Cinnamon Scented Love🤎
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SK has been full of joy, applesauce, and cinnamon this week! Typically you don’t hear joy, applesauce, and cinnamon in the same sentence, (unless you find joy in those delicious cinnamon flavored applesauce pouches like some of our friends) and we’re sure your kiddos cinnamon scented clothes and backpacks have you curious about what we’ve been preparing… but, you’ll just have to stay curious! Just know that a little bit of applesauce and a whole lot of cinnamon is a recipe for guaranteed giggles and excitement. Speaking of recipes, we found the perfect combination of classroom materials that will really be the icing on the cake… or cookies. Okay, okay, no more hints! We’ve already said too much!! We can hardly wait for everyone to discover and experience all the magic we’ve been making this week at our Winter Family Night next week. With family on the brain, we also need to mention that we welcomed two new friends, Kyler and Cora! Everyone welcomed them with open arms and showed them how things run here in SK. We couldn’t be more thankful and proud of our hospitable, caring group and our new friends beautiful spirit have made our classroom family complete. We are so happy to have them with us!
The vowels are on the brain as we continue to discover more treasures in the world of phonics. The students love recalling the vowel names and pointing out how they each make two sounds! We’re also moving right along with our letter names and sounds. We only have TWO more letters to unlock until we’ve learned all the individual letter sounds in the alphabet. Some are already beginning to realize that some letters work together to make new sounds. We could not be more proud of the hard work and determination these kiddos are putting in during this time of the day. In math we’re continuing to test our number sense abilities while also revisiting some of the skills we’ve learned thus far. We can hardly believe that we’ve covered so much in such a short period of time. We’re constantly reminding the kiddos to kiss their beautiful brains, throw some glitter, and make it rain because they deserve to celebrate their power and progress!
Closing circle continues to be a beautiful way to wrap up our days together in SK. We are so thankful that you allow your children to bring in their special books from home to share with the class. These stories open doors to exciting adventures with every turning page, and it’s such a joy to see the children’s faces light up as they share their treasures with their friends. If you’d like to join us during this time and read a story to the class, we’d love to have you. Your support helps foster a love of reading and builds our classroom community. Thank you for being a part of these magical moments!
Have a great weekend,
Miss Tylar & Miss Gina
Oh, Christmas Tree!
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Important Dates:
- Friday, December 13th– This is our last session of Little Explorers for the semester. We will have a joint class at our main campus for Breakfast with the Elves. From 10:00-11:15 am, we will gather together for a yummy breakfast followed by some playtime, story, and songs. We will be meeting in the gym. You can park by the colored shelter, walk up the painted stairs, head straight on the walkway, and make a right onto the loop road. The gym will be on your left. An administrator will be around to help.
- Registration is open for the next semester. The link is below. I hope you will join me again!
With the change of weather came a change to our space. The room felt a little bit more magical today as the students explored the new provocations. We had slightly peppermint-scented playdough that was adorned with gems, pom poms, garland, and tiny light bulbs. The house area was a buzz again with meals being made and phone calls being answered. Our small world play was given a blast of winter with flocked bottle-brush trees, animals, tiny homes, soft lights, and fluffy “snow”. Some of the students took on the challenge of stacking cups, while others used the jingles bells and bows to fill small presents. The light table shimmered and shined with our Manga Tiles and colorful scarves. Our class Christmas tree shone bright as the kiddos made their own ornaments using dried orange slices. Bright gems, tiny pom poms, and of course glitter added just the right amount of sparkle to each one.
We came together for a snack and story, Dream Snow by Eric Carle. I love it when I get requests for songs, and our rendition of the Dinosaur Song did not disappoint. It is so wonderful to see the students become more and more comfortable with the space and each other. I do not want it to end!
I look forward to our celebration together next week!
Sincerely,
Miss Claire
Extra Special Experiences
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December 13: On December 13, fifth grade students will participate in our Breakfast with the Elves program for We-2 and Little Explorers by being the elves! This event takes place in the morning, and afterwards, fifth graders will be walking to TJ’s with Mrs. B! There is no need for a costume or clothing items, but if you are interested in dressing up, be aware this event is the morning of Dec. 13. This lunch is a gift from WCDS to the 5th grade so no money is needed.
December 16-19 – WCDS Winter Spirit Week (Details in the link above)
December 18: We are less than two weeks away from the Holiday Show! Be sure you have 6:00 pm on December 18th marked in your calendars! Any chance you have to rehearse lines with your child, please do so. Children should know what items they need for their costumes and are asked to bring them in on Monday so we can begin to rehearse and ensure everyones items. If you have costume questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Mr. Alex at ahill@wcdsedu.com. We will continue to have after school practice on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:00-4:00 until the show.
Our fifth-grade class had an exciting and educational field trip to West Liberty University, where we collaborated with various education majors. The Zoo Science students showcased a variety of mammals and reptiles, giving our students the unique opportunity to interact with creatures like snakes, turtles, tortoises, cockroaches, hedgehogs, and more. In addition to learning about animals, our students participated in a hands-on project-based learning lesson led by the education students. They explored holidays from around the world, built sleds, created ornaments, and engaged in several other creative activities. The trip concluded with a much-anticipated lunch in the university cafeteria, which quickly became a class favorite. Thank you to Helena’s mom, Mrs. Douglas, for organizing this trip and making this experience possible. This field trip was a wonderful blend of science, cultural education, and fun!
A big thank you to the faculty and staff at WCDS Middle School for hosting us on Friday! Our students had the unique opportunity to spend the day on our beautiful campus in Wheeling Park. While there, we held our regular core classes and got a glimpse into some of the amazing experiences WCDS middle offers. Students enjoyed participating in a relaxing sound bath during middle school music class, exploring their creativity even further in 8th grade art, and even took to the ice at the Wheeling Park ice rink. It was an inspiring day filled with learning, fun, and new experiences. Thank you again to WCDS Middle for a wonderful visit and please reach out to Mrs. Ochap at cochap@wcdsedu.com if you would like to schedule an official shadow or visit day when we return from Winter Break!
Weekly Recap
Language Arts
- Continuing to read Out of My Mind.
- Ask your child about Melody. How has her life changed? How are people starting to see her and treat her?
Math
- Word Problem Week!
- Explored strategies for tackling math word problems and how to break them down and solve the problem
- Practiced two step word problems, now with decimals!
- Any chance you have to ask your child to solve math problems in your daily life, please do so! They can perform all operations with decimal numbers and are challenged to regularly practice their estimation and mental math skills. “If I only have $20, how many gallons of gas can I put in the car if it is $3.49 a gallon?”
History
The students learned about the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark expedition. We read magazines about the expedition and worked in groups to answer questions regarding the time period and the movements of the explorers. We are so excited to begin the Oregon Trail next week and are really looking forward to that adventure!
Lego Robotics
Robots have been assigned and the groups are faced with the challenge of assembling a well built robot. Once robots are fully built, each group will begin working to gain table access. The course and practice will consist of multiple challenges ranging from driving in a straight line to raising and lowering the arm. Groups are also working on creating and designing their competition table, with each group being responsible for one challenge. Our theme for the year as voted on by the students – THE HIGHLANDS!
Sound bath provided by 8th grade students.
Bah Humbug…
Just kidding! We finished Percy Jackson this week and will begin reading A Christmas Carol next week. Ebenezer will be the only Scrooge allowed in 6th grade!
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Please mark your calendars for the “Middle School Winter Concert”, which will be held on Monday, December 16th at 6:00 on Main Campus. Students will need to report to the community room at 5:30. More details to come!
REMINDER!! We will have a rehearsal NEXT FRIDAY December 13th at Main Campus from 1-3pm. Students will be bussed over to Main Campus and will need picked up at Main Campus.
6th Grade Blurbs
English w/ Mrs. McFadden –
- Upcoming Tests/Quizzes- Greek Roots Quiz (they have notes in their binders. A formal study guide will be posted Monday on google classroom.
- Finished Percy Jackson and watched the movie
- Students finished their wanted posters for characters from the book or mythology. Some completed them by hand, while others used Canva. All of them are outstanding!
- Introduced life in Charles Dickens’ time with a game of Deal or No Deal
Math w/ Mrs. McFadden –
- Upcoming Tests/Quizzes- progress check Wed. Review sheets will come home Monday.
- Reviewed order of operations and translating words into algebraic expressions and expressions into words.
- Simplified expressions with exponents
Deep Dive w/ Mrs. McFadden & Mr. K –
- Upcoming Tests/Quizzes-Â
- Students in the middle have adventured through Greek mythology and conquered the trials and tribulations of mythic quests. They’ve been divided into houses of various gods and goddesses and are working on designing Percy Jackson-style living quarters. We’ve discussed what myths meant in the past and how they still affect us today. We will continue this adventure by transitioning into Norse myths and discussing how there are similarities and differences throughout various cultures.
Science w/ Mrs. Farris –
- Students created leaf models and demonstrated their understanding of inputs and outputs by accurately labeling arrows to show photosynthesis.Â
- After adjusting the grow tower’s pH levels, lighting, and nutrients, students are eagerly observing and tracking the plants’ growth and development.
- Next week, we will celebrate our hard work and learning by enjoying a fresh class-made salad!
Music w/Mrs. Chelsey –
- This week and next few classes are all about rehearsing and solidifying all the work we’ve done so far this year to be ready to perform!!Â
- Our music journal prompt this week was : what song motivates you or helps you when you need a boost?
Elective
- Adulting 101-Â
- Students learned about time management and maximizing free time
- Each student can now write a check
- Students tracked their stock market investments
Design with Mrs. Boldrick and Mr. Hill -After a Shark Tank style presentation to Mrs. Ochap regarding some campus improvement projects, we shifted gears into the elementary holiday show set/prop building. The students are hard at work building backdrops and prop pieces for the 5th grade holiday show.
What’s Your Elf Name?
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Thursday, December 12th 6:00 – Early Childhood Winter Family Night– Children should come dressed in festive attire they feel best wearing. Please drop them off in their classroom by 5:45. Families can then head to the gym and find a seat. The children will perform a special song and then enjoy a story read live by their teachers. The story, Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light, will then be brought to life in each of the early childhood classrooms. Families will be invited to enjoy refreshments and travel freely around campus while participating in a variety of heartwarming activities sure to bring joy this holiday season!
What a week we had in first grade! We got a special visit from an Elf. She gave our class silly elf names on “Elf Day” and a Grinch balloon experiment on “Grinch Day!” Each day, students got to record her adventures in our classroom in an Elf Journal. We look forward to what she will do next in the upcoming days until break.
Thursday, we got spend the afternoon at the Oglebay Stifle Center for our 29 Hours reward. We created monster pinch pots out of clay. Students got to add their own unique touches to their monster by adding eyes, tails, horns, teeth, and much more. Please allow the clay to harden for at least the weekend. Students can then use acrylic paint to paint their creation.
Please remember to send your children with hats and gloves for the winter months as we still venture outside during snack and recess times. Thank you and have a wonderful weekend!
Karen & Danielle
Chillin’ In 3rd Grade
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Extra, Extra, Read All About It! Holiday Show Info. from Mr. Hill – We are excited for our holiday show, and the students have been working hard at work to learn their songs! Please have your child wear the outfit described BELOW, the night of the performance on 12/18 at 6:00pm. Children should show up at 5:30 and proceed to classrooms.
-3RD GRADE- “Holly Jolly Christmas” – red or green sweater or sweatshirt and dark pants. Holiday hat is optional.
LANGUAGE ARTS:
- We read the story “Boom Town” as students developed their comprehension and vocabulary skills. Students participated in academic and fun, hands-on stations and activities.
- Grammar focused on different types of nouns and phonics time was spent reviewing all the ways to spell the Long i sound.
MATH:
- Students began their “Multiplication Ninja” challenge; Each week students will complete classwork and homework to focus on each of their times tables. Facts covered were 0, 1, 2.
STEAM LAB:
Students began a Simple Machines unit. Levers were the first type we experimented with and enjoyed a hands-on creation activity.
GOODS & SERVICES:
Students were introduced to the terms “producer” and “consumer.” Students learned about the difference between the two and what roles they play in goods and services.
**Please contact us BOTH if you have any questions or concerns this school year:Â
hwillliams@wcdsedu.com & pbuck@wcdsedu.com
Or Talking Points (send to both if you can)
Have a cozy weekend!
Hanna and Paula
PS Dashing into December!
Upcoming Dates & Announcements:
- Mark your calendars! Early Childhood Family Night: December 12th at 6:00 p.m. More information to come!
- Thursday, December 12th 6:00 – Early Childhood Winter Family Night
- Children should come dressed in festive attire. Please drop them off in their classroom by 5:45. Families can then head to the gym and find a seat. The children will perform a special song and then enjoy a story read live by their teachers. The story, Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light, will then be brought to life in each of the early childhood classrooms. Families will be invited to enjoy refreshments and travel freely around campus while participating in a variety of heartwarming activities sure to bring joy this holiday season!
- December 19th – ALL School Dismissal 11:30
- Winter Break – December 20th – January 1st
- Thursday, January 2nd – 10:00 a.m. Start
- Starting in the new year, our preschool class will begin having community snacks. This will be a fun way for the children to build independence, as they’ll help set the tables, prepare and distribute the snacks, and clean up afterward. We’re asking families to sign up to bring snacks for the class for one week. You will provide snacks for 20 students for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday morning snack times. Monday and Friday snacks, as well as afternoon snacks, will remain individual, as usual. Click to sign up for your family’s week. Thanks!
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Dear Preschool families,
We hope everyone had a relaxing Thanksgiving with family and friends. It’s hard to believe that we are in the month of December. The children will be busy with various festive provocations, not to mention all of us getting ready for our Winter Family Night. It will be an evening of magical wonder, joy and creating memories together.
It’s that time of year that we settle on our cozy carpet and begin reading holiday stories. We read the cutest story titled We Disagree about this Tree by Ross Collins. Bear and Mouse are friends, however they each have different ideas about the Christmas tree decorations. But in the end they found a way to compromise and celebrate in the spirit of the holidays. Friendship is very important and we will be diving into some friendship provocations very soon.
You could hear all the sounds of excitement coming from the classroom when the children decorated their class Christmas tree. Making sure every ornament, ribbon, and strand of tinsel had a unique and special spot on the tree. Here is a question for you- What can you make with 5 boxes, green paint, and a variety of loose parts…? A one of a kind tree! Stay tuned as the children will be creating a beautiful tree masterpiece for the classroom to enjoy during the winter months.
We enjoyed the shimmering illustrations of the story Chicka Chicka Ho Ho Ho. A fun story of the alphabet and shapes working together to decorate a Christmas tree. It’s self-portrait time, Christmas edition.What better way to practice our shapes with none other than a triangle to make a Christmas tree, the children learned that a triangle has 3 sides! We started working on them this week and they will be completed for our family night so you can see how cute they turned out.
We wrapped up the week with a fun story, How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? We had the best responses from the children. Enjoy!
Evelyn – “I think he has a slide to get down and a rope to get back up “
Atticus- “He uses a lawn mower and mows his way down!”Â
Sydney – “I know! Magic and the elves help him”Â
Isla – “He slides down the hill”
Avery- “The reindeer just pull him down and he just laughs and laughs”
Hunter- “I think Batman, Spiderman and the Joker help pull him down”Â
Lincoln – “I think he uses water to shoot down- or maybe a monster truck”Â
Lily – “He uses a slide”Â
Archie – “He just slides down the chimney”
Jackson – “He flys down!”
Brody – “He just goes through the front door!”Â
Ben – “He runs like Sonic the Hedgehog down the chimney- really fast!”Â
Clara- “He slides down, he gets small and then he gets big again, like a balloon!”
We also asked the question- What do you want Santa to bring you? They used color pencils to draw what they would like. We are putting the finishing touches on our Dear Santa Letter next week. Here were there Christmas wishes:
Jackson – “Gems”
Romeo -“I want Santa to bring me a Triceratops”
Avery -“I want a lot of people and doctor kits, and do you think he can make paper and pencils for me?”
Lennon -“I want Santa to bring me a big Barbie Dreamhouse”
Levi – “I want Santa to bring me a mail truck, I just don’t know how to draw it for him.”
Lincoln -“I know, I want Santa to bring me an Ice cream shop, a popcorn shop and a monster truck.”
Khy -“A Spiderman”
Lily – “I want a baby Jesus with a hat for Christmas.”
Audrey – “I want Santa to bring me a green basket for a picnic.”
Sydney – “I want a big giant robot to play with for Christmas and a play gun!”
Isla – “I want Santa to bring me a dinosaur.”
Ben – “I just want Santa to bring me a square toy.”
Atticus – ” I want Santa to bring me a cloud from the sky.”
Brody – ” I want a red monster truck.”
Clara -“I want me as a toy!”
Hunter -” I want him to bring me a Spiderman.”
Evelyn – “I want him to bring me a doctor kit.”
Roman -“I want Santa to bring me a dinosaur, real or toy.”
Emma – “I want hi to bring me toys.”
Archie -” I want Santa to bring me ABC’s!”
PS Have a warm and cozy weekend,
Miss Airry, Miss Meredith and Miss Arden
Please Touch Christmas Tree and Cardboard Tree Collaborative Art:
December Self-Portraits:
Daily Discovery & Explorations
Zee Zoop: The Greatest Drumming Band Ever
Important Information and Upcoming Events:
Wednesday, December 11th: Please dress your child in red. We will be recording a music video of the kids performing in their drum band.
Thursday, December 12th 6:00 – Early Childhood Winter Family Night
Children should come dressed in festive attire they feel best wearing. Please drop them off in their classroom by 5:45. Families can then head to the gym and find a seat. The children will perform a special song and then enjoy a story read live by their teachers. The story, Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light, will then be brought to life in each of the early childhood classrooms. Families will be invited to enjoy refreshments and travel freely around campus while participating in a variety of heartwarming activities sure to bring joy this holiday season!
CLICK HERE FOR UPCOMING WCDS EVENTS
Hello JK families,
The Christmas tree is up, holiday music is filling the air, and the children are abuzz with preparations for our early childhood winter family night next week. We read the story that will inspire the evening, Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light by Apryl Stott. In the story, a big brown bear is misunderstood by the other forest animals. His human friend, Coco, suggests he win their affection by gifting them with cookies and lanterns. They soon find out the gifts aren’t what matter to the animals, but in fact Bear’s love and kindness. At the conclusion of the story, we find out that Bear loves to dance and they have a forest dance party! We have decided to transform areas of our classroom into an interactive forest dance party next Thursday night. The children set to work creating a variety of elements needed for the night. They painted unconventional things like umbrellas and curtains using spray bottles and paint. Our movement obsessed kiddos loved testing out how the suspended fabric and propped up umbrellas would handle the paint. They also created their own clear wall sconce using plastic bowls and Sharpies, and made beautiful ornaments stuffed with pom pom balls and lights. We also transformed the big wooden tree house by covering it with sticky contact paper and letting the children cover it with paper, pine, ribbon, and more! We won’t reveal how all these things will come together for our family night as to not ruin the surprise, but trust us, it’s going to be magical!
Before we left for Thanksgiving Break, the class had begun exploring sound in addition to movement. Inspired by their love of drumming on buckets and the story Say Zoop, by Herve Tulle, we decided to have the children perform several of the stories pages in their very own drum band. Picture this, 23 four-year olds behind buckets, following a beat in unison! What FABULOUS sight and… sound! Nearly every morning the children have been practicing together. We decided to ask them what we should name their band. Here are a few ideas:
“Soph, The Best Drumming Band Ever”- Sophia
“The Music Band” -Lola
“Zee Zoop” – Noah
“The Bungalls or Zee Zoop” – Wendell
“The Drum Band” – Lucas
“Bu, Monkey” -Scarlett
“Zoop” -Emma
“Wild Animals” -Forrest
“Drum Band”- Bodhi
“Among Us”- Rory
We decided to call the group, Zee Zoop – The Greatest Drumming Band Ever! We had to figure out a way for families to see the class preform, so we decided to film a music video! When we asked the children what they should wear for the performance, red was the universal color choice. So, with our band name chosen, and our outfits picked, we plan to film a quick video of the children performing next Wednesday. Please send your child in red. The music video premiere will take place on Thursday at the EC winter family night. We can’t wait for you to see them rock!
We wish you a wonderful weekend,
Miss Liz and Miss Claire
Making Glowing Wall Sconces
Transforming the Treehouse
Painting Curtains (to make our forest sky)
Painting Umbrellas (to make tree tops)
Making Pom-Pom Ornaments
Finishing Our Bead Roller Coasters
Decorating our Class Christmas Tree
The Crown Hath Returned
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If you see Mr. Rouse making a beeline for home plate, get out of the way- and certainly don’t throw the ball at Mr. Rouse, ask Liam. Yes, the usurpers have been displaced, Faculty are back to being the Kickball Champs! All jokes aside, we’re happy to have the kids back. It’s cold! We are nearing the conclusion of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, so just putting it here, we will likely watch the PG-13 movie. Let me know if you have any issue with your child watching the movie.
English w/ Mr. Rouse –
- Continued our work with our daily warm-ups and spent a bit of time with dangling modifiers.
- We are in the process of wrapping up the book, the final project is still being decided.
- We started a creative writing assignment with the theme of 12 days of Christmas writing.
- Continued our vocabulary work.
- If we get our book and assignment properly wrapped up, I might show the movie: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.
Deep Dive w/ Mrs. McFadden and Mr. K –
- Upcoming Tests/Quizzes – No Tests or Quiz Scheduled
- Students in the middle have adventured through Greek mythology and conquered the trials and tribulations of mythic quests. They’ve been divided into houses of various gods and goddesses and are working on designing Percy Jackson-style living quarters. We’ve discussed what myths meant in the past and how they still affect us today. We will continue this adventure by transitioning into Norse myths and discussing how there are similarities and differences throughout various cultures.
Math w/ Mrs. Boldrick –
- Upcoming Tests/Quizzes – none scheduled
- Students continued relearning and reviewing the skills they needed the most help with on laws of exponents. The students have been working on making test corrections with an emphasis on finding their mistakes and understanding what went wrong. Also, an emphasis is placed on showing their work in a neat and orderly fashion.Â
- Practice continued on working with the order of operations with equations using fractions. Fractions are a very important skill to master. This isn’t the last time they’ll see fractions!
- We moved on to a new skill – perfect squares, square roots, and radicals. Next week, students will learn how to simplify radicals.
- Algebra 1/Geometry – The students have joined the others in the class for a review on square roots and radicals. They will use this review as we move on to the Pythagorean Theorem.
Social Studies w/ Mr. Jividen –
- Upcoming Tests/Quizzes –Â No Tests or Quizzes Scheduled
- Students continued to study ancient civilizations
- We read about The Twelve Tables of Roman Society
- Students wrote about the similarities and differences between The Code of Hamarabi and the Twelve Tables
Science w/ Mrs. Farris –
- Upcoming Tests/Quizzes –Â
- The 8th graders completed a circulatory exam, marking the conclusion of the cardiovascular unit.
- Their study skills have noticeably improved, with many students using Google Classroom resources to practice heart anatomy and functions.
- The students showcased exceptional effort, using their knowledge and preparation to achieve success on the exam!
Music w/ Mrs. Chelsey –
- This week and next few classes are all about rehearsing and solidifying all the work we’ve done so far this year to be ready to perform!!Â
- Our music journal prompt this week was : what song motivates you or helps you when you need a boost?
Elective
- Adulting 101 w/ Mr. Jividen and Mrs. Ochap-Â
- Students learned about time management and maximizing free time
- Each student can now write a check
- Students tracked their stock market investments
Design w/ Mrs. Boldrick and Mr. Hill- After a Shark Tank style presentation to Mrs. Ochap regarding some campus improvement projects, we shifted gears into the elementary holiday show set/prop building. The students are hard at work building backdrops and prop pieces for the 5th grade holiday show.
Paris, Alliteration, Eggs, Oh My!
Important Dates
- Wednesday, December 18 – Elementary (2nd – 5th) Holiday Show, 6:00 pm
- Thursday, December 19, 11:30 am Dismissal for Holiday Winter Break, NO AFTERCARE
- December 20 – January 1 – Holiday Winter Break, No School
- Thursday, January 2, 2025 – 10:00 am, Classes Resume, 7:30 – 9:00 am Before Care, Regular drop off from 9:00 – 10:00 am.
CLICK HERE FOR UPCOMING WCDS EVENTS
Thank you to everyone who volunteered to help with our Thanksgiving lunch last week. It is one of the many days where you can feel the magic of WCDS mixed with the warmness of tradition. During November the students learned and practiced gratitude through their journals as well as writing an email to a teacher who they were grateful for. While we walked with your students through a month of gratitude, we often thought of you, our families, who make the magic here at WCDS possible. Without your unwavering support, partnerships, and commitment to our values, we would not be able to do the day-to-day things (or the unusual) that make this place so special. So thank you for sharing your children with us daily and entrusting us with their care. We feel so honored to be a part of their journey!
Grace and Stella
In ELA:
- Students have started their unit on homophones starting with your vs. you’re, to, too, and two. Their homework will be practicing these skills to check for their independence.
- Our new novel study, “The Family Under the Bridge” has captured the attention of this 4th grade class! This book takes place in Paris, France, around Christmas time and touches on many of our ELA skills, such as figurative language, comprehension, and inferencing, but is also as impactful in SEL as the students learn about homelessness and how to help others.Â
- Students have been working hard to learn how to research using both their computers and printed articles. This is preparing them for their next writing assignment, an informative essay.
In Math:
- The students started working on learning the process of 2-digit times 2-digit multiplication.
- Special multiplication mats are being used, which have color coding and “maps” to guide the students through each step.
- The students who know their multiplication facts with quick recall and fluency catch on to this new process faster. Please encourage your child to practice multiplication facts for at least ten minutes daily.
- We are proud of the perseverance and hard work the students are putting into learning this new and important skill.
In U.S. History:
- Students have begun researching their important historical figures for our “ dinner party! During this dinner party, students will embody their historical figures while sharing what they have learned about them.
- More information about this dinner party will be sent out as the date gets closer.
In Embryology:
- Students explored the five steps of the scientific method and practiced by forming hypotheses, setting the stage for hands-on experimentation.
- Our first experiment concluded eggs are porous!
- To apply their skills, students investigated whether an egg could bounce after soaking in vinegar. Observations showed the eggshell dissolved, leaving a flexible membrane. While the eggs bounced, they weren’t indestructible—one group’s record-breaking 7-inch bounce ended in a messy but memorable break!
Important Reminders
- Please have your child show you how they access their email and Google Classroom. We are moving towards independence with this skill. Also, part of their responsibility is arriving each morning with a charged computer. Thank you for your help with this.
- Please continue to remind your child to clean out their yellow folders 2-3 times a week.
- Late homework and assignments will now impact your student’s grades. A note on their agenda and/or a pink slip attached to the specific assignment will be used to communicate this with you.
- With cold weather upon us, we are seeing hats, mittens, gloves, and layers of clothing. Thanks for keeping your child bundled up and warm! To help your child (and us) keep track of their belongings, please clearly label everything with their name.
- A note about the Holiday Show:
- We are excited about our holiday show, and the students have been working hard at work to learn their songs! Please have your child wear these outfits the night of the performance on 12/18 at 6:00 pm. Children should show up at 5:30 and proceed to classrooms.
- -2nd grade- Jingle Bell Rock- holiday pajamas, and a hat is optional.
-3rd grade- Holly Jolly Christmas- red or green sweater or sweatshirt and dark pants. Holiday hat is optional.
-4th grade- All the Ghosts Are Coming- white sweater or sweatshirt, dark pants and a Santa hat.
- More information to follow as the performance gets close
Research, research, research!
New Novel Study!
Double the Fun in Math!
