Today we looked at world atlases and did a green worksheet. The worksheet focused on North America but also had world questions such as "whats the largest waterfall" or "whats the highest mountain in North America.

October = Walking Wednesdays

Please join us for Walking Wednesdays!

October 2017

October has arrived, and you know what that means...Walking Wednesdays!  This year we thought we’d continue an opportunity for more students to participate in this wellness activity.  

Beginning October 4th, all K-8 SCS students and families are invited to meet at the “parade” green on the corner of Church Street and Route 7 (Farmer’s Market location).  We will meet up with buses D, G and H at about  7:45-7:50.  Any students who want to get off the bus and walk to school are encouraged to do so.  There will be cones set up on the right (north) side of Church St. with the Shelburne Police there to assist.  Teachers, staff, and community members will supervise students as they cross Route 7, walk down the sidewalk by the library and coffee shop, and head west on Harbor Road.

• October 11th, Bus D,    Driver~Diane
• October 18th, Bus G,    Driver~Damian
• October 25th, Bus H,    Driver~Lucy

Although, we would love to have everyone participate, this is an optional activity.  Any students remaining on the bus will continue on to the school.

A visit from Vermont Author Natalie Kinsey-Warnock

Hello Families!

We had an exciting morning here in 5th grade because we got to meet Natalie Kinsey Warnock!!  She is a Vermont author and she has many great stories to tell.  We enjoyed learning about her life, hearing some of her stories, and LEARNING from her about how to write and where to get inspiration!

One of her primary messages is that we ALL have great stories right in our families!  She very much encourages students to go out and find great stories right in their own families or family histories!!  

So.... I have asked all students to come home tonight and gather a family story.  They can record it with a voice or video recorder, write it on paper, etc.  This assignment is more for them than it is for me, so please support them in this.  If they have a digital version or addition of/to their story, it can be emailed to their email address (or mine).  

I did share questions that they might ask as a way to prompt for specifics (for example, How did you celebrate holidays when you were growing up?  or What was school like for you?), but they can gather any story that wants to be told.  

I hope that you all enjoy going on this journey with your child!  

Cara :)

Hello Families, 

We've had so much fun over the last week with our field trip to Shelburne Farms and our special visit from Vermont author Natalie Kinsey-Warnock!

The students have also been diving deeper into the curriculum starting a narrative writing piece,  literature circles (using Natalie Kinsey Warnock books), and cooking with their Solar Ovens in science!  We also started word study this week!

Make sure to check out SeeSaw this weekend for posts from both me and your kids about some of their work.  

Also, please remember to sign off on the reading on your child's goal sheet before it comes in tomorrow (they're due Friday this year)
.  It seems as though many people forgot last week.  

And finally, don't forget to sign up for a conference if you haven' t yet. 

Thanks!  Enjoy the weekend. 

Cara

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Day 2= rearrange the classroom!

Today students took on the design challenge of rearranging our furniture. It was an exciting task and I love what the students came up with!

A wonderful first day!

Hello Families!

The 5th graders had a fantastic day today!!  We enjoyed seeing each other and "catchin up", we enjoyed spending a full day in our brand new, and beautiful space, we enjoyed writing on the tables and sharing our thoughts about how we can have a successful year, and we got to do a bit of art and share about a summer experience.  It was fun to be together again. 

With so many new things going on, there is a lot to discuss with the students. I recommended to them, and will to you, that you take 20 minutes to look at the new handbook that was sent out (via email I believe).  There is alot of important information to be found inside including arrival and dismissal procedures, bullying and harrassment protocol, detailed information about the change in the traffic pattern, dress code, etc.  It really is a valuable use of your time.  

Finally, students will be attending an informational meeting regarding band tomorrow and will have to decide if they'd like to join by next Tuesday!! Please have this conversation together as a family in the next few days.  They'll come home with details tomorrow. Band will occur 3 days/ week at 10:20.

Hope you had a chance to talk about the day with your child!! Looking forward to another great day tomorrow.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Cara

Count Down to 5th Grade!!

Hello Families!!

I hope you all have enjoyed an adventurous, yet also relaxing summer.  I know it went by SO quickly!! I was lucky enough to do some fun traveling with my family, but also spent a lot of time moving into our new classroom.  The new space is beautiful and I can't wait for you all to return!  I wanted to write to let you know about a few things before the year begins.

• Our new classroom will be next to Winton in what is called the E wing.  Basically its the new space at the top of the ramp.  Students and families will get a chance to see it before school starts at our Welcome Back visit on Monday at 4 pm.  
• Given our new space, we will get to spend a lot more time as a 5th grade team than last year!  We will take the opportunity to intermingle with the other 3 classes as much as possible.  We'll especially do this at the beginning of the year as we're getting reacquainted and establishing routines, expectations, and procedures.  
• Another change that we have planned for this year is that Vasanthi and I will be specializing in content areas.  I will focus on Literacy and Social Studies, and she will teach Math and Science.  This means I will be teaching all of her students and mine, and that all my students will go to her for Math and Science instruction daily.  This is new for us, so please be patient with us as we roll it out, but also ask questions as they arise.  The change will not be immediate, but we do plan to get to content earlier this year as this is one of the (many) benefits to looping.
• I will keep you informed through regular emails at the beginning of the year, and I plan to continue to use SeeSaw this year.  Please look for posts from your child each weekend.  I can certainly send along parent access instructions again if needed.  
• We have new administration this year as I'm sure you know.  I hope that you get a chance to meet both Alison and Scott sometime early in the school year!
• Additionally (so many big changes!!), there is a new procedure for pickup/drop-off.  The busses will now drop-off and pick up in the circle, and parents must go to School St. and drop students off along the sidewalk beside the school.  There will be signs, clear pavement markings, and we will even have police support early in the year as we all adjust to the change.  Please honor all the requirements as they were put in place for the safety of the students.  

Again, I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone again and being together.  I have enjoyed getting to see some of the students around town and at bookclub this summer, but have missed everyone regardless and can't wait to get together again!! 5 more days....

Let me know if you have any questions.  

Cara :)

Here is a link to our Summer letter if you need it.