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Making Smart Choices: Fifth Grade Edition

It has been a busy week in fifth grade! On Tuesday, we were able to enjoy the beautiful weather as we took our annual trip to Lankenau Hospital for our health education class. The students learned the importance of saying "No!" in our program: Drugs: Choice or Chance.

HCA students in Grades 4-5 are greeted by Pandora, a life-size, interactive replica of the human body
and their instructor, Mrs. Krouse.


Mrs. Krouse talks to fourth and fifth graders about how the body systems can be affected by drugs.

Molly M. and Patrick R. were chosen to demonstrate what happens when someone attempts to drive under the influence. They were given simulation goggles that affected their coordination as they attempted to walk in a straight line. While the students initially found it very funny to see their friends wobble back and forth, they quickly understood the meaning behind the demonstration. Eventually, they were all able to try on the googles and test their own hand-eye coordination under similar circumstances.





In the classroom, the students read two texts this week that centered around politics and student elections. As middle schoolers, they will be eligible to serve on student council next year, so their readings allowed them to start thinking about their future at HCA. To wrap up their lesson, they wrote speeches and created campaign posters, complete with an original slogan and "calls to action," or their suggestions for changes at school. The best part is they were able to share them with you, their families, during Parent Visitation Day on Friday, Jan. 8! After holding a class election that we will hold on Monday, we hope that our selected class representative can be our liaison with the existing council members and potentially even shadow a meeting to learn more about the dynamics of student government.


Finally, thank you to all parents and relatives who visited as part of Parent Visitation Day! The students really enjoyed sharing in their HCA experiences with you today. We appreciate you taking time from your busy schedules so that you can learn a little more about what being a fifth grader is like at Holy Child!

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