IAA Newsletter
October 2019
Principal's Message
Cheers,
Mr. Robinson
School News
The Arts integration co-teaching blocks are in full swing in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classroom. 3rd grade is learning about fractions in math with music. 4th grade is learning about angles and creating art in the style of Sol LeWitt. 5th grade is studying fictional writing and oral storytelling through drama.
Arts integration programs with community partners are up and running this month.
Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade are dancing with Flynn teaching artist, Lois Trombly, in ONE-Step. They are acquiring foundational dance skills, communicating ideas with movement, and having fun building community in their classrooms.
The ONE-Strings violin program begins on October 8th in 4th and 5th grade. Instructor Kathleen Kono and the Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival are back for its 7th year at IAA. Students will gain hands-on experience playing the violin once a week.
Planning for the 11th Annual Fill the Bowl is underway. Fill the Bowl is an annual IAA fundraiser created by the 3rd graders to generate awareness and raise money to help those in need within our IAA community. It will take place on Thursday, December 12th. The 3rd grade will visit the Burlington City Arts Studios in October to make approximately 45 bowls that will be available for purchase to raise funds. This year we are looking for donations of all types of art for the auction component of the event. Please reach out to etittert@bsdvt.org, or Mr. Scott and Mr. Whitman, if you would like to get involved or have artwork to donate.
PTO Updates
Here some updates from IAA's PTO:
1) The IAA Halloween party is Friday, October 25th from 6-7pm. Current IAA students and families welcome. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Costumes encouraged, but please nothing too gory and no weapons.
2) IAA PTO meets on the first Thursday of each month, 6-7:30 in the cafeteria. Everyone is welcome. We connect, we learn, we work together. There is usually free childcare and pizza for $1/slice.
3) Join the IAA Community Google Group to receive emails relevant to the school and PTO. Send an email to K8 Lasko to be added to the group: k8lasko@gmail.com
Flynn Theater Updates
Health
Hello IAA families! I have enjoyed getting to know the students so much over the past month. Just a couple reminders as the weather is changing:
Please send layers/extra clothes; fall is definitely upon us and the weather is getting more damp and cooler.
If your student has a temperature; please keep them home for at least 24hrs and ensure the fever is gone before returning to school.
Nurse Ali
Art
IAA friends and family,
What a month it has been at IAA! So many exciting projects are well underway. Kindergartners are currently creating mobiles after having looked at anchor artist, Alexander Calder. First graders are working on cut paper projects that utilize both line and shape. We made sure to explore various types of each in order to make our artwork pop! Second graders are continuing paper mosaics, learning about how to arrange smaller pieces of material in such a way that creates a large, unifying image. Third graders are continuing their Surrealism unit, focusing on making surrealist collages, combining objects that don’t normally belong together. This is known as juxtaposition! Fourth graders have begun working on Japanese Notan, which delves into symmetry, balance, and contrast. Fifth graders have completed their tessellations and are now moving onto a metamorphosis assignment, which focuses on transforming one object into another through several, gradual steps.
Art integration with fourth grade has focused on both minimalism and geometry. Students have begun learning about angles and symmetry and after having looked at the art of Sol LeWitt, they are using their math knowledge to create stunning contemporary abstractions.
Please be sure to stay informed and updated via our Instagram: @cprinciart!
Warmly,
Ms. Princi
Music
During September in the music room, both the 5th and 4th graders have been learning and reviewing notes. They have been reading music and then composing their own rhythm phrases. Then they have been playing these phrases on instruments. The 4th graders played a nice accompaniment to the song, This Land is Your Land. 3rd graders have also been learning about note duration's in the Music + Math integrated arts lessons. They have learned how fractions go along with notes and are poised to do some composing of their own. K, 1st and 2nd graders have been exploring different ways of developing their singing voices and learning to develop a steady internal beat.
Mr Myregaard
@IAAMusicVT
Library
I also want to send out a big thank you to all the families that have been purchasing things off of the IAA Library Amazon Wishlist and sending them to school. Your support and commitment for this school and reading is so wonderful, the students are truly lucky.
If you have any questions, want to volunteer some time, or want to check out some books, stop on by or email me.
Follow the Library on Instagram: @iaa_library
Drama
Piper
PE
L Squish the bug Throw the ball Feel free to ask your children to show you their skills because they are pretty amazing. Please, if demonstrating in the house just have them pretend to have a ball. Miss Molly will not take responsibility for any items that are broken due to your children’s astonishing arms! October is the month that I am beginning my process of replacing a great deal of equipment that is broken and/or not functional. I am so excited to announce that the SHAPE Vermont P.E. conference will be happening Oct. 24th & 25th and I am looking forward to adding new games, tools, tips & tricks, and most importantly new equipment to our P.E. program here at IAA! I have attached the link to the P.E. programs wish list. Thank you in advance for taking a look at the list and considering donating. Our IAA community/family is the absolute best.
EL
These past two weeks, the G2-G5 English learner in Ms. Andrea’s class studied graphs.
They learned how to interpret graphs such as the tally graph, bar graph and pie graph. Some students did a class survey to gather information (data) on a specific topic they care about . The survey was then used to make a bar graph which they later shared with their classmates and/or teachers.
How did we start? The students were first asked to sort some different items (e.g. buttons,snap cubes, M&Ms, gummy bears). Then, they read stories on Epic! about various kinds of graphs. We then discussed how each graph is unique in helping readers assess and compare datasets in a more visual way. At the beginning of the unit, students filled out a pre-assessment survey. The end of the unit “post assessment”, “I can statements”, and students’ reflections about their learning revealed how much each student learned about graphs!
These past two weeks, the G2-G5 English learner in Ms. Andrea’s class studied graphs.
They learned how to interpret graphs such as the tally graph, bar graph and pie graph. Some students did a class survey to gather information (data) on a specific topic they care about . The survey was then used to make a bar graph which they later shared with their classmates and/or teachers.
How did we start? The students were first asked to sort some different items (e.g. buttons,snap cubes, M&Ms, gummy bears). Then, they read stories on Epic! about various kinds of graphs. We then discussed how each graph is unique in helping readers assess and compare data-sets in a more visual way. At the beginning of the unit, students filled out a pre-assessment survey. The end of the unit “post assessment”, “I can statements”, and students’ reflections about their learning revealed how much each student learned about graphs!School Counselor
“Simple Ways to Start Supporting Your Transgender Child”
Always use the child’s preferred gender pronouns and preferred names.
Introduce yourself using your preferred gender pronouns and preferred names.
Be your child’s advocate – call out transphobia when you see it and ask that others respect your child’s identity.
Educate yourself about the concerns facing transgender youth and adults.
Encourage your child to stand up for themselves when it is safe to do so.
Assure your child that they have your unconditional love and support.
This information was copied from Transgender Children and Youth: Understanding the Basics
Here are some other resources that might be helpful in exploring transgender issues:
National Association of School Psychologists
Take care.
Ms. Meredith
Special Education
“Mindfulness Practice’s Effects on Student Well-Being Participants described numerous benefits of school-wide mindfulness practices on students’ health and well-being. Overall, participants reported that once students appreciated the importance of practicing mindfulness, positive effects included increased self-awareness and increased ability to identify and discuss emotions and needs, choose strategies to self-regulate and sustain engagement, and use mindfulness practice outside of school.
Participants also spoke about the importance of practicing mindfulness proactively, when students are not in an elevated state. The principal stated that she and teachers have discussed “that [students] practice all these strategies when it’s not a high-stress time so then they can access these strategies during a high stress time.” A teacher addressed the importance of practicing when not in an elevated state, claiming it helped the students build “muscle memory. The more they practiced together… when I would say, ‘How about you take a deep breath right now and see if that helps?’ they knew what that meant, and it wasn’t just me saying RELAX.” In addition to practicing proactively, participants recognized the importance of establishing a routine and norms around mindfulness practice.
“Let’s Just Stop and Take a Breath”: A Community-Driven Approach to Mindfulness Practice in a High Poverty Elementary School by, Shana Haines, Kelly Clark/Keefe, Alan Tinkler, Alyssa Kotsiopoulos, Cynthia Gerstl-Pepin, Katharine G. Shepherd, Haley Woodside-Jiron, and Morgan Milhomens
For the full article