Hairbrushes
Hand Lotion
Hand Sanitizers (waterless)
Nail Clippers
Q-Tips
Razors (disposable)
Shampoo
Sunscreen
Tissues (heavy duty - i.e. Puffs)
Travel size body wash
Tylenol (individual packets)

Other

Plastic spoons
American Flags (small)
Baggies (with zip lock)
Batteries (AA, D, ....)
Bug Spray (must be packaged in zip-lock bag)
Duct Tape
Disposable Cameras
Flashlights (mini/mag lite, extra bulbs, lots of batteries)
Fans (battery powered - small - with extra batteries)
Fly Strips
Fly Swatters
Pre-Paid Phone Cards
Shoe Insole Cushions
Socks (cushioned white calf high)

New York Historical Society Trip

We are excited to inform you about the fifth grade’s upcoming trip to the New York Historical Society. Class 5-307 will visit the NY Historical Society on Friday, May 23, 2008. To complement our Social Studies unit on this month, students will participate in a workshop there about Slavery. Students will explore the problem of slavery from emancipation to freedom. We will be traveling via the subway system to and from the NY Historical Society, which is located on 170 Central Park West at 77th Street in Manhattan. We will depart from the school at approximately 10:15 a.m. and return to the school by 2:30 p.m.
There are no eating facilities at the New York Historical Society. If possible, please send your child with a snack he/she could eat before we enter the to tie him/her over until lunchtime. We will eat a quick lunch in Central Park across the street after the workshop, weather permitting. Students may either bring a packed lunch from home, or choose a bag lunch prepared by the school. Be sure to check the appropriate box below.
We would appreciate any parent chaperones that could accompany us to the New York Historical Society. Please check the box below if you would like to join us, and meet us in the school lobby on Friday at 10:15am. Please sign the permission slip below to allow your child to attend the trip. The cost for this trip is $4.00 per student. Chaperones are free. Please send the money in a sealed envelope with the permission slip as soon as possible.

New Gerbil Babies!

Class 5-307's gerbils, Nestor and Nacho, have become parents again! On Sunday, May 4th, three new gerbil pups were born. The two girls and one boy will bring our gerbil total to nine. Congratulations to the happy family!

5th Grade News!

* Ads and dedications for the yearbook are currently being accepting - please look for the notices in your child's take home folder or contact Sabina Magnus at msmagnus@verizon.net for more information.

*If you haven't already, please submit the estimated number of tickets you may need for the 5th grade graduation.

*The Mother's Day Plant Sale will be held Friday, May 9th, in the yard from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. Prices will be from $4.00 - 20.00 and all proceeds will go to the 5th grade.

Parents as Learning Partners!

We would love to have any willing parents to join us Friday morning, May 2nd, to read some of their favorite poetry. Please bring in some of your favorite poems to share on the rug for Parents as Learning Partners at 8:30 a.m.

Yearbook Request!

Student submissions are now being collected for the 5th Grade Yearbook. The submissions can be writing (memories, poems, super-short stories) or artwork (should be a photo of the artwork or the artwork should be able to be scanned). Start thinking of what you might submit over break! These submissions must be turned into Ms. Pattison by Friday, May 2nd.

Spring Break is Coming!

PS 154's Spring Break will begin this weekend and last until Sunday, April 27th. School begins again on Monday, April 28th. We hope that you each have a pleasant, relaxation filled vacation.

Meet a Gerbil Pup!

The gerbils, who started out tiny and red, are already over 2 inches log and have sprouted fur. Three of the four "children" resemble their father, Nestor, and our lone female pup has a dark black coat. Names have already been thrown around (Charcoal), but nothing is official.....yet.

Thank You Jim and Carol (and Kathryn)!

We are so thankful for our creme brulee tutorial. The burnt cream desserts were delicious. You went above and beyond to make it such a special (and yummy) Parents as Learning Partners. Thank you!!!

Parents as Learning Partners!

This Friday, Jim Retting will be coming to Class 5-307 to make Crème brûlée with the students. We are very excited for him to share his cooking expertise with us. Please join us at 8:30 a.m.!

5TH GRADE BAKE SALE!

P.S. 154 will be holding a bake sale on Friday, April 4th, to raise money for the 5th grade. We are looking for baked goods and volunteers starting at 8:20 a.m. in the Cafeteria, Sherman Street side. Please send in money with students on Friday to help the 5th grade reach its goal!

Brooklyn's New Biodegradable Lunch Trays

On March 25th, P.S. 154 held a press conference with councilman Bill DeBlasio to announce a sponsorship of a law to incorporate biodegradable lunch trays into NYC schools. Class 5-307's own Kathryn Retting was on hand to speak to the press. Channels 2 and 5 were on hand to film the event for the local news. Well done!

Four New Additions to Class 5-307

As you may have heard, our gerbils Nestor and Nacho, were thought to be both males. However, Nacho gave birth to four gerbil pups on Friday. They are currently getting acquainted to the new family at Ms. Fought's house, and photos will be up on the blog soon!

Ballroom Begins This Week!

Class 5-307 will begin the ballroom dance program this week! We will be learning all the steps of dances such as the tango, swing and merengue 4th period on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please join us if you feel like moving to the beat. To learn more about the dance program, visit the American Ballroom Theater site. To learn more about the history of dances, visit this site.

The Bodies Trip is Here!

This Wednesday, March 19th, is Class 5-307's trip to the Bodies Exhibit in Manhattan. We will be leaving the school between 9:00 am and 9:30 am and taking the F train to Jay Street and transferring to the A train to the Broadway-Nassau station. Students will need to pack a lunch to eat at the South Street Seaport after viewing the exhibit. We will be arriving back to school at 2:30 p.m. Parents that haven't had a chance to sign up can still buy tickets at the door for $26.50 each. Please join us!!

Thank you!

We wanted to say thanks to all of the families that came out to for Parent-Teacher conferences on Thursday. It was great to see you and talk to you all.

Parents As Learning Partners

Please join us on Friday, March 7th, for Parents as Learning Partners. Kathryn's mom, Carol Retting, will be speaking to and having a discussion with the class about her career.

Parents as Learning Partners begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 9:20 a.m.

The Math Tests are Over!

Congratulations to Class 5-307 for working hard to prepare for their State Math Tests.

State Math Test

Just a reminder that fifth graders at P.S. 154 will be taking the State Math Test on Tuesday, March 4th and Wednesday, March 5th.