The Wallace Wildcat
Hoboken, NJ- January 21, 2022
Dear Wallace School Parents and Guardians,
Kindergarten
Brr! It has certainly been cold out there, but in the classroom our Kindergarteners have been hard at work learning and having fun this week while keeping warm!
In ELA the kids explored and answered the essential question: “What do living things need to grow?” The kids learned about the letter Hh through various activities, such as singing letter Hh songs, learning dances, as well as, reading and writing words that begin with the letter Hh. They also focused on the sight word “my” recognizing it while reading and utilized it in their writing.
In Math, our little mathematicians finished up learning different ways to make numbers by playing the Pearson game Toss the Chips. They also began learning about 3D shapes and participated in a 3D Shape Hunt where they went around the room looking for 3D shapes, such as spheres, cylinders, rectangular prisms, cubes, pyramids, and triangular prisms.
Lastly, in Science the kids had fun continuing their study of the sun! This week they focused on solar power, shade structures, and thermometers. Let’s hope the sun warms things up out there soon!
First Grade
Math - Unit 4 is all about length. We love measuring and comparing lengths. We used objects in our classroom and around our house to compare things that are shorter and longer. We also began measuring fish using cubes.
Social Studies - this week we focused on the upcoming Chinese New Year. We learned that this year is the year of the tiger and we also learned about what year it was when we were born. We studied some of the traditions of the Chinese New Year and the symbolic meaning behind them.
Second Grade
We are currently finishing up Unit 2 in Math. This unit was especially engaging for the students- they enjoyed playing math games and participating in hands-on activities throughout the unit. Most recently, the students played a game with Arrays. They have also been regularly practicing Fact Fluency and their hard work is really paying off!
Additionally, the students have used Scholastic News articles as a springboard for continued discussions about history, social issues, and current events. They found reading about The History of Ice Skating especially interesting!
On Friday, the the second graders participated in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Congratulations to our first round winners! It was a great week and we look forward to all the great things we will continue to learn about in 2022!
Third Grade
This week in third grade students continued their civil rights unit focusing on our novel "Who Was Coretta Scott King?" and extension literature such as "Rosa" by Nikki Giovanni. Students practiced the skill of comparing and contrasting and really focused on analyzing illustrations by completing a "picture walk". We also discussed the 1960s sit-ins and peaceful protests in connection to segregation in the south. In Math, our mathematicians are reviewing and practicing addition, subtraction, and rounding by participating in interactive games on Pearson. In Social Studies we have been learning about our local and national government and learned about the three branches of government. The class even watched a board meeting and were able to see how the community and its leaders can come together to discuss changes and concerns.
The students engaged in a fun life cycle activity attempting to grow an avocado. Unfortunately, for Mrs. Kutchma's class and Mrs. Inhulsen's class, the first attempt didn't turn out too well, so like good scientists, they tried again. The avocados we used today were larger and the seeds inside were more robust. Even though we were disappointed with the results of the first attempt, this second attempt gave us hope that a plant will actually sprout from the seed. Mr. Peterson's class's avocado seed is holding its own, so fingers crossed, it will germinate in a few weeks. The bonus of today's Avocado Plant Part 2 activity was giving the students a little taste of avocado; some for the very first time. As we found out -- avocados are an acquired taste. Stay tuned for more updates. Hopefully, the seeds will germinate in about 4 to 8 weeks. If all goes well, we'll have trees that produce fruit in the next 4 to 5 years!
Fourth Grade
ELA
Our 4th grade readers began their new novel,”Who is Sonia Sotomayor?”This novel follows Sonia Sotomayor’s entire life instead of just a small part like many other novels. For this reason, there are many settings present in the first 3 sections of the book. This week the class focused on setting and how the setting in the first chapter affected Sonia’s life.Math
Our 4th grade mathematicians wrapped up Unit 3 this week : Multiplication and Division. Students reviewed all skills previously taught and will be assessed at the end of the week.
Fifth Grade
In Mathematics, our 5th Grade Mathematicians are fluently solving multi-digit division and multiplication problems by using multiple strategies, one being the standard algorithm, to correctly find whole-number quotients and products. Our scholars advocated for a day to share a writing they felt most proud of from this school year. Thus, the Writers Extravaganza came to life today! Whether it was orally reading with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression, or being a good listener, our scholars all shone today! Spectacular reading!
In Language Arts, students are evaluating an author's point, a supporting reason, and evidence by closely reading, annotating, and discussing informational texts. They are also analyzing part 3 of Outcasts United, with an emphasis on explaining how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, while identifying which reasons and evidence support which point(s).
In Social Studies, the 5th Grade historians are explaining the many key abolitionists' contributions before and during the Civil War by engaging in a read, listen, and learn activity to complete a notes page in the digital Social Studies notebook.
The 5th graders have also been working extremely hard for the classroom spelling bee.
Wallace's Music Department
Ms. McGeehin's Art on a Cart
Individualized Learning Pathway - Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
On Mondays - Wednesdays during the Individualized Learning Pathway (ILP) period, students who have qualified to participate in the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) programming engage in a wide array of math course offerings that address their specific strengths and interests. Johns Hopkins CTY believes in researching and advancing ways to identify and nurture academically talented learners. CTY furthers research, guides educators and families and inspires students from diverse communities and backgrounds to pursue their intellectual passions and create the world of tomorrow. This week, we would like to highlight one of the CTY courses offered to our Hoboken students this winter:
Scratch Programming for Elementary Students
Data Privacy Week
Please click here for lunch options:
Please be sure to enjoy a well-deserved weekend. We’ll be sure to pick right back up on Monday where we left off today – as a vibrant, diverse learning community where awesome things happen every day. Until next time… Martin Shannon, Principal
Martin Shannon, Principal
Email: Martin.Shannon@Hoboken.k12.nj.us
Website: Hoboken.k12.nj.us
Location: 1100 Willow Avenue, Hoboken, NJ, USA
Phone: 201-356-3654
Twitter: @WildcatsWallace
Daily Covid Form
Prior to arriving at school each day, please complete the COVID-19 Questionnaire on Genesis for each student. At times it can be challenging to do so while at Wallace as there are many families using devices at the same time. For more information about access to this questionnaire, please review the Genesis webinar: http://drive.google.com/file/d/12IkwL7EICI0JNmjExsdgNffMNR-O8O50/view
If you do not yet have access to Genesis, please complete the Genesis Parent Portal Request Access Form: http://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeAUvfz30kaSZE4N3pTHB-BDz28ixSuJwjlhKSeM3SyCumDJQ/viewform?usp=sf_link