Husky Highlights for 4th & 5th Grade

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

Hello, Husky families! Welcome, welcome to our very first episode of Husky Howl, where we shine a light on all things happening in 4th and 5th grade here at Marygrove. My name is Mrs. Nicholson.

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

I want to start by remind everyone that your scholar is part of a real dream team! We’ve got Dr. Walker, Ms. Yates, Ms. Walker, Ms. G, and then of course, me. We truly are in this together—teachers, students, and families. Our goal? Making this school year incredible for each one of our scholars.

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

Okay, so let’s get into one of my favorite things—celebrating your scholars! Last week, both 4th and 5th grade kicked off their I-Ready Reading Diagnostic. And just—wow. The effort your scholars put in? It was honestly amazing. Kids were taking their time, using those test-taking strategies. Some of ’em were stretching, taking brain breaks like we practiced, making sure they weren’t rushing. Seriously, give your scholar a big high five from me!

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

Now, looking ahead—we’ve got the Math Diagnostic coming up next week. Remember, just like we talked about for Reading, it’s all about effort and progress. If you can, have your scholar get a good night’s sleep before, eat a solid breakfast. And if your child is feeling nervous, just remind ’em this test helps us know where to grow together. It’s not about perfection, it’s about learning. We’re here to support every step.

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

Shifting gears a bit, I want to talk about something that’s really bringing us together this year—our House system! Our students have been spending time revisiting our House Values as part of the School at Marygrove House System. We’ll continue practicing house chants and celebrating together because at Marygrove, our motto is: Four Houses, One Pack.

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

Quick heads up for the calendar: Curriculum Night is coming fast. This is a chance to peek inside your scholar’s classroom, check out their work, and connect with all of us teachers.

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

Alright, let’s spotlight our amazing fourth graders for a minute. We just launched our poetry unit with Love That Dog by Sharon Creech—this book always gets such great reactions! Jack, the main character, kinda pulls us right into thinking about poetry in new ways. We’re exploring rhythm, repetition, and how words paint pictures in our minds.

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

And in math? We’re assessing Topic C—rounding and comparing numbers, and by weeks end, we will be giving the Mid Module assessment.

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

And science! This year’s kickoff question is, “Why does Ergstown keep having blackouts?” I know, pretty mysterious, right? So if you notice your light switches being questioned at home…yep, that’s us.

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

Fifth grade, I haven’t forgotten about you! We just launched Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan. This novel is honestly powerful—a story about courage and human rights, about a young girl traveling from Mexico to California in the 1930s. We’re talking about the historical context too, connecting it to what was happening in the world at that time and what it might have felt like for families on the move. These conversations are so important, and our fifth graders are asking amazing questions—sometimes ones I didn’t even think about!

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

Math-wise, the big focus is adding and subtracting decimals. I know that can feel tricky, but if you line up the decimal points—it actually gets a whole lot simpler. Pro-tip: even practicing with receipts at the store helps.

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

And then science! This time we’re reaching for the stars—literally. Our new science unit is all about stars and space. Guiding Question: Why don't we see a lot of stars during the daytime? inquiring minds want to know.

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

All right, Huskies, that brings us to the end of our very first Husky Howl. Remember, our core value of the month is Cooperation—whether that’s working together in your class, listening, or lending a hand to a friend. It matters. If you take nothing else from today, just know we’re here to help your scholar shine, and we can’t wait to see everyone at Curriculum Night.

Candice Nicholson (Jackson)

Don’t forget, doors open Monday morning at 8:15 for breakfast, or 8:30 if you’re coming straight to class. Let’s keep building this community together—one day, one lesson at a time. Until next week, keep growing and glowing, Huskies!