As we move through the month of February, classes are celebrating Black History Month in different ways. See our second grade example below in this newsletter.

Dates to Remember:)

2/9 Ms. Stack's Class to Studio Y

2/10 Secure Drill

2/13 Winter Sports

2/16 PTG Meeting in the Library @5:00

2/16 School Board Meeting @ 6:00

2/20-2/24 February Break; No School

2/27 Last Winter Sports day

Join members of the Westminster Town School District board of directors, Principal Liz Harty, and WNESU Superintendent Andy Haas for an informational meeting about school-related budget items, including opportunities and recommendations for using significant surpluses from recent budget years. Come to the Westminster Center School, 301 School Street, on Saturday morning, February 25 from 9 – 11am for refreshments, conversation and questions about the proposed 2023-2024 school district budget and the additional articles that will be voted on at Westminster Town Meeting March 4. Questions in advance? Contact Cheryl Charles, Westminster School Board Chair, Cheryl.charles@wnesu.com or call 802-376-8093.

Come join a great group of teachers and parents to discuss needs of the school and plan opportunities for our students!

We meet every third Thursday at 5:00 in the library. Our next meeting is Thursday, February 16th at 5:00.

See you there!

WHEN

Friday, February 17th at 8:00am

WHERE

In the Gym entrance

MORE INFORMATION

Come join me, Mrs. Harty, for coffee. Bring questions, concerns, suggestions or just come to chat! We will meet outside and can move in between the gym lobby doors if it is too cold:)

Kindergarteners have been using their letter sound correspondence skills to read and write words. Each morning we work together to edit our morning message filling in initial, final and medial sounds in words and spelling the sight words we are learning. During our skills groups we practice writing and reading skills too. The best part is that our Kindergarteners think of themselves as readers and writers!

First Graders went to Studio Y and met a maestro who had a bunch of broken instruments. We had to help the maestro plan how to make new instruments that make sound! We made guitars, maracas, tambourines and hand drums.

This week, second graders are celebrating Black History Month through music. After analyzing the lyrics and form of the song Black History (It's Yours), students performed it using body percussion and xylophones.

Third graders tackled another challenge. Teams all received the same materials to build the longest paper chain. There were definitely some different results, but all groups showed extreme collaboration, ingenuity, and perseverance!

We finally have good snow for cross-country skiing at p.e.!

And the playground is a great place with all the snow, too.

Fifth graders decorate their classroom with paper lanterns for Valentine’s Day.

In the mornings before Winter Sports, sixth graders have been part of weekly STEAM challenges. Students are ‘stranded’ on a fictional island in which they encounter problems such as shelter building to protect from a wind storm and bridge buildings to cross and alligator infestation lagoon. Students design, test and problem solve collaboratively and have had a lot of fun along the way! This week’s challenge involved building a bridge out of only toothpicks and gumdrops that spanned a 12 in opening. The bridge had to support at least one block eraser. Students quickly discovered that they needed to work both horizontally and vertically to create strength in their bridges.