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October 14, 2011

Trees




The Hands On Nature topic today was about trees. The children listened to an informative puppet show, dressed me up like a tree, and enjoyed some activities outside between the raindrops.

Little Boy Blue


The children were busy working with their rhyming skills using the nursery rhyme Little Boy Blue today. After listening to the song, practicing the words using an overhead, and then making the book, the kids felt like readers and read to friends. We also made haystacks to eat out of chow mein noodles and butterscotch chips.

Foot Handshake

October 13, 2011

Note about Monday's Field Trip

On Monday we will be going to the Flynn Center to see Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. The bus will leave at 11:15 and return around 2:00. We are eating lunch in the classroom at 10:30. Please be sure to send in a snack as usual as well as a lunch/drink for Monday. We will not be going to the cafeteria for lunch.

Our Friendly Community


Today the students combined their creative minds with our theme work and writing. After reading, On the Town: A Community Adventure by Judith Caseley, I invited the kids to help create a bulletin board that included people, places,and things that make a community a pleasant place to live in. Here is what they did! FANTASTIC! Be sure to come in to see it.

October 12, 2011

Notes from October PTO Meeting

PTO NOTES & NEWS OCTOBER 2011
We voted on the 2011/2012 BUDGET and our BYLAWS and both were approved.
We have received $725 in DIRECT DONATIONS - thank you!
The INNISBROOK FUNDRAISER brought in $23,6000. Approximately half of that will go directly back to teams.
We were able to get approximately 50 businesses to buy ads in our SCHOOL DIRECTORY. This pays for the printing. Please remember to solicit these businesses who are listed in the back of the directory. The directory will be distributed by the end of this month
The HANNAFORD HELPS SCHOOLS program runs until December 3. If you shop at Hannaford please check for the Hannaford Helps Schools labels on foods which earn our school dollars. The coupons for the dollars you earn can be turned into the kiosk at the store or a box in the school office.
The GRANT COMMITTEE will be meeting on November 9 to give out our fall grants.
INSPIRATION PLAYGROUND was enjoyed by K-3rd graders this past month. Thanks to Joplin James for bringing it to our school. Many people asked if there was a way for our school to buy it.
All K-8 classes enjoyed making homemade salsa during the SCS FEED organized SALSA WEEK.
On September 28 every classroom participated in FIRE PREVENTION DAY. Thank you to the Shelburne Fire Dept. for their support on this.
All students 3-8 took NECAPS last week and this week. Students took exams in reading and math and 4th & 8th graders also took a writing exam. Science NECAPS for 4th & 8th grade will be held in April.
8th GRADE COMMUNITY SERVICE has begun with every 8th grader involved. Opportunities include working at The Arbors, at New Village Farm, at the Town Clerk's office and in the elementary school classrooms. Also during this time groups of students travel to the Shelburne Art Center for lessons in metals, woods or stained glass.
Teachers have been working with Colchester science teacher Heather Barron on DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION. This work will be going on through January. There was some discussion about having Heather do a workshop for parents sometime this year.
A group of teachers, Allegra and Allan will be spending 8 days this year observing and discussing MATH INSTRUCTION with the goal of moving every math class to a deeper level of learning and instruction. This work will eventually involve all math teachers.
A group of teachers, Allan and Allegra are working on our transition to the new COMMON CORE STANDARDS.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
Friday, October 14 - Middle school dance to benefit victims of Irene.
Tuesday, October 25, 6:30-8p - UA Curriculum Night
Tuesday, October 25, 2p-8p - Innisbrook pick-up
Walking Wednesdays - Every Wednesday in October.
FREE Webinar on INTERNET SAFETY BASICS FOR PARENTS. Sponsored by e-Vermont it will be held on 10/19, 6p-6:30 OR 10/26, 6p-6:30.
HELP WANTED:
Holiday Fair Coordinator - someone to work with current coordinators to train for next year.
Do you have any great ideas for stories about things going on at SCS? Please contact Lin Stone (lin@windridgepublishing.com) at the Shelburne News. She would like to write weekly pieces on what's going on at our school but needs ideas.

Special Visitor




Today our class had a special visit from Jen Bostwick who works for the Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She spoke to the kids about what it is like to have trouble hearing. The children learned about the parts of their ears, various reasons why people might have trouble hearing, and how to be sure that everyone in our classroom can hear when they talk/share.