1st Annual Specialist Curriculum Night Recap
On February 8th, we held our first Specialist Curriculum Night. We wanted an opportunity for parents to learn more about the kinds of learning their children were engaged in during their weekly specials classes. Parents rotated in 20 minute blocks to each specials class to watch student demonstrations, look at student work, meet the specialists and try out hands on activities for themselves. It was a great night, and as the principal, I was so proud of our team. Thank you to all of the teachers for their hard work and for sharing their passion with the parents. I also want to thank the 6th grade student council members who volunteered as guides and escorts as well as the kids who volunteered to demonstrate. we hope next year will be even bigger.
Dates to Remember | Principal's Coffee Update |
2/15-2/16: Whale in the Classroom (Grade 4) 2/17: 3 Screen Productions Presentation by the PTA 2/20-2/24: Winter Recess 2/28: DESE Targeted Review Audit Parent Forum 7pm @Wing if interested please contact [email protected] 3/1 & 3/3: MCAS Computer Based Practice Test 3/6: Internet Safety Assembly 3/7: Principal's Coffee 8:30 am 3/7: Spring Portraits 3/7: Grades 5 & 6 Strings students to Nauset Middle School 3/9: Cape Cod Canal Presentation (Grade 4) 3/10: Grades close for Term 2 3/17: Term 2 Report Cards issued 3/24: Grade 6 Evening Social 6-8pm Handbook AdditionAs technology changes and develops we have seen new devices making their way onto the market and into the classroom. As such, we wanted to update parents on changes to this section of our handbook. Please review with your child. We would like parents, guardians and students to be aware that all personal communication devices brought to school must remain out of sight and turned off while in school this includes but not limited to cell phones, iphone watches, gizmo gadgets, fit bits- and any similar type of device that can receive calls, texts and can take photos or videos. In addition these type of devices will not be allowed in the classrooms during any state testing- on those dates we encourage students to leave them at home. Any questions please contact Mrs. Clifford or Mrs. MacPherson | Thank you to the parents who came out for our first Principal's Coffee last month. I will be hosting these once a month. The dates will be announced in the Dates to Remember and on our website. For those of you who weren't able to come, the topic of the day was Communication. It was great to hear from parents what is working and what they'd like to see moving forward. Some ideas from that group were:
Over the next few months, we'll be sharing tips of putting a focus on reading and maintaining reading habits over the summer. Helpful Tips Sometimes it is difficult for parents to read to their children as kids get into longer novels. Try an audiobook. Listening to proficient readers demonstrates phasing, inflection and emphasizes the voice of a writer. Audiobooks can even help kids access books they have interest in but aren't ready to read on their own. |
This will be a recurring section to the newsletter that will highlight what's going on each level.
Grade 3
Third graders continue to work on Multiplication strategies. All third graders are learning strategies in class and practicing these facts. The goal for third graders is to know all of their multiplication facts from zero to zero all the way to nine times nine. We learn some double digit multiplication however our focus on on single digit facts. There are many online games students can use to help them meet this goal and memorize their facts. Please encourage practice at home!
Third graders are all working on positive social interactions. We are focused on building a community of kind students. Students are thinking and learning about positive social interactions during morning meeting and during their 7C's class. Our goal is to have these social interactions spill over into their everyday life.
Grade 4
Fourth grade scientists are learning about external and internal features of living plants and animals. We are excited about our in school field trip called “Whale in the Classroom” where we learned even more about the features of a pilot whale.
Fourth grade geographers are continuing their exploration of the United States regions and important landmarks.
Fourth grade mathematicians have been working hard on learning how to multiply larger numbers. Knowing our basic multiplication facts is really important in order to solve these types of problems.
Grade 5
Fifth grade just finished up an opinion unit in writing and are moving on to learning about the early explorers in Social Studies. In Math, the students are working on fractions- adding and subtracting with unlike denominators. In Science, some classes got a chance to attend the wet fest in Jan. The other half of fifth grade is going the week after vacation. All Science classes are learning about Space right now.
Grade 6
In math, students are completing a unit on geometry. Students learned how to find area, surface area, and volume.
6th grade ELA students conducted research using a variety of sources with a culminating activity of an oral presentation with a visual project. Students have finished a memoir and have worked on compare and contrast essays. We continue to work on editing and revising skills.
Our grade 6 scientists are using critical thinking skills through the use of Stem Scopes. The focus is on project-based learning with an emphasis on writing using a claim, evidence, and reasoning format.
Finally, in social studies, students have conducted historical research and are applying their information to how the past influences the present.
Specialists
In 7Cs we are focusing on Collaboration. Students are working together on group challenges and learning to persevere and use the Norms of Collaboration.
In General Music, Mr. Healy’s General Music classes are starting to compose original songs as well as continue their work with guitars. Mr. Healy’s 3rd grade music classes will be meeting with Mr. Birmingham and Mr. Williams to discuss band options for 4th grade. Chorus students are hard at work on their new songs for the Spring Concert.
Grade 3
Third graders continue to work on Multiplication strategies. All third graders are learning strategies in class and practicing these facts. The goal for third graders is to know all of their multiplication facts from zero to zero all the way to nine times nine. We learn some double digit multiplication however our focus on on single digit facts. There are many online games students can use to help them meet this goal and memorize their facts. Please encourage practice at home!
Third graders are all working on positive social interactions. We are focused on building a community of kind students. Students are thinking and learning about positive social interactions during morning meeting and during their 7C's class. Our goal is to have these social interactions spill over into their everyday life.
Grade 4
Fourth grade scientists are learning about external and internal features of living plants and animals. We are excited about our in school field trip called “Whale in the Classroom” where we learned even more about the features of a pilot whale.
Fourth grade geographers are continuing their exploration of the United States regions and important landmarks.
Fourth grade mathematicians have been working hard on learning how to multiply larger numbers. Knowing our basic multiplication facts is really important in order to solve these types of problems.
Grade 5
Fifth grade just finished up an opinion unit in writing and are moving on to learning about the early explorers in Social Studies. In Math, the students are working on fractions- adding and subtracting with unlike denominators. In Science, some classes got a chance to attend the wet fest in Jan. The other half of fifth grade is going the week after vacation. All Science classes are learning about Space right now.
Grade 6
In math, students are completing a unit on geometry. Students learned how to find area, surface area, and volume.
6th grade ELA students conducted research using a variety of sources with a culminating activity of an oral presentation with a visual project. Students have finished a memoir and have worked on compare and contrast essays. We continue to work on editing and revising skills.
Our grade 6 scientists are using critical thinking skills through the use of Stem Scopes. The focus is on project-based learning with an emphasis on writing using a claim, evidence, and reasoning format.
Finally, in social studies, students have conducted historical research and are applying their information to how the past influences the present.
Specialists
In 7Cs we are focusing on Collaboration. Students are working together on group challenges and learning to persevere and use the Norms of Collaboration.
In General Music, Mr. Healy’s General Music classes are starting to compose original songs as well as continue their work with guitars. Mr. Healy’s 3rd grade music classes will be meeting with Mr. Birmingham and Mr. Williams to discuss band options for 4th grade. Chorus students are hard at work on their new songs for the Spring Concert.