Ray Marsh Newsletter
Sept. 23, 2019
Upcoming Events at RM
Sept. 24th
- MVP Training in RM library 2:15p
- Skate Party 6p
Sept. 26th
- Fall Picture Day
Oct. 2nd
- Mathletics at RM 4:00p
Oct. 8th
- Facilities Task Force mtg. at SMNW 5:00p
Oct. 10
- Early Dismissal 12:30p; End of 1st Quarter
Oct. 11
- No School
Spirit Wear for Sale!
MVP Trainings
Megan Mahoney, RM Social Worker, will be hosting a training on Sept. 24th at 2:15p in the library.
District Facilities Task Force
As part of the strategic planning process, the Shawnee Mission School District developed five action teams, one of which was focused on facilities planning.
The Facilities Action Team met in spring of 2019 and developed specific action steps related to the long-term facilities needs of the district. This work included the creation of a preliminary list of potential projects to be funded by the next capital outlay bond.
The second step in the process, which began this fall, is having members of the Facilities Action Team continue their work as the newly named District Facilities Task Force.
The District Facilities Task Force met on Tuesday, September 10, 2019. The purpose of that meeting was to review planning documents from the Facilities Action Team. The planning documents include a preliminary list of priorities for a potential Bond issue. The District Facilities Task Force also discussed a process with timeline for public engagement on and input about preliminary Bond issue projects.
A PowerPoint presentation was used to facilitate discussion.
The next step will be to share the preliminary list of priorities for a potential Bond issue in five community forums. Informational forums will be held on separate nights at each of the five high schools. Patrons are welcome to drop in at their convenience.
Open House Informational Forums
October 1, 2019 – SM East High School Media Center, 5:00-6:30 p.m.
October 8, 2019 – SM Northwest High School Media Center, 5:00-6:30 p.m.
October 15, 2019 – SM West High School Media Center, 5:00-6:30 p.m.
October 22, 2019 – SM South High School Media Center, 5:00-6:30 p.m.
October 29, 2019 – SM North High School Media Center, 5:00-6:30 p.m.
The forums are an opportunity for the public to learn more about the planning process, the big picture of school facility needs and the preliminary list of priorities, including specific information related to that high school’s attendance area.
Individual feedback will be gathered from the public at these forums and will be brought back to the District Facilities Task Force for review. Information from that process will be provided to the Superintendent for consideration in recommending a Bond issue proposal to the Board of Education.
Spotlight on Specials
Mrs. Satsky and Mrs. O'Connell (Smith class) - Library
Each library class begins with a read aloud and book discussion, followed by a 20 minute makerspace activity, with the remaining time being used for checkout and silent reading.
The younger grades just completed a dinosaur unit and learning all about dinosaurs. We read the books If The Dinosaurs Came Back, Dinorella, and Dad’s Dinosaur Day. We also read Too Many Toys and Have Fun Molly Lou Melon. We are currently working on a toy unit and learning about homemade toys. Our Makerspace activities included blowing bubbles and cloud watching outside, building a dinosaur den for our dinosaurs, and making our own homemade toys using K’Nex, Tinkertoys, and Legos.
The older grades just completed an author study of Chris Van Dusen. He wrote the books: If I Built A House, If I Built A Car, and If I Built A School. He also wrote Hattie and Hudson and The Circus Ship. The Makerspace activities for the older students are divided into six different station rotations and each student will visit one of the six stations during their library class. The Makerspace stations are BUILD IT (using Bloxels) the students build their own school or house that is scanned and imported into the Bloxels game app. In the IMAGINE IT station, the students work together to jot down their ideas or sketch their floor plan on the whiteboard tables and then air drop their picture to me. In the DESIGN IT station, the students choose a design to copy using Lite Brites. In the LISTEN TO IT station, the students listen to a program that compares the different types of school systems in Finland, Japan, and the US. In the REVIEW IT station, the students use Destiny Quest to write a review of one of Chris Van Dusen’s books. We are working on creating our own reader identities by dragging and dropping books that we want to read, books we have read, and books that we are currently reading to our own (virtual) locker using Quest. Quest will recommend books based on their reader profile and previously chosen books. In the READ IT station, the student read silently and get priority check out for books.
Mrs. O'Connell
During Library the students have been doing the Makerstations that Mrs. Satsky has set up. Each week we read a book and then the students work in whatever station they are assigned to that week. In order to make sure that Ms. Smith’s class is on par with the the other 4th grade classes, I just teach the same lesson/story that Mrs. Satsky does that week. This way the entire grade is on the same page as to what skills have been taught, stories that have been shared, etc. This also makes it much easier next year when the classes are inter-mixed as everybody has had the same lessons.
Mr. Bechina - Music for Ms. Smith
In Ms. Smith’s class, we have been singing, dancing, and practicing our rhythms. Beginning in a couple of weeks, we will begin working on our musical coming up in December. There will be more details on that as we approach the show.
Mike Bechina
Ms. Donaldson - Art for Ms. Smith
I am doing all of the lessons that Julia is teaching to her other 4th grade classes. I’m wanting to be consistent with them and make sure that they do not miss out on anything that she normally has planned or any traditions that Ray Marsh may have. Currently, we are working on some Dia De Los Muertos artwork to learn about art in other cultures. Very cool and fun things happening.
Club Updates
International Book Club
Will be sponsored by Heather Sommer
Art Club - See below attachment - Grades 3rd-6th
Ray Marsh Elementary
Email: kaseyweishaar@smsd.org
Website: marsh.smsd.org
Location: 5642 Rosehill Road, Shawnee, KS, USA
Phone: 913.993.3400