HPS Teaching & Learning News
March 2023
News from Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
If you have not checked out our updated Teaching & Learning section of the website please do so! Here are just a few of the items that are found on our page: the current Massachusetts standards for all content areas, a link to DESE's Central for Instructional Support where a great deal of resources can be found, why curriculum alignment work is important, the District Strategic Plan, Holliston's Curriculum Review Process along with the Review Cycle, and Understanding by Design unit Stage 1 documents.
The district curriculum team would once again like to showcase some of the engaging student work that has been happening in Holliston Public Schools. Please take a few minutes to discover the teaching and learning happening in our community!
Joanne Menard
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction
What's happening Across the District...
Humanities
On March 30th, the Holliston High School Global Citizens Program will host its 1st Annual Capstone Presentation Evening from 7:00-9:00pm in the High School Library.
Our GCP students from the Class of 2023 will be presenting their capstone projects and reflecting on how their work has impacted the community and themselves as individuals.
Over the course of their high school careers, they have developed meaningful and innovative projects to address many needs in our community. They have worked with different community organizations and collaborated with HPS staff and community members across a variety of disciplines.
Placentino and Miller recently celebrated Read Across America: Bring Communities Together with 2 amazing events. During the week of March 20th, 20 classrooms at Miller hosted a community reader. On March 23rd, all 34 classrooms at Placentino hosted a community reader. Students loved having special visitors from the community in their classroom. The events featured titles from the NEA Read Across America Book List or 2022-2023. A huge thank you to the following individuals who volunteered their time: Superintendent Susan Kustka, Principal David Jordan, Liz Shepard, Town Clerk Liz Greendale, Assistant Superintendent Keith Buday, Lt. James Barrett, School Committee member Stacey Raffi, Officer Mike Woods, Officer Hannah Ciavarra, Police Chief Stone, Officer John Loftus, Kim Condon, Fire Chief Cassidy, Assistant Superintendent Joanne Menard, Selectboard Chair Benjamin Sparrell, Kate Ciaverra, Principal Dave Keim, Board of Health Chair Joshua Mann, Ida Pappas, Assistant Principal Jesse Conant, James Levasseur, Maggie Ellis, School Committee Chair Catherine Sevard, Erica Linares, Principal Nicole Bottomley, Officer David Charette.
Each year, the NEA publishes a book list for Read Across America. This year’s list included the following titles: The Year We learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson, Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome by Kat Zhang, Growing an Artist by John Parra, Powwow Day by Traci Sorell, Sometimes, All I Need is Me, Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, Because Claudette by Tracey Baptiste, Dream Street by Tricia Elam Walker, A Song of Frutas by Margarita Engle, I’ll Go and Come Back by Rajani Larocca, “Twas the Night Before Pride by Joana McClintick, and Juna and Appa by June Park.
At RAMS, students in the 7th recently practiced their narrative writing skills by creating original fairy tales. The PTO funded a grant for 6th grade ELA. The funds were used to purchase a collection of novels in verse for a new literature circle unit. The PTO generously purchased over 100 books!!
Science at Placentino and Miller
Fifth grade students studied the water cycle in Unit 2: Watery World and used their knowledge to create a visual representation of the water cycle. Standards Addressed: 5-ESS2-1
Science at RAMS
Sixth grade science students creating a timeline of major events that have occurred on planet Earth. This clearly shows the sudden explosion of life on Earth and leads to a discussion about changes in life forms through the history of time. Standards Addressed: 6.MS-LS-1
Science at HHS
Students in a Marine Biology biology class are completing a water change on a 55 gallon salt-water aquarium. One laboratory aspect of this course is to maintain a large marine aquarium which involves caring for multiple invertebrate and vertebrate marine species by maintaining proper water chemistry. Standards Addressed: HS-LS1-3, HS-LS2-1
Engineering & Technology at Placentino and Miller
In STEM/Engineering third grade students created sails and are testing different materials to see what properties of a sail affect how well it catches the wind from a fan. Standards Addressed: 3.3-5-ETS1-1 and 3.3-5ETS1-4
Engineering & Technology at RAMS
A 7th grade computer science class working on developing Apps through a free web based platform MIT App Inventor. The platform uses intuitive block based programming language. Students in this class are currently working on adding sound to the apps that they are creating. Standards Addressed: Digital Tools [6-8.DTC.a] and Programming and Development [6-8.CT.d]
Engineering & Technology at HHS
Students in Computer Games and Graphics are in the process of collaborating to design their games. Standards Addressed: Programming and Development [9-12.CT.d]
Mathematics at Placentino and Miller
Montessori (Grade 1 & 2) class working on subtracting two digit numbers using regrouping. Standards Addressed: 1.Operations and Algebraic Thinking - 1.NBT - C and 2.Operations and Algebraic Thinking - 2.NBT - B
Mathematics at RAMS
7th grade students in Mrs. Mulkerrin's math class having fun while working collaboratively in small groups to learn about probability. Standard's Addressed: Statistics and Probability 7.SP
Mathematics at HHS
Students in Algebra II completing a hands on activity "Barbie Bungee" where they collect data on how far Barbie falls with different numbers of rubber bands tied to her legs. The data was then graphed and analyzed in class where students were able to learn about slope and linear relationships with real data that they had collected. Standards Addressed: Statistics and Probability AII.S-ID
Visual Arts
Elementary
There is no better place in schools to see evidence of student Creation than the Art Classrooms! Here are some samples of work.
Standard: Creating - 3. Refine and complete artistic work. Use different tools to experiment with artistic elements (e.g. using found objects to create texture). (1-2.V.Cr.03)
Grade 3 - Aquariums
Grade 4 - Kehinde Wiley Self-Portraits
Grade 5 - Radial Symmetrical Prints
Visual Arts
Middle School
Monochromatic Landscapes are being produced in art in Middle School. Students will paint a simple landscape in atmospheric perspective. To do this, they need to practice mixing tints and shades that include at least six different values. A mural using these techniques is being produced outside the art classroom.
Standard: Presenting: 5. Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation. Utilize different approaches to share artwork (e.g., digital portfolio, exhibit installation). (7-8.V.P.05)
Demo Lesson
Mural Wall
Visual Art
High School
Mr. Blood demonstrates wheel throwing techniques to his Ceramics class at the conclusion of their "Face Jugs" pinch pot project. To create their Face Jug, students did some research, readings and viewed exemplars in order to plan their project. In addition to the Pinch Method, students were required to add a short neck/mouth, handle(s), and interesting features to evoke a feeling.
Standards: Creating - 1. Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work. Create artistic ideas that reflect characteristics of different artistic movements from different cultures (F.V.Cr.01)
2. Organize and develop artistic ideas and work. Develop multiple plans for producing a piece of artwork prior to selecting one. (F.V.Cr.02)
Library
The Libraries just concluded their celebrations of Black History Month with huge displays and highlighted books.
Standard 8.17 Identify and read from a variety of genres, e.g., historical, realistic, fantasy, fiction, folklore, poetry, biography, nonfiction.
The Library Celebrates Black History Month!
Highlighted Books in celebration of Black History Month
Holliston Music and Arts Parent Association - Looking for new Members!
Your support is essential...
Holliston Music and Arts Parent Association’s mission is to support and advocate for music, theater, performing and visual arts programs for all K-12th grade students in the Holliston schools. Membership money is used to fund:
- Teacher grants more than $42,000 since 2010
- Student scholarships awarded to arts active seniors
Performing Arts
Elementary
Students in Mrs. Petersen's class are using the book, William's Winter Nap, at the center of their lesson. While highlighting the book's theme of acceptance and inclusion, students are using the rhythm of the repeating words, "Yes, we'll scooch a bit. There's room for more. I'm sure we'll fit!" to practice their rhythmic ostinato skills on different classroom instruments.
Standard: Responding 7. Perceive and analyze artistic work. With support, identify basic elements in familiar songs (including tempo, dynamics, rhythm, melody). (1-2.M.R.07)
Elementary
The Miller Chorus enthusiastically entertained the audience during their January 24th concert.
Standard: Performing
6. Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work. Match a musical performance with expressed intent (e.g., wanting the audience to identify with an emotion). (N.M.P.06)
Performing Arts
Middle School
Job well done to Ksenia Jockusch (8), Evan Wei (8), Naomi Cong (7), Summer Spurway (7), and Kaiya Smits (7 - not pictured) on their participation in the Jr. Districts Festival auditions, which selects the top musicians grade 7-9 from the central Massachusetts region to perform in a concert together. An extra congratulations to Naomi, Summer, and Kaiya on their acceptance!
Standard: Performing - 5. Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation. Perform with accuracy and expression works from vocal and instrumental literature...(N.M.P..05)
Performing Arts
High School
Shoebox Set Design - This project was a unit in Acting class (Term 2) focused on theatre tech. Through a randomizer, student were assigned a group of adjectives. Their needed to design a set that embodied those adjectives around a list of set design criteria.
Standards: Creating
- Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work. Apply research to support development of design ideas (e.g., students research cars from the 1920s to design scenery). (T.T.Cr.01)
- Organize and develop artistic ideas and work. Create a complete design and implementation plan for a theatre work that incorporates elements of theatrical design such as sound, lighting, scenery, and costumes. (T.T.Cr.02)
Performing Arts
Theatre
High School
Theatre 370 has recently won THREE All Star Acting Awards for their original play, Writings on the Wall, at the Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guild (METG ) Festival in Franklin High School on March 4th. Over 38 students are participating as writers, actors, and/or technical crew members. The play follows a young novelist as he tries to write his memoir, only to discover that his life is boring. What is there to do? Lie of course. But when his editor starts enjoying the fake stories more than the real ones, how far is he willing to go to finish this book and make something of himself? Congratulations to: Junior, Will Keohane, and Seniors, Lucas Giacomo, and Valerie Discipio.
Wellness
Elementary School
Students at Miller School are applying their volleying skills in small-sided net games. They have been working hard to be great teammates and opponents - learning to communicate effectively and problem-solve.
Standards; Motor Skill Development - Use a variety of manipulative (throwing, catching, striking), locomotor (walking, running, skipping, hopping, galloping, sliding, jumping, leaping), and non-locomotor (twisting, balancing, extending) skills as individuals and in teams CH.PH.02.02
Wellness
Middle School
RAMS PE students are building castles in a cooperative game called Castleball. This game involves teamwork and strategy. Accurate throwing and bowling skills are also the key to success in this very active game.
Standards:
- Motor Skill Development - Demonstrate developmentally appropriate basic manipulative and advanced specialized physical skills, including throwing and catching different objects with both accuracy and force, hand and foot dribbling while preventing an opponent from challenging, and accurate striking proficiency. CH.PH.02.09
- Personal and Social Competency - Demonstrate strategies for inclusion of all students in physical activity settings related to strength and speed. CH.PH.02.15
Wellness
High School
Wellness 9 class just finished belay school and are now attempting some of the high elements in the gym. Students have been encouraged to step out of their comfort zones and are attempting the "Cat Walk."
Standard: Fitness CH.PH.02.20 Demonstrate exercises in strength training, cardiovascular activities, and flexibility training.
World Language
Elementary School
In Placentino Spanish classes, the students are learning about the solar system. Students use a variety of formats to represent the planets, sun, moon and stars.
In Miller Spanish classes:
3rd grade - Students are transitioning from using words to using phrases (see Josephine Brower's work below).
4th Grade - Students are transitioning from using phrases to using sentences (see Matthew Wang's work below).
5th grade - Students are using full sentences exclusively in their communications (see Danika do Rosario's work below).
*Parents visit your student's SeeSaw account and leave a comment!
Standard: Lifelong Learning Standard 7. Connections - In settings that students would find familiar and highly predictable, using the target language exclusively, or almost exclusively, with appropriate linguistic scaffolding, students minimally, but consistently: a. Incorporate age-appropriate, interdisciplinary vocabulary to recognize exchange, and present information from across content areas (NL.7a)
Sistema Solar
Sistema Solar
World Language
Middle School
In Senora Rousseau's Grade 8 Spanish class, students engaged in a research project on a place of their choice. Students have created a Google Slidedeck organizing their research , and then produced a screencast for their presentations.
Communication Standard: Presentational Communication - In presentations on topics that relate to students and their immediate environment in a variety settings, creating unconnected simple sentences, sometimes relying upon clarification and circumlocution, in such a way that speakers of the language who are accustomed to engaging with language learners understand, students: b. Present information, raise awareness, and express person preferences in culturally appropriate ways (IL.3.b).
World Language
High School
In Senora Portocarrero-Heisler's class, students are having fun while learning the fundamentals. Students spend their class engaged in hands-on collaborative work to sharpen their skills.
Standard: 3. Presentational Communication - In presentations on topics of high familiarity and immediate interest to students in settings that students would find familiar and highly predictable, using practiced or memorized words or phrases, relying upon visual aids and gestures, in such a way that speakers/signers of the language who are accustomed to engaging with language learners sometimes understand, students:
a. Demonstrate awareness and understanding of themselves and their audience. (NL.3.a)
b. Provide simple, basic, prepared information in culturally appropriate ways. (NL.3.b)
Presentational Writing
Observation/Note-taking
Students displayed their work for all students to take and compare notes in the Target Language.
Question & Answer
Students then tallied the data and answer questions about what their peers liked and wrote about. Bonus points if they can find any mistakes.
MA Seal of BIliteracy
The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given to students who attain high proficiency in English and one or more other languages. Holliston High School has 32 students taking the exam on March 21st. Here is the letter that went out to families: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ly3CS14nOtuUiPtB3EYvWEamWIqsEhO2/view?usp=sharing