Savanna 3-15-13

Dear Parents:

         WOW!!!! What changeable weather we have had this past week.  The kids enjoyed seeing the results of the downpour on Tuesday by watching the water flow down our streambed.  We were able to talk about the issues of erosion, how the terraced rocks help to add oxygen to the water, and traced all the water through our watershed.  It was nice to see the blue skies on Wednesday and Thursday but we all agreed we are not ready for a lot more cold weather.  Hopefully warmer days are ahead of us.

         The major focus of our week has been on our upcoming Wax Museum.  We have spent time this week reading a short biography about Jacques Cousteau.  The children worked on taking notes and organizing information for a short writing piece, similar to what they will be doing for their presentations.  I am pleased with how far most of the children are with their reading and note taking in the Wax Museum Notes Packet.  I want to remind everyone of the Monday deadline for having this part of the assignment finished.  We will spend some time in class working on these today as well as working on note card next week.  In addition we have continued our study of Mali in Social Studies and solids, liquids and gas in Science.  It is my hope to wrap up both of these units prior to Spring Break.    Please check your child’s assignment notebook for test dates next week.

On Tuesday we began our AFAC garden.  We began our lettuces for this project and have them under grow lights.  We will be monitoring the plant’s progress and hopefully will be able to get them into the ground outside just after spring break.  If the weather is favorable next Tuesday we will go outside and plant snap peas in our beds.  Let’s keep our fingers crossed!

As you know next week is our annual Book Fair and Young Author’s Night.  The class will be visiting the Book Fair on Monday to browse the selections.  Please review the flyer that was sent home on Wednesday for Book Fair hours as well as the “Donuts with Dad” information. Young Author’s Night will be on Wednesday evening from 6:30-9:00.  Several students have indicated they would like to read that evening.  Please contact Maggie Debelius at madebelius@yahoo.com with any questions you might have.  You can sign your child up directly at: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/9040F4EABA92D6-tuckahoe/916222.  This sign up is protected by an access code.  When prompted, enter the code "Tuckahoe" for access.  If you and your child decide to participate in this activity, please let me know as well.

With the spring sports starting up, I would like to ask for soccer, baseball, lacrosse, and softball schedules.  I know games are a couple of weeks away, but I would appreciate schedules when you get them.  Lastly, please be sure to look over the upcoming activities and mark your calendars accordingly.

I hope everyone enjoys the weekend.

                                                                       

                                                                        Mrs. DiNardo

Upcoming Events

Friday March 15- Disco Dance- 6:30-9:00pm

Monday March 18-22- Book Fair- See flyer sent home on Wednesday

Monday March 25-Friday March 29- Spring Break

Monday April 1- Teacher Work Day- No School for Students

Tuesday April 2- School Re-opens for Students

Wednesday April 10- Full Day of School

  -Wax Museum Presentation 2-3 pm

Thursday April 11- Field Trip to Acadia Farm- Information to follow

Wednesday April 24- Full Day of School

Thursday April 25- Imagination Stage Field Trip- Information to follow

Savanna 3-1-13

Dear Parents:

         Thank you to everyone who joined us Wednesday morning for Curriculum Day.  I hoped you enjoyed rotating through the different activities as much as the children did. From learning how to play charades, using strategies to figure out how to make 24, reviewing simple machines, or making up a new holiday, all the reports from the students were it was a great morning of learning.   I hope while you were here you were also able take a couple of minutes to look at the 100^th day cup sculpture display in the hallway.  The children enjoyed working together figuring out how to put 100 cups together. 

         As you know, we are studying the ancient civilization of Mali in Social Studies.  This is primarily an economics unit, however it is also a good venue to spiral back and review maps, environment and natural resources. In Science we are learning more about matter and will shortly be moving into learning about simple machines.  In Language Arts our focus has been celebrating Black History month by researching related important events, people and contributions.  The children also continue to work on paragraph formulation with Reading Responses and incorporating Word Study words and robust vocabulary words into their everyday work.  In Math, the children enjoyed putting their knowledge of measurement to use this week as they measured items found in the room and calculated each item’s area and perimeter.  All in all it has been a good week of learning.

         With the beginning of March we start to focus on our AFAC garden and the Schoolyard Stewards again.  Schoolyard Stewards is an opportunity for children from all the classes to get together, have lunch, discuss a small project that needs attention in the school yard, and to work outside.  This group meets from 12-1 on Tuesday afternoons.  No gardening experience is needed to help with this program.  If this is something you would like to help with, please let me know.  On Wednesday, March 6^th we will begin planting lettuces for our AFAC garden.  This community service project helps the children learn about the food needs of many in our community as well as how to create a small sustainable garden. Last year we were able to donate more than 80 pounds of fresh produce to AFAC.  If you are interested in helping us with this program, please let me know.

         I look forward to meeting with everyone next week at our Parent Teacher conferences.  See you then.

Mrs. DiNardo

                                                              

Dates to Remember

Thursday-Friday March 7-8- Parent Teacher Conferences

Friday March 15- Disco Dance

Monday March 18-22- Book Fair

Monday March 25-Friday March 29- Spring Break

Monday April 1- Teacher Work Day- No School for Students