Post #18

January 3-7, 2017

Congratulations to Cleo for earning an Xtra
Math certificate!

Congratulations to Geoffrey for earning an
Xtramath certificate!

Petra and Auguste share in an Inner Outer Circle how they
feel when they are new to a situation and what people can
do to help them feel welcomed.  Our Crew also started to
create 3-D fish welcome cards for new Atwater students.
They will finish them with their K-4 buddies. This is a
project for Service and Compassion.  See pics. 

The crew shared about their Winter vacations. The EL principle for January is Service and Compassion. We discussed this using different protocols. 

Kaiden and Nadia are doing "Pass the Clap." The crew
also discussed and voted on the special seating funded
by the holiday gift from the families. Thank you!
See pics. 

Owen, J.P., Tristan and Aiko are studying Medieval castle
architecture and sketching different parts on a note catcher.
The students rotated through six stations, using a variety of
resources to gather information. They also looked at castle
architecture from different countries. This unit will tie in
many curricular areas, along with our ACE theme "architects"
and the crew will be creating castles in art with Mrs. Hayes.
See pics. 

Levi, J.P., Geoffrey and Finn are learning about Medieval
Times and Knights using 3-D nonfiction books. The
crew also wrote about what they know about Medieval Times
and what they want to learn. They also compared Medieval
clothes to today's clothes.  See pics. 

Petra, Masha, Daphne, Angela and Aiko are building a
Lego castle using the information that they learned.  We've
been listening to Medieval instrumental music. 

Auguste, Owen and Jacoby are solving puzzles based on
Medieval characters or places. 

Kaiden, Cleo, Nadia, Eliza and Mary Jane are creating a
working catapult or trebuchet using popsicle sticks,
rubber bands, and spoons. This activity is considered
a STEAM activity. 

Tristan, Owen and Henry built a Medieval castle from
castle blocks using the knowledge they learned about
castles. 

Louis, Jacoby and Henry take a math
brain break. We have been working on
addition and subtraction strategies. 

We took many active brain breaks this week including
The Cha Cha Slide and the Syd Shuffle. See pics. 

Petra, Masha and Angela have created many wonderful
projects using extra laminated material. See what the crew
does during inside recess. See pics. 

Liam leads Mindfulness using the Tibetan singing bowl.
See pics. 

Notes for Parents

1.   Reading Log : Reading Logs are due totaled on Monday.  The minimum amount of days is four days for this log and students should read at least 120 minutes.  Please ask your child to total his/her minutes before s/he brings it to school on Monday. An example reading log is in the Parent Orientation booklet. 

2.  XtraMath :  practice three times a week

3.  Labeling Snow gear: Please label all snow gear (hats, gloves, scarves, snow pants, etc.) with either your last name or initials. It would save time when students are getting ready for recess, lunch or leaving at the end of the day when they know quickly who's snow gear belongs to whom. Black snow pants and gloves are very popular, plus we have a few pairs of gloves that are the same.  It would save time if we could return them to the owner rather than ask the entire crew while they're standing in line to leave, "Who's are these?" :)  Thank you so much!

4 . No School and Conference Dates: There is no school for students on Thursday, March 9th and Friday, March 10th.  The district calendar says differently. Your child is leading the conference so please plan to have your child join us. 

5. Box Tops: If you have any Box Tops, please send them in. We are collecting them! Thank you!

6. Advanced Learning Dept. info:

A.  Spelling bee lists: (if your child chose to participate)

The lists are in a pack-e.g. Rookies start with third grade list, after you learn that, continue to fourth grade list, etc. The spelling bee will begin with third grade (or fourth grade for Vets.) Once, the word list is finished, the spelling bee will continue with the next grade level. 

Third grade bee-Friday, Jan. 13th

Fourth grade bee-Tuesday, Jan. 17th

B. Word Masters (if your child chose to participate)

The new lists are in manila envelopes. I thought it would be easier to keep them in those. Your child should also add the "word posters" from the previous challenge to the envelope as those words are used again. There is a new word study sheet this time and extras are available in the classroom. Your child will have some time to work on it in class and the rest should be completed at home. Envelopes should be kept in your child's binder. They also received a crossword puzzle. 
 The next competition in in Feb.    Online practice: www.quizlet.com. Most students tried this at school so they know how to log in. 

Calendar:

Monday, January 9-Reading log, Xtra Math 3 times, and Thursday bag due

Tuesday, January 10- band lessons, MOD Competition #3

Wednesday, January 11- 

Thursday, January 12- Orchestra Lessons

Friday, January 13- book orders due, Rookies Spelling Bee

Monday, January 16-No School-Dr. Martin Luther, King, Jr. Day-Inservice day for teachers

Tuesday, January 17-  band lessons, reading log, Xtramath and Thurs. bag due, Vets spelling bee

Wednesday, January 18- 

Thursday, January 19-  orchestra lessons

Friday,January 20-

Monday, January 23-No School-Inservice for teachers

Tuesday, January 24- reading log due, Thurs. bag due, band lessons

Wednesday, January 25

Thursday, January 26- orchestra lessons, PrinciPals (Henry C., Jacoby, Levi), Winter Sing 7: 45 pm (students should arrive at the music room at 7:30 pm)

Friday, January 27-

Hope you had a wonderful New Years and stay warm.

Thank you,

Deb