Welcome Back!

Welcome back!  It has been wonderful getting to know everyone this week!  We have been enjoying our colorful classroom and all of the other new features of our school!

On Monday, we started the day with a special PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) celebration.  We played team-building games with Mr. Sherwin and the fifth graders outside.  Next, we went on a “passport” scavenger hunt around the school to help us get to know where to find places in our building.  Then, we wrapped up the special event with a tour of the outside of the building with Ms. Lyford.

 

In our classroom, students had the opportunity to write about their Hopes and Dreams for the year.  Next, we discussed expectations for classroom behavior that will help us to create a positive classroom community in which we can learn and reach our all of our hopes and dreams.  These expectations will be posted on our classroom PBIS tree.

It was so much fun to watch students completing their All About Me books this week.  We have been sharing these books with partners.  We also went on a class scavenger hunt to find out more about our classmates.

I will continue to send home paper copies of my classroom newsletter/blog for the first few weeks of school until I receive everyone’s paperwork letting me know if you would prefer a paper copy or to read the information on my classroom blog.  I will also attach our sharing and specials schedules to this newsletter.

The classroom blog is found on the EMES website under classrooms.  You can click on the "Follow by Email" box on the blog.  Then, you can add your email address so you will receive an email whenever new posts are added.   

I am looking forward to an exciting school year with this fantastic class!

Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

What a Week!

What a fun and busy week!!!

On Tuesday, we were visited by Ms. Dunkling, Mr. Christensen, and Mrs. Lyford who told us about schools in East Montpelier. Ms. Dunkling and Mr. Christensen talked about their experiences going to the two room school houses around town for different grades. They also told us what it was like to go to school at EMES when it first opened in 1966. Mrs. Lyford gave us lots of information about the future of our school and what to expect when we return to the newly renovated school in August. Very exciting!

Technology Night was a wonderful success! Congratulations to all of our presenters who did a fantastic job telling about our Lego Robotics projects.

On Thursday, we participated in a World Cup soccer presentation in the gym. Thanks to Mr. George Cook for visiting us!

We participated in the East Montpelier Scavenger Hunt field trip on Friday morning. A big thank you to all of the family members who volunteered to help us for this special event! Please ask your child to show you his or her passport book and tell you what they learned today about East Montpelier.

Reminders and Upcoming Events:

Please return all library books as soon as possible. Also, please send in any lunch money before Thursday.

Monday, June 16th- Field Day (raindate Tuesday, June 17th)- All Day!

Please remind your child to wear his or her team color and appropriate footwear for running and outdoor activities. (No flip-flops, please). Students should bring a water bottle with their name on it. Also, students should wear/bring sunscreen, as we will be outside for the full day.


Thursday, June 19th- Last Day of School  Dismissal is at 12:30 after lunch.

Report cards will be mailed home after the last day of school.

Thank you to all families for being so supportive!  I have greatly enjoyed teaching your children this year!!!  I hope you all have a great summer!

 

Classroom News

The second and third graders did an amazing job at the concert on Thursday night!   It was so fun to see them up on stage performing.  They should be very proud of this accomplishment!

This week, the students in each class on our 2/3 team had the opportunity to share their learning with the other classes.  Our class focused on learning about schoolhouses in the past and present in East Montpelier.  Students choose a one or two room schoolhouse to research and then created a poster with facts about their schoolhouse, as well as other general facts about schools in the past.  Later, in our own classroom, we participated in a "build a space" movement lesson during which students created a one room schoolhouse of their own using their bodies to make the shapes of the objects and furniture that would be found inside.

On Thursday afternoon, we were visited by John Hall and his granddaughter, Clara, from Fairmont Farm.  They shared about the history of their farm and about dairy farming in Vermont.  We also learned about some of the new technology that has been developed to make farming more efficient and better for the environment.

Some important dates to remember:

Wednesday, June 11^th is the EMES Technology Night:  6:00- 7:30 pm

Second and third graders have been invited to present their Lego Robots at the EMES Technology Night.  They can come for all or just part of this event to share about their learning.

East Montpelier Scavenger Hunt Field Trip-  Friday, June 13^th

Thank you to everyone for returning this permission slip.  If you are a driver or other chaperone, please remember that there will be an informational meeting prior to the trip at 8:45 am.

Field Day- Monday, June 16^th (raindate- Tuesday, June 17^th)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Classroom News and Upcoming Events

What a busy time of year!  Here are some important reminders and dates for the end of the school year.

Please bring recorders to school on Wednesdays and also on Thursday, June 5^th for rehearsal.

If you would like your child to have a summer book bag from the library, please fill out and return the form that is in this Friday Folder.

Each child gets a free copy of the yearbook.  If you would like to order additional copies or send your child a message, please see the yearbook form in this Friday Folder.

Important Dates:

School Spirit Week:  June 2^nd-6^th    

            Monday, June 2^nd  - Class Color Day (Our color is pink.)

Tuesday, June 3^rd  Glitter and Camo Day

Wednesday, June 4^th  Wacky Hat and Hair Day

Thursday, June 5^th  Beach Day (All clothing must be appropriate for school.)

Friday, June 6^th  Comfy Cozy Day

Spring Concert- Thursday, June 5^th

Please read the updated info sheet from Mrs. Dunkling.  Please note the corrected times.  We will gather outside our classroom at 5:50 pm.  The concert begins at 6 pm and we are the first to perform, so it is important for students to arrive on time.  Students should wear a white shirt and dark bottom (skirt or pants) for this special event.

Wednesday, June 11^th is the EMES Technology Night- More information to come next week.

East Montpelier Scavenger Hunt Field Trip-  Friday, June 13^th

Please read the permission form for more information about this trip.  Please complete the form and return it on Monday if possible and by Friday, June 6^th at the latest.

Field Day- Monday, June 16^th (raindate- Tuesday, June 17^th)

Important Dates to Remember

Important dates to remember:

Please remind your child to bring his or her recorder and book in on Wednesdays for music class.  Thanks to everyone who remembered this week. 
 

Wednesday, May 28^th - We will be leaving promptly at 9:05 for our field trip to the Barre Opera House for a performance about the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Please help your child arrive on time to school on Wednesday.

Friday, May 30th- Four Winds field trip to the Liebermann’s frog pond from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. We will return in time for the buses.

Friday, June 13^th   field trip
Field trip permission slips will come home next week.  Thank you to all parents who signed up to drive on this field trip.  If you are interested in helping out by riding with a Level 2 driver or being a "tour guide" at one of the sites, please let me know. 

 

Classroom News

We started the week with an exciting visit from several U-32 students, including Cara’s sister, Lilly. They filmed our morning meeting and P.E. classes and interviewed a few students to learn more about the PBIS program.

We have been working on our schoolhouse research as part of our East Montpelier history and geography unit. This week, we also had a chance to start reading some biographies as part of our new literacy unit.

The second grade math classes have been working together again this week to practice our basic addition and subtraction facts. We are also working on using a variety of strategies to solve addition and subtraction number stories with multi-digit numbers.

Mrs. Fitch’s third grade math class has been working in our classroom this week since the library is in the process of moving. Starting next week, they will be in Mrs. Christy and Mrs. Fitch’s new classroom space.

Students have been doing an amazing job being flexible with all of the exciting changes going on in our school. It is fun to study about the schoolhouses of the past and present while looking forward to the future of our own building!

Classroom News

This week, we have lots of reminders, information, and upcoming events!

Please remind your child to bring his or her recorder on Wednesdays for music class.  This week, only about one-third of our class brought their instruments, which makes it very challenging for them to practice for the upcoming concert on June 5th.  It would be wonderful for us to participate in this special event, but we need to practice during class times in order to be prepared.  Thanks!

A permission slip is coming home today for an upcoming performance about the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder at the Barre Opera House on Wednesday, May 28th.  Please sign and return the form as soon as possible.

Our East Montpelier Scavenger Hunt field trip is scheduled for Friday, June 13th.  Thank you to all of the parents who signed up to drive on this field trip.  If you are not a level 2 volunteer, but would like to participate, we are looking for several parents to be "tour guides" at some of the sites around town or to accompany level 2 drivers who have larger groups.   Please let me know if you are interested.

You will notice that the student placement forms for next year are in today's Friday Folder.  Please complete and return this form by the due date.  Our team appreciates parent input as we make placement decisions for next year.  You will notice that there have been some changes to our team for next year.

I will be teaching 2nd grade next year as part of the K/1/2 team.  Christine Christiano will be teaching a single grade 3rd grade class.  Kathy Christy and Jennifer Fitch will be teaching the multi-age 3rd/4th grade class.  Dave Willard will teach a single grade 4th grade class.

Kathy Christy and Jennifer Fitch will be teaching the multi-age 3/4 next year.  They will continue a model similar to this year.  Mrs. Christy will be in the classroom in the morning and Mrs. Fitch will be in the classroom in the afternoon.  When they are not in the classroom, they will have other responsibilities.  Mrs. Christy will be leading professional development and Mrs. Fitch will be working as the Reading Specialist.  

We kicked off our East Montpelier:  Past, Present, and Future unit with a visit from Michael Duane (Ms. Knoedler's husband).  Mr. Duane is a member of the East Montpelier Historical Society.  He shared an amazing amount of important information about the geography and history of East Montpelier.  Throughout this unit, we will have several other guest speakers visit the second and third grade classes.