Week 20

 

Round "table" planning discussion during the Curious Place Theater Program on Thursday at Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center. 

Our 20th week of school flew by in a flash!  The skies were grey and the temperatures were above normal creating a thick blanket of fog over Elmore Mountain, but in the classroom our focus was clear!

During literacy students are trying a new format which utilizes a menu.  We begin with a mini-lesson with the whole class. Then students refer to their menu to complete their assignments which includes, spelling practice, writing, reading, typing club, Lexia Core 5, and literacy centers.  The menu is divided into "must do's and and "may do's each day.  This is also the time when students may meet with a small group to do targeted instruction on phonics or reading groups.  Students are provided with some choices during literacy menu as they may decided on what order to complete their work, which spelling practice to do, and which "choice item they want to do.  If you walked into the classroom during our Literacy block, there would be children doing a variety of different things.  This allows for more voice and choice and individual autonomy.  The children are familiar with a similar format with math menu, which we have been using all along.

During math first graders are relating addition and subtraction equations with teen numbers using a ten and some ones.  Second graders are using standard units (centimeters) to estimate and measure items, and third graders began their next unit with a focus on adding and subtraction within 1, 000.  This week their focus was decomposing 3 digit numbers in different ways (ie. 357 can be 300 + 50 + 7 or 200 +150 +7).

During science we are exploring vibration and sound.  On Friday students explored playing a variety of percussion instruments and then chose one to investigate further to explain how the instrument makes sound. 

On Thursday we had another exciting day at Spruce Peak.  In the morning students rehearsed their dance and began learning a song they will sing during their play on Feb 15th.  They also played some fun improvisation games and brainstormed plots for their play.  The mountain was enveloped in a thick fog, but the kids were still able to enjoy skiing and skating in the afternoon.  This week we had several students try nordic skiing for the first time this year.  Thank your to the Schoeberlein’s for providing snack and to Eric for transporting skis and volunteering to ski this week.  Ms. Wine even joined us at the skating rink this week!

Thank you to Ashley Reynolds for providing us with Cheese Pizza for Hot Lunch on Friday with cookies and doughnuts for desert.  There is no school next Friday, Feb. 2nd, so our next family hot lunch will be Feb 9th provided by Andrea Audet.  

Please email me your school lunch orders for the week. 

  Other Announcements - mark your Calendars!

• Library is Monday - remember to bring your books back.
• School Banking is Monday - remember your deposits.  
• PE Wednesday - Students need their sneakers!
• Thursday, Feb 1st- Spruce Peak Theater and outdoor recreation 
• No School - Friday, February 2nd (teacher PD)
• 100th day of school Celebration - Friday, Feb. 9th
• Wednesday Feb. 14th - Valentine's Day Celebration.
• Thursday Feb. 15th - Curious Place Theater Program final performance @ 11:00am - The Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center.
• 3rd grade recorder performance - Thursday, February 22nd 5:30 - 6:30 @ MES (Dinner included)
• Feb. 26 - Mar. 5 - Winter Break
• Monday, March 4th - School Budget Information meeting in the PA auditorium @6:00 pm
• Tuesday, March 5th - Town Meeting and VOTING day (support your local schools!)
• Thursday, March 14 - early release (12:10)
• Friday, March 15th - No School.  Teacher/Family conferences
• Thursday, March 21st  (new date) - Annual Elmore School Concert @6:30 pm at the Elmore Town Hall 
• Wednesday, April 17th - 2nd annual Grandparents Breakfast @ 9:00 at the Elmore Town Hall

Week 19

Multi-media winter portraits created using photographs, watercolor and oil pastel and yarn.

We had a short but busy week at the Elmore School this week.  Schools were closed on Monday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr..  Tuesday we had a gentle snow which fell throughout the day, providing us a fresh blanket of fluffy snow.  Thursday was spent at Spruce Peak with the Curious Place Theater Program and skiing and skating.  And Friday we ended the week with Fun Friday and Chinese Lessons.  

During Literacy students learned about the vowel teams /ou/ and /ow/ as in the words pout and powder, they participated in phonemic awareness word drills, and learned three different ways to introduce a topic when writing informative text.  On Tuesday they listened to a biography about Ruby Bridges.  Then they picked either Dr. King or Ruby Bridges and wrote in their journals about why they were brave.  

During Math, first graders worked on fact fluency and reviewed pairs to 10.  On Friday they started teen numbers.  Second graders used centimeter cubes and 10-cm tools to measure and compare length.  Third graders concluded their unit on Area and took a unit assessment on Friday.

We also started our next science unit this week.  In this unit, students investigate light and sound! They explore how materials vibrate and how vibrating materials can make sounds. They also investigate light and illumination and use those investigations to create simple devices that allow them to communicate across a distance.

On Thursday we had our second day of the Curious Place Theater Program.  Students warmed up with  movement and played some cooperative games to get warmed up.  During the second half of the morning they brainstormed ideas for their final production, and then drew ideas for set design and began choreographing a dance for their final production.  After lunch we bundled up in our outdoor gear and some students made their way to the golf course where they cross-country skied.  The rest walked up to the ice skating rink where they enjoyed ice skating.  We are grateful to the Club at Spruce Peak and the Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center for these opportunities.  Thank you to Megan Batchelder for volunteering her time this week and for providing snack!

I could use one more parent volunteer to join us for skating on Thursday's January 25th, and February 8th.  Please let me know if you would be able to join us.

Mark your calendars! Students will conclude the Curious Place Theater Program with a final performance on Thursday, February 15th at 11:00.  Parents and family members are invited to attend (no charge).  I know it is in the middle of the day, but I hope you will be able to join us for this special event.  

If your child is enjoying the Curious Place Theater Program, they offer school break camps and summer camps.  Click here to learn more.  Financial assistance may be available.   

Thank you to Paige Bowen for providing a last minute hot lunch on Friday.  Students enjoyed a taco bar with all the fixings and cookies for dessert.  Ashley Reynolds is on the calendar for next next Friday (TBD).  

Please email me your school lunch orders for the week.

 Other Announcements

• Library is Monday - remember to bring your books back.
• School Banking is Monday - remember your deposits.  
• PE Wednesday - Students need their sneakers!
• Thursday, Jan. 25th- Spruce Peak Theater and outdoor recreation 
• No School - Friday, February 2nd (teacher PD)
• Wednesday Feb. 14th - Valentine's Day Celebration.
• Thursday feb. 15th - Curious Place Theater Program final performance @ 11:00am - The Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center.
• 3rd grade recorder performance - Thursday, February 22nd 5:30 - 6:30 @ MES (Dinner included)
• Feb. 26 - Mar. 5 - Winter Break
• Thursday, March 14 - early release (12:10)
• Friday, March 15th - No School.  Teacher/Family conferences
• Thursday, March 21st  (new date) - Annual Elmore School Concert @6:30 pm at the Elmore Town Hall 
• Wednesday, April 17th - 2nd annual Grandparents Breakfast

 

 

Week 18

Students started with a tour of the Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center on Thursday
during their first day of the Curious Place Theater Program.

We had another week packed with learning, new discoveries, and fun at the Elmore School.  We began a new reading a writing unit on Monday with a focus on informative writing / non-fiction.  During math, first graders are exploring the concept of equality (equal equations), second graders started a new unit with a focus on Measurement, and third graders are finishing their unit with a focus on area.  On Thursday students spent the day at Spruce Peak in Stowe where they participated in their first Curious Place Theater Program at the performing arts center.  In the afternoon they ice skated and nordic skied.  We ended the week with a school dance at the Elmore Town Hall in celebration of all the reading they have been doing at home!

During the Curious Place Theater Program, students began with a tour of the Sprice Peak performing Arts Center which included Theater vocabulary such as: The front of the house, the Box Office, the Green Room, Stage front, stage left/center/right, catwalk, lighting booth, etc..  Students participated in playful activities exploring movement on stage, projecting on stage, and they ended the morning with some fun improvisation activities.  We are all excited for the next 5 weeks!  

On Monday, January 15th we remember the great work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  During the week we talked about equal (everyone gets the same thing) vs. fair (everyone gets what they need to be successful) and the difference between equality and equity and justice.  The image below provides a great explanation of the differences between Equality, Equity, and Justice.

On Friday we read I Have a Dream.  Following the reading, student wrote their dreams for a better world.  

Students were treated to homemade pizza, carrot sticks, and chocolate chip cookies brought to us by Jess Boutin for Hot Lunch on Friday.  Next Friday Ray Boutin will bring Tuscan soup, oyster crackers, and side of fruit.  If anyone wants to sign up for another Hot Lunch, there are several days available beginning in March.  Here is the Link to the meal train if you wish to sign up.   

Please email me your school lunch orders for the week. Just a reminder that there is NO school Lunch on Fridays when we have family hot lunch.  

 Other Announcements

• Library is Monday - remember to bring your books back.
• School Banking is Monday - remember your deposits.  
• Thursday, Jan. 18th- Spruce Peak Theater and outdoor recreation 
• No School - Monday, January 15th (Martin Luther King Jr. Day.)
• No School - Friday, February 2nd (teacher PD)
• Wednesday Feb. 14th - Valentine's Day Celebration.
• Feb. 16 - Mar. 5 - Winter Break
• Thursday, March 14th - Annual Elmore School Concert @6:30 pm at the Elmore Town Hall
• Wednesday, April 17th - 2nd annual Grandparents Breakfast

Finally, A shout out to all our parent volunteers this week:  Jess Boutin, Ray Boutin, Rob Bowen, and Deidra Keith!  Thank you for your time and dedication to the Elmore School.  Without parent volunteers students would not have many of the opportunities they have at the Elmore School.   We greatly appreciate you, and every parent who has volunteered this year!