Thalberg Eagles
Newsletter for March 2019
Thalberg School
Principal: Mrs. Katherine Reeves
kreeves@southingtonschools.org
Secretaries: Mrs. Jaci Belanger & Mrs. Joyce Suess
jbelanger@southingtonschools.org & jsuess@southingtonschools.org
Phone: 860-628-3370
Fax: 860-628-3308
Principal's Message
Dear Thalberg Families,
March comes in like a lion and obviously winter weather is still lingering. Please make sure to review our school’s outdoor weather clothing policy. We do look at the temperature at the time we send the students out for recess and not just the temperature highs for the day. It is helpful if the students bring their jackets and dress appropriately for the temperature during the recess hours. Here are the times when recess occurs: K and Grade 1: 11:30-12; Grade 2 and 3: 12:15-12:45; Grade 4 and 5: 1:00-1:30.
March can feel like the longest month. It is certainly one of our busiest months at the school. We are preparing for our new kindergarteners as registration is now open for the 2019-20 school year. We will be hosting two registration dates (March 7th and March 8th) in which we have the opportunity to meet with our newest students. Our current students are busy with the end of the marking period on March 8th. Ariona D. will be representing Thalberg at the town wide spelling bee on April 1st. The event will be here at Thalberg in our cafeteria. This month is also parent/teacher conferences. We will have two early release days on March 18 and 19th so that teachers can meet with all parents. For our second trimester, teachers will be focusing their conversations on the progress the students have made as well as the expectations for the last marking period. This is a time in which student achievements are crucial for preparing for the demands of the upcoming school year.
There are a number of programs that we have occurring this month. Our students celebrated Dr. Seuss Day with our Read Across America week last week. On March 11, the first grade classes will have a special visit from The Cat in the Hat! On March 15th, our Grade 5 students will have the 2nd lesson on diversity and biases with special presenters, Mr. Vivian and Mr. Donaldson. The 3rd lesson will occur in May. Spring pictures will be on April 1st!
As many people are aware, the school budgets are being discussed at many levels. We are going to continue to maximize our resources. Our focus will always be the students and their education. Thank you for your continued support for Southington Public School and the Thalberg Community.
Sincerely,
Katie Reeves
Principal
March Calendar of Events
March 5.....Kindergarten Dental Program
March 7......2019-2020 Kindergarten Registration....PM
March 8......2019-2020 Kindergarten Registration....All Day
March 13....Banking Day
March 13....PTO Meeting 6:30 PM
March 18....Early Dismissal Students
Parent/Teacher Conferences
March 19....Early Dismissal Students
Parent/Teacher Conferences
March 26.....Early Dismissal Students...Prof. Dev. Day
April 1....Spring Picture Day
March Birthdays
March 1......Gavin.H.
March 2......Veronica H.
March 2.......Rishit P.
March 4.......Kira H.
March 4.......Kaleb M.
March 4.......Leah S.
March 6.......Ava A.
March 6.......Juliana L.
March 6.......Lorenzo R.
March 7.......Kaeden B.
March 8.......Suhani D.
March 8.......Taylor R.
March 9.......Adelyn K.
March 9.......Arinze N.
March 10.....Leilana P.
March 10.....Kacie R.
March 10.....Joseph S.
March 11.....Fiona H.
March 11.....Allison M.
March 14.....Noah R.
March 15.....Nanor K.
March 16.....Pia D.
March 19.....Max P.
March 21.....Jacob D.
March 22.....Osiris B.
March 23.....Levi J.
March 24.....Tyler K.
March 25.....Addison R.
March 27.....Mya L.
March 27.....Sean O.
March 29.....Colin M.
March 30.....Mara B.
March 30.....Jackson M.
Vocal Music Happenings with Mrs. Ferrall
Take a look at our website: https://tesmusic.wixsite.com/thalbergmusic
Kindergarten: Students have been continuing to practice keeping a steady beat to many different songs and rhymes. We’ve also been practicing contrasts such as fast/slow and soft/loud and practicing moving in a circle (which is trickier than it sounds! J). Ask your child to sing and demonstrate the song “Circle Round the Zero” and see if they remember all the movements.
First Grade: Students have been learning some new rhythms (ta, ti-ti, and rest) as well as learning about sol and mi. They’ve been using mini whiteboards to practice writing rhythms. To practice singing sol and mi, we’ve been playing the game “Cuckoo in the Clock.”
Second Grade: Students are working more on reading and reciting rhythms on the syllables ta, ti-ti, and rest. We also learned a new rhythm; ta-ah or a half note. We’re continuing to work on our singing voices and practice our solfege syllables (sol, mi and la). The students love playing the games “solami” and “Pizza, Pizza.” We’ve just begun a dance unit and are learning new dance steps – the kids are having so much fun!
Third Grade: Third graders have been given their recorders and learned how to play the notes “B, A, and G” or “mi, re, and do.” We are working on Hot Cross Buns and have begun testing for “belts.” We are working on proper playing techniques and will continue to learn new notes and how to play songs together in class. Be on the lookout for a recorder performance in the spring!
Fourth Grade: Students in fourth grade have begun practicing for their spring concert. Please remember to send in a two pocket folder for students to keep their lyric sheets in. We will use these each week. The spring performance will be on Monday, April 8th at 7 pm. Songs for the concert can be found on the music website so that students can practice at home.
Fifth Grade: The fifth graders will continue to work on singing voices but also be able to work more on reading and writing music. Students will have an opportunity to compose their own piece of music in the late spring. We’ve recently been practicing singing a song in a 3-part round, “One Bottle of Pop” and playing a stick passing game called “Obwisana.”
Please feel free to email me with any questions or concerns at nferrall@southingtonschools.org.
Miss Baer’s Music Corner
Students in Miss Baer’s music classes are working on mastering end of the year music skills and competencies.
Kindergarten students are continuing to experience contrasts in music, such as fast/slow, loud/soft, and high /low. They’ve enjoyed singing in their loud (forte) and soft (piano) voices as they played the Grumpy Grizzly game. They also liked playing fast (presto) and slow (large) characters in the Old Mother Brown game. Please continue having your child sing his/her “Ask Me” songs at home. Encourage your child to sing in his/her high voice as much as possible. This will help to develop “head voice” and tuneful singing.
First grade students are identifying the difference between beat and rhythm with songs, games and written materials. Have your child teach you the Cobbler, Cobbler game.
Second graders enjoyed playing instruments for a musical tone poem for Valentine’s day. They will continue singing and creating songs with Sol, Mi and La. They are becoming very creative musicians.
Third graders are progressing nicely with their recorder playing. They know how to use the 4 practice steps and are learning to “chunk” (practice one measure at a time) and audiate (hear the music inside their head). They will soon be moving from stick notation to standard music notation. Some students have already earned 3 recorder belts. Please encourage your child to practice each day.
Fourth graders have been given song sheets to take home and practice. Practicing at home will help them memorize the words of their concert music so that they are able to follow the conductor’s cues for parts, dynamics and tempo. Spring is right around the corner. Their Spring Concert is Monday, April 8th. Please make your calendar for our evening performance at 7:00PM. Music for their concert can be found on the website below.
https://tesmusic.wixsite.com/thalbergmusic/fourth-grade
Fifth graders are creating a musical board game to increase their knowledge of musical symbols found in vocal and instrumental music. Soon students will be choosing their music courses for Middle School. If your child will not be playing an instrument in Middle School, I strongly urge you to have him/her sign up for Chorus. Students who play instruments may also audition for an after-school chorus group next year.
"Souper Bowl"
CAS Awards
- Who have excelled in the areas of visual or performing arts
- Who exhibit high levels of citizenship and cooperative skills
This years Thalberg recipients were Emily Bafuma and Sean O'Sullivan. Congratulations to both students.