Upper El Weekly Newsletter
Friday, December 16, 2022
Upper EL News
Dear Upper Elementary families,
Highlights from the week and a look ahead to next week:
Thank you for attending our holiday music program. The children worked really hard on the music and choreography, and their enthusiasm was evident in the concert. Thank you to Fran and Tony for all their hard work and musical gifts.
Our performances for Young Chautauqua were a great success. Students dressed and spoke as the historical characters they studied. It was a fun event, and students really enjoyed hearing each other’s presentations. Even though many students were nervous to give the presentation, almost all of our students said they’d like to give the performance again afterward. We had students present in small groups to each other, and rotate through groups, so each student presented two times to different groups, and each person heard twelve different performances. Our students’ “thorn” after the presentations was that they couldn’t see them all. It was a lot of fun.
Our next research project is Free Choice. This week each student chose a topic and found a resource for their topic. They will have three weeks for this project and can choose how they present their final written and visual components (paragraphs, poems, a play, a slide show, a drawing, a diorama, etc.). Ask your child what he / she has chosen to study.
6th graders enjoyed experimenting with baking as part of our chemistry unit. Ask them which version of our chocolate chip cookie recipe they enjoyed the best.
Thank you to all parents who have volunteered! We appreciate you.
Important information:
Our Upper Elementary school dance and game time will be held 1:30 - 3pm this coming Monday, January 19. Please see the flier that was sent home in your child’s Friday folder. We are asking each student to bring a snack or drink to share. The winter dance and game time has become a tradition at our school, and our 6th grade student council plans the theme, decorates the gym and “DJs” the music (school appropriate, with adult approval and supervision). In the gym, we have areas set aside for games, for dancing, and for eating. Children may choose what they do. Some children choose to dress up for the dance (school appropriate); others choose to wear their “normal” everyday clothing. We have reminded the children that we all attend the activities (including the dance) as friends, not with any special “partner.” Students must complete their work in order to attend the festivities. Let us know if you have any questions or are interested in chaperoning the dance.
Our Powderhorn downhill ski dates are confirmed for January 13 and 20 and February 3 and 10. Important information and forms were sent home in your child’s Friday folder today. Two of these forms need to be signed and returned to school ASAP. Please read through the important information, fill out and sign the forms, and let us know if you have any questions. Please contact Denise if you have financial concerns or questions.
We will also be cross country skiing one day in January with The Nature Connection on the Grand Mesa. The date for this trip is Tuesday, January 17.
Please make sure your child is appropriately dressed for winter weather. This includes INDOOR SHOES and OUTDOOR SHOES and WARM CLOTHING. Please make sure your child has a pair of indoor shoes he / she can leave at school. This helps keep our classrooms and hallways clean. If your child is interested in playing in the snow (we have a sledding hill and a large field that students love to play in), please make sure he / she has boots, snow pants, jacket, and gloves, otherwise he / she will be asked to try to stay dry (and out of the snow).
Children continue to be very hungry at school. Please make sure you are sending enough healthy food with your child each day. Please send snacks
End of year field trips: please make sure you are making payments for our end of year field trips (Crow Canyon Archaeological Institute for 4th and 5th graders and Catalina Island Marine Institute for 6th graders). Contact Chana and Denise if you have any questions. Final payments will be due this spring, prior to leaving on the trips.
Volunteers are always welcome in our classrooms, at home, on committees, and on field trips. We couldn’t do all that we do without your help, so let us know if you have some extra time, talent, or treasure you are willing to donate or volunteer. Volunteer opportunities in the classroom include giving and grading spelling tests on Friday mornings (8:30 - 9:30am), organizational projects, photocopies, etc. Other opportunities include helping with our fundraisers throughout the year. A lot of the money we raise is used to support our many field trips in Upper El, so we appreciate any time and efforts parents and Upper El students can give. Parents also can serve on leadership and fundraising committees. Please contact your child’s teacher if you are available and interested in volunteering.
6th Grade Science - Making cookies with more eggs
Making cookies with less flour
Making cookies with more baking soda
Upper El Contacts:
Ms. Esther - esther.alsum@deltaschools.com
Ms. Shannon - shannon.castle@deltaschools.com
Website: https://nfmc.deltaschools.com/
Location: 51 Fir Avenue, Crawford, CO, USA
Phone: 970-921-4935