Brownville Glen Park Elementary
June 2018 Newsletter
A letter from your principal
As we wind down on another school year at Brownville/Glen Park Elementary, I wanted to take the opportunity to congratulate our Pre-K, Kindergarten and Sixth grade classes on their respective graduations. Each graduation represents a special moment to celebrate their accomplishments.
I would also encourage students to continue reading and spending time enjoying the outdoors during their vacation. For parents, take the opportunity to read with your children and if possible, visit museums, parks and other educational adventures in the area.
On behalf of the entire staff, best wishes to our sixth grade graduates as you enter the General Brown Junior- Senior High School for the 2018-2019 school year.
Have a safe and enjoyable summer.
Mr. Joseph O'Donnell
Pre-Kindergarten
This Spring, Pre-K explored pond, ocean,
and farm habitats where we learned about how plants and
animals depend on each other to coexist. Each habitat needs
clean air, water and food to support itself. We had many
discussions on how humans can make our world a better
place.
When we compare the first month of school and now,
it is easy to see the amazing growth the year has brought
to each student. As child learned about themselves and
the world around them, they became a little taller, more
independent, verbal, self-assured, and coordinated.
Eagerly, they await the many adventures they will find in Kindergarten!
Mrs. McIntosh and Mrs. Hennigan
Kindergarten
We can’t believe we are already writing the final newsletter article for the school year! The year has flown by! There are lots of fun activities coming up in kindergarten. During the final week of school we will be very busy. On Monday, June 18, we will be taking our class field trip to Thompson Park Zoo. On Tuesday, June 19, we will be walking to Stewart’s to get ice-cream (accommodations have been made for those with allergies). On June 20 and June 21, we have ½ days. June 21 is our last day of school. Graduation will take place at 10:30 in the gymnasium and students are dismissed afterward. Please make your way back to your child’s class to get their report card.
As the year comes to an end, remember to return your library books and be sure to have your lunch account balances paid in full.
Mrs. Cloonan, Mrs. Dillabough, and Ms. Martin
1st Grade
It’s hard to believe that our year in first grade is coming to an end! All the first graders have grown so much since the first day of school! We have completed our math instruction for the year and will spend the remainder of the year working on money and math review. We are also coming to the end of our ELA instruction. Our last domain will be on Fairy Tales, which the students always really enjoy.
We are all excited about our upcoming field trip to Old McDonald’s Farm. Our students will be wearing the special t-shirts that we made in our classroom for Flag Day on the trip. We can’t wait to see all of the animals!
We hope that you all have a wonderful summer with your children, and we wish you the best of luck in 2nd grade and beyond!
Mrs. Devine, Mrs. Hartle, and Mrs. Keenan
2nd Grade
This has probably been the most exciting time of year for our 2nd graders! We have incubators in our classrooms. We have also been learning about the life cycle of a chick and hope to experience the life cycle of a chick and a duck as it happens. To add to the
excitement, we are able to watch the life cycle of a butterfly actually take place
in our classrooms! We had caterpillars that have spun their own cocoons and
have them in a butterfly net until they emerge. We will release
the Painted Lady butterflies after they have come to join us!
It has been quite an experience for our 2nd graders!
Recently we had an opportunity to visit our local hospital! We were able to go to the laundry room, emergency room, and have our very own casts put on! What an unbelievable way to draw the school year to a close!
As summer approaches please continue to read with your child, practice sight words and math facts. Third grade is just around the corner!
Mrs. Knight, Mrs. Pacini, and Mrs. Robinson
3rd Grade
Third grade worked hard the third quarter preparing for the New York State tests. We reviewed and worked on our reading and math skills. We have been helping our students have a deeper understanding of concepts. We learned about Vikings and Ancient Romans. Most recently we learned about Native Americans of North America. The module helped us learn about these different cultures. We will be working on geometry in math this quarter and continue to work on writing equations.
As we enter our last quarter of school, we will be getting our students ready for next year by helping them become more independent and prepared for the rigor of fourth grade. We will also have some fun! We are planning a field trip to Minna Anthony Nature Center on June 8th. We will learn about how the glaciers created the Thousand Islands. The trip includes a hike and lunch at the park.
Please help you child read throughout the summer. Many kids need to practice their multiplication and division facts. A weekly trip to the library can help your child stay excited about reading and promote responsibility. The best thing you can do to help your child prepare for fourth grade is READ!!!
Thanks for a great year. Third Grade Teachers
Mrs. Campany, Mrs. Delano, and Ms. Faber
4th Grade
Can you believe that the third marking period has come and gone? We are in the home stretch! We have a trip planned for June 14th to visit the Agricultural Museum at Stone Mills for Farmer Boy Days. There we will learn about the history of farming in our area as we visit a one-room schoolhouse, make butter, pump water, and complete other activities just like farmers did in Colonial America. This field trip correlates nicely with our Social Studies and English Language Arts curricula.
In math, we are working on customary measurement and converting units. In Science, we are exploring physical science topics like matter, mass, volume, length, force and motion, and electricity. We are also working in teams to research animal adaptations as a part of our PBL project (Project Based Learning). In English Language Arts, we are reading the novel Farmer Boy. This novel is a great in-depth study of life in Colonial America.
In the classroom, our students continue to work hard. We completed the New York Common Core Tests in Math and ELA. The New York State Assessment in Science will be held in May/June. We are very proud of our hardworking students!
We are so happy that spring is finally here! Please remind your child that flip flops are not allowed on the playground. Sneakers are the best shoes for outdoor recess.
We’d like to wish everyone a safe, enjoyable summer. Some things that may help students retain their growth over the summer are:
· Visit the library and read enjoyment books every day.
· Keep a daily journal or write to a pen pal regularly.
· Have students use map skills when planning family trips. Let them be the map reader.
· Use the internet games like those found on “fact monster” to reinforce math skills.
Mrs. Ahlheim, Mrs. Hunt, and Mrs. Nichols
Samantha Rutledge, Mrs. Nichols' class
Mileigh Gunn, Mrs. Nichols' class
5th Grade
ELA - Students are working on chapter books that coincide with other core subjects. Presently we have been working on owl pellets and students have completed the novel Hoot as well as Nory Ryan’s Song that relates to immigration in Social Studies. We have begun discussions of the last module on the rainforest.
MATH –We charged into the NYS Tests with a full head of steam and felt the students were as prepared as possible. Classes finished up multiplying and dividing fractions along with volume. We continue to review earlier taught skills such as decimals, fractions, multiplication and division of larger numbers.
SOCIAL STUDIES –We are working on the continent of South America focusing on geography of the rainforest region and its importance.
SCIENCE –Students finished their owl pellet unit and I’m very impressed with their work. They dissected pellets, sorted bones, and reconstructed the barn owls prey. This was part of their unit on ecosystems/ecology. We will finish up the ecology unit next month focusing on biomes, impact of humans and natural cycles.
OTHER – Please send in a healthy snack and water bottle with your child each day. If you can donate extra healthy snacks to share it is greatly appreciated.
Ms. Bucher, Mrs. Sampson, and Mr. Worden
Ms. Bucher's class
Mr. Worden's class
Mrs. Sampson's class
6th Grade
Just like that it is June again!
6th grade students have been researching “What’s In The Water?” A Project Based Learning Activity that is supplemental to our informational text World Without Fish comic book. The student’s research has been centered on the local Black River and our communities influence on the water and aquatic species living here. Students have worked in groups to identify the various species in the water and they have presented interactive webs expressing effects of their chosen problem. Members of the Department of Environmental Conservation have helped in sharing information with our students through presentations. Currently groups are creating Google websites with the information that they have found to present to members of our community and to be able to be accessed by family/friends.
In Social Studies we are starting the Ancient Civilization of Greece where we have learned about the two important Greek city-states: Sparta and Athens. Greece will allow the students to do a Trojan War reenactment, Jeopardy game and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire game as well.
Science has been full of Earth investigations. We have been learning about weathering, erosions, deposition, minerals, and rocks. Students have been participating in science labs, identifying characteristics of both minerals, and rocks. Soon, we will be working with the layers of the Earth, atmosphere, and tectonic plates. Once we have all the facts about the movement of plate tectonics we will learn about and make volcanoes toward the end of the year!
Thank you from the 6th grade teaching team for all the support you have given throughout the year and just a reminder the promotion ceremony is June 20th @ 9:30 in the gymnasium.
Mrs. Dupee, Mrs. Hamilton, and Ms. Russell
Rock and Mineral Testing Lab
Library News
Keep reading with your child and encourage your child to read 15 min every day!!!
Summer Reading Program:
· Dexter Free Library
· Flower Memorial Library
· Online summer reading program (email sent home)
· Will hand out summer reading bingo to students
Keep practicing typing skills.
The Book Swap is on! We are currently collecting gently used books to trade in for others in June during library class. Please send in your books in May so we can ready for the big swap!
--School age appropriate books only please.
--Limit to 10 books per student for swapping.
--Make sure you have/give permission to take books from home!
Mrs. Wietig and Mrs. Foss
News from the Music Room
♩ ♬ ♩ ♬ ♩ ♬ ♩ ♬ ♩ ♬ ♩ ♬
· Kindergarteners have been singing songs about singing, like ‘Sing’ from Sesame St and ‘You Sing For Me’ from Music Connection.
· 1st graders have been learning some great folk tunes from the American south!
· 2nd graders have been exploring sound, soundscapes, and the different ways it’s possible to make music.
· 3rd graders have been learning about body percussion and hambone. Right now we’re working in groups to create our very own hand-clap skits!
· 4th graders have learned their last notes of the year, and are learning one final song that incorporates those notes. Over the summer, the students will need to keep their recorders safe, because we will continue to use them as 5th graders!
· 5th graders will be performing a recorder Suite called These, The Endangered for the 3rd graders, for their final class of recorders with me. What a great way to celebrate two great years learning the recorder!
· 6th graders are just finishing up their Genre posters. To finish out the year, they will be exploring the ukulele.
Congratulations to the Elementary bands & choirs, who gave a wonderful concert on May 22nd!
HAVE A MUSICAL SUMMER!!!!
Ms. Davis
News from the Art Room
Congratulations to Mrs. Nichols’ fourth grade class for earning this art field trip. You worked so hard all year long! I would also like to congratulate my artists who had their work in the Tri County Show. Lily Hunter, Ethan McConnell, Kyra Monroe and Annabell Hunter.
Thank you all for your continued support of the arts here at GB. I have so many thoughtful donors and volunteers who keep our program running strong. You are so appreciated!
I wish you all a creative summer!
Mrs. Majo
News from the Health Office
Immunization is Protection.
In May 2018, Parents/Guardians of prospective 6th grade students who were born on or after January 1, 1994 for the 2018/2019 school year will have received a letter about the need to be immunized with the Tdap vaccine. This is a requirement by New York State Department of Health. You have between now and September 2018 to find out when and if your child needs to be vaccinated.
All kids entering 7th and 12th grade
must have the meningococcal vaccine.
Without it, they can’t start school.
About the Vaccine:
• It’s not a new vaccine. It’s been recommended for a decade.
• Most parents already choose to vaccinate their children.
• What’s new is that the vaccine will be required for school entry
as of Sept. 1, 2016.
About Meningococcal Disease:
• It causes bacterial meningitis and other serious diseases.
• Teens and young adults are at greater risk.
• It comes on quickly and without warning.
• Its symptoms are similar to the flu.
• Every case of this disease can result in death or
long-term disability.
Check with your doctor. Even kids who have had a shot before may
need a booster to start school.
To learn more, visit
health.ny.gov/immunize
Summer Sun
§ Here are some tips for managing the summer sun:
§ UV Rays are strongest in the middle of the day. Plan indoor activities at that time or look for shade to prevent sunburn.
§ Cover the skin with a shirt AND sunscreen to avoid sunburn!
§ Wear a hat – preferably one that covers the neck and ears. When wearing a baseball style hat, remember to apply sunscreen to the neck and ears.
§ Sunglasses protect eyes from UV rays. Look for sunglasses that wrap around and block nearly 100% of UV rays.
§ Use sunscreen! Use a sunscreen with at least a SPF of 15 and UVA/UVB protection.
§ This information and more is available at http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/chooseyourcover/guide.htm.
If you have any questions or concerns about the “happenings” in the Dexter Health
Office, give me a call at 779-2323.
Have a Healthy Summer!
Debbie Higgins
School Nurse