The Wallace Wildcat
Hoboken, NJ- November 23, 2022
Dear Wallace School Parents and Guardians,
Kindergarten
This week in Kindergarten, our Wildcats celebrated Thanksgiving by participating in a balloon project with Mrs. Marchesani which was inspired by the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. See our pictures below :) We also had a Thanksgiving feast that featured a lot of our favorite holiday foods!
On Wednesday, we had a day filled with Expanding Personal Growth Programming (PGP) lessons that centered around Health & Wellness, College and/or Career Exploration, Growth Mindset & Personal Development, and Global Schools: Education for Sustainable Development. We dug deeper into learning about our feelings, dreaming big, and becoming goal explorers!
We hope everyone has a wonderful, relaxing, and warm Thanksgiving holiday and we will see everyone on Monday!
First Grade
The First grade packed a lot into this short week! ELA was a review week! The first grade focused on phonics, site words, reading, comprehension, and writing complete sentences.
In math we wrapped up Unit 2. Students worked on comparing and combining 2D shapes as well as addition, subtraction, and story problems.
IXL, Classworks, and Razkids were the focus of ILP. In preparation for Thanksgiving the classes also did holiday project based activities. We discussed the importance of giving to the less fortunate and showing thanks to those we love!
This week in Social Studies, the kids enjoyed learning fun and interesting facts from ReadWorks Article-A-Day!
We hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving filled with lots of love, warm company, and delicious food!
Second Grade
Happy Thanksgiving! Our second graders have so much to be thankful for this year! They have been working hard this week on many activities sharing all of the people, experiences, and things that they are thankful for this year!
This week in English Language Arts the second graders continued to learn about animal families through reading and listening to expository texts. The children are learning about the different text features included within expository texts, such as captions, headings, and diagrams. They are also continuing to work on expanding their vocabulary, improving their fluency and comprehension, and writing in literacy centers. Our little authors reflected on and wrote a piece about all of the things for which they are thankful.
Our second grade mathematicians have begun working on describing, identifying, and comparing attributes of 2-D and 3-D shapes, visualizing the structure of arrays, fluency within 20, as well as, understanding equal parts of a whole through many hands-on activities. We look forward to diving deeper into these concepts when we return from Thanksgiving break.
We hope all of our students have a wonderful Thanksgiving break and return ready to learn and continue working on all of their great work!
Third Grade
In ELA, as we near the end of our study of The Littles, our readers have been identifying cause and effect relationships in the fantasy novel, allowing them to better understand the plot. Students have also been refining their lists of the main characters’ inner traits. Our writers worked on a variety of Thanksgiving-inspired pieces.
In math, students continue to read, interpret, and generate both single bar graphs and double bar graphs. Students took a survey on their favorite Thanksgiving food and used the results to construct a bar graph displaying that yummy data. As you may have guessed, more students chose turkey as their favorite food than any other dish.
Speaking of Thanksgiving, in social studies, students learned the origin of Thanksgiving in America, most for the first time. Said one surprised student: “Oh, that’s why the turkeys wear those funny black hats!”)
The Third Grade Team wishes all of you the happiest of Thanksgivings.
Fourth Grade
ELA
Our 4th grade readers continue to read the short stories from their new novel, “Ancestors Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids.” A bustling anthology of 16 short stories framed by opening and closing poems all connect to the annual intertribal powwow in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Readers are immersed in the sights, sounds, energy, and emotions of a powwow experience as diverse Native protagonists prepare for, travel to, and converge on the event for a variety of reasons. We read, “Indian Price” by Eric Gansworth
This week our 4th grader readers continued Unit 2 Week 3 in Reading Wonders. The focus was on identifying elements of a drama and figurative language (hyperbole), . After reading, ``The Ant and the Grasshopper ``, We discussed the different elements of a drama.
Math
Our 4th grade mathematicians started Unit 3: developing strategies for multiplying that involve breaking numbers apart by using arrays accurately and finding the product of a minimum of five problems by using arrays. Students started by taking a three minute math fluency assessment on multiplication facts (facts to 144). In this lesson children continued to learn how to break apart numbers into smaller arrays to help find the product of 2-digit numbers. We created an anchor chart with the class as they created a miniature one at their desks for further reference. Students should continue to practice their multiplication on IXL and on Classworks.
Social Studies
Our 4th grade historians located the 13 original colonies of North America by region, compared and contrasted the topography and economics of different regions and summarized the features and benefits of the three major regions. They created time lines and legends and were able to identify the colonies on a map.
Explorers also started their research on their Native American Projects. Students are tasked with researching a Native American Tribe, Creating a google slide presentation and a diorama. This project is due on November 30th. The students are super excited and I can’t wait to see their creativity.
Fifth Grade
In Mathematics, our Wallace 5th Grade Mathematicians were ordering fractions and justified their order by using reasoning about fraction concepts and relationships to accurately identify equivalent fractions. They were also engaged in ordering fractions and justify their order by comparing their values to the landmark 0, 1/2, and 1 using rectangular grids to correctly identify the GREATER fractions.
In Social Studies our Historians were engaged in understanding the challenges associated with building the Transcontinental Railroad by engaging in a hands-on simulation activity using Marshmallows and Toothpicks while also reflecting on the debriefing questions.
Ms. McGeehin's Art Class
Wallace's Music Department
In music this week, we worked on practicing reading our rhythms. 2nd graders made a rhythm musical turkey. We reviewed our musical alphabet letter names and differentiated between high and low pitches. 5th graders are competing in a line and space trivia competition to beat their high scores on Quaver note champion.
In band, students continued to prepare concert music selections. 4th graders are mastering an arrangement of Jingle Bells to play with the 5th graders. They are excited to join together with their more advanced peers. Chorus students are preparing to sing for many December events; including the town tree lighting on Dec. 8th. Lunch chorus sang at the Hoboken Shelter last week, and they are preparing for another December town holiday event. We are enjoying our holiday music preparation!
Individualized Learning Pathway - Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
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 verbal 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 fall:
The Counselor's Corner
Dear Wallace Families,
This month’s character trait we have been celebrating is gratefulness. During this week specifically, staff and students demonstrated and shared what they appreciate most. This time of the year is our opportunity to show gratefulness by appreciating what we have and what we miss. During this Thanksgiving, consider taking turns around the table as a family sharing something you are grateful for. Feel free to use these thank you cards to make someone special feel loved and appreciated this Thanksgiving season.
I am thankful for all of the love and support that our Wildcats show each other and for the amazing families that make up our Wallace school community.
As always, please feel free to click Here and log in to MOVE THIS WORLD and explore all of its resources and lessons at home with our Wallace Family account.
Username:WallaceWildcat
Password: movethisword
Feel free to contact me at: frank.cagiao@hoboken.k12.nj.us
NJ SCI Survey
Our school is participating in survey data collection using the New Jersey School Climate Improvement (NJ SCI) Survey to help obtain multiple perspectives on aspects of school climate. Collecting data is important for understanding strengths and needs in our school and how it feels to be a member of the school community.
Your voice is important to us, and your opinions will help us to address current priorities. The survey is anonymous and it is voluntary. The results will be used to help create a plan to address school climate needs and make improvements to the school. You may submit a separate survey per child in the school building if you feel their experiences are different, but you do not have to.
Click here to take the survey and enter the password: parent
If you have any questions during or after the survey, please contact VP Lawrence at elawrence@hoboken.k12.nj.us.
We appreciate your ongoing support and look forward to exploring new ways to continue working together to create the most supportive and engaging learning environment for your child.
As always, please be sure to find some time to relax and enjoy the weekend. 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