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The Fifth Grade experience is a special one at Countryside School. Parents of 5th grade students coordinate special events, a DVD, and a yearbook for the graduating class. Fifth Grade Events Calendar Program News Hunger Banquet Encourages Awareness 
The fifth grade classes participated in a Hunger Banquet on Wednesday, November 16 and were introduced to some of the issues related to the global impact of hunger. In a program developed by Oxfam America and led by fifth grade parent Abbie Meyer, the students randomly drew tickets that assigned them to different income levels, based on the latest statistics about the number of people living in poverty. Depending on where they sat, some children received a filling lunch of fried chicken, fruit and apple cider, while others ate a simple meal of sparse portions of rice and water. The tickets also gave them a real person's brief biography in order to make the issue of hunger more meaningful. While not all children left with full stomachs, many gained a new perspective on the root causes of hunger and poverty. Many children had serious conversations that day about what one person can do to take action to change things for the better. Back in the classroom, the children were asked to reflect on what they had heard and write a few thoughts on an index card. These cards, along with photos from the day, will be displayed in the corridor of the first floor of the school. Parent volunteers Fannie Figueroa, Jen and Howie Lee, Abby Schwartz, Karen Vonder Haar, Denisse Rotem, Marcy Navarro, Christy Liao, Pam Penton, Claire Morello, Dina Goodfriend and Michelle Ricard-Veidis, with the help of Dolly Wallace, Mr. Crow, Jessica Lodge, Ms. Walsh, Ms. Grieco and Mr. Detlefsen, all made sure this significant event was a success. More pictures. Class of 2012 Food Drive a Success 
The Food Drive to benefit the Newton Food Pantry, which was coordinated with the fifth grade's Hunger Banquet, resulted in two carloads of goods being delivered by fifth grade parents Karen Cichowski and Katherine Kotik to the pantry, courtesy of the generosity of Countryside families. While sponsored by the Community Service Team of the fifth grade, all Countryside families were invited to make donations of non-perishable food items and toiletry products that the pantry so desperately needed in this tough economy. Thanks to all of our Countryside families who donated to this worthy cause. Program Information There are special opportunities and activities that Fifth Graders will enjoy at Countryside - with their parents' (your) help, of course. If you can help with any of these activities, please send an email to Michelle Ricard-Veidis and Dina Goodfriend at fifthgrade@countrysidepto.org.
Dues The PTO generously allocates some funds to subsidize the cost of producing and printing the 5th Grade Yearbook, but there are many additional expenses incurred for our activities. We hope you will support our efforts to help give our children a fun and memorable send-off as a reward for all their hard work during their years at Countryside. We are suggesting a donation of $25–40 per student, but of course, any amount — larger or smaller — will be gratefully accepted. Please make your check out to: "Countryside PTO – 5th Grade" and send it to school with the dues form [PDF] in an envelope addressed to: "Countryside 5th Grade Committee." Please return your donation by Friday, November 4. In addition to the regular dues, the Class Party is an optional event, open to all Countryside 5th graders. It is an offsite event held during non-school hours. Students who choose to attend will be asked for an additional payment of around $10–15 per student. Financial assistance is available if needed. You will receive more information about this event in the spring.
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