Welcome To Grade 5 At HIS

Dear Parents and Students,

Welcome to Fifth Grade at HIS! My name is Mr. Robus and I am really excited to be teaching Grade 5 again this year. I am excited to be back at school and look forward to getting to know the Grade 5 students better having met most of them through the course of the past two years.

I would like to assure all students and parents right from the start that the most important thing to remember about education is that we don’t all learn in the same way but that everybody has the capacity to enjoy learning.  With this in mind, I encourage students to talk to me if they have any concerns about what we are learning or what happens in the classroom. I am aware that some students are shy or unwilling to discuss their fears or concerns about matters of an academic and social nature, but I will explain how to overcome this issue when I meet with the class for the first time next week. I am sure that if we work together, this will be a very successful year for all of us.

In order to make collaboration as effective as possible, I hope that we can communicate about any questions or concerns you might have both now, and as the school year progresses. Please remember to contact me first if you have a query or would like to express a concern. You can write a note in your child’s Homework Book or email me at: donovan.robus@hdis.hc.edu.tw.

I will use the class blog to communicate messages and important reminders, along with daily homework assignments, so please check it daily at: http://hisgrade5beehive.blogspot.tw/.

In addition to communicating via the blog, I may occasionally send a memo home in your child’s Homework Book.

Please be sure to keep up with what your child is learning by asking them questions about what they did at school. If we all work together, we will all learn together.

I look forward to seeing those who were in Grade 4 last year again and meeting all of the new students when school starts again.

I also look forward to meeting the parents of my students either at our Introductory Evening next month or at our Parent-Teacher Conferences later in the year.

Lastly, please note that school will start on Tuesday, August 30th for Secondary students only and Wednesday, August 31st for Elementary students. I look forward to meeting all my new students on Wednesday!

Until then, please feel free to contact me if you have any concerns.  

Kind regards,

Mr. Robus (Grade 5 Teacher)

Please find a supply list below outlining what your child will need to bring to class this year. It is not essential that they have everything on the list by the first day of school but they will be needing most of the items as of the week after next, once we begin working through the Grade 5 curriculum.

H.I.S. Grade 5 Supply List 2015-2016

100	Plastic pockets / sleeves to keep notes and worksheets organised
1 box	Colored pencils and in a bag or box to keep them neat and undamaged
1 pair	Scissors (safe, student-friendly)
1	12-inch/30 centimeter ruler showing both centimeters and inches
1	Protractor and compass
5	Highlighters – different colours for studying and researching
1	Calculator
1	English Dictionary (preferably Student/Children’s) *Not too space-consuming
1	Pencil bag or box big enough to fit 1 pencil, 1 eraser, scissors, and 1 glue stick
1	Large box of facial tissue
5	Sharpened pencils or Clutch/Mechanical pencil with extra lead for refilling
1	Pencil sharpener (with shaving holder)
5	Black pens
5	Blue pens
5	Green Pens
2	Thin, fine-tipped black PERMANENT markers (Sharpie®)
4	Good quality erasers
3	Glue sticks
2	Rolls of clear tape
5	Whiteboard markers – Any colour.
1	Small package of rubber bands
1	Small box of paper clips
1	Small stapler and a box of staples
3	Packs of Post It notes (preferably but not necessarily) lined
Daily	Water bottle – filled before arriving at school
Daily	Healthy snack – Please avoid sending chocolate, cookies, candy, cake or bags of chips. Fruit, nuts or cereal are always a better choice.
Daily	A clean face cloth or hand towel
Additional	Sweater for cold days/spare socks etc. for rainy days/hat for sunny or hot days.
Additional	USB Flash/Thumb Drive (about 2-4GB) for assignments/presentations.

*For PE class each week, students should wear the HIS PE uniform, a hat on sunny days, and running shoes. During colder weather, they may wear exercise pants (or loose pants), a loose shirt, running shoes, and additional layers in case the weather changes (e.g. long-sleeve t-shirt, sweater, jacket, coat, etc.). Students should also bring their water bottles to PE

All stationery should be clearly marked with a sticker or Sharpie® showing your child’s name in English.