Newsletter February 19, 2018

Hi everyone,

We had an amazing visit from Mr. Matt Liptak and his associate Ms. Ariel last Thursday. They showed the children the difference between dry ice and regular ice. The kids sketched the differences. Then he froze a flower and a banana with liquid nitrogen! He used the frozen banana to hammer a nail into a piece of wood.It was so cool! He also showed the children how fog is made by placing dry ice into water. The kids loved it! I heard many of them say they wanted to grow up to be scientists.

We will be wrapping up our study on winter with a week of winter sports and the Olympics. We will go "ice fishing" in the house area and have a "luge" in the block area. Pam will visit from the Burnham Library on Wednesday.

Our next study will be on Fairy Tales. There are so many concepts that can be taught through fairy tales- sequencing events and first/next/last, characters, counting, comparing and contrasting different versions of the same fairy tale and different fairy tales and much more. We will start with the Three Little Pigs after February break.

Dates to Remember:

Wednesday, February 21st- Pam from Burnham Library to visit

Friday, February 23rd- Pajama Day

February 26-March 2nd- February Break

March 5th- Inservice

March 6th- Parent-Teacher Conferences

March 7th- School Reopens

I hope you have agreat week off next week. Enjoy the sunshine and warm temperatures this week. I suspect our playground will be very wet. Please make sure that there are extra clothes in the backpack. Thank you!

Nancy

Clay Snow People

Growing Crystals with Borax and Water

Newsletter February 12, 2018

Hello Families,

This week we will be talking about snow crystals. We will study the photography of Snowflake Bentley of Jericho, Vermont. He was a pioneer in capturing images of snowflakes.  Matt Liptak will be joining us on Thursday for an exploration of crystals.

Valentine's Day is Wednesday. I have had several inquiries regarding if we will be celebrating or not. The Malletts Bay School does not celebrate Valentine's Day and therefore neither will we. If your child wants to bring in cards for friends, I am ok with that so long as they bring in one for everyone (15). I will have them pass out cards into cubbies and the children can open them at home. We will be talking about friendship and what it means to be a good friend on Wednesday if the topic of Valentine's Day comes up.

Parent teacher conferences are fast approaching. I have sent home a form for you to fill out if there are any topics in particular you would like to cover during our short time together. Please return it to me via the home-school folder.

I am missing many home-school folders. Please check around your home to see if it is there. I use these each week to transport important information and art projects home.

Important dates to remember:

Matt Liptak visit February 15, 2018

Burnham Library visit February 21, 2018

February Break: February 26- March 2, 2018

Parent teacher Conferences:Tues March 6, 2018 from 12:00-6:30

School Reopens: Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Art Inspired by Lois Ehlert's Snowballs

Newsletter

2/5/18

The kids had a great time creating snow friends with the influence of Lois Ehlert's book Snow Balls. Many chose to make a "snow mom" or a "snow dad". Others chose to make "snow babies" or "snow animals". They are all unique and beautiful.

This week we will continue our conversation on snow people. Hopefully, we will be able to enjoy the fresh snow and maybe build some snow people on the playground. I will be attending the Council for Exceptional Children's national conference in Florida this week. Meghan Mead will be my substitute teacher. Please contact the main office at 264-5900 if you need to call your child out for the day.

I am looking for borax and large quantities of baking soda for some upcoming activities. If you have any you would like to donate, I would appreciate it.

Have a great week.

Nancy