MPS & MIS Newsletter
April 2024
Principal's Message
Dear Families,
We are starting to feel the warmth of spring and see the trees bloom. The students are filled with so much excitement to run around and play at recess.
Our eclipse viewing party on April 8, was such a success at MPS and MIS. The students spent time learning about the eclipse and what an event this was that they were witnessing. We lucked out with a beautiful day!
Now is the time to register your current and new students for the 2024-2025 school year. All the documents are on the district website. Please make sure you are filling out the correct forms. Unfortunately, we are unable to transfer information between forms. You can call the school’s office if you have any questions and they would love to help you.
The end of the year is a busy time with a lot of exciting things happening. It is important to read the emails, newsletters, and Seesaw posts that are sent your way so you don’t miss any of the details. Every grade level will be going on a field trip or having a field trip come to them. We need a permission slip for every student.
At Medinah Primary and Intermediate, we look forward to the month of May when we get to celebrate all the accomplishments the students have made this school year.
Erin Berwick, Medinah Primary School
Natalie Czarnecki, Medinah Intermediate School
Upcoming Dates
Wednesday- 5/1
- Principal's Day
Saturday- 5/4
- Talent Show Auditions 10:00am-12:00pm @ Connolly Recreation Center
Monday- 5/6
- Teacher Appreciation Week
Tuesday-5/7
- 🚌5th Grade Field Trip to Adler Planetarium
Wednesday-5/8
- 🚌3rd Grade Field Trip
Thursday- 5/9
- Early Dismissal 2:00pm
Friday-5/10
- 🚌4th Grade Field Trip- Chicago Symphony & Art Institute
Wednesday-5/15
- Medinah Spring Band and Choir Concert-6pm at MMS
- 🚌5th Grade Field Trip to Boomers Game
Wednesday- 5/22
- 2nd Grade visit to MIS
Thursday-5/23
- 5th Grade Visit to MMS
- 5th Grade Band Pizza Party
Friday- 5/24
- Half Day 11:45am
Monday- 5/27
- Memorial Day - No School
Thursday- 5/30
- Activity Day (If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out the following form:)
MPS Sign-up-AM
MIS Sign-up-PM
- Report Cards go home
- Activity Day for MPS & MIS
- PTO Meeting @ MMS at 6:15pm
- BOE Meeting @ MMS at 7:00 pm
- Last Day of School
PRESCHOOL
Unit of Study: Pets
Vocabulary: Cat, dog, bird, fish, turtle, hamster, snake, fur, shell, scales, feathers, soft, hard
Literacy: We sang songs about different animals that worked on rhyming in a fun way! The students began to identify which words sounded similar.
Math: We discussed patterns and creating patterns musically as well as with colors and shapes. Students who were ready also worked on creating their own patterns after given an example.
KINDERGARTEN
Literacy: We are becoming experts on explaining how we know if a book is Fiction or Nonfiction. The kindergarten students are doing a great job listening to a Nonfiction story and then sharing something new they learned from listening to the story. We have introduced digraphs and are continuing to learn all 40 kindergarten sight words.
Writing: We are writing something new we learned about when listening to out Nonfiction stories and working on understanding the difference between a fact vs. an opinion. The kindergarten students are doing a wonderful job building more and more confidence in using their letter-sound knowledge to write independently. We are so proud of the progress they are making with their writing skills.
Math: The students have a great basic understanding of adding numbers up to 5 fluently and we have officially switched our brains to subtraction. They have learned many strategies to help them with their math fluency. We are working on figuring out which strategy works out best for us! We will continue to focus on adding and subtracting.
We can't believe how quickly this year is flying by! We are really looking forwards to the rest of the school year with this amazing group of children.
FIRST GRADE
Literacy: We have been reading books by Bob Graham while focusing on identifying the on problem and solution in a text. We are going to move onto reading Poetry. During this time we will focus on building students’ comprehension.
Writing: Since spring break ended our first graders have been working hard writing a narrative about their spring break. In this writing students are working on a topic sentence, beginning, middle, end, and a conclusion sentence. In addition students are adding more details to their beginning, middle, and end sentences. Students are also independently writing about spring. They are using their senses to describe spring in their writing.
Math: We just started Module 6 which focuses on attributes of shapes while building on their place value skills. Students will compose and decompose shapes to build an understanding of whole and part relationships. We will build on students’ knowledge of place value through 120. Students will be adding within 100 and begin solving more complex word problems.
Social Science: Currently we are in our Science unit, Behavior of Light. In this unit the big question we will be investigating is “why can’t we see in the dark”.
SEL: We are in our Problem Solving unit. This unit goes over ways to solve problems, fair ways to play, inviting others to play, and handling name-calling.
First grade has been such a fun year thus far! We are excited to continue watching your child grow. We are so appreciative of the at home support in your child’s learning!
SECOND GRADE
Literacy: We finished our author study on Gail Gibbons and have begun exploring the natural world of Earth.
Writing: Students are hard at work writing informative animal books and learning how to write strong sentences with details.
Math: Students are learning addition and subtraction place value strategies within 1,000.
Science: We have begun learning about the important components of maps and will be diving into geography with a focus on landforms.
SEL: Students are learning how to solve problems in the classroom and on the playground.
THIRD GRADE
Reading: “Weather and Climate”--read and respond to poetry; use text features to locate information; recount key details and determine main idea; describe the cause and effect relationship between a series of scientific ideas; compare and contrast key points in two texts on the same topic
Writing: Narratives—identifying story structure, planning narratives, making storyboards, writing drafts, adding details to our writing
Math: Fractions as Numbers–Comparing Fractions; Equivalent Fractions / Geometry, Measurement, and Data–Tell Time and Solve Time Interval Problems; Attributes of Two-Dimensional Figures; Problem Solving with Perimeter; Collecting and Displaying Data.
Science: Earth Science–Weather and Climate; Processes and Impacts of Natural Hazards / Physical Science–Forces and Interactions
As always, if there are any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to ask your child’s teacher!
FOURTH GRADE
Reading: Unit 7- Developing a Nation - Identifying Key Details to Determine the Main Idea, Describing the Overall Structure of a Text (Compare/Contrast, Chronological), Interpreting Information presented in Time Lines, Drawing Inferences, and Identifying Similes and Metaphors.
Skill Focus: using key details and main ideas when summarizing, forming inferences based on the text, and Greek Mythology.
Writing: Whole Class Opinion Writing - Including Text Evidence to Support Opinions as well as Text-To-Self Connections, Big Cheese Shared Writing.
Math: Fractions - Students generate equivalent fractions and equivalent mixed numbers. Students also add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers.
Social Studies: Illinois/Chicago Unit - Exploring the history of Illinois and Chicago through interactive activities and a Field Trip to the Chicago History Museum.
As always, please reach out to your child's teacher if you have any questions!
FIFTH GRADE
Reading: Unit 7 Conflicts That Shaped a Nation- How does conflict shape a nation? Determine Two or More Main Ideas and Explain How Key Details Support Them; Explain How Authors Use Reasons and Evidence to Support Particular Points; Integrate Information from Several Texts on the Same Topic
Writing: Biography Project - Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly
Math: Module 5 - Addition and Multiplication with Area and Volume
Science: Earth’s Rotation, Revolution, and Gravity. 5th graders completed the Illinois Science Assessment in the week of 4/15.
5th grade is super excited for our upcoming field trips! If you have any questions, please reach out to your student’s teacher.
MPS LMTC
The LMTC is very excited to be starting the Battle of the Books competition. The 4th and 5th graders have been busy selecting teams and reading the selected novels. During the month of May, the teams will compete to win the title of “MIS Book Battle Champions”. The champion team will have a plaque with their names on it displayed in the library and will receive trophies. Good luck and happy reading to all those participating. Please contact the LMTC if you have any questions regarding the rules and regulations of this competition. The third graders have become experts on some of the main genres of fiction. We are encouraging the students to try reading a book from each genre and to let us know what they think of each book. The fourth graders are using the information that they learned while researching, and their creativity, to create a project about their selected topic. Each student got to select the type of project they wanted to do. Some of the project choices were to create a game, write a book, create a Google Slide presentation, and create a poster. Ask your child what project they are doing. Each student will present their project to the class at the end of the unit. The fifth graders have been busy using their information literacy skills to learn about the “human footprint”. The students have been using articles and online resources to learn about, and take notes on, how humans are impacting the environment, how it may be harmful and what can be done to lessen our negative impact. This unit connects with the fifth grade science standards. Ask your child what changes your family could make to lessen your ‘footprint’ on Earth. The Scholastic Book Fair was a success! Thank you to all of the families that came out and purchased books. A special thank you to the parents that volunteered and helped run the fair.
MIS LMTC
The LMTC is very excited to be starting the Battle of the Books competition. The 4th and 5th graders have been busy selecting teams and reading the selected novels. During the month of May, the teams will compete to win the title of “MIS Book Battle Champions”. The champion team will have a plaque with their names on it displayed in the library and will receive trophies. Good luck and happy reading to all those participating. Please contact the LMTC if you have any questions regarding the rules and regulations of this competition. The third graders have become experts on some of the main genres of fiction. We are encouraging the students to try reading a book from each genre and to let us know what they think of each book. The fourth graders are using the information that they learned while researching, and their creativity, to create a project about their selected topic. Each student got to select the type of project they wanted to do. Some of the project choices were to create a game, write a book, create a Google Slide presentation, and create a poster. Ask your child what project they are doing. Each student will present their project to the class at the end of the unit. The fifth graders have been busy using their information literacy skills to learn about the “human footprint”. The students have been using articles and online resources to learn about, and take notes on, how humans are impacting the environment, how it may be harmful and what can be done to lessen our negative impact. This unit connects with the fifth grade science standards. Ask your child what changes your family could make to lessen your ‘footprint’ on Earth. The Scholastic Book Fair was a success! Thank you to all of the families that came out and purchased books. A special thank you to the parents that volunteered and helped run the fair.
MUSIC
Kindergarten -Demonstrated our mastery of the dynamics piano and forte through singing, playing, and listening.
1st Grade -Began organizing music in groups of two beats, discovering meter in music. -Continued to explore our high pitch, placed higher than so.
2nd Grade -Expanded our rhythmic knowledge by learning about whole notes, half rests, and whole rests. -Looking forward to sharing some of our musical knowledge with our families and our Informance on May 2nd!
3rd Grade -Read, wrote, improvised, and composed melodic patterns using the do-pentatonic scale (do-re-mi-so-la). -Continued to identify and perform our unknown rhythm, “blueberry.”
4th Grade -Continued our work toward becoming independent musicians through our recorder sequence, Level Up. -Discovered a new rhythm that is worth 2 beats, currently called short-long-short.
5th Grade -Finally began focusing on the pitch that lives between so and mi, and will soon discover that it is a half-step away from one of those pitches. -Performed and improvised rhythmic patterns that contain dotted quarter note and eighth note combinations.
ART
Our art show on April 18th was a huge success! Thank you to all of our hard working student artists, our supportive teachers and staff, the PTO, and the community for supporting art at the elementary level!
Kindergarten: using a variety of materials to create collage crowns for the art show, identified and drew portraits that show a mood or emotion
1st: identified and created still life paintings, differentiated between portraits and still lifes, created springtime bugs, created seascape drawings while brainstorming items under the water
2nd: identified form as an element of art and used model magic clay to create animals of our choice, created shields that included 4 symbols of our identities
3rd: discussed typography and created illuminated letters, identified balance as an element of art, differentiated between asymmetrical and symmetrical, created asymmetrical cacti paintings
4th: discussed typography and created illuminated letters, began our printmaking radial designs unit
5th: introduced clay studio time and were asked to create a project of their choosing our of air dry clay
PE
Welcome back from Spring Break! We hope you had a wonderful time with family and friends. April has brought us back to school, and we're excited to dive into our Physical Education (P.E.) classes.
Throughout April, our students have been honing their striking skills, both with and without rackets or paddles. At Medinah Primary School (M.P.S.), we've been using balloons to enhance coordination skills and have introduced various volleying challenges. Over at Medinah Intermediate School (MIS), students have been learning the basic techniques of badminton and volleyball, getting active and having fun!
Looking ahead to May, we have some exciting activities planned. We'll be gearing up for our school-wide Activity Day, where students will have the chance to participate in a range of fun and engaging activities. Additionally, we'll be focusing on jump rope skills and conducting fitness testing to see if we can beat our scores from the fall. It's sure to be an energetic and active month!
We also want to extend a special invitation to parents to get involved in our final day of school, Activity Day. Keep an eye out for volunteer opportunities to join in the fun and support our students as they showcase their skills and enthusiasm for physical activity.
Thank you for your continued support of our P.E. program. Together, we're helping our students develop healthy habits and a love for staying active.
HEALTH OFFICE
Just wanted to send a friendly reminder that Kindergarten students MUST have a completed vision exam and dental exam from the past 12 months on file in the health office by May 1st. In addition, all 2nd grade students must have a completed dental exam form from the past 12 months on file in the health office by May 1st. If you have any questions or difficulties completing these state requirements, please reach out to our District Nurse, Renee Wesley at rewesley@medinah11.org or our Health office Assistant, Ewelina Korzeniewski at ewkorzeniewski@medinah11.org.