The Paw Print
April, 2018
Art News
This month Kindergarten through second grade will be learning about famous artist and creating art to reflect their style. Kindergarten will learn about Joan Miro. He liked to use bold lines and color in his artwork. First graders will learn about the artist Reggie Lauren. He used lines, shapes and color in an abstract way. Second graders will learn about Henri Matisse. He would cut out both geometric and free form shapes to create colorful artwork. Third through fifth grade will be doing a clay project. They will chose a geometric shape and paint a picture of something that inspires them. I can’t wait to see their finished art piece.
Congratulations to Brayleann in fourth grade and Angel in second grade. Their artwork was chosen for the March Spring Art Show. Nice Job!!
Science News
This month we are exploring the Earth sciences in the lab. Fifth grade is learning how the geosphere interacts with other earth systems (hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere). Fourth grade is experimenting with weathering and erosion. Third grade is finishing a unit on magnetism and will soon study weather. Second grade is learning about Earth’s atmosphere and weather, including experiments with air pressure. First grade will be studying rocks and pebbles. Kindergarten is continuing with their weather unit.
McLean Invention Convention
Our final school-wide science event for the year is the McLean Invention Convention and STEM Night on Thursday, April 19. Students will identify a problem and create an invention to solve the problem. Completed projects will be brought to school Thursday, April 19. Projects will be on display Thursday afternoon and throughout the evening STEM Night activities. Please plan to join us!
Thursday, Apr 19, 2018, 06:00 PM
McLean Elementary School, North Marigold Lane, Wichita, KS, USA
Music Notes
March was a busy month for music students. We had a successful K/1 Music Program and the annual McLean Talent Show. We also finished up our time with the piano lab. Many students really enjoyed this and several tell me they have started piano lessons.
Coming up on April 10th, at 6:30 PM in the auditorium at Pleasant Valley Middle School, the final music program of the year will be presented by the Grades 2 and 3 classes. They are performing “Sing a Song of Aesop”, which combines singing and five small plays illustrating some of the most famous fables. Over 50 students volunteered to narrate and act in this production. I’m very pleased with their efforts, this is going to be a fun show!
By 6:15 PM, our 2nd and 3rd grade students should be in the PVMS Choir Room, directly across from the auditorium doors. They should wear nice jeans, Mclean Tshirts or green, blue or white shirts for this performance.
Other grade levels are starting dancing, singing, and song writing activities. It’s going to be a fun month at McLean! I hope it is musical for your family too.
P.E. Shorts
This month we will be working on striking skills using tennis racquets and we will finish fitness testing. If you have any questions about PE, please feel free to contact me. My office number is 973-8263 and my e-mail is jdoornbos1@usd259.net.
Jack Doornbos
Check It Out at the Library
April will be a great month in the library. National Library Week is April 8-18. National Library Week is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and library workers and to promote library use and support. From free access to books and online resources for families to library business centers that help support entrepreneurship and retraining, libraries offer opportunity to all. We are very fortunate to have many Wichita Public Branch Libraries in different parts of the city so that families do not have to go very far to find books. Many of our McLean students do not live in our neighborhood, but ride buses from different parts of Wichita to attend our McLean Science and Technology Magnet. They have their own library branches closer to their neighborhoods. As a family try to go to your local branch library and choose books to read. Maybe each student in your family can pick one favorite that you can read together. There are all kinds of library items you can check out at the public libraries besides books. Some examples are playaways, audio books, DVDs, Blue-rays, Music CD’s, and they even have Large Print Books. So many McLean students love to come and check out books. I see their joy all the time. Use National Library Month as a way to see the joy on their faces when you take them to their local branch library.
Grades 3-5 have voted on the William Allen White Award books. We will publish the McLean, the USD#259, and Kansas state winners in the Paw Print next month.
If you can dream it, You can do it.
Walt Disney.
Ramah Coffman-Mclean Library Teacher.