Week #29: April 22-26, 2013

Chance and Tate play Marble Race

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS  

We returned from spring break well rested and ready to take on the balance of the school year.  We began a new science unit focusing on the Water Cycle.  We are reading, discussing and learning about the 3 different processes in the water cycle: evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.   We will also be learning how to honor and take care of Mother Earth.  Next week we will begin to focus on seeds and their growth.   This ties in nicely with Earth Day and leads up to Vermont’s Annual Green Up Day, on Saturday, May 4th.  Mrs. White and I hope you are able to sign up to help clean up a local road at the Fire Station 8:00 Sat. morning.  Mrs. White is the Town Coordinator for Green Up Day and we are big supporters of this special day. 

On Wednesday we saw fantastic performance by the No Strings Marionette Company, called “The Dragon’sTale.”  The children thoroughly enjoyed it.  This was sponsored by our art teacher, Janet Cathey.  The Marionette Company will be working with the 3rd and 4th grade in the coming days. 

Bryant paints a tree by blowing through a straw.

Cross Curriculum: Science/Language Arts 

We have been reading a lot of fiction and non-fiction books focussing on spring themes and the water cycle.  We have been singing songs like “The Itsy, Bitsy Spider,” and have also been enjoying listening to an online song that explains the water cycle.   You can find it at home on Youtube. They really love it! Go to:  Watercycle Song

Share:  This week the children enjoyed bringing in free shares.  Next week please have your child choose something that represents spring time. 

Math/ELA:  We are working in our April Math journals which are helping us learn how to solve word problems by drawing pictures, then writing math sentences using symbols & numbers.  

Centers:  Our activity centers included phonics puzzles, painting projects to illustrate spring, butterflies and fruit blossom trees, and making a water cycle model.

Paige and Molly work in the Salmon Journal.

Sixth Grade Buddies: We enjoyed meeting with our 6th Grade buddies again this week. This is a great time to read and hang out with our buddy while also learning about their classroom salmon. The salmon started as eggs and have hatched and have grown considerably. They will be released by the 6th grade in the upcoming week. 

We have been enjoying the beautiful weather and have been able to get outside for recess. What a great opportunity to enjoy spring first hand! The children have enjoyed practicing their jump rope skills as well. They are becoming quite the jumpers! 

Student News:

On Wednesday May 8, Keira has an awards ceremony at Vermont Public Television in Colchester at 5 for anyone that wants to attend - Friends, family, teachers and classmates are all welcome. The Kegelman's need a number to give to VT PBS by May 1st.   Please let Stacey or Ted know who will attend or please call VT PBS at 1-800-639-3351.  

http://www.vpt.org/writers
http://vpt.org/img/pdf/writers-contest/2013/Best_Friends_Eat_Their_Veggies.pdf

Tylor paints his
butterfly wings.

CALENDAR:

• No TV Week:  April 29–May 5 is Screen-Free Week.

 Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood is the host of this annual celebration geared toward turning off screens and turning on life. And the list of endorsers is long and growing.

Read  books. Organize a group hike. Cook a healthy meal. Ride a bike. Go outside and play!  With best wishes for a playful week,

--Alliance for Childhood

• Group Snack: This week’s healthy snacks were provided Paige’s family.  We enjoyed tasty yogurt snack, Goldfish crackers, Carrots, Cucumbers, Pirates Booty and more!  Thank you!  Lucia’s family will be providing our healthy snack next week. 
• Our classroom buddy George went home with Lucia over break and Chance this week.  We enjoyed hearing about his adventures with them and look forward to hearing about his upcoming adventure with Tate.  
• Carol Witherington is retire. If you would like to wish her well meet at the Rec on Sunday, May 19,  from 1 to 5:00pm. 
• May 28th: Parent Appreciation Concert: Grades K-5, 6:30pm. 
• Kindergarten End Of Year Celebration:  Tentatively scheduled in our classroom for June 13th (1/2 day of school). 

Sincerely,

Jennifer Bodnar  

Week 28: April 1-5, 2013 -- National Public Health and Safety Week

Backseat Drivers.

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS  The focus this week school-wide was healthy living.  Thanks to our nurse, Mrs. Christie-Maples, the week was full of healthy activities and events.  On Monday, local law enforcement was here to talk to the children about the importance of car safety.  They brought a “Roll-over” car which illustrates the value of wearing seat belts and what can happen if you don’t have one on.  They also were invited to see the inside of the state trooper’s car (thanks to Gavin’s dad) in Mrs. White’s class) and explored the rescue truck.  On Tuesday, the K-2 grades were presented with a puppet show by the Kids on the Block, which alerted them to the dangers of tobacco and taking someone else’s medicine. 

Goat Fans!

On Wednesday our class combined our one mile walk-keeping our bodies fit and healthy- with walking to Sherry Clarke’s goat farm, Bly Acres.    We enjoyed learning about her farm and how she cares for the goats. We learned that her goats yield 6 gallons a week! She enjoys her goats immensely, but she has three important jobs: she feeds them, milks them twice a day, and cleans them.  She also makes her own cheese.  It’s a lot of work, but a labor of love. 

During health class this week, two of our very own HES students, Molly & Josh, shared all about people’s differences and different abilities and answered questions about their own personal physical challenges.  

On Thursday, the children watched a special performance by Michael Zerphy, a performance artist and parent of Zophia Zerphy,  His focus was on healthy activities, eating good foods and making smart choices. 

On Friday we will visit the science fair exhibits put on by the 3 &4 grades.  We will have smoothies during lunch on Friday provided by the “Smooth Ride” a bicycle that makes smoothies and powered by the upper grades!

Tylor and Paige watercolor painting their drawings
from our Winter Field Trip to Mrs. White's house. 

ELA Phonics:  The children have been  making nice progress in their writing journals during the week. We have added two new entries. Please encourage your child to read their journal to you and ask them questions that come to mind.  Some children are enjoying creating their own writing topics at home. Feel free to have them do so.  With just 9 or 10 weeks left to the year, there should be room in the journal.  Unless I send home a writing prompt, do not feel that they must write in it at home. They are working hard during the day and should enjoy the fruits of their labor at home -- reading it to you! ;) You can write comments or ask them questions in the journal to add to my questions and comments. 

We are working to foster independence in our kindergarten classroom.  In preparation for first grade next year we are having conversations about being more self-reliant and independent.  For instance we are pairing up to get milk as a morning job to take on more independent tasks.  They are learning to pack their own backpacks at the end of the day.  Our conversations also focus on responsible behavior and learning how to apologize when we make a mistake.  These are all small but important steps to help our children become more successful. 

Share:  This week the children shared items for the sound /er/.  Here is a sampling: Easter chicks, tractor trailer, 16 wheeler, catapillar, 

Next week’s share: /ou/

Science/Math/ELA:  Now that March is over we tallied our calendar days and found that we had 16 lion days and 15 lamb days. March definitely came in like a lion and left like a lamb.  April feels a bit like winter, but we are looking forward to warmer days.  As King Winter and Lady Spring tousle over the daily weather, please be mindful of the changing weather.  We are enjoying recess outside and will be planning outdoor projects and activities. For instance today in conjunction with Jump Rope for your Heart, we brought our classroom jump rope outside to practice.  

Warming Time: We have had tea every morning.  The apple mint aroma has filled our room in the morning. It has such a pleasing scent. We finished our bag of fresh apple mint leaves on Thursday. I will try some chamomile on Friday. Not everyone liked the taste of apple mint, so perhaps chamomile will be more pleasing. Nevertheless it has been a nice relaxing way to start our day. 

We set a goal of earning 25 points based on good behavior to have a class party of pancakes and maple syrup. We achieved our goal in the nick of time and will have pancakes on Friday morning. 

Milk Helpers

CALENDAR:

• Thank you Mrs. Christie-Maples for a fun-filled National Public Health Week! 
• Parent Teacher Conferences: I am looking forward to meeting with you next week to talk about your child’s progress. 

• Group Snack: This week’s healthy snacks were provided Keira’s family.  We enjoyed tasty homemade muffins, peanut butter crackers and fruit snacks. Thank you!  Conner’s family will be providing snack next week. 

• Our classroom buddy George went home with Maeve this weekend.  We are enjoyed hearing about his adventures and hope he has a great weekend with her and her family! 

Sincerely,

Jennifer Bodnar 

Week in Review: 

Lucia is a big jumper!

The Roll-over Car Demonstration 

Jumping Rope