Ocean Avenue School News
November 2019 ~ Volume 40, Issue 40
Principal's Message
In November, Ocean Avenue Elementary School is THANKFUL for STUDENT AGENCY!
In November, our Ocean Avenue community is thinking about the ways we promote STUDENT AGENCY throughout our IB Primary Years Program and across our school: How we encourage our students to share their VOICES, explore the CHOICES teachers provide for how and what they learn, and embrace OWNERSHIP of their own learning journey--the easy, the challenging, the exciting and the gotta-get-this-done parts.
Ok, so what is STUDENT AGENCY?
From PYP: From Principles to Practice International Baccalaureate Organization, October 2018
Learner Agency
The Learner
Summary:
Students have voice, choice and ownership for their own learning.
When students have agency, the relationship between the teacher and students becomes a partnership.
Students with a strong sense of self-efficacy bring a stronger sense of agency to the learning community.
Our Understanding
Our understanding of the learner is the foundation of our approach to learning and teaching. Children inquire, question, wonder and theorize about themselves, others and the world around them. They are keen observers and explorers. Through their experiences and interactions, they naturally develop intricate, multi-layered perceptions and understanding. Throughout the PYP, a student is an agent for their own and others’ learning through the concept of “learner agency.” Learner agency is connected to a student’s belief in their ability to succeed (self-efficacy.)
Agency
PYP students with agency use their own initiative and will, and take responsibility and ownership of their learning. They direct their learning with a strong sense of identity and self-belief, and in conjunction with others. Thus they are building a sense of community and awareness of the opinions, values and needs of others.
Teachers recognize students’ capabilities through listening, respecting and responding to their ideas. Teachers make thoughtful decisions with an emphasis on relationships, dialogue and respect for one another.
Self-Efficacy
Efficacy refers to an individual’s belief in their “capabilities to organize and execute the courses of action required to” accomplish a goal (Bandura 1997.) This belief is integrally connected to agency because the stronger the sense of self-efficacy, the greater likelihood that the individual will exercise agency. Self-efficacy influences the choices students are confident in making, which in turn influences the degree of ownership and impact they have in their lives.
AT HOME: Talk with your student, and your family members, about the ways in which each of you can VOICE what you need and think. Share what you value in your relationships, and what each member is responsible for communicating and doing. How does your family consider individual CHOICES when working out family goals and aspirations? What responsibilities does each family member recognize, or OWN, for themselves and each other, and how is mutual respect shared?
GIVING THANKS FOR EACH OTHER!
Classroom News and Happenings
Kindergarten News
Kindergarten students completed “WHO WE ARE: Getting to Know You,” their first IB trans-disciplinary unit of inquiry.
The central idea is: Learning about each other helps us understand and connect to others in the world. Students have enjoyed learning about each other, learning about others in the world, and making connections between themselves and others through a variety of activities.
Students will soon be immersed in their next IB unit of inquiry, “Journeys.” The trans-disciplinary theme is: WHERE WE ARE IN PLACE AND TIME.
The central idea of this unit is: “People come from and travel to different places in different ways and for different reasons.” Students will explore this theme through the following lines of inquiry: countries and places we are from or have traveled to, how we travel and why we travel.
First Grade News
Second Grade News
In grade two, students are wrapping up their “How We Express Ourselves” unit. Students learned the role of storytelling in a culture. They explored various fairy tales, fables, and legends and learned the features of each. In addition they have been learning and practicing the skills needed to be a learner. These skills include focusing attention, listening, using self-talk, and being assertive. We have also started learning about empathy.
Students are now ready to do some reflecting! They will be looking over all the work they did in the first couple months of school and reflecting on the things they’re getting good at and the things they still want/need to work on. They will be preparing to share their work and set goals with parents at our student-led conferences on December 5th and 6th.
Fourth Grade News
Fourth Grade has been busy exploring the world and sharing what we have learned. At the end of October, students presented ideas about diversity in a community arts showcase. Families from all three classes joined us to learn about our ideas on protecting diversity. Presentations included music, puppets, posters, and slideshows.
We also went to the STEM Expo at the University of Southern Maine on November 1st. This field trip had us doing all sorts of great scientific and mathematical explorations. We were even testing for tetracycline and exploring virtual reality.
Future field trips include:
- December 13 - Maine State Museum in Augusta
- March 13 - Maine State Capital Tour in Augusta
This month we are exploring opinion writing and nonfiction reading. We will also be looking at information technologies. Ask us about computer coding and how it is similar to, and different from, other codes like Braille and Semaphores.
Fifth Grade Math Team
Fifth Grade Class Fundraiser
Please return your order form to the Main Office by December 1st! Happy Shopping!
Art Room Happenings
- Kindergarten artists painted vases using "magic crayons" (watercolor crayons) to create a crayon resist, and practiced fine motor skills by cutting and gluing, then added a variety of flowers using oil pastels. In addition, students created a friendly monster and then tried to imagine where it lived based on the body they made.
- First Grade added oil pastels to create details for their flowers, and used the hand building techniques of pinch and pull to create a clay pumpkin. Students will soon be glazing their clay, and creating Matisse inspired collages where they "draw with scissors."
- Second Grade artists have been changing 2D shapes into optical illusions in the form of scientist bottles and beakers, and making secondary colors by painting primary colors together in them. The result: spooky secondary potions!
- Third Grade is exploring Pop Art this month through popcorn! After creating multiple prints using markers, they will create their own design to take home. Then, we will begin self-portraits.
- Fourth Grade has been drawing different insects with a glue resist and chalk pastels, and also vibrant oil pastels that show bilateral and radial symmetry as an extension activity.
- Fifth Grade has finished their graffiti projects and are now sketching geometric and organic shapes to build crystals and gems for their How the World Works unit. After a little exploration, they choose a select few to watercolor using different techniques.
- BEACH Program students have created model magic clay pieces, decorated puzzles, and will be creating prints using objects found in nature!
Library News
Can you imagine a roadside filled with hundreds of apple cores? That would be so gross! But what about if you saw a hundred smiles every day? Awesome! This is a fascinating book that shows how the world might look if everyone thought as a whole and cooperated to make the world a better place.
Physical Education News
In Physical Education class students the primary grades have been working on spatial concepts using games like Secret Animal and Butterfly Tag. They are also practicing foundational skills and using them in low organizational games and obstacle courses. Students are connecting these activities to our “How We Organize Ourselves” unit and the idea that “organizing how we move helps us to stay safe.”
In the intermediate grades, students have been working on soccer skills. They are applying these skills to lead up games like Four Corners Soccer, Soccer Statues and Inside Out Soccer. Students learn that a team is a group. This connects to the central idea that “groups organize in order to accomplish a common goal.”
All grade levels continue to work on understanding the importance of physical fitness. Students are learning about the connection between physical activity and good health!
Spanish News
¡Hola! Bienvenidos a la clase de español. (Welcome to Spanish class.) Students are so busy in Spanish this year! Here is a glimpse to some of what is going on across the grade levels:
5th and 4th graders have been writing stories about an object. Then they got to read the other class stories and expand their knowledge! Here is an example from one of the classes: “Una papa está encima de un volcan en Hawaii. Se siente boba porque come mucho azucar.” (A potato is on top of a volcano in Hawaii. It feels silly because it eats a lot of sugar.)
Another one is about a penguin who is in Area 51. “Es muy grande y no es inteligente. Lleva gafas de sol y un sombrero pequeño y mejicano.” (It is very big and not very smart. He wears sunglasses and a small Mexican hat.)
3rd and 2nd graders are reading and acting out “La Caperucita Roja” (Little Red Riding Hood) in Spanish! They made “las cestas con comida para la abuela” (the baskets with food for the grandma), and they are even reading the whole book by themselves! Here is my current class bulletin board with some of their work.
1st graders have learned greetings and numbers, played games, sang songs, read books, and watched videos! One of the favorites so far is Hola, Amigo by Basho and Friends.
Elementary Strings News
If you have unused Essential Elements books for violin, viola, cello, or bass taking up space in your house, the music department would gratefully accept donations.
You may leave them in the office with the fabulous Mrs. West or Ms. Janice.
Thank you!
Ashley Terison
Elementary Strings
PBIS News ~ Second Step
Second Step ~ At Ocean Avenue, every grade level teaches the Second Step Curriculum. Second Step is a fun and interactive program that teaches the following concepts in every grade: skills for learning, empathy, managing emotions, and problem solving. These concepts stay the same throughout Elementary School but are explored at a deeper level each year. Concepts are reinforced with puppets, videos, music, partner and group conversations, and more. Take a look at the posters below to get an idea on the social emotional skills your student is learning and practicing every day!
Cauliflower...The Votes Are In!
Nicole Jumper, Nutrition Educator for the City of Portland, visited our cafeteria on Wednesday, November 6th. She provided us with a food tasting featuring cauliflower.
Students were able to see and feel not only traditional cauliflower, but purple, green and orange cauliflower. Students all tasted the orange and voted on how they liked it. The vegetable received an overwhelming thumbs up!
We are looking forward to the December tasting which will feature squash!
See below for the results of the student vote!
Upcoming Taste Tests!
Cultivating Community and FoodCorps have partnered with our cafeteria to run taste tests of the new vegan lunch options throughout the school year. Students have the opportunity to taste a sample and give feedback.
On October 23rd, students tasted falafel, a new lunch item that is vegan and high in protein. Vegan means there is no meat, eggs, or dairy. Protein keeps our students full and ready to learn all day. 254 students tried the falafel and 106 of them said that they loved it! Ask your student if they tried the falafel and check out the school lunch menu to see the next time it is offered.
The next taste test is on December 18th and we will be tasting tofu, another new lunch item that is vegan and high in protein. Students will have the opportunity to try a sample in addition to their school or home lunch. Please encourage your students to participate and share their feedback.
Cold Weather Reminders
During snowy weather, children are expected to wear boots and snow pants, if they wish to be out in the field area to play in the snow. If you need help getting these items for your child(ren), please contact the office at 874-8180.
Winter Gear Drive
For non-school aged winter gear items, please consider the Winter Gear Drive in support of Maine Baby and The Root Cellar. Right now, they are looking for donations of new/gently used coats, boots, hats, mittens, scarves, and socks. These can be dropped off at 94 Washington Avenue on Tuesdays from 9-11 AM.
Maine Baby is a free clothing shop that helps asylum speakers, refugees, and other local families in need.
Plastic Bins Needed
Change of Clothing
No matter the age, students are most comfortable in their own clothing. If you are able to do so, please send in a spare outfit for your child(ren) to keep in their lockers/cubbies if they need to change during the day.
From a muddy or wet situation on the playground, to a spilled milk in the cafeteria, there are times when a change of clothes may be needed. We do have spare clothing at school, but it is in limited quantity/sizes, so a spare outfit from home to have at school would be much appreciated. Thank you!
Box Tops for Education is Changing!
The Box Tops for Education program is changing the way we can earn cash for our school!
Over the summer, participating brands have begun to change their packaging from the traditional Box Tops clip to the new Box Tops label.
Going forward, instead of clipping from packages and checking expiration dates, all Box Tops will be earned digitally by scanning your receipt. The Box Tops for Education team has worked hard to build a NEW-and-improved, user-friendly Box Tops mobile app, available now. Be sure to download the new app or update your existing app.
If you still have traditional Box Tops clips at home, make sure to send them to school. We will still earn cash for all clipped Box Tops until they expire. Better yet, you can "double dip" during the packaging transition by clipping traditional Box Tops AND scanning your store receipt containing participating products.
Thanks for helping our school get what it needs!
Learn more about these changes at BTFE.COM.
WinterKids
WinterKids helps children develop healthy lifelong habits through education and fun, outdoor winter activity. They create opportunities for children to be active, vibrant, and healthy in the outdoors.
This year’s WinterKids App membership is now open (formerly the Passport)! The WinterKids App is for all kids ages 3-17! Parents can sign up for a family membership at winterkids.org.
It provides free and discounted opportunities for children to try skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, ice-skating, tubing and even ice climbing!
Families can purchase a membership to the mobile app for $35.00 (WinterKids offers a generous scholarship policy to families in need). They are also providing your students’ families with a discount code WINTERFUN20.
Click on The WinterKids App for more information.
Substitutes Needed!
News from the PTO
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
We need your help for Designing Women on December 14th!
Please sign up to help us raise money for the PTO on December 14th! The Designing Women fine art show is held at OAES and the PTO hosts a welcome table and sells food and drinks. We need people to cook, bake, make soup, and volunteer to work for a few hours. It's really fun! Many hands make light work...let's all do our part.
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SAVE THE DATE!
The Annual OAES PTO Auction will be held on Saturday, February 8th, 2020. You don't want to miss this event! Live music, potluck, donation bar, silent and live auction, and...it's FREE! It's a great way to support Ocean Avenue and have a fun night out with friends.
Interested in helping out? Contact Victoria at president@oapto.org.
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Join US FOR UPCOMING PTO MEETINGS AND FUNDRAISERS!
- OTTO Pizza (Read St) - Tuesday, Nov 19th
- PTO meeting - Tuesday, December 10th, 6 PM
All PTO meetings are in the OAES Library.
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