Week 24

Just a brief update of our week! We have successfully completed the week and have made it to our winter break.  After a busy week, we enjoyed a (long overdue) morning of sledding at Elmore State Park on Friday.  In the afternoon students enjoyed watching a movie called The Whipping Boy based on the Newbury award winning book by Sid Fleischman, which we just finished as a read a loud.

Below are some photos from our day.

During Science this week, students explored concepts of using light and sound to communicate to others.

We began preparing for our concert this week, and students made winter fox among birch trees painting.

Thank you to Jen and Kim (Gigi) Schoeberlein for bringing Chicken Pot Pie, carrot sticks, and cup cakes for dessert on Friday.

Ray Boutin will be bringing Tuscan soup for hot lunch on Friday, March 8th!

There are still a few days available on the meal train this spring if anyone would still like to bring a hot lunch!

See the lunch menu for lunch options (Sandwiches and Salads available on Mon- Thur, hot lunch options available on Wednesday.  

Other Announcements 

• PE - Wednesday :  Students need their sneakers!
• Feb. 26 - Mar. 5 - Winter Break - Have a great week!
• Monday, March 4th - School Budget Information meeting in the PA auditorium @6:00 pm
• Tuesday, March 5th - Town Meeting and VOTING day (Please support your local schools!)
• March 14th - 2nd trimester ends.
• Thursday, March 14 - early release (12:10pm)
• Friday, March 15th - No School.  Teacher/Family conferences
• Thursday, March 21st   - 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
• 3rd Grade VTCAP testing - April 2, April 3, April 9, and April 10 - please avoid scheduling appointments on these mornings.
• April Break - Aril 22-26

Week 23

Students performed at Spruce Peak Arts on Thursday. 

We had another busy week at the Elmore School. We continued the tradition of giving Valentine's to all the Elmore PO Box holders, and Thursday, students had their sixth and final day at Spruce Peak where they performed a play written just for them. 

During Writer's workshop this week, students worked on finalizing their informative writing.  They added images and text features such as glossaries, vocabulary, subheadings and captions.  Phonics lessons this week included words spelled with /oy/ and /ay/ for first graders and words ending with le.  During literacy menu, students are practicing typing with Typing Club, and reading skills using Lexia Core 5 and a variety of Literacy Centers.  Reading groups are ongoing. 

During Math, first graders are using make 10 strategies to add within 20 and Friday they solved story problems involving 3 addend.  Second graders finished unit 3.  This week they solved story problems involving length.  Third graders are finishing up Unit 3.  This week they used algorithms to solve subtraction problems within 1000 that involved regrouping.

During science, students explored using light to communicate.

Students were busy making valentines for community members for the past 4 weeks.  Wednesday, we hung 170 Valentines on the mailboxes at the Elmore Store.   This is one of our favorite traditions which has been happening for nearly 25 years.  Later that day, students exchanged Valentine's with each other.  Thank you to the Reynold's for bring Valentine's Day Brownies for the kids!

Our final day at Spruce Peak was full of excitement! Students had a lot of fun performing their play, which included acting, singing, and dancing, and one of our students helped with tech in the sound / light booth!  We had an amazing experience with the Curious Place Theater Program!  In the afternoon, the group split up and half nordic skied and half ice skated.  Thanks to all the parents who were able to come out to the play and to our parent volunteers, Meg Batchelder and David Peterson.

We had a special lunch treat for Hot Lunch on Friday.  Dan Peterson prepared the filling for dumplings and each students helped to fill and fold them.  After they were made Dan used our stove and cooked them for us.  The children enjoyed homemade Dumplings, Edamame, and fried rice for lunch.  For Dessert they had Chinese Animal crackers or Chinese Funnel Cakes! 

Next Friday Jen Schoeberlein will be providing our hot Lunch (TBD).

Please email 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!
• 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!)
• March 14th - 2nd trimester ends.
• Thursday, March 14 - early release (12:10pm)
• Friday, March 15th - No School.  Teacher/Family conferences
• Thursday, March 21st   - 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 22

 

We celebrated our 100th day of school this week! Each student made a project with 100 items.

This week the sun made a glorious return after an very cloudy and gray fall and winter, and what a difference it made!  We even saw temperatures climbing into the 40's which made us hopeful for spring.  

Winter is not over yet and it would actually be nice if we had some fresh snow (maybe next Tuesday?).  

During writer's workshop this week students worked on completing their informative writing books.  This week they learned how to write a closing (conclusion), and choose images and illustrations to enhance their writing.  After our winter break students will be researching about their nature name animals, and choosing a may to present their information (book, ebook, brochure, poster, report,  etc) and create a project (sculpture, painting, diorama, scientific drawing etc) to go with it.  

In Math first graders solved word problems involving subtraction within 20.   Second graders measured and compared length using inches and feet, and third graders learned new algorithms to solve addition.

During Science this week, students explored concepts of light by considering materials that allow light to pass through them (transparent and translucent) vs. materials that do not (opaque).

On Thursday we had our fifth day at Spruce Peak.  During our Theater Program students worked on putting together their play.  They practiced their dance and the song they will sing and blocked out their play.  Next week is our final week which culminates with our production at 11:00.  Family members are invited to the theater to see us preform!  I will have more information about this in the coming days.  outdoors, it was a bluebird day with clear skies and warm sunshine.  Students enjoyed a wonderful afternoon nordic skiing and ice skating.  Thank you to Jess and Ray Boutin and Deidra Keith for Volunteering this week!

On Friday, we celebrated our 100th Day of School!  Each students brought in a project they created at home to share with the class.  Students made 100th Day crowns and responded to a writing prompt about what they would do if they had $100 dollars.  We ended the day with Chinese where students more about the Chinese Lunar New Year.  This year is the year of the Dragon (Loong).  Students learned how to draw a dragon and then made lanterns to decorate our classroom.  

Next week we will celebrate Valentine's Day.  Scripp News did a story on the history of the Elmore School last year and it's uniqueness, being the last one-room schoolhouse in Vermont.  They loved it so much they want to come back!  On Tuesday, February 13th Scripp News will be visiting The Elmore School to do a story about our annual Valentine's Day tradition of making Valentine's for all the Elmore Post Office Patrons.  On Tuesday we will finish making 170 Valentines and will hang them on the postal boxes at the Elmore Store while Scripp News is visiting.  

On Wednesday, February 14th, students will exchange Valentines with each other.  Children are invited to bring in Valentine'''s Day cards and notes for each classmate. 

Thank you to Andrea Audet for bringing us Shepards Pie, rolls and watermelon for hot lunch and "dirt and worms" for dessert on Friday this week!  Next Friday, Dan Peterson will be bringing Chinese Dumplings for Hot Lunch!  Each students will be able to help make a dumpling before we eat!  

Please email me your school lunch orders for next 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!
• Wednesday Feb. 14th - Valentine's Day Celebration.
• Thursday Feb. 15th - Curious Place Theater Program final performance @ 11:00am - The Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center and outdoor recreation.
• 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   - 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