Tomorrow's the BIG DAY!

Greetings from Room 10!

      I am so excited about starting school tomorrow.  I was in the classroom today putting the final touches on the students' desks, filling their mailboxes with TONS of information and making some last minute adjustments to our classroom library.  I had a special buddy with me while I was working in our room and wanted to share a couple of photos of the way it will look to your children when then arrive tomorrow morning.

     Among all of the mail your child will bring home tomorrow, you will find an invitation to our annual family picnic which will take place on Friday, September 20th.  The deadline for sending in your reservation is this coming Friday, September 13th.  I hope you will plan to attend, as I am looking forward to meeting those of you I have not yet had the opportunity to do so.

     In the meantime, let my student know that I am looking forward to an amazing 5th grade school year!                                                                            Lester Betor

Welcome to 5th Grade in Room 10!

Welcome new 5B families!

     My name is Lester Betor and I will be your child's teacher this year.  I am really excited about the start of a new school year, and I look forward to meeting each of you very soon.  I hope you are planning to come to our room to drop off your books on Thursday, August 29th between 3 and 4pm.  I am anxious to meet my new students.
     I am including a copy of my "Welcome" letter which was attached to the class placement information you received on Monday, as I was told that some of you were having difficulty locating it on BC@Home.
     If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at betolsli@bcsd.neric.org.  Enjoy the last few days of summer!
                                                                                                                  Lester Betor
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Dear Fifth Grader,

         

       Welcome to Mr. Betor’s fifth-grade class!  It’s probably very hard for you (and your parents) to believe that you are already in 5^th grade.  I am so excited to be your teacher this year!  As you know, fifth grade is jam-packed with many exciting experiences, and I am looking forward to sharing each and every one of them with you.  In addition to our awesome fifth-grade curriculum, you will work at the school store, participate in a Wax Museum, perform in the spring musical and travel to Becket, MA to experience the long-awaited Nature’s Classroom!  In addition, as a fifth-grade student you have the important responsibility of being a role model to all of the students in our entire school.

         I don’t know about you, but each year I always get really excited about returning to school.  In fact, before our last school year even ended, I began planning for the 2013-2014 school year.  A new school year gives us all the opportunity for a fresh start and the promise of an outstanding experience.   I am honored to have you in my class this year, and I look forward to the opportunity of getting to know you!  As of right now, we will have 23 students in our classroom. I am very excited to meet you and to begin our year together!

         Over the summer I have read many amazing books that I am anxious to share with you.  My obligatory “adult” novel was Inferno by Dan Brown, but I also read MANY books you might also enjoy.  My favorite was Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix.

         I look forward to seeing you on our first day of school on September 9^th!  Until then, relax and enjoy the remaining days of summer!

                 

                                                                                     Your 5^th grade teacher,

                                                                                                             Mr. Betor

5th Grade Supply List

2 boxes of sharpened #2 pencils    

1 highlighter

1 package 100 3x5 index cards

1 fine-point black sharpie

Colored pencils (12 pack)

24-count crayons

Thin colored markers

Pencil case, box or bag

Scissors

4 large glue sticks (no bottles please)

1 package wide-rule loose-leaf paper

1 standard-sized clipboard

3 one-inch binders (red, blue, and white)

2 composition notebooks

3 two-pocket folders (solid yellow, green and purple)

$3.00 (cash) for Bare Book

$3.05 assignment notebook (check made payable to “Slingerlands”) $9.00 cash for Jeff Bennett, Local Historian

Room 10 Update!

Dear Parents of Room 10,

            As of late, we have been using some of our class time to prepare for our end of year festivities.  I have asked the children to begin thinking about their final essay of the year, “What Slingerlands Means to Me.”  Next week we will begin to plan for the essay with a planning page I have prepared.  This should make the process considerably more enjoyable as each of them reflect on what has made their experience at Slingerlands so unique and special.  I know quite a few of the children have been in the Slingerlands building for as little as nine months, but as I explained to them, it’s not so much about the physical characteristics of the building that has made their elementary school experience so memorable, it’s more about the people whom have touched their lives.

            In addition to the essay, I wanted to remind you about the request for pictures that I sent out recently.  The pictures will be displayed on a poster (which I will provide) that will be hung throughout the building on the evening of the Moving On Ceremony.  Also, we have begun to work on our scrapbooks.  The end of year is quickly approaching and I hate it!  Preparing to say, “Goodbye” to a group of children I have become very close to over the last nine months is very difficult, to say the least.  I never look forward to the last day of school, and I tend to become emotional as they leave the building for the last time as Slingerlands students.

            We continue to read and recite poetry.  We have been hard-pressed to get outside and enjoy the beautiful sunshine as we look for meaningful and fun poems.  In writing, the children are finishing up their editorials.  Many of them have begun to write it on the good paper I have provided.  This is the final piece that will be included in the portfolio I will send with them to the Middle School.

            In Social Studies the children have completed the maps of the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central American and South America, and they have put them together to form the Western Hemisphere.  They are on display outside our room.  Next week we will begin a study of ancient civilizations:  Incas, Mayas and Aztecs.      Have a happy, safe and restful Memorial Day!                                    Lester B. and Class

Nature's Classroom 2013

Hello Parents of Room 10,

Last week was amazing, despite the unpredictable weather.  It did rain on-and-off, but we benefited from some lovely hours during which the children hiked, took classes and participated in team building activities.  I have been asked numerous times about how Becket measures-up to previous years at Silver Bay.   Silver Bay is indeed truly one of a kind;  but then again, so is Becket.  There may not have been majestic views of Lake George and the Adirondack Mountains, but it certainly has a charm all its own.  The staff of Becket was excellent and the Director and Nurse were both accommodating and knowledgeable.  I went to Becket thinking that I would never like it as much as Silver Bay.  But I was pleasantly surprised.  But most importantly, the children loved it!!!

I am attaching one photo that I took during the trip.  It is just a sampling of the nearly 300 pictures I snapped.  I will be including many other photos in our class DVD, so you will have the opportunity to see others.  Thank you for sharing your children with me last week.  We made many memories together that I will cherish forever.  Take care and enjoy the photos!  Lester B. and class 

"What Slingerlands Means to Me" EXTRAVAGANZA!

What Slingerlands Means to Me…

Please join us as we celebrate the final days of elementary school and reminisce about an amazing fifth grade experience!

When:          Monday, June 17^th

Time:           11:00am

Where:          Room 10

What:           The children will each read their “What Slingerlands Means to Me” essay and I will share our year-end DVD.

Please bring lunch for you and your child!

Deadline for Nature's Classroom Paperwork is this Friday

Greetings from Room 10,
Just a friendly reminder that this Friday, April​ 19th is the deadline for all of the Nature's Classroom paperwork, payment and letters for your children. At this point, I still have not heard from a number of families.  If plans have changed and you are not planning to send your child to Nature's Classroom with us, please let me know as soon as possible so I can arrange for him/her to work with another teacher in our absence.  Thank you very much!  Lester B.

Go West!

Dear Parents of Room 10,

            The last few weeks have been very hectic due, in part, to the 5^th grade production of Go West!  I had the opportunity to see the show and enjoyed the enthusiasm the children brought to this production.  I also plan to join the kids at the cast party tonight.  I am looking forward to a great time dancing, eating and signing posters.  The completion of the 5^th grade play is yet another milestone towards completing elementary school and moving on to the middle school.

            NYS testing begins next week.  The children will be tackling the English Language Arts test, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for about 90 minutes each morning.  This is followed by the Math test which is scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday the following week.  This test is also about 90 minutes each morning.  Like Mrs. Bonacquist’s letter suggested, I also believe that the best preparation for these tests is a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast.

            We initially began our persuasive writing unit by writing and recording public service announcements.  Since then we have been reading a variety of editorials to get a sense of what should be included in an effective editorial.   The next step in the process will be to select a topic and research it.  Once the children have finished their first draft, I will be looking for parents to come in and help me in the editing process.

            G-E-O-G-R-A-P-H-Y!!  We began our Geography unit in social studies this week by reading about the landforms of the United States and Canada.  Next week we will begin to study geography vocabulary.  I will introduce 21 vocabulary words that will cover both land (i.e., peninsula) and water (i.e., strait) words.  I have no doubt in my mind that the kids will want me to review the words using a Geography Bee!  For some reason, your children love a “Bee!” 

            We just received a schedule for the school’s spring picture day.  Our pictures will be taken on Tuesday, April 30^th at 10:30am.

            REMINDER:  All paperwork and the final payment for Nature's Class are due April  19th!