Friday Focus 12.1.17
Check out the latest news from South Park School!
South Park School
Parker Penguin says...
5th Graders
Welcome to the newest version of the South Park Friday Focus.
Happy December and have a great weekend!
Dave
What's Been Happening in Specials This Month?
Kindy- In PE the kindergarteners worked on bowling. They learned about the setup of the game, its rules, where to bowl from, and how to hold the ball. Then we went into more detail about how to increase their chances of knocking more pins down with their approach, release, and follow through.
First- In PE the first graders were practicing bowling as well. In addition to reviewing what they learned in kindergarten, they started to learn how to do manual scoring, practicing their math skills, as they filled out their score sheets.
Second- In Spanish, the second graders are currently learning and practicing Spanish letter sounds so they will have the foundation for early reading skills in Spanish. To help them remember the letter sounds, we have learned a hand motion, sound, and Spanish word for each letter sound. They are now applying their letter sounds in order to read and write new words in Spanish at our reading centers. Ask your child to do the alphabet motions for you!
Third- In the library, the third graders are striving to become independent library users by recognizing the various zones and sections of our library. They are able to identify different types of books (Picture, Nonfiction, Fiction) on our online library catalog when searching for their reading interests. November is Picture Book Month! There are so many picture books intended for older children. This website celebrates the many reasons the art and messages of picture books enrich readers.
Fourth- Fourth grade students have been learning about radial symmetry through the creation of mandalas. The ancient art of mandala making started within Buddhism and Hinduism. Monks used colorful sand and specialized instruments to create radial designs that rotate around a central point. Students were able to learn more about this artform by watching a short video of Tibetan monks in action. After learning more about mandalas, students used rulers, compases, and markers or watercolor to create their own mandalas. If you would like to see your son or daughter’s finished mandala, please check their SeeSaw.
Fifth- In music, fifth grade students have been working hard on playing their popular songs on guitar. They are discovering that in most music, there is a simple chord progression that is ALWAYS there. We have learned how to play that progression using G-C-D7-G. All Fifth graders have chosen a song and will be testing on those songs next week. If you have a guitar at home, let them show you what they can do!
Winter MAP Assessments
Our Annual Coat Drive is Underway!
Winter is Coming
Each year, I am asked what our practice is regarding keeping students outside or bringing them in when the weather is bad.
We hope the weather cooperates and we can keep the students outside for morning line-up and recess every day.
Our practice is to keep kids outside if the temperature/wind chill is 10 degrees or warmer and it is not raining or snowing too hard.
Please send your children to school with appropriate clothing for outdoor play. If they want to play in the snow, they are required to wear boots and snow pants. We also recommend that you send an extra set of dry clothes to keep in school.
Reporting Student Absences
I would like to remind parents that if your child will be absent, you must let us know by 9:00 am. There are a few different ways you can report a child's absence:
** Call 847-945-5895, ext. 2103 and leave a message.
** Email our Ms. Brennan, our nurse, at nbrennan@dps109.org
** Use the PTO's School Directory App on your phones.
** Send an email to this address: southparkattendance@dps109.org
For your children's safety, if we do not receive an absence notification for a child by 9:00 am, we will start making phone calls to all of the listed emergency numbers in order to track down the student and ensure his/her safety.
Caruso Middle School Fund Raising event
Caruso is so excited to welcome Magician and alumnus Danny Dubin. Danny has been performing magic since he was a kid. He impressed the student body as an 8th grader in the talent show and now has gone on to follow his passion of magic. Danny recently graduated from American University in Washington DC and is back in the Chicago area performing shows daily.
Instead of going to the city to see his performance, join us on Wednesday December 6th as Danny performs at 7pm in the Caruso Auditorium. Tickets are going fast as this is open to the public. We hope that you will join us as we raise money for the Chicago non-profit Social Works. Tickets are $10.
To purchase tickets: Click HERE
Deerfield High School School Chest Events and Activities
The annual School Chest fundraiser is under way at Deerfield High School, and there are many community events that would be great fun for District 109 families. Check the School Chest folder on the Community Fliers page.
SP on Twitter
Click HERE to enjoy the latest Tweets from South Park. You do not need to be on Twitter to see these tweets.
Calendar
Early Release Wednesdays:
December 6, 13
January 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Upcoming Events:
- Coat Drive: November 16 - December 14
- MAP Testing window: December 4-15.
- PTO Meeting - Wednesday, December 6, 7:30
- Winter Break - December 18 - January 2
- School resumes January 2, 2018
South Park Elementary School
South Park School’s mission is…
“To educate the whole child and ensure student growth.”
South Park School’s vision is…
“To develop a collaborative learning community and a positive school climate in which students and staff will feel safe to grow academically, socially, and emotionally, and where innovation is encouraged and proliferated.”
Email: dsherman@dps109.org
Website: http://southpark.dps109.org/
Location: 1421 Hackberry Road, Deerfield, IL, United States
Phone: (847) 945-5895
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthParkSchoolDeerfield
Twitter: @dbsherman