The Paw Print
May 2018
Music Notes
It’s startling to realize that my first year at McLean is drawing to a close. Looking back, it seems to have gone by fast! It’s been a joy to become acquainted with so many super students. I’m looking forward to coming back in the fall and knowing who most of them are.
As our year winds down, grades 4 and 5 and finishing with a big unit on choirs, singing, history of songs and lyric writing. I’m enjoying sharing some of my specialty with them. We’ve sampled singing in different languages and have seen how songs can reflect the time they were written in, giving us insight into the past.
Grades 2 and 3 gave a successful performance of their “Aesop’s Fables” musical. It was fun to see how quickly they memorized their speaking parts and added to their acting skills. We are finishing the year learning a bit about Jazz Music. They are discovering it makes their toes tap and their bodies want to dance. A parent caught me in the hall and said that their student was very excited to learn about the story of Ella Fitzgerald. Music to my ears.
Grades K and 1, along with all the other grades are learning how to use musical hand signs to sing a scale and then combine the notes to create songs. It’s fun to try to trick their ears, but they are recognizing familiar tunes sung as Do, Re, Mi, etc… I’m proud of their increased powers of concentration and increased confidence and skill.
Thanks for the help and support that many of you have provided throughout this year. It’s been a wild ride and I’m looking forward to next year. Have a musical summer and enjoy some of the many free performances and family events. Cheers!
Mrs. Johnson
Art News
It has been a colorful and creative year in art! We are finishing our year using clay. Kindergartners and Second graders used various objects to create texture on their clay pieces. First Graders learned how to make a pinch pot. After their pieces were fired in the kiln, they used bright colors to paint their artwork. Third through fifth grade made geometric clay tiles, then they used glazes to paint a picture of something that inspires them.
Congratulations to Amiyah in first grade. Her Tot Trot drawing for the River Festival Art Contest took 3rd place in the First Grade Category. Way to go!!
I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable summer!
Mrs. Adams
Check It Out at the Library
This has been a good year in the library.
Keep reading over the summer! Have a Safe and Fun Summer !
There will be a wonderful opportunity for your students to get books for summer reading at the Buy One Get One Book Fair on May 9, 10, and 11. For each book purchased you will get a book in equal in value for free! What a Great Deal !
This year has flown fast. Since it is approaching summer break the library has to get ready for summer as well. All Library books need to be checked in by May 4th. This will allow me to check with the students and the status of their books. I will be sending overdue notices for students with books not turned in yet. Please check the backpacks for these notices.
If your student has a missing book please help the student find it. I always tell them to look in the closets, under the bed, behind the couch, in the toy box, in the bookshelves, etc. Books find ways to slip away and be found in strange places. Please send the notice with the fee to Mrs. Hunter in the office if the student book is lost and the student needs to pay for the lost book.
We have Great Students and Parents!
Keep reading over the Summer!
P.E. Shorts
Wow this school year is coming to an end quickly, which means Field Day is coming up. Friday May 11th is the day we will have field day this year. Classes will come out in the morning at different times to participate in class stations. In the afternoon all the students will come back out for more fun activities. Parents are more than welcome to come enjoy the fun day with us; the afternoon would be the best time. If you have any questions about PE or field day, please feel free to contact me. My office number is 973-8263 and my e-mail is jdoornbos1@usd259.net.
Jack Doornbos
Science News
OWLS Work Day
Please plan to join us for our Outdoor Wildlife Learning Site workday on Saturday, May 5 from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. In case of rain we will reschedule, but otherwise we plan to be weeding, planting and digging holes for our new trees! Come when you can and leave when you must, but we would love to have our McLean families involved as we prepare the OWL Site for summer!