From the Principal's Desk
All 4th and 5th Grade students will participate in the Maine Through Year Assessment when we return from vacation. Students will take the reading assessment on Tuesday, May 5th and the math assessment on Thursday, May 7th. Additionally, 5th grade students will participate in the MEA Science Assessment on Thursday, May 14th and Friday, May 15th. There is no special preparation for either of these assessments; however, we do encourage students to be well-rested and arrive on time to school having eaten a good breakfast. While we believe attendance matters at all times of year, we thank you in advance for your attention to this testing window.
REMINDERS:
- 4th Grade Families who wish to provide placement input should submit this form prior to April vacation.
- 5th Grade Families are invited to attend the Incoming 6th Grade Parent Night Tuesday, April 28th at 6:00pm.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
- Wednesday, 4/15 - FULL DAY
- Friday, 4/17 - NO SCHOOL
Sincerely, Carol MacArthur
Principal, Grade 4-5
Office Reminders
- Student arrival begins at 8:20 AM.
- School begins at 8:50 AM. If your child arrives after that time, they are tardy and need to check-in at the office before going to the classroom.
- You can report absences, communicate transportation plans or make general inquiries by calling the main office at 829-4815 or emailing [email protected]
We greatly appreciate your attention to these procedures, as they help to ensure that our routines run smoothly and efficiently.
Community Corner
Katie Campbell, School Social Worker
Ali Waterhouse, School Counselor
Amy Vincent-Cross, School Social Worker
A Look Into Literacy
We are diving deep—literally and figuratively—into our new CKLA units! This month, our 4th and 5th grade students are exploring the incredible forces that shape our world.
Grade 4 | Our Planet: Geology
Our fourth graders are becoming geologists! In this unit, students are investigating the powerful processes beneath our feet. We are moving beyond just looking at cool rocks to understanding:
- The Layered Earth: Exploring the crust, mantle, and core.
- Plate Tectonics: How shifting plates create mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes.
- The Rock Cycle: Discovering how heat and pressure transform igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks over millions of years.
Grade 5 | The Deep Blue World: Oceans
Meanwhile, fifth grade is submerged in the study of Earth’s final frontier, the ocean. This unit focuses on the biological and physical complexities of the sea, including:
- Marine Ecosystems: From sunlit coral reefs to the mysterious creatures of the midnight zone.
- Ocean Currents: Understanding how the "Global Conveyor Belt" regulates our planet's climate.
- Conservation: Examining the human impact on our oceans and what we can do to protect these vital habitats.
Check out what is going on at Prince Memorial Library!
Janet Giguere, Literacy Specialist
Math Matters!
Our Mathematicians have been busy extending their understanding of the four operations from whole numbers to fractions and decimals. Fourth graders are exploring how to add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers with like denominators. Fifth graders are extending their understanding of multiplication and division to include numbers with decimals. Students are developing their knowledge of multiplying and dividing decimals as they analyze related problems and look for patterns in decimal-point placement. They then use these patterns to answer questions and solve problems.
Students are encouraged to create and use mathematical models as they work to make sense of and solve problems involving fractions and decimals. Using visual models helps build a conceptual foundation that allows students to understand and use more efficient strategies later. Experience with different types of models and the connections among them can help students think flexibly about future problems.
Try some of these activities to work with your child on fraction and decimal concepts:
- Have your child help measure when you are cooking or baking, using fractional measurements like 2 1/2 cups of flour or ¼ teaspoon of salt. Ask your child how you would double the measurements to make two patches instead of one. See if they can show you one or two ways to do this.
- Help your child find decimals in the everyday world. Point out instances where you might multiply or divide decimals, and prompt your child to estimate products and quotients. For example, if a package of 4 paper towel rolls costs $3.68, about how much does each roll cost? How much would 10 packages, or 100 packages, cost?
Shannon Peterson, Math Specialist
Library News
📚 A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to everyone who helped out at and/or visited the Book Fair. If you missed it, there will be one in the Fall (and you might want to follow the school's social media accounts). We'll be taking over $300 worth of books to the Cumberland Food Pantry because of very generous shoppers and from the Fair's proceeds, the Library will be getting many new titles, too!
🧹 As you begin your Spring cleaning, please be on the lookout for library books, headphones, spare Chromebook chargers, etc. that need to be returned.
Dorothy Hall-Riddle, 4-8 Librarian
Check This Out!
The Late Bus
In addition to regular, daily dismissal, a late bus is also available on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday for students who stay for co-curricular activities or after-school academic support. Buses pick up students from GMS at 4:15pm and transport them home. Please be aware that depending on the number of students riding the late bus on a given day, your child's arrival time at home may vary. If you have specific questions about the late bus, please feel free to call the Transportation Garage at 829-4820.
Co-Curricular Activities
Monday:
5th grade Band Mr. Barry Saunders [email protected]
Tuesday:
Chorus - Mrs. Jennifer Caton [email protected]
Thursday:
Newspaper Club - Ms. Melissa Fiess [email protected]
5th grade Ukulele Club - Mr. Barry Saunders [email protected]
5th grade Math Team - Mrs. Laurie Poissonnier [email protected]
During the School Day:
Green Team - Mrs. Monica Moore [email protected]
Civil Rights Team - Mrs. Katie Cassessee [email protected], Mrs. Jane Kilbride-Dupuis [email protected], Ms. Molly Russell [email protected]
Stay Connected
