Special Area News!
Learning, Growing, Leading ... Together
November
Welcome to Fall! Here is what is happening in the computer lab!
Kindergarten- Students are continuing to learn basic mouse skills. They are also learning where the letters are on the keyboard so they can log in. Most students can log in with their cards. Please continue to practice at home using the paper they brought home. Students are also using Reading Eggs. This program is available on phones and tablets too. Please encourage your student to login at home and play the great literacy adventures that the learning game has to offer. To access, you can use the sheet that was sent home to log in. If you need help, let me know.
First grade- Students are using Google Docs to type simple sentences, change fonts and add images to their creations. They are also using the iPads and exploring different creation apps such as Keynote, Sketches, and Seesaw.
Second grade- Students are learning how to use Google Slides by designing backgrounds and animating words and images.They are also using iPads to create simple shape books.
Third grade-Students are finishing their animal slideshows. They will then create a quiz on Google Forms and make a digital talking image on the iPads.
Fourth grade- Students are learning advanced features of Google Slides. They are also learning how to make powerful internet searches as well as critically read a website. We are also going to use the iPads to make animated GIFs.
Fifth grade- We are in the process of creating websites on famous explorers. Students are learning how to embed files, create interactive pages, and develop multimedia maps. It is amazing how different each student's sites are. I see so much creativity and thoughtful work.
Sincerely,
Kristy Rose
News from the Music Room November…….
Kindergarten-Fifth grade students have been working very hard this past month to prepare several song selections for our upcoming Veterans Day assemblies. It is awesome to see how much pride they have when it comes to honoring our Veterans. Thank you parents for instilling that in your children.
In Kindergarten music we have been learning new songs as we discover our singing voices. We have been using rhythm sticks and movement to practice finding the “heartbeat” of the music.
In First Grade music, we have been exploring the classroom xylophones as we begin to add accompaniment to a seasonal favorite, Skin and Bones. In addition to keeping a steady beat, students are learning how to play using alternating mallet technique.
In Second Grade music we have been learning about form; how the music is organized. We are working to create B and C sections as we create Rondos based on the theme of the book The Little Old Lady Who Wasn’t Afraid of Anything at All. Ask your child to tell you how many parts make up a Rondo.
In Third Grade music, we have continued to tackle 2 and 3-part singing with rounds like Hey Ho, Nobody Home, and The Ghost of John. We have started to add instrumental accompaniment with the classroom xylophones. As we move on, we will begin to sing partner songs as another avenue for singing and playing in harmony.
In Fourth Grade music, we have been learning about the importance of using dynamics in music. Students have been very creative as they have interpreted the speech piece In the Dark, Dark Wood. We will begin using the xylophones for a good portion of the remainder of the quarter.
In Fifth Grade music, we are wrapping up our ostinato unit as students’ pair up to play their original melodic ostinatos. We have also been busily preparing for our upcoming Holiday Concert; Christmas County Spelling Bee scheduled for Thursday, December 5 at 6:00 p.m. This year’s performance is sure to create great memories for all!
Sincerely,
Cynthia Clark cynthiaclark@wsdr4.org
Hello Duello Family,
What a great first quarter!!!! We hope your children are enjoying their time in PE and are learning fun and exciting ways to be physically fit.
A key element that contributes to student success and well-being is safety. While in PE class, students need to wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Clothing should be conducive to movement. Our recommendation is for students to wear athletic shoes. This is imperative.
A day of PE consists of warm ups, a game or other activity, and working on Learning Goals. Physical Education is an integral part of your child’s education and contributes to his/her growth and development. It is our goal to give your child a positive PE experience and to help him/her gain an appreciation of the importance of staying active. Your child will have experiences in individual, team, and group activities that place an emphasis on participation, cooperation, and success through personal goals.
We will be finishing up our soccer unit soon and will be moving towards our fitness unit. But before we do we are excited to announce that we are bringing back GHOSTBUSTERS!!!!!! The students absolutely love it. If you don’t know what it is, just ask your child they will tell you all about it.
This fall your child can look forward to working on specific Learning Goals:
- Kindergarten through Second grades
- Locomotor movement - walking, galloping, sliding, jumping, hopping, etc.
- Non-locomotor movement – balance, twisting, bridging, bending, etc.
- Equipment Manipulation – bounce and catch a ball with two hands, tossing, kicking a ball, using body or object to safely strike, tap, jump, or kick from a stationary position, etc.
- Social Interactions – Sharing, respect of self and others, cooperation, exhibits physically active lifestyle, participation, outside play, and understanding the benefits of physical activity, participates in physical activity outside of school setting
- Third and sixth grades
- Locomotor movement – Traveling in a variety in a direction of patterns, dodging and fleeing
- Non-locomotor – transfer weight from one body part to another
- Equipment manipulation – Strike, dribble, catch, and kick a moving object, jumping a turned rope by self or others, overhand and underhand throw at a target
- Social Integration – demonstrates appropriate behaviors in the classroom, cooperation in group activities, understands the value of equipment, and demonstrates concerns for others, exhibits physically active lifestyle, participates in physical activities outside of school that are interesting, engaging, and personally enjoyable
Sincerely,
Coach McGuire paulmcguire@wsdr4.org
Coach Pangan anthonypangan@wsdr4.org
Coach Poulter christinepoulter@wsdr4.org
First Grade Art:
In 1st grade art, we have finished making artwork for the Art To Remember fundraiser. Be looking for the order form so you can order your child’s artwork on all kinds of fun items. These make great gifts just in time for the holidays! Plus, we use the funds we raise to replenish art supplies throughout the school year. We really appreciate your support, and your child will be so excited to see their artwork professionally printed.
We are moving onto our fall projects. We are trying out tearing paper and cutting paper for collages. We are always practicing our drawing skills and remembering that we can draw anything using lines and shapes. We will continue working on our painting skills.
Ashley Freeland
Kindergarten, Second-Sixth grade art
Kindergarten through fifth grade students have been busy creating colorful, fun artwork for the Art to Remember program. Art to Remember provides a creative fundraiser, which allows you to purchase keepsake products customized with your child's art. The money earned helps to support the art program. Be on the lookout. Order forms will be coming home at the end of next week. The products will be in before the Winter Holidays if you would like to use these purchases for gifts. We would like to raise enough funds to purchase 3 more Chromebooks and iPads for students to use to upload artwork to Artsonia and to use as a resource for their artwork.
We will be starting studio and creating our own artwork this quarter and beginning to upload to Artsonia. Artsonia is the world's largest student online art museum with over 50 MILLION artworks published from schools worldwide! Artsonia provides a venue for an art portfolio, a single location to keep a digital copy of all artwork your child creates. This will be used to manage a school art gallery in a safe and educational manner, providing a positive and safe educational environment for the students to showcase their creative works while developing students' pride and self-esteem and involving parents and relatives in students' art education. If you are new to Duello, your student didn't have my class last year for art, or you missed the email last year to sign up, you should be receiving an email shortly from Artsonia regarding permission to publicly display your student's artwork. If you don't receive an email, please let me know so we can get the information to you. The students are eager to see their artwork online. (You only need to give permission one time. So if you already gave permission last year, you will not receive an email.)
The overall objectives for all students this quarter Students will be to engage and persist and continue to work on the Elements of Art, tools from the artist's toolkit, to create their art, plan out their projects, and remain focused artists in the classroom.
Sincerely,
Diana Mahoney dianamahoney@wsdr4.org
The All for Books Coin Challenge was a huge success! We raised $1096.52! That means Scholastic will donate 1,096 books to a school in need on behalf of Duello! Also, our classrooms will get $1096.52 worth of books!! The top earning class in the F Hallway is...Mrs. Lenich’s class! The top earning class in the C Hallway is...Mrs. Sanders! Both classrooms will be receiving a yummy arctic treat from the library!!! Thank you everyone for all of your donations!! We can’t wait to see what books you get for your classrooms!!!
Happy Reading!!!
Jennifer Kastner jenniferkastner@wsdr4.org
PLTW/ Medical Detectives:
Next up on PLTW, we are learning about the brain. We are learning about the different parts of the brain and their functions. Students will delve into how the spinal cord and nerves help send information to our body. We will be dissecting a sheep brain by the end of the month.
Thank you,
Anthony Pangan anthonypangan@wsdr4.org
Sixth Grade Computers:
In 6th grade computers, we are working hard on several projects to strengthen our skills in google sheets, google docs, google drawings, and google slides. Students are learning about formatting, professionalism, and what materials are necessary for business owners. Current projects include a press release, promotional flyer, employee roster, menu planner. Upcoming projects include a takeout menu and equipment inventory.
Sincerely,
Ashley Freeland ashleyfreeland@wsdr4.org
Hello Band Families,
Thank you for continuing to encourage your child's music education through performance in band class. Weekly emails are sent home from Mr. Flannigan, so if you aren't receiving these, please update your contact information through SIS or through our office. As always, if you need anything, don't hesitate to reach out.
Neil Flannigan neilflannigan@wsdr4.org