PACE
MATH & Reading
janet.spence@cusd200.org
630.879.2379 (H)
September, 2012
Dear Parents –
I enjoyed seeing most of you at curriculum night. I know the sign-up sheets for PACE parent/teacher conferences were not clearly visible that night. There are about 10 more parents that need to sign up. If you do not see a time at the bottom of this letter, my conference schedule will be included with this newsletter. Please sign up and return the slip with your top 2 choices of times.
PACE Math students have made a tetrahedron "kite" at all grade levels. They are hanging in our class until we attempt to fly them next spring. With reference to the kites, we have explored the famous Pascal's Triangle.
The students have found a myriad of patterns: triangular numbers, square numbers, Fibonacci numbers, multiples of prime numbers, etc.
The 4th and 5th graders are continuing to find patterns (along with formulae) such as adding the rows of
Pascal's Triangle (Binary numbers) and many more!
The 5th graders have successfully completed their Personal Glyphs. They look pretty freaky ! ! they are a real "line stopper" in the hallways !
The 4th grade PACE Readers have finished Children of the Dust Bowl and are about to finish Esperanza
Rising. The book is full of symbolism and aphorisms! It also triumphs change! Change is not optional for
Esperanza. It is what she does with it that is her choice.
The 5th grade PACE Readers have just finished a great mystery, The Westing Game. It is full of red herrings and a pretty big shock at the end! They will be making their own Westing (board) Game!
We as a nation only have about 45 more days until the presidential election! ! As you probably have already heard, the 4th and 5th grades randomly drew to determine which class will represent which candidate. The outcome: 4th grade represents the Democrats and 5th grade represents the Republicans. I had disappointments and YEAS on both sides!
As I said on Curriculum Night, we will be narrowing our focus of the issues surrounding the campaign to two main areas: the economy (taxes, deficit, unemployment) and foreign policy (defense, national security, immigration).
I realize that there are many issues in this campaign but for the sake of time and school unity we will only be researching those areas. Those subjects should provide enough material for our Pleasant Hill candidates! ! In addition to the candidates and their running mates, we will have a number of "reporters" and "commentators" representing both liberal and conservative journalists. More information will be forthcoming regarding the election.
Sincerely,

CONFERENCE TIME: ______ Day_______ Date____ OR Please sign up with your top TWO choices.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Return this bottom slip only by___________.
_________________________________
Parent's signature
( ________________________________ )
Student's name