Music

Our K–2 students have been busy exploring music through songs, games, and instruments. They've been building foundational skills while having lots of fun, and we’re excited to begin preparing some festive songs for Halloween.

In the upper grades, students are focusing on developing their musical literacy. These skills are key as they begin working with recorders, band instruments, or participating in chorus. We’re laying the groundwork now to help them succeed as confident, independent musicians.

The Senior Chorus is off to a nice, strong start!

Kindergarten- Second Grade is learning about the element of art SHAPE

Kindergarten- cutting shapes out of paper to create collages of robots using squares and rectangles 

First- using shapes to create patterns on paper to be turned into paper sculptures inspired by artist Charles McGee

Second- differentiating between geometric and organic shapes and using overlapping to create an abstract drawing

Grades 3-6 are working on posters for our annual fire safety poster contest. The theme this year is about lithium ion batteries and how to charge your devices safely at home.

In Spanish class, for the month of October students will be :

6th grade: Recognizing and retelling several forms of greetings and farewells. Also presenting an unknown person, asking and answering how someone is doing, asking where someone is from and utilizing expressions of courtesy such as “es un placer” (it's a pleasure to meet you).

5th grade: Locating and recalling questions words.  Analyzing and interpreting authentic Spanish invitations for who, what, when and where.

4th grade: Listing, matching, recognizing number 0-10. Composing telephone numbers verbally using numbers 0-10. 

3rd grade: Identifying days of the week. Differentiating between a traditional Spanish Calendar and an American calendar. Constructing written and verbal sentences stating days of the week using a Spanish calendar.

2nd grade: Naming, matching, recalling a variety of fruits vocabulary. Asking and answering, ¿Te gusta?( Do you like it?)  Me gusta (I like it). 

1st grade: Identifying and using appropriately “feliz (happy), triste (sad), cansado (tired), enfermo (sick) when asked ¿Cómo estás?   

Kindergarten:  Memorizing and using appropriately the following phrases, “Adiós, muy bien, hola”, and ¿Cómo estás?   Reciting words to the Hola, Hola, Hola song by Mariana Mallol.

We’ve spent September harvesting the last of the produce the garden has to offer, with classes trying everything they pick.  Soon there will be a crop of string beans ready to serve in the cafeteria!  Classes have also begun saving seeds for next year’s garden, while learning about different types of seed saving. As our garden winds down for the season we spend time getting it ready for its winter dormancy by clearing beds and spreading leaf mulch.  Our annual Harvest Moon Celebration was October 3rd and it was an amazing night for everyone! Thank you to the PTA for all their support to make this night a success! 

Kindergarten- Students are exploring how to use different building materials (keva planks, pop cubes, pipe cleaners) to construct structures inspired by different stories they listen to

1st - After listening to a story, students are using a variety of building materials (keva planks, pop cubes, pipe cleaners) to build creations based on what they heard

2nd - Students are building with the LEGO Spike Essential kits that challenge them to build with LEGO bricks and code electronic pieces with a device to solve a problem. Second grade students are exploring the unit “Great Adventures”. In this unit, students will begin to understand what a sequence is, be able to follow instructions to create a sequence, and describe the sequence to their peers. 

3rd - Students are building with LEGO Spike Essential kits and using a device to code parts that help them solve fun challenges. Third grade students are exploring the unit “Quirky Creations”. This unit will further develop students’ engineering design skills as they investigate ways of defining problems, brainstorming solutions, and testing and refining prototypes.

4th - Students are using LEGO Spike Essential kits, where students combine hands-on building with coding skills to create solutions to problem-based tasks. Fourth grade students are exploring the unit “Happy Traveler”. This unit will develop students' understanding of computer science as they create sequences and loops, decompose problems, and improve programs to meet specific needs.

5th - Students are engaging with LEGO Spike Essential kits, constructing models and programming electronic components on a device to address real-world challenges. Fifth grade students are exploring the unit “Crazy Carnival Games”. Students will explore ways of using observation skills as they anticipate the outcomes of changes in energy during a collision, describe the relationship between energy and speed, and predict how energy moves from place to place. 

6th - Students are using LEGO Spike Essential kits to build structures and code electronic components to solve problems. Sixth grade students are exploring the unit “Science We Cannot See”. This unit introduces students to Physical Science and Earth Science.

Grades 2-6 are engaged in different LEGO Spike Essential units tailored to their learning goals. The LEGO Spike Essential kits challenge students to build with LEGO bricks and code electronic pieces with a device to solve a problem.

In physical education this month we have been working with the students on their soccer skills.  They practiced their dribbling, passing, shooting, goalie work and throw ins in multiple stations that culminated into small group soccer games.  After soccer we transitioned to football focusing on how to hold a football using the laces and how to throw with accuracy.  We will eventually have the secondary students playing in different keep away, ultimate football and small group football games.

Kindergarten- Kindergarten is practicing library skills and learning about story elements such as theme and character traits through stories such as “The Sandwich Swap”, “I walk with Vanessa” and “The Couch Potato”. 

1st- We are reinforcing library skills such as how to choose a “just right” book. Students have been learning how to identify story elements such as character traits, theme and problem and solution. Some of the books we’ve used to explore these topics include: “Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon”, “The Day The Crayons Quit” and “The Book Hog”. 

2nd- Second grade is learning story elements and themes in literature to enhance our reading comprehension and love of reading. We’ve explored themes such as personal strengths in titles such as “The Smart Cookie” by Jory John, and bravery in “There might be Lobsters” by Carolyn Crimi.

3rd- Third grade is exploring themes such as community, family and connections to reinforce reading comprehension and critical thinking skills while reading. We have read books such as “Home in a Lunchbox”, “The Sour Grape” and “Goldfish on Vacation” to reinforce these skills in preparation for our upcoming units. 

4th-Fourth grade is exploring themes such as community, gratitude and character development to reinforce reading comprehension and critical thinking skills while reading. We have read books such as “Memoirs of a Goldfish”, “The Good Egg” and “The Invisible Boy” to reinforce these skills in preparation for our upcoming  genre unit.

5th-Fifth grade began the year with a review on library skills. We have moved on to exploring story elements through literature to strengthen reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. We’ve explored themes such as inclusion, communication, overcoming obstacles and kindness in books such as “Drawn Together”, “The Cool Bean” and “Those Shoes”. 

6th- Sixth grade began the year with a review on library skills. We have moved on to exploring story elements such as character traits, problem and solution and themes through literature to strengthen reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. We’ve explored themes such as inclusion, generosity and community in books such as “Extra Yarn” and “Gibberish”.

I’ve enjoyed getting to know all the students this year! We started the year learning or reinforcing library skills and resources. For October, each grade is diving into thematic units with each piece of literature covering various story elements to help reinforce our comprehension skills,  before moving into our genre units.