Principal's Newsletter
March 2015
Students Caught Reading!
Ava and Grace get in some early morning reading!
Jonathan has been flying through books!
Isabella sneaks away to read during lunch!
Year of Science!
Part of the curriculum of the 6th grade STEM class included making videos with the help of M.I.T. professor Elizabeth Choe. Here are the videos produced from the class:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3UMwv3RbFs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR6pNNpu3kI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9tjT5OT87I
Core Values Committee Strikes Gold!
The new and exciting core values will be centered on the acronym PRIDE and will be action verbs known as the ATC High Five! Persevere, Respect, Inspire, Dream, and Engage will be the five core values of the school. Be on the lookout for school communication in the next few weeks that highlights students echoing these values. There will also be a large banner installed in our main corridor over the next few days.
New Teacher Spotlight
Curriculum Updates
Grade 4
ELA - Students have begun publishing their opinion essays and continue to focus on robust vocabulary and content skills integrated through the Story Town program.
Math - Our fourth grade students are engaging with fractions using models, manipulatives, practice pages, and online programs. The children are working towards developing an understanding of fraction equivalence and adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators.
Science - The study of rocks and minerals has been at the heart of science instruction.
Social Studies - Students continue to study the various states and regions of the United States.
Grade 5
ELA - Many of the students in grade 5 are completing units on novels. MCAS strategies / preparation has been integrated into the daily lessons. Informational writing has been the focus of writing blocks.
Math - Grade 5 lessons have been centered on division, order of operations, geometry / volume / area / perimeter. The Walk to Learn model has been very successful based on student feedback and monthly assessments.
Science - Teachers in grade 5 cover units at various times as they share resources but ecosystems, weather, and matter are the focuses for instruction.
Social Studies - The Colonial Period is the center of social studies block as explorer units have just been completed.
Grade 6
ELA - Students have been focusing on Figurative Language and Literary Devices, also strategies and practice for the upcoming MCAS. Specifically, we have been working on test - taking strategies and written work to address Open Response. We have also done some vocabulary work in preparation for reading The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder. This novel ties in closely with the study of Ancient Egypt in the Social Studies classroom and is used in our inter-disciplinary celebration of all things Egypt scheduled for the end of March.
Math - Grade 6 Math will be working on expressions and equations during the month of March.
Science - In grade 6, science students are preparing to start a waves unit that integrates some new curriculum resources purchased to provide more lab-based learning options.
Social Studies - Students have begun their exciting unit on Egyptian Civilization which will end with the annual celebration on March 31st.
Grade 7
ELA - Seventh grade students have begun MCAS practice, focusing on strategies for reading comprehension and writing. Ms. Sarnelli's students are reading independent books and focusing on using evidence from the text to support analysis. Ms. Dunn's students are reading the sequels to the books they finished midway through Trimester 2 and continuing to practice short response using a Reader's Workshop model for discussion and written response to reading.
Math - Students are just finishing up proportions, and even more specifically, graphing proportional and non-proportional relationships, which involves slope and unit rates. Students will now move into scale drawing, which combines proportions and geometry. This will be an easy segue into geometrical topics, like properties of shapes and calculating area, surface area, and volume. We will also start reviewing MCAS questions as well and focusing on short answer and open response questions, which has been an overall struggle for the students in prior years.
Science - Seventh grade science is delving into Cells. Students are being trained in proper microscope handling (even earning microscopist licenses) and we are planning some sea water cellular life viewing activities. Additionally, Mrs Preble and Mr. Farnsworth are organizing a day/evening to train our 7th graders in CPR.
Social Studies - The 7th grade geography classes continue to learn about the political and physical geography of countries all over the globe as well as the people and cultures that make these places unique! Mr. Durkee's geography classes are moving into Southwest Asia and the Middle East right behind Mr. Farnsworth's class who are focusing on South Asia, while Mrs. Dunn's class is studying Central and South America and Ms. Joy is in Africa!
Upcoming Important Dates
March 10th - PTO meeting at 6:30 in the cafetorium.
March 16th - Band festival 6-8PM in the gymnasium.
March 24th - Report Cards Issued for Trimester Two.
March 27th - End of Yankee Candle Fundraiser.
March 28th - Advanced Band Competition in Wrentham, MA.
April 3rd - Early Release Day and Parent / Teacher Conferences. (Sign-up information coming soon).
April 16th - Full Court Frenzy
April 17th - Early Release Day and Parent / Teacher Conferences.