Odyssey Observer
Odyssey Magnet - - Grades 2-5 - - Friday, Sept. 8, 2023
Updates
What a Great First Week of School!
Remember that school is a bit of an adjustment for everyone in the beginning of the year. It will take time for us all to get into the groove. If there's anything you are questioning or you think is more than ordinary, in terms of adjustments, please reach out!
Conference Preference Sign up in the Highlands Newsletter
Grade 4 and 5
Volunteers Wanted
If, say, only Tuesdays work for you, that's okay - we'd love to have you! The same for Thursdays. The more people we have that are interested, the less times you'd work. Email Mrs. Velpel if you are interested: velpelcourtney@aasd.k12.wi.us.
Book Recommendations
Here is Mrs. Blattner's gathered Book Recommendations for Ody Students by Ody Students. This is geared more toward 2nd and 3rd graders, as that's who recommended them!
Here is Mrs. Velpel's gathered Odyssey's Epic Book Recommendation List to help you out if you need it. This is geared more toward the 4th and 5th graders because of the maturity level on some of them. Let us know if you think there should be an addition to it and give us your suggestion!
Teacher Spotlight
Mrs. Velpel
Beloved Foods: COFFEE, egg rolls, and dips of most kinds
Desired Free-Time Activities: Reading, crafty stuff, hiking, being with my family
Cherished School Subject: Oh, absolutely ELA - always has been!
Self-Proclaimed Nerd About: Grammar
Something Unique or Awesome About This Human: I have double-jointed elbows.
Mr. Ghiglieri
Beloved Foods: Sushi
Desired Free-Time Activities: Building things
Cherished School Subject: Social Studies
Self-Proclaimed Nerd About: Learning new things
Something Unique or Awesome About This Human: Scuba Instructor, Raft guide, Snowboard Instructor
Mrs. Blattner
Beloved Foods: German pigs in a blanket covered in sauerkraut served on potato dumplings or guacamole!
Desired Free-Time Activities: Crafting, puzzles, being at my cabin, renovating my mom's century-old farmhouse, relaxing by a campfire
Cherished School Subject: Mathematics - no contest!
Self-Proclaimed Nerd About: Computers - I was programming before the internet existed!!
Something Unique or Awesome About This Human: My dog comes to work with me!
From Ms. Balke
Homeroom
This week we spent time getting to know each other and will continue to do activities facilitating creating a special classroom community. Be sure to ask about new friends. This week we created a classroom matrix and explored the school matrix (rules). Sasha was very excited to join us in class this week! =)
ELA 2/3
Read Aloud: This week and next we’ll be reading several picture books to use as mentor texts this year. I have shared several of my favorites by one of my favorite authors, Robert Munsch. Caricatures: We will soon begin creating personal caricatures that will evolve into a superhero persona. Assessments: To differentiate lessons in ELA we will be pre-assessing: phonics, spelling, handwriting, and on demand writing.
Science 2/3
Today was our first day gathering for our Social Studies and Science time. I am so excited to share amazing units this year!
THE HISTORY OF ME: Our first unit will introduce students to the importance of history. We will learn how to ask questions, explore, and gather information by first learning about our own personal history!
From Mrs. Blattner
Homeroom
This week we spent time getting to know each other and the classroom since many of our students are new to Odyssey. Ask about new friends.
This week we created a classroom matrix and explored the school matrix (rules).
Bo joined us today to sing Happy Birthday to Ella!
Math 2/3
Today was our first day of math! Ask what we did with halving!
Pretest: next week we’ll learn how to handle a pre-test for our first unit on multiplication
Next week we will continue to do fun math activities - learning how to learn in math presented at our level.
ELA 2/3
Read Aloud: this week and next we’ll be reading several picture books to use as mentor texts this year Caricatures: today we started creating personal caricatures that will evolve into a superhero persona Assessments: to differentiate lessons in ELA we will be pre-assessing: phonics, spelling, handwriting, and on demand writing
2/3 Doing Some Fun Things Outside
From Mrs. Velpel
ELA 4/5
- We got acclimated to the classroom and had some fun writing.
- Students did a silly writing activity with their pods.
- Students got their ELA notebooks ready by labeling the sections.
- We started talking about how an essay is put together.
- Next week, I'll introduce reading logs, spelling, and we will continue working on our essays.
Life Science (Velpel Homeroom)
- We worked with asking scienc-y questions.
- We learned about the bones in a human's body and how our joints work.
4th Graders Reading Their Silly Stories
From Ms. Witzeling
Homeroom
- Homeroom - Started getting organized and learning our schedule
- SEL - Talked about this week’s theme “Always Kind” especially with regard to the 4 new 5th and 9 new 4th graders we have this year.
Math
KHIM Math 5 (Red group)
We’ve been talking about the importance of making our classroom a safe place to ask questions and learn from each other.
Please work on multiplication facts (through 12 x 12) at home
Taking a pretest on Unit 1 about Volume
KHIM Math 6+ (Silver & Owls)
We’ve been reviewing the importance of making our classroom a safe place to ask questions and learn from each other.
Multiplication facts should be mastered (through 12 x 12), else hurry and get those down!
Reviewing the math we completed last year
Physical Science: (Velpel Homeroom)
Discussions:
What do scientists do?
What is physical science?
What do you already know about forces, energy, motion, light, sound, magnets, electricity, etc?
From Mr. Tibbets
Homeroom
We had a great time getting to know each other and learning our routines.
We established classroom expectations while staying cool!
It’s a very packed schedule this year with a lot of transitions. Please know that we are very patient with your students as they learn their Odyssey schedule!
Social Studies
This week:
We reviewed/learned about the discipline of social studies and previewed some of our upcoming units.
The classes brainstormed ideas of positive and negative behaviors in preparation for our ‘Justice’ unit.
We prepared our social studies binders–they look great!
Coming Up:
Students will be reading for information from ‘The Week, Jr.’ and other non-fiction sources.
We’ll be examining ideas of justice and how it applies to our classroom, school, and community.
Earth Science: (Witzeling homeroom)
This week:
Observations vs. Inferences
Observing sunlight differences in the summer and winter–what can this teach us?
Primary
Coming Up:
Earth’s rotation and tilt
Speed of rotation and how we model the earth’s movement around the sun
From Madame Hooyman
French 3
From Madame DeJarlais
From Mr. Ghiglieri - Social-Emotional Grade 2 Teacher
We are working on getting to know each other. Today we are designing our Silhouette Project with things you like to do;
Character traits
Other words that describe you
Things you value in life. (family, earth, sports, achievement, learning…)
Parts of your personality
Special memories
Animals or other things you LOVE
FAVORITES!
Phy Ed with Mr. Verheyen
Teacher Wish List
Balke - 🚫
Blattner - 🚫
Tibbets- gallon ziploc bags
Velpel - 5 subject notebooks - keep your eyes peeled. I went to three stores to find some and only found one. I have some students without and would love to provide them with one.
Witzeling - 🚫
Hooyman - 🚫
Coenen - 🚫
Odyssey Directory
Questions? Concerns?? Compliments???
Please email the appropriate person from this list of Odyssey team members; we'll get back to you!
Jean Balke - Grades 2 and 3: balkewolffjean@aasd.k12.wi.us
Jenni Blattner - Grades 2 and 3: blattnerjennif@aasd.k12.wi.us
Brian Tibbets - Grades 4 and 5: tibbetsbrian@aasd.k12.wi.us
Courtney Velpel - Grades 4 and 5: velpelcourtney@aasd.k12.wi.us
Dory Witzeling - Grades 4 and 5: witzelingdorot@aasd.k12.wi.us
Stephanie Hooyman - French: hooymanstephan@aasd.k12.wi.us
Krista DeJarlais - French 4 and 5: dejarlaiskrist@aasd.k12.wi.us
Nate Ghiglieri - SEL Grades 2: ghiglierinatha@aasd.k12.wi.us
Melissa Fields - Music: fieldsmelissa@aasd.k12.wi.us
Kadie Smith - Music: smithkadie@aasd.k12.wi.us
Erin Sjostrom - Art: sjostromerin@aasd.k12.wi.us
Bryce Verheyen - Phy Ed: verheyenbryce@aasd.k12.wi.us
Rachel Richards - Strings: richardsrachel@aasd.k12.wi.us
Matt DePietro - Band: dipietromatthe@aasd.k12.wi.us
Holly Goymerac - Secretary: goymeracholly@aasd.k12.wi.us
Jessica Nesemann - Secretary: nesemannjessic@aasd.k12.wi.us
Kari Krueger - Principal: kruegerkari@aasd.k12.wi.us
David Nitka - Associate Principal: nitkadavid@aasd.k12.wi.us
Going Out of Town?
Upcoming Events at Highlands/Odyssey!
September
5 - First day of school!
18 - PTO Meeting - LMC 6:00 -7:00 pm
21 - HIG/ODY Badger Sports Park Night 4:00-8:00 pm
25 - No School
October
7 - Tough Kid Challenge - Field - Runs all day
9 - PTO Meeting - LMC 3:45-4:45 pm
10-20 - Book Fair
17 - Picture Day/Vision Screening
17 - Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00-7:30 pm
19 - Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00-7:15 pm
27 - No School
November
6- PTO Meeting - LMC 6:00 -7:00 pm
16- Picture Retakes
22-27 No School
December
11 - Odyssey Open House 6:00-6:45 pm
12 - Grades 5/6 Band Concert at Wilson - 6:30 pm
22-29 - No School - Winter Break
January
1 - No School (Last day of Winter Break)
8 - PTO Meeting - LMC 3:30-4:30 pm
15 - No School
22 - No School
26 - Family Movie Night 6:00 pm doors open, movie starts at 6:30 pm
February
5 - PTO Meeting - LMC 6:00-7:00 pm
8 - Odyssey 4/5 Music Concert - Gym 2:45-3:15 pm
13 - Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00-7:30 pm
15 - Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00-7:15 pm
19 - No School
29 - Odyssey 2/3 Music Concert - Gym 2:45-3:15 pm
March
11 - PTO Meeting - LMC 3:45-4:45 pm
20 - Strings/Band Concert - Gym Time TBD
22-29 - No School - Spring Break
April
1 - No School
4 - Odyssey Interim Showcase - 6:00-7:00 pm
8 - PTO Meeting - LMC 6:00-7:00 pm
18 - Goodies with Grown Ups - Gym 7:00-8:30 am
May
6 - PTO Meeting - LMC 3:45-4:45 pm
7- Odyssey Skate Party - Skate City 5:30-7:30 pm
16 - Fun Run 4:30-6:00 pm
24 - No School
27 - No School
June
5 - Odyssey 5th Grade Farewell - Kiwanis Park 5:00-6:30 pm
6 - Field Day/School Picnic/Kona Ice Day
7 - Last Day of School - dismissal at 11:27 am
Odyssey Magnet School
Odyssey-Magellan Magnet School provides learners that are highly gifted with a challenging study of math, science, communication arts, social studies, and foreign language in a stimulating classroom environment, with experienced and dedicated teachers.
Students in grades 2 through 5 attend school on the Odyssey campus located at Highlands Elementary School. Students in grades 6 through 8 attend school on the Magellan campus located at Wilson Middle School.
Email: velpelcourtney@aasd.k12.wi.us
Website: om.aasd.k12.wi.us
Location: 2037 North Elinor Street, Appleton, WI, USA
Phone: (920) 832-6250
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OMMagnetSchool