Music Program-Tuesday, May 21st 8:45-9:30 am

 Mrs. Clark will be hosting a primary music program on Tuesday, May 21st from 8:45 to 9:30 am. The first graders will be singing 4 or 5 songs.  We hope you will be able to join us!

Spring Sketches!

 We enjoyed a warm Spring morning and headed outside to sketch some signs of Spring.  We discovered bugs, worms, buds, blooms and birds,  We will continue to explore the outdoors and add to our nature sketch books. Also, we will be planting pumpkin seeds and marigold seeds and comparing the growth of the two seeds.

The Gallery Artist-Marc Schepens

 Last week, we had the opportunity to meet the artist that created the large canvases that have been in the art gallery for the last month. Mr. Schepens shared his pottery shard collection with the students. He has been collecting them since he was five years old and those became the inspiration for his works. He shared that an artist paints "what they know about and care about". After meeting in the gallery, the students worked with Mr. Schepens on their own canvases inspired by small shards of blue and white pottery.

Family Heart Maps

  I enjoyed welcoming many of you into our classroom to create family heart maps, read "Giraffes Can't Dance" and to make a poster of the 4 anti-bullying rules for your families to post at home.  If you weren't able to join us, you are welcome to come into the classroom to work with your child or I can send the materials home. Please send me an email if you would like to participate in this project.

Place Value Game -Learning and Playing with a Learning Partner

 We continue to review place value, addition and subtraction with 10's and 1's and comparing numbers using >,<,=. The children have enjoyed playing a variety of games with a classmate.  Ask your child how to play target number addition with a set of playing cards (face cards removed).

Thinking, Designing, Testing

Challenge: Build the tallest stucture you can using 20 index cards, tape and scissors. The students spent a 90 minute science block working on their designs. We had some great discussions on balance, stability and ways to manipulate the cards to increase their rigidity. Next, we will continue our engineering and design unit by building structures using gum drops and toothpicks.

What Will You Bring To The Table?

  Mrs. McIllvaine and many of the 5th graders were awarded  grant, What Will You Bring To The Table?. This grant focuses on teaching our school community about hunger in our towns and the country. I am excited to be working with this group of students.  The entire school community will be making book marks to be sold in various community businesses. The monies raised will be used to purchase a CSA share for a local family. This Saturday, I will be working with Mrs. Ahearn and some of the 5th graders at a bake sale in front of Crosby's Market from 9:00 to 11:00. If you are out and about, stop by and say hello!

Stick Your Neck Out For Others

 We continue meet on weekly basis to focus specifically on the Olweus Anti-Bullying curriculum. Over the last few weeks, we have been thinking about how to include others and how to share our feelings with clear "I messages". Also, we have enjoyed reading a number of Dr. Seuss classics and discussing how "the lorax" and "Mack the Turtle" stuck out their necks for others. I am looking forward to having some of you join me on Wednesday, April 10th from 1:00 to 3:00 to create a family rules poster. I understand that this time is not convenient for everyone and please know that this is an optional activity and I am happy to send materials home.

Flat First Graders Are Coming!!

The children will be making a flat first grader and sending them off to a friend and relative in another state or country so start thinking...............where could your child's flat first grader visit? I will send home some information on Friday and ask that you return it as soon as possible so we can start drafting our "snail mail" letters! Also, we will be making our Flat First Graders on Wednesday, April 24th from 9:00 to 10:00.  Please let me know if you are available to come in and help us!

Reaching Out To Others!

 During April vacation, some of the Hamilton-Wenham High school students will be traveling to Peru. As part of the trip, the students will be volunteering at a elementary school. The students will be brining clothing and school supplies to the students. The first grade families have been asked to donate glue sticks, colored pencils and small watercolor sets.  At our All School Meeting, the students watched an informational slide show designed by the students. Thank you for your support of this community service project.

Our Field Trip To The Ipswich Sanctuary

 We spent a wonderful morning at the Ipswich Wildlife Sanctuary learning about the process of making maple syrup. The weather was spectacular! The syrup was delicious! The children thoroughly enjoyed the trip! My thanks to all the wonderful parent participants. I so enjoy having you be a part of our classroom community.

The New England Brass

Our thanks to the Friends of Cutler Cultural Arts Council for bringing The New England Brass to our school.  We had a wonderful morning! The students were engaged throughout the presentation!  Here is a  link to a great video of the group.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGN3ucpQXkE

OPEN HOUSE- What fun!!

My thanks to all of you for attending Open House on March 6 th!

The children were so proud of their work and did a wonderful job sharing their school day and with you. I hope you all enjoyed the evening and learned a little bit more about our learning community. It is one of my favorite events. It is so exciting for me to see the students share their work with such loving and supportive guests!