The kids performed their Pied Piper play on Friday, December 2nd, and they did GREAT! In fact, I think it was one of the best performances in all my years teaching. The play is based on the 13th-Century story about a German town infested with rats. They hire the Pied Piper, who is able to lead the rats out of town using the hypnotic sound of his “pipe” or flute. When the town refuses to pay him, he leads all the children out of town instead. Click here to see our version. (Tip: Give it time to fully load before trying to play it.) You can also watch it on YouTube here.

Alexis W. as Baldrick, the mayor’s advisor, and Sydney R. as Mayor Burgermeister

Klaire H. as the Pied Piper and Jaidah P. as Marge, the mayor’s secretary (Jaidah also plays Frau Ludendorf, one of the townspeople)

Max, Haylee, Jaidah, Adan, Ryot, and Jonah (in front)–townsfolk

The rats: Sophia, Noah, Calin, Page, and Declan. (Not pictured: Kohle)

The kids: Brody, Valentin, Masen, Caroline, Peyton, Faalele and, in front, Carter and Piper

Kudos to our students-of-the-month for November, Carter F. and Caroline M. These students were selected because of their excellent citizenship, active participation in class, and consistently positive attitude.  Congrats Carter and Caroline!

Here are the students’ attempts at creating sentences with a properly used semi-colon, a punctuation mark used to join two closely-related sentences together. Click on “replies” (below) to see them.

Congratulations to the “Uniducks” for winning our first Mathketball Tourney of the year. The team of Valentin, Klaire, Sophia, and Jaidah finished with a 7-4 record, but won the championship game. Mathketball is a fun way to motivate kids to complete their math homework accurately and on time. 

It’s cold and flu season, so absenteeism tends to spike this time of year. While recovery is the top priority, students can complete “sick work” to help make up for the time out of class. Here’s what kids should do when absent: 

1. Spend at least 40 minutes reading independently (log those minutes on the assignment calendar)
2. Spend at least 30 minutes in Happy Numbers (log-in through Clever).
3. Spend at least 30 minutes in Lexia (also via Clever)
4. Check Google Classroom for any online activities we’re doing in class (such as Storyworks on-line or Google Stream).

While these activities won’t make-up for the wide variety of direct instruction, discussion, and hands-on learning in class each day, they’ll at least reinforce the basic skills necessary to grow academically.

Each Halloween, Central Point School District’s entire 4^th and 5^th grade population–over 700 kids– participates in the Sams Valley Mini Marathon.  The race was established in 1974, making it among the oldest distance races in Oregon. A hardy thanks to West Orthodontics of Medford, our extremely generous sponsor. Thanks also to Grizzley Peak Timing, First Student, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Crater XCountry, and all the participating teachers and staff for promoting health and fitness in School District 6!

This year’s race was won by Trey Bury of Sams Valley Elementary in a time of 22 minutes and 43 seconds.. The girls’ race was won by Autzen Ostroskie of CPE in a time of 23 minutes and 51 seconds, while Maggie Payer finished 3rd and Esly Pillar-Ibarra finished 7th. Among the boys, Will Getsinger (2nd) and Valentin Ruiz (7th) medaled for CPE.

The CPE Harvest Fair/Halloween Carnival is Friday, Oct. 28th beginning at 5:00. I have a high school student helping me from 4:45 to 5:30. I have the Ruiz sisters running things from 6:30 until closing. I need two parent/child groups to cover the 5:30 tp 6:00 and the 6:00 to 6:30 times. 

The Sams Valley Mini Marathon is Monday, Oct. 31st.  For the info flier, click here.

We’ll be having a simple Halloween party in class beginning at 1:15.  If you’re willing to send in some treats, email Mr. Lewis at mack.lewis@district6.org.

Kids, post you Super Sentences here.

Congrats to Max R. and Klaire H. for being named September students-of-the-month. Klaire and Max earned the award because they work hard to get good grades, they actively participate in classroom activities, and they consistently demonstrate kindness and patience with their classmates. Great job, Klaire and Max!

Our trip to Valley of the Rogue State Park to ride the bike path to the City of Rogue River and back was a big hit with all involved. Watch for an upcoming episode of CPETV for details! In the meantime, here’s our 5th grade photo.