GRE Family Gazette
January 1, 2020
Don't forget to join our GRE Family Schoology Group! Access Code: N5VZ-VWQC-W7VVZ
Dear GRE Families,
Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful winter break and were able to get outside and enjoy some of that unseasonable, unbelievable Ohio winter weather! As our students return to school this week we will be focusing building wide on reteaching the expected behaviors at GRE, setting goals for 2020 and getting set for the 2nd half of the school year. We will also have our Eagles Nests on Friday. As a reminder, Eagles Nests are when all students are divided up among our entire staff and placed into a "nest" or group of about 12-15 students with one staff member. In addition to our classroom teachers, myself, our secretaries, instructional facilitator, tutors, related arts team...you name them, they have an Eagle's Nest. During this time together we talk about our Keys to Success and other topics that are key to making GRE the best school it can be. This time is a great opportunity for our older students to inspire and guide some of our youngest learners. It is a really special treat and a great way to kick off each month!
Coming up this month we will have our Literacy and STEM Night on January 16th. Stay tuned for more details to come out soon!
Here's to a GREat week at GRE!
Kate Thoma
Principal, General Rosecrans Elementary
News to Share
2. Our next Big Walnut child check is coming up on Friday, March 6th. Child Check is an educational screening for children ages 3-5. This screening is provided by Big Walnut Local Schools and is free to families within the Big Walnut School District. The purpose is to provide parents with information regarding their child’s development in: Speech and Language Skills, Gross/Fine Motor (Large & Small Muscle) Skills, Basic Academic Concepts, Vision, and Hearing. To schedule an appointment, call 740-965-7846.
Specials Spotlight: Music with Mrs. Wood
Happy Holidays from the music room!
Kindergarten:
Students are singing, chanting, dancing, playing instruments, and learning about winter celebrations. Ask your student to teach you their partner dance to “Jingle Bells”.
Music Playlist:
Ask your child to sing or chant: Jingle Bells, Will Winter End?, There’s A Little Snowflake, Grizzly Bear
1st Grade:
Students just finished reading the story of “The Nutcracker” where they listened and explored movement to the “The Nutcracker March” and “The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”. Ask your student to show you the three movement themes they learned in the “Nutcracker March”.
Music Playlist:
Download the song “The Nutcracker March” and “The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” by Peter Tchaikovsky
2nd Grade:
Students recently learned how to play an ostinato pattern on the xylophones to accompany the “Canoe Song”. Currently, they are learning about winter celebrations and how to dance the Hora, which is an Israeli folk dance. We finished our last music class of the year with a fun holiday sing along!
Music Playlist:
Ask your student to sing: No More Pie, Canoe Song
3rd Grade:
Students are making progress on their recorder unit. They are learning new notes, songs, and rhythms. They are also learning how to articulate notes and play with a gentle sound.
This year, students have the option to participate in our recorder karate program. Students learn a variety of songs in class and each time they master a new song, they earn a belt. All testing is done outside of class and students will need to upload their videos to Schoology in order to earn their belts. We went over how to upload videos in Schoology in music this week. Please see the attached Recorder Karate document for more information!
Music Playlist:
Ask your student to sing or play: Frog in the Meadow, Closet Key, Hot Cross Buns, Wolf
4th Grade:
4th graders were spreading holiday cheer as they performed some ukulele carols for our younger students during 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and kindergarten lunch this week. Check out their videos on Schoology!
Music Playlist:
Ask your student to sing or chant:, Canoe Song, Holiday Round, Oh Christmas Tree, Bells on the Sleigh, Rock Around the Christmas Tree, John the Rabbit, Star Light
Important Dates
Need help with what letter day it is?
Monday, December 30th-No School
Tuesday, December 31st-No School
Wednesday, January 1st- Happy New Year!
Thursday, January 2nd- D Day;
Friday, January 3rd- E Day; Eagles Nests
Monday, January 6th-A Day
Tuesday, January 7th-B Day
Wednesday, January 8th- C Day
Thursday, January 9th- D Day; PTO Meeting 6:30
Friday, January 10th- E Day;
Upcoming Important Dates:
January 2 Return to School
January 3 Eagle’s Nest
January 9 PTO Meeting 6:30 pm
January 16 Literacy/STEM Night 6:00-7:00pm
Jan. 18-Feb. 1 Yearbook Sale
January 20 NO SCHOOL: MLK Day
Kate Thoma
Email: katethoma@bwls.net
Website: www.bwls.net
Location: 301 South Miller Drive, Sunbury, OH, USA
Phone: 740-965-8900
Facebook: facebook.com/GREeagles
Twitter: @GREeagles