Elementary and Jr. High
News of March 8-12
PRIMARY
Spring is sprouting in our classrooms during our “Botany” study. Our jar gardens are growing and we will take them from the dark into sunlight this week to see the leaves become green during the process of photosynthesis. We will then eat some of our sprouts on a cream cheese sandwich and bring the rest home to our families to enjoy in a salad or sandwich. Also this week, students will create a Plant Log to record their observations of our various garden centers. We’ll plant a tropical garden in the shade on our playground and plant vegetables from seed in our patio pots. In class, we’ll plant a root garden in a see-through planter that allows us to view the roots of carrots as they develop. Students will make botany prints by doing leaf and flower rubbings in the art center. We’ll discover the seed inside an avocado and sprout it in water. For art masterpiece, we’ll learn about Monet and his beautiful water lily paintings. We’ll create our own water lily gardens in our classroom with a special science lab by hatching water lily plants in water. These will develop over the next weeks. Students will create their own watercolor paintings of Monet’s garden and add 3-D water lily flowers. Spring is here!
INTERMEDIATE
“A Sense of Community” is flourishing in our classroom. Students are picking citrus to donate to a local food bank and writing original books in preparation for a reading party they will hold for their primary friends. Each book is progressing well with original illustrations using paint, oil pastels, colored pencils, and markers. We developed our stories using a plot story board and are not completing the pages. We’ll finish our books this week and then ”publish” them with a professional binding. As a month-long project, students are reading a free choice book and completing a book report and commercial about the book. Being a recreational reader is an important lifetime habit. It is exciting to hear our students discussing their favorite books in class. In class, we have read three books related to Alice in Wonderland; The Looking Glass Wars, Alice in Wonderland, and Through the Looking Glass. On Friday, students will enjoy a field trip to see the new movie version of this classic story starring Johnny Depp. Admission is paid by the school but students may bring money to buy refreshments at the theater. When we return, we’ll hold a compare and contrast discussion relating the books to the movie.
UPPER DIVISION
Our upper division calendar is full of spring adventure! Our unit focus features “Famous Scientists and Science Lab”. Each student is researching a famous scientist for an upcoming presentation. In class, we are working hands-on with experiments in physics, combustion, electricity, matter, and energy. This week, we will finalize our itinerary for our end of the month trip to Washington, DC. Students will bring home their travel booklet, learn to read a subway map, practice figuring tax and tip on restaurant bills, choose room leaders, decide what to pack, learn to budget spending money during the trip. What a fantastic learning experience. They will tour the Capitol, Smithsonian Museums including Air and Space, American History, and Natural History museums. We have a tour of the Holocaust Museum, a walk to see the cherry blossoms, Washington Monument, Viet Nam Memorial, and Lincoln Monument. There is a funny play, “Shear Madness” scheduled at the Kennedy Center and a production of “Little Shop of Horrors” which they will see at the original Ford Theater where Lincoln was shot. In addition, we’ll visit the hands-on Spy Museum. And there is a full day at Historic Williamsburg by chartered bus where they will see the living history exhibits, eat dinner in an original operating restaurant, the Shield Inn with typical live musical entertainment, and go on an evening guided Ghost Walk through the mansions and cottages escorted by a living history docent. Wow! If this is not enough excitement, our upper division students are also beginning preparations for this year’s Shakespeare Festival! We are reading Two Gentlemen of Verona, this year’s play.
LOST AND FOUND
Missing a jacket? Can’t find that sweater? Come check the lost and found tote located on the patio. Items not claimed will be donated to charity at the end of the year.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
March 15-19 Spring Break
April 12-16 Silent Auction
April 30 “Two Gentlemen of Verona” Chandler Center of the Arts 7 PM presented by our upper division students for all school families!
May 7 Mother’s Day Tea 2:00-3:00
May 20-21 Family Camping Trip for intermediate and upper division families
May 27 Last day of school
FALL REGISTRATION
If you forgot to take advantage of priority registration last week, please see Suzanne immediately. Registration now opens to those on our waiting lists and the general public and you will not be guaranteed a spot in the 2010-2011 school year. Don’t miss out-stop by the office today.
SUPER SUMMER 2010
Brochures are now available!
Check out the fantastic new classes and register before classes fill!
PRIMARY
Spring is sprouting in our classrooms during our “Botany” study. Our jar gardens are growing and we will take them from the dark into sunlight this week to see the leaves become green during the process of photosynthesis. We will then eat some of our sprouts on a cream cheese sandwich and bring the rest home to our families to enjoy in a salad or sandwich. Also this week, students will create a Plant Log to record their observations of our various garden centers. We’ll plant a tropical garden in the shade on our playground and plant vegetables from seed in our patio pots. In class, we’ll plant a root garden in a see-through planter that allows us to view the roots of carrots as they develop. Students will make botany prints by doing leaf and flower rubbings in the art center. We’ll discover the seed inside an avocado and sprout it in water. For art masterpiece, we’ll learn about Monet and his beautiful water lily paintings. We’ll create our own water lily gardens in our classroom with a special science lab by hatching water lily plants in water. These will develop over the next weeks. Students will create their own watercolor paintings of Monet’s garden and add 3-D water lily flowers. Spring is here!
INTERMEDIATE
“A Sense of Community” is flourishing in our classroom. Students are picking citrus to donate to a local food bank and writing original books in preparation for a reading party they will hold for their primary friends. Each book is progressing well with original illustrations using paint, oil pastels, colored pencils, and markers. We developed our stories using a plot story board and are not completing the pages. We’ll finish our books this week and then ”publish” them with a professional binding. As a month-long project, students are reading a free choice book and completing a book report and commercial about the book. Being a recreational reader is an important lifetime habit. It is exciting to hear our students discussing their favorite books in class. In class, we have read three books related to Alice in Wonderland; The Looking Glass Wars, Alice in Wonderland, and Through the Looking Glass. On Friday, students will enjoy a field trip to see the new movie version of this classic story starring Johnny Depp. Admission is paid by the school but students may bring money to buy refreshments at the theater. When we return, we’ll hold a compare and contrast discussion relating the books to the movie.
UPPER DIVISION
Our upper division calendar is full of spring adventure! Our unit focus features “Famous Scientists and Science Lab”. Each student is researching a famous scientist for an upcoming presentation. In class, we are working hands-on with experiments in physics, combustion, electricity, matter, and energy. This week, we will finalize our itinerary for our end of the month trip to Washington, DC. Students will bring home their travel booklet, learn to read a subway map, practice figuring tax and tip on restaurant bills, choose room leaders, decide what to pack, learn to budget spending money during the trip. What a fantastic learning experience. They will tour the Capitol, Smithsonian Museums including Air and Space, American History, and Natural History museums. We have a tour of the Holocaust Museum, a walk to see the cherry blossoms, Washington Monument, Viet Nam Memorial, and Lincoln Monument. There is a funny play, “Shear Madness” scheduled at the Kennedy Center and a production of “Little Shop of Horrors” which they will see at the original Ford Theater where Lincoln was shot. In addition, we’ll visit the hands-on Spy Museum. And there is a full day at Historic Williamsburg by chartered bus where they will see the living history exhibits, eat dinner in an original operating restaurant, the Shield Inn with typical live musical entertainment, and go on an evening guided Ghost Walk through the mansions and cottages escorted by a living history docent. Wow! If this is not enough excitement, our upper division students are also beginning preparations for this year’s Shakespeare Festival! We are reading Two Gentlemen of Verona, this year’s play.
LOST AND FOUND
Missing a jacket? Can’t find that sweater? Come check the lost and found tote located on the patio. Items not claimed will be donated to charity at the end of the year.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
March 15-19 Spring Break
April 12-16 Silent Auction
April 30 “Two Gentlemen of Verona” Chandler Center of the Arts 7 PM presented by our upper division students for all school families!
May 7 Mother’s Day Tea 2:00-3:00
May 20-21 Family Camping Trip for intermediate and upper division families
May 27 Last day of school
FALL REGISTRATION
If you forgot to take advantage of priority registration last week, please see Suzanne immediately. Registration now opens to those on our waiting lists and the general public and you will not be guaranteed a spot in the 2010-2011 school year. Don’t miss out-stop by the office today.