Thank you

• To parents, students and staff that made Schoodic a wonderful adventure.

 

Early Release

Tomorrow, October25, 2019 is an early release day at 1:00 PM.

 

Costume Parade

On Thursday, October 31st, at approximately 2:00 PM, students and staff will walk to the center of town on our annual Halloween Parade.  We will have fire trucks lead the way and bring up the rear for safety.  Please join us by watching from the church parking lot.

 

Photo Retakes

Photo retakes will be November 7, at 9:00 AM. Please call the office to sign  your child up for a retake.

Jackets

It is cold outside at morning recess.  Please be sure to send kids with a jacket.

School Cancellations

It’s that time of year again when we’ll be having winter storm / power outage or school cancellations.  If you are not getting my remind.com texts please call the office.

Instructional Learning Update

Pre-K and K students continue to work on pre-literacy and literacy skills each day during literacy block and beyond! One of our favorite literacy activities is creating our own books during “Author/Illustrator” time. So far this year we have explored works of two very famous Author/Illustrators: Chris Van Dusen and Eric Carle. We have been noticing signs of fall: cooler weather, leaves falling, and that the power goes out for a couple of days, and shouldn’t it be Halloween already?

 

1-2 Literacy

We have been strengthening our reading skills every day during literacy rotations! We have been looking at parts of words, vowel teams (ae, ou, ow), and consonant blends (bl, fl, cr), and putting them together to make words.

 

1-2 Math

We are well underway in our math curriculum, called Eureka Math. Students should be seeing homework coming home in their folders. We are having math chats and becoming strong mathematicians!

 

3/4 Math: Our 3rd and 4th grade mathematicians worked on building their problem solving abilities, especially with word problems. We explored both addition and subtraction word problems this week by focusing on the context of the problem first, before we introduced numbers into the mix. This proved very helpful for improving their understanding. There will be an assessment on Monday to identify our strengths and also the areas that still need work.

 

5/6 math: We only had one day of math with this fabulous group of students! In that day, the 5th grade mathematicians improved their addition and subtraction of decimals, while the 6th grade mathematicians focused on unit rates. I look forward to seeing them again this week. They were missed while they were at Schoodic!

 

7/8 math: 7th grade mathematicians continued their work with proportions, applying it to the concept of scale drawings. There will be an assessment on Monday to identify what areas are strengths, and what areas need more practice. Our 8th grade mathematicians began working on a geometry unit, with an initial focus on transformations. This week, they learned about translations and reflections. They had a lot of fun playing a math version of Simon Says. Some games never go out of style!

 

3/4 – ELA – Most students did not perform well on their end of the week spelling test.  We did not have school Monday or Thursday, so that interfered with being able to practice the words this week.  We will have the same list next week.  The focus is on words with the long a sound spelled -ai-. On Friday, students were also asked to write a 5 sentence paragraph about what Jack, in Love That Dog, has learned about poetry so far.  Make sure to ask your child what this book is about! Many of your students have been writing poems of their own.

 

5/6 – ELA – On Tuesday, we completed Monday and Tuesday’s Bell Ringers (5 short questions in each regarding pronouns and the prefix -dis.  We spent a good deal of time discussing the prefixes -dis and    -un, and how some root words such as “able” may have the prefix un- (unable) or the prefix dis- (disable) and the prefix may not always just mean “not” it might mean “to inhibit something”. So, “unable” means “not able” whereas “disable” leans more toward “causing not to be able.”  Students were exploring different words to see if they could have both of the prefixes, and what the differences were.  We also reviewed their responses to the Literary Analysis questions they were to have completed last week while I was at Kieve.

 

7/8 – ELA – We re-read chapters 8 and 9 of A Long Walk to Water.  Students also were introduced to the scoring rubric for expository writing.  They had an opportunity to look back at their end of Unit 1 Assessment and score their own writing.  It was an important step for them to become more responsible for and aware of how writing is rated from not meeting the standard to exceeding the standard.  We had regular class on Tues. and Wed.  On Friday afternoon from 2:00 – 2:45 some students are involved in creative writing with Ellen Booream, while others are with either Mrs. Tapley or Mrs. Slaven for a different reading or writing experience.  If you would like more information regarding this, please let me know.

 

3/4

I missed the 3/4 class while I was at Schoodic with 5/6, but on Tuesday we discussed why there was no school on Monday for Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and why states have been making the change from Columbus Day. Next week we’ll wrap up our study of weather and the water cycle and start learning about people that lived in Maine long ago.

 

5/6

On Tuesday the 5/6 class discussed why there was no school on Monday for Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The rest of the week was such an incredible experience at Schoodic for all of us! The students had the opportunity to hike, make art, do lots of science, and challenge themselves in all kinds of new ways. Next week we’ll be bringing some of those concepts back to the classroom with our next science unit.

 

7/8

I missed the 7/8 class while I was at Schoodic with 5/6, but on Tuesday we discussed why there was no school on Monday for Indigenous Peoples’ Day by roleplaying a “trial” for Christopher Columbus for his involvement in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Taino Indians. Next week, we’ll start a new unit on ecology.

 

 

 

PTF News

Upcoming Events:

• Friday, October 25th @ 7:30 AM Coffee Social. Come have a cup of coffee and a snack.
• Wednesday, October 30^th, Helpers needed to pack bags for Backpack Program 3:00 PM in the School Gym. They will go home on Thursday. If you would like to help at 3:00 PM Wednesday text 207-266-1298 and we will have a job ready for you.   Thank you to all of you who helped pack last time!!
• Saturday, December 14^th, Annual Holiday Craft Show 10-2. Great place to get unique holiday gifts. Mark your calendars now! If you are interested in participating in the Craft Show, please email brooklinschoolptf@gmail.com or call 207-266-1298. If you are interested in participating in the Craft Show please register https://forms.gle/JJfH3gWP3dYqu4QX7

 

Warm Clothes Swap

Start looking through your kids outgrown gently used winter gear to see what you need and what you can donate. Save your kids clothes that they have grown out of and bring them into school if they are clean and not ripped. Soon there will be a rack of clean, warm clothes for you to go through. Leave what you can and take what you need.

 

Community Events

 

GSA Information Evening

For 7th & 8th Graders, on Thursday, November 07, 2019, from 5:30-7:30 PM

Come see what George Stevens Academy has to offer during this special information evening.

Light refreshments will be provided at the end of the evening.

For more, please contact Christie A. Snow, Admissions Office

George Stevens Academy, 23 Union Street, Blue Hill, ME 04614

Admissions@georgestevens.org (207) 374-2808, ext.112

Visit www.georgestevensacademy.org

 

 

Blue Hill Heritage Trust Garden Workshops & Soup Lunch

Saturday, October 26^th from 11AM-1PM

BHHT’s Office 157 Hinckley Ridge Rd, Blue Hill

Join Blue Hill Heritage Trust, and local gardening experts, for a fun workshop and soup lunch this Saturday, October 26 from 11am-1pm. We’ll learn great gardening skills, as well as do a little work in BHHT’s new community garden, and break bread together on a beautiful fall day.

 

 

Christmas Angels With the First Congregational Church of Blue Hill

Christmas Angels are gearing up for their 31st season, spreading holiday cheer. The program provides gifts of warm clothing to children in need who reside full time in Blue Hill, Brooklin, Brooksville, Castine, Orland, Penobscot, Sedgwick, Surry and Deer Isle/Stonington. The Christmas Angels Program, coordinated by the First Congregational Church of Blue Hill, depends on the generosity of individuals, clubs and businesses. Last year, 119 children were served from 55 families across the Blue Hill Peninsula.

Each Angel will be provided a detailed list of a child’s clothing wishes, including age (newborn-18 years old), size and any specific needs; up to 3 items per child. Shopping will take place in November and early December, with distribution of gifts on December 5th and 12th. If you would like to be an Angel, contact Ruth Miller at ruth@ustiger.net or 374-2003.

You can also help by donating new books and stuffed animals, unwanted 2020 calendars and Christmas cards, which can be dropped off in Fellowship Hall (downstairs at the Church) in the marked containers. Financial donation are always welcomed and appreciated. Checks made out to First Congregational Church of Blue Hill, with the notation “Christmas Angels”, can be mailed to PO Box 444, Blue Hill, ME 04614.

To receive assistance from the Program, pick up a request form from your school office, the Church Office (22 Tenney Hill), Tree of Life Food Pantry or the Island Food Pantry. Early sign-up is highly appreciated.

 

 

10/25              1:00 PM                                   Early Release

10/30               10:00 AM                               Flu Vaccine Clinic

10/31               2:00 PM                                  Halloween Parade

11/1                                                                 Parent/Teacher Conferences—No School

11/7                 9:00 AM                                 Photo Retake Day

11/8                 12:30 PM                                Veterans’ Day Celebration

11/11                                                               Holiday—No School

11/15               11:30 AM                               Friends-Giving Lunch

1:00 PM                                  Early Release

11/25-11/26                                                     Teacher Workshop Days—No School

11/27-11/29                                                     Holiday Break—No School