Welcome to 5th!

This evening’s schedule:

Check out the classrooms

• 6:00-6:15

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Program time

• 6:15
• Students go to the Fine Arts Center
• Adults go to Ms. Borges’s room

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Reunite

• Students will be brought to the picnic tables “meet up spot” where their grown ups meet them.

5^th Grade

The final piece of the Lower School puzzle!

CFA Mission 

• Cape Fear Academy is a learning community committed to discovering and developing individual potential, preparing each student for success in college and life. 
• Opportunities that aren’t available anywhere else
• Exposure to real life experiences
• Learning is enjoyable and engaging 
• Focused skills lessons in all subjects
• Ongoing emphasis on social and emotional growth
• Differentiation at CFA - it’s what sets us apart
• Resources in the classroom
• Excellence in the programming and practice

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Sue Borges

• B.S. Elementary Education, Minor in Mathematics
• M.S. Educational Technology

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• Joined CFA team in 2016
• 25+ years of teaching experience 
• 20 years specializing in Math, Science and Technology
• Google Level 1 Certified
• Responsive Classroom trained, NY & NC
• Orton-Gillingham trained, CFA
• Reader’s Workshop trained, Columbia University
• Writer’s Workshop trained, Columbia University
• Active Member of  NYSAIS and NCAIS

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Math

Inspiring a love for math…

or at least a positive attitude!

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• Number Sense
• Place Value
• Decimals
• Fractions
• Interpreting Data

• Volume
• Measurement
• Coordinate Planes
• Geometry
• Algebra

Lauren McLean

• BA Elementary Education, UNCW
• MEd. Language and Literacy, UNCW
• Gifted Education Certification, UNCW

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• Joined CFA Team in 2013 - 14th year at CFA!
• 18 years teaching 5^th Grade
• Google for Education Level 1 Certified
• Orton-Gillingham trained, CFA
• Leaders for Life trained, CFA
• Reader’s Workshop trained, Columbia University
• Advanced Reader’s Workshop trained, Columbia University
• NC Association of Independent Schools presenter
• Responsive Classroom trained
• Active Member of  NCAIS

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Reading

• Overall themes of the year: courage, empathy, resilience
• Whole Class Literature Studies
• Free choice novels
• Non-fiction and primary resources
• Literary Elements
• Written responses, discussion, plot, character types and relationships, conflicts, connections, figurative language, inferences, predictions, settings’ effects
• Nonfiction connections to Social Studies & Science content
• Scholastic book orders

Kerry Murphey

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• M.A.T. Elementary Education, Belmont University
• B.S. Communications, University of Tennessee

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• Joined CFA in 2024 as a Teaching Assistant
• Fifth grade interim teacher
• Taught 3rd Grade for 3 years
• Taught 4th grade for 3 years
• Responsive Classroom trained, CFA
• Orton-Gillinghan trained, CFA
• Active member of NCAIS

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Science & S.S.

Science

• Earth
• Layers of the Atmosphere
• Clouds
• Weather
• Hurricanes
• Tornadoes
• Volcanoes
• Earthquakes
• Water
• Planets

Social Studies

• USA geography
• Federal government
• Appreciation of challenges faced by Americans throughout our nation’s history:
• Industrial Revolution
• Immigration
• WWI
• Roaring Twenties
• Great Depression

Let’s Write!

Writing

• Writing Process
• Multiple Genres
• Poetry
• Historical Fiction
• Fantasy
• Personal narratives
• Prompt based narratives
• Business proposals
• Scripts

Grammar

• Parts of Speech
• Identification
• Usage to enhance writing
• Punctuation
• Identification
• Usage in writing to create complex sentences and varied sentence structure

Teacher Assistants

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Erin Heile

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• Full-time

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• A.A. Community College of Rhode Island
• BLS and AHA certified
• Joined CFA in 2024 as a TA in Second Grade
• Previously in the classroom at St. John Episcopal Preschool & Front Office/ Support Associate at Holly Tree Elementary

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Elane Janz

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• Part-time
• BS Agriculture and Science Education
• MA Computer Science Education
• New to CFA
• Previously taught at Cape Fear Center for Inquiry, New Hanover County, School District of Hillsborough, NJ and School District of Phila.

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Leaders of Lowerschool

Leadership Jobs

• Fifth graders have the role of being leaders and role models in our Lower School.
• They will have the opportunity to apply for different jobs to help our school community each trimester.

Character Education

Advisory 

• Our Advisory program uses a purposeful, structured approach called Responsive Advisory Meeting.
• It sets the tone for developing respectful and trusting relationships among peers, and between students and their teachers.
• It provides a safe place for students to strengthen their academic and social-emotional skills.

Game & Grow

This is a dedicated time for our fifth graders to step away from academics and build community through cooperative board games and team-based activities. Students work together, communicate, problem-solve, practice good sportsmanship, and learn how to navigate both successes and challenges

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By observing students in this social setting, we gain valuable insights into their communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills, which helps us make informed decisions when forming groups for future projects like BizWorld.

Dress Code

Our dress code allows students to be dressed for learning, while looking respectful, neat, and modest.

• Dress code:
• collared shirts: white, red, light yellow, light blue, navy blue
• logos must be 1” or smaller
• khaki or navy bottoms
• jeans on Fridays, with CFA “spirit wear” shirts (& new mesh shorts!)
• Here are some examples
• Athletic shoes for PE days!

CFA

Spirit Store

Lunch & Snack

Bringing lunch

• Students must be able to open all items without help
• No refrigerators available
• There are two microwaves available to students

Bring a snack each day

• no nuts please

Water bottles are encouraged!

• They must close securely (not just a straw).
• Only water permitted in the classrooms.

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School Lunch

• 5th graders have the option to buy their lunch in the Dining Hall.

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Dining Account Set-up

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Lunch Menu

Technology Policy

• Students are not permitted to have any personal technology out during the school day
• This includes before school, during instructional time, and during dismissal.

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• *No Smart Watches*

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• If you need to reach out to your child, please send an email to the teacher or contact Kelly Borton

791-0287 ext 1010 kborton@capefearacademy.org

Technology Use

Technology is used thoughtfully and purposefully throughout the school day to enhance learning and support classroom routines. Students have limited interaction with technology, and screen use is always intentional and teacher-directed.

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It is used as a collaborative, whole-group instructional tool:

• Displaying lesson materials, visuals, and classroom resources
• Modeling reading, writing, and problem-solving strategies
• Engaging students in interactive academic games that reinforce learning objectives

�Parent Tech Guide

Pick-up & Drop-off

• Morning Drop-Off
• Students walk themselves into class - no parking and walking in
• Drop-off at the dining hall starts at 7:30.
• The school day starts at 8:10am
• Any students arriving after the bell can be dropped off at the main office. You can park in the drop-off lane and walk in to sign your student in with Kelly Borton.

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• Afternoon Pick-up
• Dismissal starts at 2:30

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• Leaving Early
• If your child is leaving early, please contact your homeroom teacher and Kelly Borton in the main office.
• Dismissal changes need to be updated by 12:00 of that day
• Early dismissal happens prior to 2:00. Dismissal requests between 2:00 and 2:30 cannot be accommodated.

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PikmyKid

Dismissal app

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Please be sure you have downloaded the app and included all pertinent information for your family

• Confirmed children in the app
• Updated dismissal plans for your child
• Added personal contacts who will be involved in your child(ren)’s dismissal plans

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Parent User Guide Parent Portal Video Guide

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Website

• Fifth Grade Website
• This is the best tool for finding out what’s up in Fifth Grade ☺
• Weekly Homework
• Weekly Newsletter: Fifth Grade Footnotes
• Helpful links for students & parents
• Schedule
• Teacher contact information
• And more…

Ready for Middle School

Teachers’ Roles

• Consistent communication with Middle School teachers
• Effective and intentional preparation to assure social, emotional and academic readiness

Goals for Students

• Becoming independent learners
• Academic accountability
• Social and emotional responsibility

Q & A

Feedback

• Parent Survey– Please fill out and return to your child’s homeroom teacher

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• Hopes and Dreams Notes– What is a hope or dream that you have for your child/5^th graders this year?
• Grab a marker and jot it down on one of big Post-It notes in your child’s homeroom classroom.
• Please write BIG so students can read it easily.
• Stick it to your child’s homeroom door for an inspirational start to the school year!