Sept. 2 - Sept. 6

Bible Verse of the Week: 

Ephesians 4:31-32 - "Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every from of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you."

Miss Duke is coming back!  I will arrive back in Brasilia on Saturday, Sept. 7!  See you Monday!  Thank you for being so well behaved and flexible while I took this very necessary trip to take care of my mom.

Upcoming Tests & Quizzes

Science Test - A - Chapter 1 - Test Wednesday, Sept. 4.
Reading Vocabulary Section 2 Part 1 Quiz Thursday, Sept. 5.
5th Grade Math - Chapter 2 Test - Tuesday, Sept. 10

Videos!
We are going to start studying Mitosis, Chromosomes, and Genetics!  Here are some videos that will help you get started.  We will have a quiz over the first video on Tuesday of next week!

BrainPop Videos to Watch: Cells, Mitosis, Growth

BrainPop Game: Control of the Cell & Cell Command

Check your Engrade Messages for the BrainPop Username and Password.  

August 26 - 30

Bible Verse of the Week: 

Ephesians 4:24 - "You were taught with regard to your former way of life to put off the old self, which is being corrupted by deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

Thanks for praying for my mom and for all of your sweet notes on Engrade.

Remember that you have a Vocabulary test on Monday.  This will have questions from all of the vocabulary words you have learned so far in Reading class.

You also have a Social Studies test on Wednesday.

Continue to watch the videos from last week's blog, especially the one about conifers, mosses, ferns, and flowering plants.

I love you all and miss you very much!  Keep doing your best and thank Mrs. Owsley for all of her hard work!

See you soon!

Miss Duke

Open House Information

Welcome to the 5th and 6th Grade Class at Brasilia International School!  I am so happy and honored to teach your child this year.  

Here are a few things you need to know about our class:

Blogging: I will communicate to you through the blog.  If you have any questions you are always welcome to email me: dawnadukeatgmaildotcom You can also message me using the online grading system.

I frequently post YouTube videos or names of BrainPop videos for your children to watch at home for homework. Please allow them to watch the videos during their homework time, or free time.  I recommend that they watch them multiple times to have more exposure to the new concepts.

Grading: All grades will be available for student and parent access at www.engrade.com All of your children have access codes and passwords.  You can set yours up tonight at Open House!

Percent Breakdowns: 50% assignments 50% Tests

Discipline: All students are expected to respect all teachers, parents, staff, and peers. Failure to comply with this expectation will result in the following consequences:

1. Write 10 sentences during break - Student will write their name under the word discipline.
2. Write 20 sentences during break - Student will write an "X" by their name.
3. Write 40 sentences during break(s) & Note home - Student will circle the "X" by their name.
4. Parent/Teacher Conference
5. Principal's Office

Please note: If a teacher has to send or call for a student to complete his/her consequence, the consequence doubles.  It is the student's responsibility to complete the consequence without being reminded by the teacher to do so. 

Homework is to be completed at home.  I will check for completion of homework between 8:00 and 8:10 every morning.  Students without all assignments completed and agenda/documents signed will receive consequences.  The consequences include:

• Agenda not signed  - Write 10 sentences during recess.  When consequence is complete, student may attend the remainder of recess.
• Reading Log not signed - Read 15 minutes during recess and complete reading log.  When completed, student may attend the remainder of recess.
• Homework not complete - Student will complete homework during first recess and miss the remainder of recess writing sentences.  If homework is still not complete by second recess, the student will finish during second recess and may attend the remainder of recess when homework is complete. 

Testing: Here is some information regarding testing procedures.  It is the students responsibility to study and prepare for them.  Cheating of any kind will result in a grade of 0%.  No retakes or extra credit will be given if a child cheats on any test or assignment.

1. Spelling - Typically occurs on Fridays, but on short weeks, it will take place on the last day of the school week. Be sure to complete all assignments from the unit and turn them in on test days.
2. Bible Verse - Typically occurs on Friday, but on short weeks, it will take place the last day of the school week, or the following Monday.  It is the students responsibility to copy the memory verse from the board, or if applicable, the blog.  
3. Science/Social Studies/Math/Language/Reading - Upon completion of each lesson, or unit, there will be a test.  The students will know a few days in advance and will have at least one in-class review day to cover any material that they are having trouble with.  Some tests and quizzes will be posted on www.engrade.com These tests must be taken at school.  Students cannot take online quizzes and tests at home.  The student will receive a grade of a 0% if he/she takes a quiz at home.  Students are not allowed to use online assistance, books, or other resources to complete online tests/quizzes.  This will be monitored by the test administrator at BIS. 

Homework:  Homework is for home.  Some assignments will be posted on www.engrade.com If the assignment is for the students to complete at home, they are allowed to use their books, internet, etc. I would not want to tempt them to cheat.

Please save my email.  dawnadukeatgmaildotcom 

Feel free to email me anytime.  Please allow 24 hours for a response.  Especially since I am currently out of town due to a family emergency.

I look forward to this school year!

Thank you,

Miss Duke

August 19 - 23

Bible Verse of the Week: 

Hebrews 11:17 & 19a - "By faith, Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son. Abraham reasoned that even God could raise the dead."


Parts of the Cell Video

Cell Song (Country Style)

Vertebrates & Invertebrates

Classifying Plants

August 12 - 16

Weekly Bible Verse:
Romans 15:4 - "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope."

Scientific Method Quiz on Friday:

Steps on the Quiz: subject, problem, hypothesis, steps of experiment, observations, results, and conclusion

5th & 6th Grade Back to School!

Welcome to 5th & 6th Grade at Brasília International School!  

My name is Miss Dawna Duke.  I have the great responsibility and privilege of teaching your child this year.  This is my third year at BIS and I am very excited to invest in your child all year long.  Please take time to read the following announcements and updates.  You are more than welcome to comment on the blog to ask me any question at anytime.  Please allow 24 hours for a response.  You can also email me.  

Subscribe to the Blog
I will regularly update this blog instead of sending newsletters home.  This class blog will be the primary form of communication that I will use this year and ask that you look on the right hand of the blog and choose to "FOLLOW BY EMAIL" and "FOLLOW" the blog by subscribing to "JOIN THIS SITE."  Doing these two things will automatically send you updates through your email about upcoming events, classroom needs, tests, pictures of our class, videos, etc.  When you subscribe, please print out the confirmation page and send it with your child for a free Social Studies homework grade of 100!

Carrying Folder with Divisions

School Supply List 

I have changed two items on the current school supply list from the school's website, everything else is the same.   

 2 thin plastic carrying folders  1 thick carrying folder with divisions (2 or 3 cm)  2 small hardcover journal notebooks (100

pages)  Loose lined paper  4 large notebooks  1 pencil case  1 plastic water bottle with lid  1 large, old shirt for painting  1 memory stick  5 pencils  2 erasers  1 scissors  1 pen 

Miss Duke’s 5th & 6th Grade Class Schedule:

Homework Policy

Your child will receive about 1 hour of homework per night in addition to 15 minutes of reading.  Homework must be completed before entering class on the day that it is due.  I will check that each child completed every assignment between 8:00 - 8:10 a.m. everyday.  

The following assignments are daily assignments:
1. Completing 15 minutes of reading and entering it on their Weekly Reading Log with a parent signature.

2. Finishing the daily timed math tests (Our goal is to complete 100 problems in 4 minutes)

3. Getting a parent to review and sign the agenda  (Please do not sign unless your child has completed all of the assignments.)

Reward for complete homework:
When a child completes every homework assignment for a whole school week, they will be rewarded with one roll in "HOMEWORKOPOLY."  In this game, they have a chance at winning various prizes!

Consequences for incomplete homework:
Students will lose their 1st recess to complete any unfinished homework.  If they finish their homework before the break is over, they must stay in the class and read for the remainder of the 1st break.

If homework is not completed during the 1st break, the student will also lose their 2nd recess, until the assignment is completed.  After they complete the assignment(s), they are allowed to participate in recess.

For each day that homework is late, there will be 1 letter grade penalty.  For example, if your child would have made an A+ on the assignment, they will now only make a B+ if the assignment was one day late.

Cover Your Books!

All hardback books must be covered by Monday, August 12th.  We will have random book checks after August 12th.  Failure to cover school books will result in loss of recess until the books are covered. 

Don't forget to subscribe to the blog and send the printed confirmation page with your child for a free Social Studies homework grade of 100!

Download the School Calendar here! 

Print and Turn in the photo release form!