News from the 'View
Skyview Upper Elementary School
From the Principal's Desk
We, as a learning community, are thankful for the energy and dedication of our students and their families. We were excited to welcome 507 guests on our visitation day during American Education Week. Take a look at our website for a picture collage of the recent 5th Grade Living Museum: http://www.methacton.org/Domain/732
During the month of December we will focus on the pillar of Citizenship. In this newsletter is also information about our annual Community Service Event - being held on Friday, December 19th (information on this will also be sent home with students.) Please also note that a letter day calendar has been posted for December and January on our website (keep in mind that the letter days will be changed in the event of inclement weather.)
Math Survey for Families
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/65KBVCS
Library
Students have become familiar with various reference sources in the library in both print and digital formats. Since September students have been reading a variety of nonfiction books as stipulated in the PA Core. They chose one book to review and for the past 3 weeks students have been working on book reviews and persuasive speeches. First they created a graphic organizer of their choosing giving a book report and then they turned it into a storyboard on which they wrote their persuasive speech in the form of a commercial telling us why someone should check out the non-fiction book they read. Some students have begun turning their storyboards into videos. The rest will be completed before leaving for winter break. Rubrics for these projects are available on the Skyview Library Wiki: http://skyviewupperlibrary.wikispaces.com/Book+Reviews. We will also be participating in Hour of Code in December.
The picture attached is of students working on the app Explain Everything creating their video book reviews.
Art
So far in 5th grade this year we’ve done printmaking, watercolor paintings and ceramic relief sculptures. Artwork by German woodblock artist Albrecht Durer inspired our prints. Sumi-E, the eastern Asian style of brush painting, was our inspiration for watercolor paintings and the myth of the Celtic Green Man is represented in our clay sculptures.
Our first project in 6th grade was collage, created after viewing examples by American artist, Romare Bearden. We mixed images up to send a message, create a story or just to be humorous. Next we used the coil method to hand build ceramic containers of all shapes and sizes. We are currently working on figure drawing showing motion. This challenging project has taught us a lot about proportion and shading.
Project grades are just starting to get entered into Sapphire. An art grade will appear on the report card for the second marking period.
Save the date for the first ever District-wide K-6 Art Show on April 9th, hosted by Skyview!
Technology Education
The students in Tech-Ed have been working hard trying to finish their towers. Over the past couple months, they have taken thin pieces of wood and engineered them together to make a four-sided 12-inch tower. Next cycle, we will break them to see how much applied force they can withstand.
Music
In 5th grade general music, students have been using a music software program called Finale Notepad to compose songs for the recorder.
In 6th grade general music, students have been learning drumming techniques and are currently preparing for Battle of the Bucket Bands.
Computer Literacy
The fifth and sixth graders at Skyview participate in computer literacy class once a cycle. This class is project based; most projects are created in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Publisher. Students will also learn keyboarding skills. This year students are utilizing a great website called http://www.typingclub.com which has 100 lessons that cover the entire keyboard including letters, numbers, and symbols.
This year, every Skyview student has created a user account which they use to log into the computers at Skyview. They have been provided with individual server space to save their files in.
Throughout the year students will participate in Internet safety activities, learn what it means to have digital citizenship and how to create a positive digital footprint for their future.
Health and Physical Education
In PE our students have been very active. Every 3rd class for 6th grade, and every 4th class for 5th grade is a “Warrior Fit” day. On these days our students participate in activities that are fitness oriented. Examples of what we have done so far are P90X, Partner “Crossfit,” and cardiovascular games.
All of our 6th grade health students have created a simple fitness plan. They learned how to make a goal, then formed a plan to achieve that goal utilizing the F.I.T.T. principle.
Community Service Event - December 19, 2014
Constellations and Celestials - Juvenile Diabetes - monetary donations
Comets and Team USA - Logan Hope - school supplies collection
Stars and Aurora -Ronald McDonald House - flashlights, batteries, new white socks (adults/kids), granola bars, cereal bars
Storm Chasers and Astronomers - Montgomery County Senior Activity Center - puzzle books, pens, decks of cards, hot chocolate pouches, instant oatmeal, instant soup, snack bags of pretzels
Galaxy and Mountaineers - Food Pantry - non-perishable food items
6th Grade update
Skyview Upper Elementary School
Website: www.methacton.org
Location: Methacton School District
Phone: (610)489-5000