Circle Letter 5/22/15

May 22, 2015

Dear Families,

         Wow… off the kids went to tour Shapleigh School this morning. They will have a great tour and introduction to their new school, will get a chance to meet many teachers and staff.  I also think time to check out their awesome playground has been scheduled in.  That fact alone makes it all worthwhile for many!  I felt like a Mom saying goodbye to the child knowing they are growing up.  Emotions of both excitement and sadness.  I am happy for our students and it is always bittersweet to say goodbye.  It has been a fun year together.

         Thank you to everyone for returning all the paperwork associated with our many field trips coming up.  On Tuesday we will start by taking our Kittery Point “hike through history” walk. We will walk by old houses and tombstones; visit the town docks and Pepperrell Cove.  On Thursday we will walk with Mrs. Perry’s class to the Kittery Art Association.  We will leave here around 11 a.m. and plan on being back here by 12:00.  Please consider joining us!  The artwork is fantastic (all Kittery students K- 12) and having the extra adults would be helpful.  Thursday we will also have a history of the Piscataqua River presentation given by PJ Johnson!  We will end the week with our annual visit to the PNSY.  Lots going on for us here next week.

                  And our fairytale genre study is also picking up momentum!  Not only are we enjoying reader’s theater with some fairy tale classics but we are trying our hand at writing fairy tale adaptations.  It’s fun but more challenging than expected!  Stay tuned on that…

Happy Memorial Weekend to you all~

         

Circle Letter 05/07/15

May 7th, 2015

Dear Families,

       Wow, kudos to our student test takers.  It was been one long arduous week of challenging tough questions and essay responses.  Our students have shown great focus, grit, and perseverance all week long.  I hope you have had a chance to hear first hand about the test format.  Our class has really stuck with it!  Well done.

       Round two will be math all next week.  Our test taking schedule stays the same, which we found really disrupts the regular flow and rhythms of the day.  Perhaps you noticed that with the lighter homework this week.  The kids celebrated this fact and saw it as a “silver lining” perhaps to the Smarter Balance.

 And the sugarless gum was a life saver!  Something to look forward to during testing.  And so another…Alert request from the class… more packages of sugarless gum and mints during test taking time for next week. Thanks! Be sure to continue checking in with your child about the testing through out the week.  Also supportive encouragement and praise will go along way.                    

       Also it has been wonderful having the Native American dioramas trickle in a few at a time.  We really love how individual and creative each project is.  Also of great intrigue is what items people used from their own homes or yard to put into their scene. When each student presents the village scene comes to life and lots of information pours out, whether it is on the Native American tribe or the ingenuity and clever construction.  Well-done students!  Hopefully this weekend will allow enough time for others to finish up their projects.  We look forward to seeing the remaining dioramas next week.

                     Enjoy the weekend~

Circle Letter 4/10/15

April 10, 2015

Dear Families,

       If you are looking for something fun to do with the family tonight (and support our schools) plan on attending the wonderful Kittery Live Talent Show.   The event is held at Shapleigh School with Mitchell School performers beginning at 4 pm!  Good luck to our performing students!

       And next week be sure to show your personality and silliness… with our school wide Spirit Week!  Monday: Crazy Hair Day; Tuesday: Clash Day; Wednesday:  Green Day (Earth Appreciation!) We will also be going to the Traip Climbing Wall on Wednesday so good “green” climbing clothes are recommended.  Thursday: Red Sox Day.  And just a reminder there is no school on Friday before our April vacation.

       Our Native American Studies are really underway at this point.  This week students have been selecting a region and tribe to research independently in class. Our research will include books, web sites, videos, documentaries, legends and a guest speaker.  Each student will also be making a diorama depicting tribal life of his or her tribe and region. More information on this school/ home project will come next week.  However, each student will need a shoebox (no bigger boxes please) to work on this project… so be on the look out!  We are also in need of toilet paper and paper towels cardboard rolls… We will use them for a few Native American crafts!  Please bring in any items you might have next week.  Lastly, our class art marker supply needs replenishing. Please consider making a classroom contribution with a package or two.  Thank you for the support and help.   Have a great (warm!) weekend… J

Circle Letter 4/2/15

April 2, 2015

Dear Families,

          Hello to April and the hopes of more spring like weather.  We have had fun decorating our classroom door in a spring theme… wishful thinking for warmer days to come. I don’t think we will miss our snow pants at recess when the snow finally melts.

         This week we had the guidance counselor from Shapleigh School, Mrs. O’Neil, visit us as part of a transition process for getting our third graders familiar with Shapleigh School.  Next we will write individual letters to a fourth grader with questions and the fourth grader will write back with answers!  In about a month the whole third grade will go and visit Shapleigh and meet the fourth grade teachers.

         This week we also had a Personal Body Touch Presentation. A program overview went home on Thursday. Please check in with your child about the important topics that were touched upon.  Mrs. Rickerich’s (our wonderful guidance counselor!) web page is a great resource for all types of topics, including safe body touch.  If you haven’t had a chance to check it out consider doing so…! http://drickerich.blogspot.com/

         We have just finished our read aloud, Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech.  A book that touches on many themes… like trust and the importance of family.  Want to know more?  Ask your child about the plot. We will read another short Sharon Creech book that will help inspire a love and appreciation for poetry… poetry writers… and poetry readers.  We may even try our hand at some poetry writing during writing workshop.  Stay tuned.               Happy Easter to you all…!