Friday at 4:00
January 15, 2021
From the Desk of Dr. Rodriguez
Now that the first semester is behind us, it is time to recognize those students in grades 4 and 5 who have achieved the academic level necessary to be considered for membership in the National Elementary Honor Society (NEHS). The requirements to be considered for membership in the organization are significant -- to begin with, students must have at least a 93 average in the core classes and Spanish. When a list of students who meet this lofty requirement is generated, a Faculty Selection Committee comprised of several teachers and administrators meets to discuss each student individually. Attendance records, behavior records, citizenship, and service are analyzed, and a final determination is made on inviting a student to be part of the NEHS. An invitation to become a member is then sent to the qualifying students. We are excited to find out who our newest members will be, and we look forward to seeing just how these students will exemplify the four pillars of the National Elementary Honor Society: scholarship, leadership, service, and responsibility.
We hope you have a wonderful long weekend, and you can expect the next edition of Friday at 4:00 in exactly one week!
Sincerely,
Dr. Rodriguez
Special Events and Friendly Reminders
NO SCHOOL on Monday, 1/18/21, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
We ask that your child has his/her mask in place during drop off each morning. This is to ensure the safety of our staff as they take each child's temperature as well as to ensure that the drop off lines are moving quickly and efficiently. We thank you for your cooperation.
What, exactly, do Academic Honors students do?
Academic Honors, offered to students in grades 1 through 5 who have met certain academic and social/emotional criteria, are classes designed for some of our highest achieving students. It serves to enhance their academic experience by focusing, in small groups, on exploring and developing their special abilities. You might be wondering what it is that students in these classes do. Well, here is a breakdown of some of the interesting topics our students have learned about this year.
First graders are completing a unit on the continents and all of the mysterious and odd information about them. Students engage in hands-on learning by making globes using paper mache and balloons and painting the earth's continents and oceans. Students use technology to research the planet and many of the unique and beautiful places our world has to offer. Did you know that Taylor Glacier in East Antarctica is stained a deep red? This strange phenomenon was first observed in 1911, and it wasn't until 2017 that scientists discovered the reason why. The water flowing from within the glacier was from a subglacial lake high in salt and oxidized iron; when it came into contact with oxygen, the iron rusted, giving the water its striking red shade, along with its name: Blood Falls.
Students in second grade are reliving the trek down the Oregon Trail. Role-playing is a major component of this unit as students take on the difficult tasks the original pioneers endured as they traversed the wild and untamed West. Remember when we played "Oregon Trail" many years ago, and we had to cross rivers and trade with merchants for supplies to make the dangerous journey across the country? Well, apparently, those stories of dysentery and broken wagon axles were true!
Vikings -- what else would third graders want to learn about?!? Sea routes, Norse mythology, conquered lands, and ship design are just a bit of what they are engaged in at the moment. As they explore the rough and rugged past, students write their own Viking sagas, they create their own Viking island as a way to unite with other Viking clans, and they design their own Viking clan symbol. We are sure that Leif Eriksson is smiling upon us from Valhalla.
"Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!" The legal system is the topic of conversation in fourth grade. Students take on the different roles of people in the legal process as they conduct a mock trial. Criminal vs. civil suits, hung juries, and plaintiffs vs. defendants are all terms our students are using as they decide who they're going to sue, the charges against said person, and how said person should plea. Thankfully, we have our very own attorney on campus to give us some guidance on what might be overruled or sustained -- right, Mr. Cohen?
Finally, fifth graders are just starting to explore the intricate and mystifying (to many of us) world of the stock market. Students delve into what stocks are, how investors choose the companies they want to buy stock in, and how the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange really works. Students then create their own digital portfolios by researching publicly-traded companies and choosing those companies they want to invest in. The NASDAQ and Dow Jones can expect some movers and shakers in the near future!
Thank you to our wonderfully talented Academic Honors teacher, Ms. Travieso, for always making sure our students think outside the box!
Pioneers
stocking up on some much needed supplies at the General Store.
"All rise!
Viking
HOW BULLDOGS KEEP IN TOUCH!
Email: riviera@rivieraschools.com
Website: rivieraschools.com
Location: 6800 Nervia Street, Coral Gables, FL, USA
Phone: (305) 666-1856