The Townspeople

First, a word from Mrs. Melchi, computer teacher:

Parents,

I started the FBI safety program in the computer lab today. It should take about 3 class periods to finish.

The program we are doing is called FBI-SOS, Taking Action to Prevent Crimes Against Children. It is an internet safety program that consists of a pre-quiz, scavenger hunt and post quiz. It is meant to teach students to “recognize and react to online dangers and become responsible cyber citizens.”

Vicki Melchi

Next, a word on behalf of Mrs. Clark and 5-1's own Mrs. Adaniya:

The fifth grade will be having Colonial Days on Friday, February 4! This is a wonderful day filled with things like basket-weaving, quilting, candle making, square dancing (in which we get to see just how "square" some of these kids--and teachers--are), applesauce making, butter churning, and marble playing. It really is a very cool day--too cool for parents to miss! But don't think you're going to stand around and look at other people do all the work. Oh, no. You step in the door and we'll put you to work! Luckily for you, the work is fun! And not in a Tom Sawyer white washing the fence kind of way, this is real fun.

If you would like to volunteer and haven't already signed up, there is plenty of space available.
We could use your help on:

February 1 , from 8:00-10:00am: This is for help with the Broombinder. The Broombinder is exactly what it sounds like; a guy who comes in to show the chillens how to make old-timey brooms.

February 4, from 8:30 to noon: As I said before, we need more volunteers always for the big event.

We also need donations! We need: empty small soup cans, brown paper grocery bags, and cereal boxes. Send them in and I'll give them to Kate to take home with her.

Clothing: Please plan on sending your child to school on February 4 dressed in Colonial clothing. You don't need to get fancy or go out and buy an elaborate hoop skirt or anything like that.

• Ladies: skirts, aprons, bonnets, blouses, calico, anything Little House on the Prairie-ish or Conner Prairie-ish. And let's not forget those old-timey hairstyles: braids, buns, whatever. I hear they sell bonnets at the Conner Prairie store.
  
• Gentlemen: tuck your pants into a pair of soccer socks (hopefully white ones), white shirts, vests, hats like coonskin caps and tri-corner hats (I know they have coonskin caps at the Conner Prairie store). Suspenders! Denim wasn't invented yet, by the way. And for the shoes, make sure to wear dark ones, and you can just make a buckle for the shoes out of paper and attach it to the front. It's fun!

For your Colonial Lunch: No plastic bags or aluminum cans! Nothing they wouldn't have had back in ye olde colonial times. Here are a few ideas: fried chicken, biscuits, jam, whole carrots and apples, boiled potatoes, beef jerky, lemonade or water in jars. Make sure you wrap your lunch in paper or with a cloth. You're free to even tie it up in a handkerchief and put it on the end of a branch and carry it in. Why not?

The kids all know about their Social Studies test on Friday, and how it's an open notes (but not open-book) test. They also have a Spelling test on Friday. If they're not done taking notes up to 7.5, then that's due tomorrow.

Oh, and one little FYI: I won't be in class on Thursday because I have some kind of reading training (yeah, they're finally going to teach me to read). I will be in the building (I think...should probably check into that...), but not in the classroom.

Next week we will begin working on our big research paper that is due right before Spring Break. This will be done almost entirely in school, and I will be setting various deadlines for different parts of the speech and the different steps. I look forward to you all seeing what they produce by the end of that time.

That's the news for now, folks! Tune in tomorrow for more updates from 5-1!