Another Busy Week in the Books!

     This was a very busy week in the fifth grade Innovation Academy at Riverside! We kicked off our latest project on Monday.  Students got into new groups on Tuesday and worked on their new group contracts.  We started reading a new book together to learn some information for this latest project.  We also checked the weather forecast and we tie dyed our shirts as well!  We were afraid to wait any longer as we did not want it to be too cold to complete the process.   The shirts turned out great and we can't wait for our first chance to wear them as a team.  This was a celebration of our last project being complete.  The students helped design the front of the shirts and we are so excited about the results.
     We are reading the City of Ember in our PBL groups to learn about the time capsule that was "discovered" earlier this week and the letter that we received.  This project will have the students taking what they learn in science about the sun, moon and shadows to help the people of Ember survive in our environment.  The is a simulated project and we think the students will enjoy this topic.  Later in the project we will need parents to come in and take on the role of the people of Ember and help us evaluate the students projects.
     This next week is parent/teacher/student conferences on Monday and Tuesday evening if you have not already attended a conference in the past two weeks.  We really appreciate those of you who were able to attend earlier, it is very helpful to us all.  If you are not able to attend your selected time please contact the homeroom teacher and we will reschedule.
      There is no school on Thursday and Friday of this week for Fall Break.  We will be having a small celebration on Wednesday afternoon and we are allowing students to bring in their own snack and drink and we will be getting together to watch a movie together.  We will then be heading to the gym for a school wide celebration.  We will all be wearing pink to support cancer awareness, Mr. Schmidt will be getting his haircut to donate, Achieve 3000 Kindles will be given away, our new Riverside Pride awards (one per homeroom per month), On a Roll awards (one per homeroom per quarter) and some other things we will celebrate.  We hope to start a new tradition at Riverside.
     Have a great week and a wonderful Fall Break.