Thank you!

The students did a wonderful job in the concert on Thursday evening!  Thank you to those families who brought their children early (for either concert), so they could help out as greeters.

Thank you, also, to the two families who sent in box fans for us to use in the classroom.  It made a big difference this past week, as the room got pretty warm in the afternoon.

In the Friday Folder there was an information sheet about our upcoming 3-5 Pod Orientation Night on Monday, June 8th.  While initially planned as a way to dispense information to incoming third graders and their families, we realized that there are so many changes to the format of the schedule next year that it might be beneficial to everyone.  If you have any questions about how next year will look, as far as the new schedule and the changing of classes for each subject, please join us on June 8th.

Also in the Friday Folder was some information about summer school.  I encourage you to consider summer school as an option for helping your child be ready for the start of fifth grade, particularly if your child has received mostly 1s or 2s on their report card in the areas of reading or math.

End of the Year

The end of the year is quickly approaching!  There will be a lot of special events happening in these last few weeks.  A few dates to keep in mind:

Tuesday, May 26th - Memorial Day Assembly 9am (Feel free to join us in the multi-purpose room.)

Thursday, May 28th - 3-5 Spring Concert starting at 6:15pm (Only members of chorus and band will be performing)

Thursday, June 4th - Field Trip to Meacham farm;  We will be planting the Three Sisters crops to be harvested in the fall.  Students need to bring a lunch as we will be having lunch at the farm.

Friday, June 5th - Field Trip to Calvin Coolidge Homestead;  Students need to bring comfortable shoes for walking, clothes appropriate for the weather, and a lunch.

Testing and Opportunities for Books

The students worked hard this past week on the language arts portion of the standardized testing.  This week they will be taking the Science NECAP test and the math portion of the standardized testing.  I have tried to help the students keep the testing in perspective and not get too stressed out by it, but it also helps if they are getting to bed on time and eating a healthy breakfast in the morning.  Thanks for your help with this!

I sent home the final book order for this year in the Friday Folder.  Orders are due by Thursday, so we will have plenty of time to receive the books before the end of the school year.

Also, don't forget about the Book Swap this week.  Here is the notice that was included in the Wildcat News:

The PTSF (Parents, Teachers, Students, Friends) organization is planning the 5th annual Book Swap for grades K-5.  Please donate your gently used children's books to this cause.  Classroom teachers and Ms. Symancyk are now accepting used books until May 19 for the Book Swap which will be held on May 21 and 22.  The books will be sorted and displayed for all the K-5 students to choose a book (or maybe 2) for their very own.  Book Swap books are priceless in more ways than one.  Thank you for putting more books into the hands of students!

Teamwork

This past week students were asked to work with a partner to compose a metaphor poem about an assigned color.  I was very impressed with the work that they did.  Some excerpts from their poems are included below.

Yellow is the sun on a hot summer day.
Yellow is the scent of books being opened for the first time.
Yellow is sleeping and relaxing on a comfy, newly made bed.

Green is luck

As you see a rainbow in the sky

Green is a clover

As you find it lying on the ground

Green is grass   

when it slips through your toes in the summer

Pink is cherry blossom trees swaying in the spring breeze

Pink is being kissed by your mom

Pink is a heartbeat of a newborn baby 

Orange is a friend's house, having fun

Orange is balloons floating into the orange sunset

Orange is the city, with bright lights and lots of noise

Purple is the gloomy sky before dark

Purple is the soft cry in the distance

Purple is a cloudy day when no one wants to go outside 

Neon green is trying and trying to make a shot
And celebrating when you finally do.

It is also the sound of "never give up" repeating in your head.

Red's sound is laughter

when you’re chatting with your friends.

Red is roses

in a fresh bouquet.

Red's taste is strawberry ice cream

on a hot summer day.

Brown is a drum beat

Slow and depressing

Brown is spoiled milk

When it has already separated

Brown is dirty bandages

That have not been disposed of

Blue is the sky in the middle of summer

Blue is blueberries fresh from Mother Earth

Blue is cotton candy, fluffy and soft

The class also displayed great teamwork when decorating our door for Spirit Week. Our assigned state was Florida, and I was amazed at the way in which the students planned, organized themselves, and worked in groups to decorate the top of the door like the swamp (Everglades), the middle of the door like Universal Studios, and the bottom of the door like the beach.

Spanish Skit

The students did a terrific job presenting their Spanish skit to Mrs. Pogue's first graders on Friday.  Ms. Meyer, the World Language teacher, even commented on how this class stood out among all of her classes for how well they worked together to learn their lines.  I was very proud to hear that!  By now, the beautiful masks have probably already made it home, but here are a few pictures for you to enjoy as well.

Don't forget that this week is Spirit Week!  (The schedule is on the last post, if you need a reminder of the theme of each day.)