CLICK HERE FOR UPCOMING WCDS EVENTS
Upcoming Dates:
- September 22 – October 3 – Parent/Teacher Partnership Meetings (sign up here) https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054BA5A82BAAFDCF8-58482233-third
- Tuesday, September 23 – Preschool – 1st – School Pictures
- Wednesday, September 24 – 2nd – 5th – School Pictures
- Friday, September 26- Freedom Friday and 8am Parent Coffee
- Friday, October 3- Early Dismissal
- Saturday, October 18- Mark Your Calendars for Vantoberfest! More details to come!
Our classroom was full of detectives, authors, mathematicians, and birdwatchers this week! Students had the chance to solve mysteries, share their own stories, explore the world of numbers in a brand-new way, and even connect with nature. It was a week filled with teamwork, creativity, and hands-on learning that kept everyone engaged and excited to come to school each day.
In Phonics, our students became detectives as they reviewed the /ou/ sound. We learned that “ou” is generally used at the beginning or middle of a word (like out, mouse, loud), while “ow” is typically used at the end of a word or syllable (like cow, now, brown). To practice, students followed a mystery storyline where Miss Madison was “hurt.” They had to track down hidden clues around the classroom, point out words with the “ou” spelling, and work together to solve what had happened. This activity gave them lots of practice applying the rule while also encouraging teamwork and problem-solving skills.
In Math, we explored the concept of rounding numbers. Students practiced deciding when to round up and when to round down, and to make it easier to visualize, we used a roller coaster model. They imagined numbers as “riders” on the coaster—when a number landed in certain spots, it had to “go up the hill” to the next ten, but in others, it rolled back down. This fun comparison really helped the students see and remember why numbers round the way they do.
In Writing, our young authors are finishing up their very first big pieces of the year—memoirs. These stories capture personal memories that are meaningful to them. Students have worked hard on brainstorming, drafting, revising, and now publishing their pieces. One of the highlights of the week has been our author chair time, where students share their memoirs aloud with classmates. It’s inspiring to hear their voices and watch them grow in confidence as writers.
During Deep Dive, we took flight into the world of birds! We learned about different bird traits and how they survive in their habitats. To connect science with hands-on learning, students built bird feeders to encourage birds to visit.
In our SEL time, we focused on the theme of “building relationships.” We discussed what it means to be part of a team, how to show kindness, and how to support classmates in positive ways. Students practiced sharing ideas, listening to others, and noticing how even small actions can make our classroom community stronger.
Finally, thank you to all the families who joined us for Parent Night! It was such a joy welcoming you into our classroom and sharing all the exciting things your children are learning. Don’t forget to sign up for your Parent Partnership Meeting—we are looking forward to connecting with each of you individually.
We hope you all have a wonderful weekend
Miss Madison and Mrs. Buck
**Please contact us BOTH if you have any questions or concerns this school year:
mkmcdonald@wcdsedu.com & pbuck@wcdsedu.com
Or Talking Points (send to both if you can)
