TPCA Elementary Newsletter
From the Desk of Mrs. Buchanan-Rivera
Dear Families,
We enjoyed seeing so many families prior to Fall Break!
Important Dates
Every Wednesday
Chapel
October 31
Please note that costumes are not allowed on this day as we do not honor Halloween.
Thank you in advance!
October 31- November 4
Scholastic Book Fair
*Note Change
November 1
Co-Curricular Night
November 11
PTF Fellowship Event and Silent Auction
November 16
Thanksgiving Dinner
November 23-25
Thanksgiving Break
Co-Curricular Night
We would like to invite you to our Co-Curricular Connect night on Tuesday, November 1, from 6:30 pm to 8 pm. This is an opportunity for you to meet our co-curricular staff and have a specials classroom experience just as your children experience each week at Traders Point. You will fully participate in each co-curricular mini-class, so bring your sneakers and get ready to sing and create art!
Doors will open at 6:15 pm, and rotations will begin promptly at 6:30 pm. Please be on time to savor the full experience. This event is for parents only. This is an opportunity for you to meet our co-curricular staff and experience your child’s schedule at Traders Point. The co-curricular courses include music, art, physical education, band, and Spanish.
Please click on the following link to RSVP:
The Scholastic Book Fair will also be opened during this time! Hope to see you there!
Advice for the Next President
In lieu of election day, many intermediate grade-level students have been discussing the electoral process. Through many classroom visits, it has been interesting to hear political perspectives through the eyes of children who internalize what they may see and hear via media. During my interactions with students, I inquired about the advice they would give our potential leader. Here were some of the responses that our future President should take into consideration:
“Use nice words and mention God while talking to others!” Wade, 4th Grade
“Never hop on one foot.” Aleenah, 3rd Grade
“Treat everyone fairly and don’t make people do things that would hurt our environment.” Audrey B., 4th Grade
“Pay attention to everything and know what needs to be changed.” Audrey H., 4th Grade
“Find ways to give money to people who don’t have homes.” Saniyah, 4th Grade
“Tell the world about God.” Joshua, 4th Grade
“Make Jesus famous!” Cassidy, 4th Grade
“Ask the opinion of people and let people help in making decisions.” Ashlynn, 4th Grade
“Take other people’s advice into consideration. Speak kindly to other people. Love all people.” Azariah, 4th Grade
“Make our country better!” Ethan, 3rd Grade
"Don't judge someone. Listen to people." Lindsey, 3rd Grade
“Try to help with our medical bills and lower taxes.” Edgar, 4th Grade
“Lead our country in Godly ways.” Ashlyn, 4th Grade
...And we couldn't leave the kindergartners out! Here is more advice from our little ones:
"Draw nice drawings." Ruby, Kdg
"Build lots of houses and make fake heads." Emi, Kdg
"Be my best friend." Liam, Kdg
"Give people 19 lunches and 60 recesses." Cameron, Kdg
"Help people when they hurt... you know, like when someone scrapes their knee." Chloe, Kdg
"Keep bad people away to make our country safe." Zach, Kdg
"Give everybody some money." Kylan, Kdg
"Give everyone toys and food." Isaiah, Kdg
"Grow in grace." Raegan, Kdg
While talking with students, I was amazed by the number of kiddos who referenced to God and leading the world in kingdom ways. These responses are such a testimony to the work that teachers are doing with students daily! Great advice!
Native American Projects
The 4th-grade classes (DeGraaf and Huff) have been focused on learning about Indiana State History. In toe with this, the students were able to research data about one of the three Native American tribes that actually lived in Indiana. The students studied the Miami, Shawnee, and Delaware Native American tribes. Students were given the task to research their tribe by using nonfiction texts, social studies books, websites, and other sources to find out more about the daily lives of Native Americans. Then, students combined their data in small groups to decide how they wanted to present or display their information to an audience. Students were very clever and created a variety of multi-modal presentations which included artifacts, posters, dioramas, interactive wax figures, and speeches to present their findings about their tribe. Students had to practice presenting their creations and answering questions from an audience. The fourth graders then took turns within their small groups to present their information as peers. Kindergarten students also did a museum walk-through of student-created projects.
Amazon Project
The 2nd grade classes’ (Truitt and Byely) introduction to expository text began with a unit study of the Amazon Rain Forest and Amazon River. The students traveled to South America as part of a year-long focus on the continents of the world. Second graders created their own layered rainforest outside of their classrooms, and explored non-fiction books to discover an animal in which they would like to further investigate. Once the students committed to an animal, they did additional research in the classroom, library, and at home. Students then pared the information down to 5 interesting and important facts. In addition, they drew and labeled a diagram of the animal, but most importantly they communicated how God gifted this animal and made it unique. Students designed a poster board at home and presented their animals in class. The presentations allowed the students to be the "teachers" of their subject, practice their communication skills, and participate in a question and answer forum.
ISTEP+ Info for Grades 3-8
The purpose of the Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress-Plus (ISTEP+) program is to measure student achievement in the subject areas of English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science (Grades 4 and 6), and Social Studies (Grades 5 and 7). This assessment determines achievement levels of students in accordance to the Indiana Academic State Standards. The assessments are administered in two parts: Part 1 consists of applied skills (open-ended) items, and Part 2 includes multiple-choice and technology-enhanced items.
Both sections will be administered at different times. The Applied Skills section (paper-pencil assessment) will be given February 27- March 10, 2017. Multiple Choice (computerized) will follow April 17-May 5, 2017. The tests in each section will be given to students over the course of days allotted within the assessment window.
IREAD-3
The IREAD-3 assessment for third grade students only will begin March 13-17, 2017. If you have further questions, please connect with your child’s homeroom teacher. Remember, unlike ISTEP+, students must pass the reading proficiency test to be considered for promotion into fourth grade. If your student has a native language other than English or receives services via the special education department, the student may be considered for a good cause exemption which negates the retention option as determined by the school. Let me know if you have any questions.
Media Center News
October and November are typically busy, wonderful months in the Media Center! October has been dedicated to Makerspace for all students. Makerspaces are popping up all over the country in schools and libraries to give students a chance to experiment with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) activities in which they design, build, and make various items.
The students have enjoyed this time of creativity! Each grade level was given a design challenge. The students were asked to design, test, and re-design structures of multiple resources. Our makerspace learners made everything from paper houses for the 3 Little Pigs that could withstand the Big Bad Wolf ( Mrs. Herr's hair dryer), paper towers and bridges that could support heavy books, paper objects that could fly, and usable items from duct tape.
November will be full of fun as the Book Fair returns! Mark your calendar for Oct. 31 - Nov. 4 and plan to do some book shopping!
Finally, we have a VERY exciting author visit in November. Laura Martin, will speak to grades 3-8. We are so excited for this author's presentation! Look for more details to come!
Music Update from Mrs. Evans
Kindergarten and first grade students have been moving to and playing a steady beat. They are currently learning about long and short sounds as well as exploring their whispering, speaking, outside, and singing voice. They are also practicing songs for the Christmas program on December 12, 2016.
Second graders are learning to accompany their songs with Orff instruments, and they are doing a great job! Not only are they learning to play, but they are learning to count beats of rests so they play at the correct time. Come to the Christmas program to watch them play and sing. Since they are studying Africa in the classroom, they were introduced to a song from Uganda. The song might show up in our spring program!
Third graders are learning an entire musical which they will perform in chapel on Wednesday, December 14 and at the Indiana State Museum on Friday, December 16!! We are so excited about these opportunities! They will perform a few of the songs at our Christmas program on Monday, December 12.
Fourth graders have been practicing note values using manipulatives and other games. They are also learning the notes on the treble staff. They will implement both of these skill sets when they play their recorders beginning in January. They are also learning songs with harmony and writing lyrics to one of the pieces they will perform at the Christmas program.
Our Christmas concert is on Monday, December 12 in the TPCA gym. Your student is working very hard to prepare for the program. Please honor their effort, talent and ministry by ensuring their participation in this celebratory event. To God be the glory!!
Thank You
God Bless,
Mrs. Erica Buchanan-Rivera