GRAND AVENUE SPECIALS
November 2015
SPECIALS DEPARTMENTS
Music-Katie Lavigne and Glenn Schuster
Physical Education-Jacob Breunig and Eric Scheunemann
Email: contact@saukprairieschools.org
Website: www.saukprairieschools.org
We are off to a great start in ART!
Your child’s Elementary Art program assists in developing independent and creative thinkers. The art curriculum correlates with academic subjects, and incorporates different historical and cultural perspectives. Children have the opportunities to share responsibilities, observe rules, respect one another and care for their environment. Art education at the elementary level provides a concrete understanding of art fundamentals, sets the stage for children to experience the joy of creating original art, and reinforces the importance of how visual arts enhances our lives.
Your child’s elementary art education progress reflects the following combination of standards.
Child as a Learner:
I respect materials, others and myself
I demonstrate self control
I am resourceful and work independently
I follow multiple step directions
Artwork:
My artwork meets objectives
I develop original ideas
I use my time wisely
Manual Skills/Craftsmanship:
I can use fine motor skills (cutting, pencil pressure, tip painting, gluing)
I can use fibers (uses opposites, threads needle, ties simple knot)
I can draw (process, observation, style, proportion, space)
I can work in three dimensions (clay, sculpture, paper mache)
Assessment Scale Details: When working with your child we assess them in a number of ways. On progress reports you will see a number grade for each standard listed above. Below is a brief description of what these numbers represent to us as we are evaluating your child’s progress.
3 = Consistently demonstrates standards.
2 = Inconsistently demonstrates standards.
1 = An area of concern.
WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON:
Fifth Grade: Students learned about the Ho-Chunk tribe and their traditional art of basket making. Fifth grade artists then learned how to weave their own baskets out of reed.
Grand Avenue Music
Music is a natural form of expression in the development of children. The elementary music program has aesthetic, creative, cultural and academic values, which enables all students to understand, experience, and enjoy music. Each student has an opportunity to develop sensitivity to music, ability for self-expression, basic musicianship skills, an understanding and appreciation of cultural heritages in music. The music program informs, challenges, directs, enhances, and provides meaningful and aesthetic musical
experiences; yet encourages socialization, positive attitudes, a feeling of well-being and
fulfillment of life. Because music influences the development of higher cognitive processes, the study of music is a contributing factor in becoming a well-educated person.
Your child will be receiving a report card for the second and fourth quarters. We would like to take this opportunity to share our criteria.
Achievement
Demonstrate the mastery of musical skills/concepts
The ability to sing in tune
Understanding of rhythm and theory
Effort
Level of participation
Level of cooperation
Behavior and the ability to follow rules
Assessment Scale Details
3 - Proficient; Evidence shows consistent achievement and understanding at grade level expectations.
2 – Basic: Evidence shows achievement is below level expectations with some gaps and flaw in understanding.
1 – Minimal: Evidence shows achievement is below grade level expectations with significant gaps in understand, knowledge and skills.
GRAND AVENUE PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Highlights:
- Congratulations to Savannah Acker, Ellery Apel, Addison Sudmeier, and Emma Zick for reaching the Marathon Club on the Walk/Run Course! Quite a few students are choosing to run, jog, or walk laps during recess. Once they complete 5 miles they receive a foot token. Just another option for students to be active at recess.
- Prediction Run: We are so proud of the students for working hard on the Prediction Run this month. It is always exciting to see them challenge themselves and work hard at improving their health.
What We've Been Working On:
- This month we worked on throwing with accuracy, dance, building strength through using the climbing wall, and striking.
- Striking is term that covers quite a few specific striking skills we have been working on this month. For example, punting a football, kicking a football off a tee, serving a volleyball, setting a volleyball, and passing a volleyball.
What's Coming Up:
- We will be starting our fitness testing in November. We assess student flexibility, muscular strength, muscular endurance and cardiovascular endurance. Our goal with fitness testing is improvement. We feel it is important for students to know their level of physical fitness and healthy ways to improve their overall health and fitness.
- We use FitnessGram as our fitness assessment. At the end of the year we will send a detailed fitness report home, but you can also look at student report cards to see how they are progressing in their fitness throughout the year.
- Our fitness testing software, FitnessGram, now requires height and weight to more accurately measure cardiovascular endurance. What this means is that during the school year we will be measuring the height and weight of all 3rd through 5th grade students. Each student will get their height and weight measured privately during class. The students will not be told their height or weight. Their physical education teacher will then enter the information into the FitnessGram softwarde along with their fitness assessment scores. We do not assess height and weight, it is only used to give students an individualized fitness zone for their cardiovascular endurance test. We are very aware of the self-image concerns students face, therefore the privacy and confidentiality of each student will be respected. If you have any questions or concerns please contact us.