Week 31

We hosted our 2nd annual Grandparent's Breakfast this week and had a wonderful turnout! This was a incredibly busy week leading up to April Break.  On Monday, 3rd graders finished VTCAP testing!  I am confident their effort and perseverance will be evident when reports come back.  On Tuesday we spent the day preparing for our Grandparent's Breakfast.  All of the students participated in some part of preparing the food.  Wednesday morning we hosted our Grandparent's (and other special guests) at our 2nd annual Grandparent's Breakfast.  On Thursday we had ECO in the morning and students took the STAR math assessment (progress monitoring) on the afternoon.  Friday, students took the STAR reading assessment (PM), had a class reward, had Family Hot Lunch and Chinese lessons!  After this busy week, I am sure we are all ready for April Break! The students have been learning Chinese with Dan Peterson this year! All of the students have completed their Animal research presentations (on their Nature Names), and nealy everyone is done with their project that will accompany their presentation.  On Thursday, May 2nd  Family members are invited to our "Nature Name Museum" to view students's work in our classroom between 3:00 - 3:30.   This week in Math first graders completed Unit 4 - Numbers to 99 and took a unit assessment. Second graders are comparing 3 digit numbers using different representations (place value blocks and number lines), and third graders are relating division equations to multiplication equations.   Our Grandparent's Breakfast was a huge success!  We had guest join us from across the lake; Derby, VT; Salisbury, VT;  Craftsbury, VT; St. Albans, VT; and Even as far away as Massachusetts!  Thank you to everyone for the Contributions to our breakfast, and for helping to facilitate invitations.  Thank you to Tina Lyon for Volunteering her time to help set up and serve food, and to Ray Boutin for setting up the tables and chairs.   We had a rather chill and damp day at ECO on Thursday morning.  While the State Park is busy finishing up a waterline project we had to relocate to a quieter location this week.  We ended up adjusting out plans on the go, but in the end we had another magical and engaging morning emersed in nature.  Thanks to Ashley Reynolds for volunteering this week!                                                     I wish everyone a wonderful April Break.

Announcements 

• Library is Monday - remember your books
• School Banking is Monday - remember your deposits!
• Thursday, May 2nd - ECO - let me know if you would like to Volunteer.
• May 2nd - Nature Name Museum 3:00-3:30 in the classroom.
• April Break - April 22-26
• May 14th - Field trip to Shelburne Farms
• May 27th - No School - Memorial Day
• Last day of School - TUESDAY, JUNE 18TH  - early dismissal
• End of year Celebration/3rd grade graduation/ family picnic - Tuesday, June 18th @ The Elmore School from 5:00 - 7:00 pm

Week 30

Week 30 was something of a whirlwind!  Students had a shortened week due to the Solar Eclipse on Monday!  What an amazing experience that was to witness!  When students arrived for school on Tuesday there was a buzz of energy with stories being shared about students' experiences watching the eclipse.  One student shared that they were so happy they cried!  That speaks to how special this experience really was to so many who were lucky enough to witness this special phenomena.

On Tuesday 3rd graders were finally able to begin the VTCAP testing.  I want to commend 3rd graders in the effort that I saw them putting into this assessment this week.  Mean while, the rest of the students in school were busy working in the classroom (testing took place in the "kitchen") so quietly that I could hardly tell there were other students in the school!  3rd graders will finish testing next Monday, April 15th.  

In math this week first graders have been working on showing numbers up to 99 using a variety of representations using tens and ones (ex: 67 could be represented with 6 tens and seven ones OR it may be represented with 5 tens and 17 ones) this is building their flexibility around number sense with larger numbers.  Second graders have been working on similar concepts with 3 digit numbers (within 1,000) including expanded form and number words.  Third graders have been representing situations (story problems) involving division.  

On Thursday we had ECO.  This week our focus was on the Eclipse.  Students played a fun tag game, listened to a story about the moon, and created skits about how the eclipse may have affected animals in nature.  During forest choice students enjoyed roasting hot dogs and sweet pepper poppers (sweet peppers with a piece of string cheese inside) over the fire, whittling sticks with peelers, and playing camouflage.  We ended our time with quiet sit spots where students used their journals to documented something they saw at their sit spot while sipping on tea, followed by a gratitude circle.  

students created skits about animal behavior affected by the eclipse.

On Friday we had a guest speaker, Molly Mitchell,  from the Stowe Children's Theater Program visit our classroom.  Molly spoke to the children about some programs the Stowe Children's Theater will be running this summer and did some fun "warm-up" activities with the children.  There is more information about this program in student's folders this week.  

Thank you to everyone who signed up to bring food items for the the Grandparent's Breakfast. Just a reminder to bring all items on Monday April 15th! Thank you in advance!  I could use one more volunteer to help set up tables and chairs on Tuesday after school.  Here is the link to the sign up sheet (or you can just show up on Tuesday!).

Please email your school Lunch orders to me.  There is no Family Hot Lunch next Friday.  You can either order a sandwich or salad for Friday or pack a lunch for your child.  

Other Announcements 

• Library is Monday - remember your books
• School Banking is Monday - remember your deposits!
• Thursday, April 18th - ECO  - let me know if you would like to Volunteer!
• 3rd Grade VTCAP testing -    April 15  (make up days April 17 or 19) - please avoid scheduling appointments on these mornings if possible.
• April 16th- EMUU school budget vote!  Please support your local schools!
• Wednesday, April 17th - 2nd annual Grandparents Breakfast @ 9:00 at the Elmore Town Hall
• April Break - April 22-26
• May 14th - Field trip to Shelburne Farms
• May 27th - No School - Memorial Day
• Last day of School - TUESDAY, JUNE 18TH (sending state approval) - early dismissal
• 3rd Grade Graduation and Family Picnic - June 19th @ 5:30 - 7:00 

                                       As always, thank you for your continued support!