Cheetah Pride Press
News From Memorial School February 7, 2020
Author Jessie Janowitz
Author & Illustrator Jason Tharp
World Read Aloud Day
We. Are. Growing. Readers!
In celebration of World Read Aloud week, published author Jessie Janowitz visited our third grade team. She helped students imagine “sparks” that could be stoked and written into complete stories. Second graders welcomed author and illustrator Jason Tharp to a presentation where he shared his inspiring message of being YOU and being KIND. We also lined our hallways to cheer for our Kindergarten Super Readers as they confidently marched a lap around Memorial. It was an exciting week with so much to celebrate! #CheetahPride
February 5th Was Global School Play Day 2020
Rediscovering Play in an Over-scheduled World
Excerpt from Harvard Graduate School of Education (https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/18/06/summertime-playtime)
In our tightly scheduled world, some kids feel uncomfortable when they have the opportunity to play freely. They may retreat to their technology, complain about boredom, or fight. Mardell and Solis provide suggestions on how parents [and teachers] can foster a playful household [and classrooms]:
- Plan for play, and create the space for it. If kids have been spending too much time in front of screens, say to them, “Tomorrow, let’s have some of your friends over here to play,” or “Let’s walk over to the playground this afternoon for a few hours and have some fun.”
- Find fun in the materials you have. “A lot of the things that you have in your garage or in your kitchen might actually be quite engaging for children of all ages,” says Solis. Rather than always buying new toys, for example, use leftover Amazon boxes. Say to kids, “You can build a fort, or a time machine, or whatever you want. Take over the living room.” This ability to choose how materials will be used can spur creativity.
- Be open to risk. Part of letting children play is acknowledging that they might get a scrape or bang their knee — and that that’s okay. If you let children know that you trust them to take small risks, they’ll likely enjoy creating and exploring.
- Model play. “There has to be a culture of adult play in order for children to play as well,” says Solis. “If children watch their parents or grandparents having hobbies, enjoying a soccer match, being creative, being outside, then it’s more likely for kids to say, ‘With all this summer time that I have, I’d rather go build a fort than sit in front of the TV.’”
- Play together. “I knew this as a kid, and I’ve experienced this as a parent: Your kids actually do want to play with you,” says Mardell. Build sandcastles together, dress up together, or tell stories together. “Really get into the spirit of the play and doing it together. That’s the beauty of summertime or vacation.”
- Wait out the cries of “I’m bored.” Kids often have to pass through that initial discomfort and recover the space and presence to be self-directed and curious. But with time, they’ll emerge on the other side and settle into an activity.
Growth Mindset
Head Cheetahs
We Are Proud Cheetahs
East Hampton's Profile of the Graduate Begins at Memorial
Caring: displaying kindness and concern for others.
Caring in Action
Caring in Action
Caring in Action
Imagination: the ability of the mind to be creative or resourceful.
Imagination in Action
Imagination in Action
Imagination in Action
Imagination in Action
Imagination in Action
Imagination in Action
Confidence: a feeling or belief that you can do something well.
Confidence in Action
Confidence in Action
Confidence in Action
Teamwork: combined efforts to achieve a common goal.
Teamwork in Action
Teamwork in Action
Teamwork in Action
Wonder: a complex emotion involving elements of surprise, curiosity, contemplation, and joy.
Wonder in Action
Wonder in Action
Wonder in Action
Math Workshop in Action
Feb. 1-29--Black History Month
Important Dates
Feb. 7-March 20--Preschool Registration--Packets Available in Memorial Foyer, at EH Library, and as download at bottom of this newsletter
Feb. 10-March 31--Kindergarten Registration--Packets Available in Memorial Foyer, at EH Library, and as download at bottom of this newsletter
Feb. 12--100th Day of School
Feb. 14--No School--Professional Learning Day
Feb. 17--No School--Presidents’ Day
Feb. 18--No School--February Recess
Feb. 28--PTO Sponsored The Brain Show
March 29--PreK Touch-A-Truck Event
3rd Grade Is Collecting Books Through February 21st
3rd Grade Book Drive
Our Learners Beyond the Walls of Our School
We understand that school is only one part of our learners' lives. We are interested and look forward to celebrating achievements/events that take place within our community and demonstrate our Profile of the Graduate qualities--Imagination, Confidence, Teamwork, Wonder, Caring. Please email Andy at agonzalez@easthamptonct.org or Brandy at bgadoury@easthamptonct.org directly with anything that you would like highlighted in our Cheetah Pride Press. #EastHamptonProud!
The Order of the Cheetah
Mr. Rossi received the Order of the Cheetah recognition for sharing his technology expertise with his teammate Mrs. Davidson. Mrs. Davidson's learners accessed Google Hangouts to read aloud with a first grade class in Durham, CT on World Read Aloud Day. #WRAD2020 #CheetahPride #Teamwork
Kindergarten Memorial Models
1st Grade Memorial Models
2nd Grade Memorial Models
3rd Grade Memorial Models
News from P.E.
Hi Everyone,
The children continue to work hard to improve their overall fitness through the jogging and exercise warm-up portion of their PE class.
Pre K, K and Grade 1
The children did some cooperative games activities.
Station centers were set-up this month with various skills being practiced. ( Jumping, throwing, catching and agility)
Continued to work on gross motor skills through games.
Finished our basketball and playground ball unit.
Next up for the children will be a beach ball unit. They will learn technique of hitting underhand and overhead a beach ball. The children will work individually, with a partner and grade 1 will also work in groups of three. At end of unit children will try hitting over a volleyball net with a partner.
Grade 2 and 3
The children just finished up a basketball unit with a shooting in a minute individually challenged activity.
We saw a lot of improvement in all areas of the unit.
The fitness lab, heart monitors, arm strengthening stretch bands continued to be used.
Station centers were set-up this month where the children worked on small and large jumping ropes, catching, underhand and overhead
throwing at targets.
Cooperative games and group jogging challenges were also done this month.
The children will be moving on to a beachball/volleyball unit next, which is always a favorite for them.
Coach Boscarino and Coach Ruel
Image: Teamwork* 3rd graders timing eachother on the pull up bar
News from the Music Room
Hello Memorial Families! Please find your student’s grade level below to see what they’ve been working on in music.
Preschool: Students enjoyed being an echo while singing the silly song “Down By the Bay”. They even tried making up their own verses with rhyming words! We also chanted “Five Little Monkeys” and had fun pretending to build a house while singing “Bling Blang”.
Kindergarten: This month, our musical comparison words were high and low. These words are often confused with loud and soft, so we do many activities to reinforce the concept. Students met our two puppet friends, Blue Dog (with a low voice) and Kittie (with a high voice) and found high and low sounds in various poems, songs, and stories. Favorites included “Mr. Wiggle and Mr. Waggle”, “Grandma’s Glasses”, “See Saw”, and “Goldilocks”. We had fun imitating the characters’ high and low voices!
First Grade: Students learned about a new music word this month - ostinato (a pattern that repeats). Students also spent this month learning how to play xylophones! Our unit focused on the song “Who’s in the Woods on this Snowy Day”. We learned to play three different accompaniment parts to go with the song, focusing on playing with a group, using proper technique, and making the parts fit the song. Students explored the bass xylophone, alto xylophones, soprano xylophones, metallophone, and soprano and alto glockenspiels!
Second Grade: This month, students reviewed the concept of ostinato (a pattern that repeats), including watching a silly music video about the word! Then, they used teamwork and completed a group composing project, creating an ostinato to accompany a song. They finished by performing their song and ostinato pattern for the class! Creative performances included rhythm instruments, dance moves, and even special endings. The other focus this month was on learning our new note on the music staircase - Do! This low note was found in songs like “Knock the Cymbals”, “Who’s that Tapping at the Window”, and “Rocky Mountain”.
Third Grade: Students spent the month working on recorder skills. They also learned strategies to read and recognize notes on the treble clef staff using letter names. During the past month, most third graders took their recorder test for the “white belt” by playing the song “Hot Cross Buns”. Some classes are also in the midst of testing for their “yellow belts” by playing “Gently Sleep”. They are excited to begin moving through the levels of recorder karate. Depending on the belt they have earned, students should focus on practicing “Gently Sleep” or “Merrily We Roll Along” next during their home practice time. Please help your student remember to practice at least four days per week for at least ten minutes! Be sure to look at the Recorder Karate page on the music website for helpful resources!
Please check out the music room website for more information about the music program. Feel free to reach out at any time by emailing smaldonado@easthamptonct.org.
Mrs. Maldonado
News from the Library Media Center
Hi Cheetah families!
It has been another busy month in the Memorial School library!
· PreK students are enjoying a variety of read alouds and songs with the themes of friendship, Valentine's Day and Groundhogs day.
· Kindergarten has been introduced to coding. They have starting taking their new skills online on the website Kodable. Embedded in these lessons, they are practicing logging on with their usernames and passwords, identifying the keys on the keyboard, and practicing with the track pad.
· First grade is finishing their coding unit. We describe code as the language that the computer speaks. We are using the code.org curriculum for k-5, Course A. Students are practicing manipulating the track pad with various puzzles and then move onto basic logic and sequencing problems.
· Second grade is beginning their coding unit; we are using code.org and choosing from various 1 hour activities. We will be breaking the hour up over several class periods. We also spent time preparing for our author visit with Jason Tharp. We spent time previewing his books, learning about him as an author and illustrator, and participated in a few of his drawing tutorials.
· Third graders are finishing their coding unit. We also spent time preparing for our author visit with Jessie Janowitz. We researched the author, read excerpts from her book, and came up with some thoughtful questions for her.
For more information and updates, make sure to check out the library website at https://sites.google.com/site/centermemoriallibrary/ and follow us on Twitter @EHk5libraries! Questions, please contact, Mrs. Flannery at rflannery@easthamptonct.org.
Mrs. Flannery and Mrs. Hill
K students participate in an interactive read aloud with Mrs. Cowen
News from the Art Room
In the art room students have been busy exploring, wondering about, and discovering the world of Abstract Art, as well as Printmaking, in various grade levels!
We have explored the following concepts and media in each grade while creating such unique and wondrous masterpieces!
PK: stamp rollers (printing) and building our first three dimensional forms (Pop-ups). We created 3-D raindrop shapes, round circle shapes, and zigzag-stair type shapes. Some students even created their own shapes by bending and overlapping them as they glued them onto their board to build their very own SCULPTURES!
K: creating abstract art with SHAPES AND LINES! Students explored the painting process (mixing colors and appropriate use of a paintbrush). We are REAL artists because we know how to take care of paint and our brushes! DIP-DRIP-WIPE THE TIP! Students have taken such responsibility and care with the paint and have mixed so many unique colors on their own. We have had so much fun describing how to make these unique colors with each other! It was so exciting to look at artwork by Wassily Kandinsky to see how he interpreted shapes and lines into his abstract art! It is a breeze for kindergarten students to identify abstract art versus any other style of art! See if they can recognize it and explain it to you at home! They love sharing what they know about this new and exciting way to create artwork!
1: Frank Stella (contemporary sculpture artist from Massachusetts) inspiring the creation of our very own abstract sculptures: Forming paper to create 3-D forms (Roll, Twist, Crumple, Bend, Fold, Overlap). Students have built such complex abstract sculptures and the last part of this unit is that students sculptures will all be hanging up to combine together to make one massive relief sculpture! Pictures to come in our next newsletter!
2: Botany Printmaking: Students in 2nd grade have finished creating their organic shapes, and are now making worldly connections with organic shapes and real plant and flower species. We are taking those organic shapes we created and are arranging them to create our own flower or plant! We even learned the history of printmaking along the way, learning about two important print-makers in history; Johannes Gutenberg and Albrecht Durer.
3. Choice Art: students in 3rd grade have been pushing their way through this school year and have assessed their progress so far this month, as we are now more than half way through the school year! Students are all on track with at least mastering 3 out of 6 art categories! We are proud of our efforts and hope to continue this momentum as the rest of the year approaches. Students continue to amaze me as they take risks and shape their own learning paths in art. We currently see students creating works of art with : printmaking tools, digital art apps, photography with cameras, editing tools on iPad, drawing with all drawing media, painting with various types of paint, sculpting with clay, cardboard, and wood, sewing and weaving, and MORE! I love watching the third graders as they push themselves to create their own version of a high quality work of art!
Jen Bove checks in with a hot lunch muncher!
Yes please, we'd like to try zucchini!
Hands Up for Veg-uary!
Zucchini Taster!
Preschool Menu
K-3 Menu
Events Sponsored by our PTO
EHEPTO.com lists all meeting dates and planned activities.
EHEPTO.com
PTO Board of Directors
#CheetahPride
Stop & Shop A+ Rewards
A+ School Rewards are points that supporters earn with each purchase made using their Stop & Shop Card. At the end of each month, the points earned are used in a calculation to determine your school’s cash total, which is then automatically credited to your school’s account. Last year, through our community's support, Memorial School received a check for $3,921.05!
Are you new to A+ School Rewards? If so, registering is EASY!
- Log on to www.stopandshop.com/aplus and select CUSTOMER REGISTRATION to register online using your Stop & Shop Card
Memorial Takes Care of Things
Barbara Sargeant
Cafetorium Lost & Found Line
Unclaimed Items
Rebecca Flannery
Library Media Specialist
Memorial School & Center School
Jess Warner & Abby Skarvelas
Andrea Winiarski
K-5 Math/Science Specialist
East Hampton Public Schools
Nondiscrimination Statement:
The East Hampton Board of Education, in compliance with federal and state law, affirms its policy of equal educational opportunity for all students and equal employment opportunity for all persons. It is the policy of the District to promote nondiscrimination and an environment free of harassment regardless of an individual’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, ancestry, disability (including but not limited to, intellectual disability, past or present history of mental disorder, physical disability, or learning disability), genetic information, marital status, or age or because of the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, ancestry, disability, genetic information, marital status, or age of any persons with whom the individual associates. The District shall provide to all students without discrimination, course offerings, counseling, assistance, employment, athletics, and extracurricular activities. The District shall provide equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The District shall make reasonable accommodations for identified physical and mental impairments that constitute disabilities, consistent with federal and state statutes and regulations.
Memorial Elementary School
Email: memorialoffice@easthamptonct.org
Website: http://www.easthamptonps.org/o/memorial-school
Location: 20 Smith Street, East Hampton, CT 06424
Phone: 860-365-4020
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ehmemorialschool/