Gator Gazette
Central Park Elementary March 2023
From the Principal
Dear Parents,
We have just completed our All Bentonville Reads and the experience was awesome! We hope you enjoyed reading Almost Super to your children at home. Once again, we would like to thank our librarian Deena Hedstrom and our wonderful teachers who have helped make this event a blast for our children. We have had many positive comments from parents, students, and community members. We look forward to continuing the tradition next school year. If you are interested, and we hope you are, in continuing to read aloud to your children at home and need help with suggested books, please let one of us know. We would be happy to make some suggestions for your family.
Warmest regards,
Karrie Bradshaw, Principal
Allison Smith, Assistant Principal
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Reminders
- Important Dates
March 14th: Registration Closes for Lucky Gator Run
March 15th: PTO Meeting
March 17th: Wear Green!
March 17th: Duck Donuts Fundraiser
March 31st: Lucky Gator Run
Activity Classes
Be watching for more information to be coming your way about our Spring Book Fair!! It will begin April 3! There will be two late nights at the book fair during Spring Parent Teacher Conferences. Can’t wait to see everyone there!
Happy Spring Everyone!! Take a book outside and enjoy some fresh air while you read.
Mrs. Hedstrom and Mrs. Jackson
Music:
March has finally begun and spring is right around the corner! I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to warmer weather again! This month students will be working on a variety of things in my classroom. They will strive to improve their sight-reading ability while singing, performing with instruments, using body percussion, and reading notes in the Treble Clef Staff. They will also continue to sing, learn musical games/folk dances, and begin their study of instrument families.
In addition, 4th grade students are in the midst of preparing for their Jungle Book performance and will continue to perfect their moves and lyrics to their many songs. Kindergarten students are also busy rehearsing for their up-coming, end-of-the-year celebration. They will continue to focus on lyrics and improving their movements which correspond to each song. Be prepared to be impressed with their rendition of BUGZ!
The students of CPE cannot wait to perform for you. Please be sure to mark the dates below so you don't miss out on the fun!
Dates to Remember:
Thursday, May 11 - 6 p.m. in the CPE Cafeteria: 4th Grade Performs The Jungle Book for family and friends
Friday, May 12 - 8 a.m. in the CPE Cafeteria: 4th Grade Performs The Jungle Book for faculty and students
Thursday, May 18 - 9 a.m. at Bentonville West: Kindergarten Performs Bugz! for family and friends
Have a magnificent March!
Mrs. Ginger
PE:
Happy Spring! We will practice basic tennis skills with all grade levels in the month of March. Our learning focus will be to have ball control while using the racquet. After spring break we will be focusing on Cardio Fitness activities. We will begin our Running/Walking Club time during Gator Clubs for all grade levels in April. We encourage all students and parents to register for the Gold Rush Race. The Bentonville Education Foundation holds this race annually as a fundraiser for the Bentonville School District. Please be on the lookout for a flyer to come home with your student. Register at: https://app.regwiz.io/register/goldrush/968 by April 1st to get a school shirt.
Art:
During the month of March students will be learning about several internationally recognized artists whose work will provide inspiration for student’s own art projects!
Some of the featured artists we will be learning about include Jeff Koons whose Hanging Heart sculpture is part of the permanent collection of Crystal Bridges right here in Bentonville! The artist Jim Dine is another world renown artist we will discuss and we will view his works of art based on the simple iconic heart. Another artist we will be learning about is Romero Britto whose artwork is so bold and colorful. Finally we will be looking at and discussing the paintings of artist Wayne Thiebaud who is known for his colorful paintings of pastries and ice cream desserts and students will be creating their own sweet treat drawings.
We will be contrasting the differences and similarities between these artists as we create works of art that incorporate some of the basic styles of art into our art projects. My hope is that our students broaden their knowledge of famous artists and gain a deeper appreciation for their art styles as they continue to develop their own unique style.
Global Connections:
Bojour from Europe!
Last month we traveled Europe and learned all about some famous landmarks, including the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the famous Eiffel Tower! We have had a blast! Some classes enjoyed a guest speaker who traveled Europe last year! We have enjoyed making the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Eiffel Tower out of popsicle sticks and cups! We have learned all about Finland and their culture!
This month in Global we are finishing up Europe and headed towards..... will keep you posted! It's always a fun surprise to have the kids guess from my clues!
Until next month.....
Computers:
Hey Gators! This month in Digital Literacy 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade will be working on their Drivers License! Well Google Drivers License that is, we will be working on google docs, google drive, and google slides. Kindergarten will be learning about Algorithms on their computers! Lastly, 1st grade will be working on Spring typing practices.
From the Counselors
It’s so tempting to want revenge, or payback, or justice, when someone has done you
wrong. In those moments of anger, it’s hard to remember what it’s like to be on the other
side. But deciding that someone who has wronged you doesn’t have to pay doesn’t
mean that there are no consequences for our actions. It’s a choice you make for yourself –
having the courage to let go and forgive is powerful, and it frees you – the forgiver – from
the anger and resentment.
SAY IT:
Forgiveness means deciding that someone who has wronged you doesn’t have to pay.
KNOW IT:
ASK A GROWN UP:
• Can you think of a time you chose to forgive somebody when it was really difficult?
• Can you think of a time when someone forgave you? How did their forgiveness make
you feel?
ASK A KID:
• Has anyone ever done something mean to you, but you chose to forgive them?
• Describe a time when you did something wrong, but someone else forgave you.
SEE IT:
The short film “Snack Attack” shows us a great example of forgiveness. Watch this as a
family and pause it a few times during the video to talk about how tough it would be to
forgive someone who was stealing your cookies. Discuss how anger and bitterness can
sometimes creep in and ruin your day. After you finish the video, talk about how forgiveness
and tolerance can help us enjoy life and help us get along with others better. Not only
does forgiveness help the people we have forgiven, it helps us get rid of our own negative
feelings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YSxJnqCr8I
BE IT:
Have each person list the ways others have hurt them. The list should include things that
have gone unforgiven and are still festering in the mind of the writer. Perhaps someone has
said mean things or there are disagreements that have gone unresolved. After everyone has
their list, go outside to a safe place and start a small fire. Place each of the lists on the fire
and as you watch the lists go up in flames, allow your anger and bitterness towards these
people vanish, as well.
PHASE
It’s pretty simple-the words we use with kids matter.
Our words have an impact each day on what kids think of themselves, their future, and their interactions with the world. Here are some words you can use every day:
Good Morning!
I’m really proud when...
I love you
Work hard
I have noticed…
I’ve been thinking…
I hope you know…
I’m sorry
Have fun!
Be kind
Keep trying
I can always count on you to…
So don’t miss it. It is just a phase! Make sure you are using words every day to build up the skills you want to see in your child.
Please check lost and found for missing jackets and coats.