Related Arts Newsletter

Welcome to the 2016-2017 school year! Although summer days may have come to an end, the school year marks the beginning of a new learning adventure. As a part your child's educational experience, the Related Arts program provides a place to develop different skills and nurture special interests. In this issue, you will find information regarding the first nine weeks. We are looking forward to a bright and promising year! Thank you,

Your Related Arts Team

Find us on twitter @SPRelatedArts.

I’m thrilled to be starting another year of teaching Art at Sylvan Park! The school year is already off to a great start. This nine weeks in art class we will be following the statewide standards and exploring our creative sides, while having fun in the process! A main focus for this nine weeks across all the grades is self-portraits, as well as our continual study of the Elements of Art and Principles of Design. I look forward to getting to know you and your students throughout the year. If you would like to come volunteer in art class, or if you have any questions, please contact me at margaret.williams@mnps.org.

Welcome back parents and students! I am ready for another great year at Sylvan Park. This first nine weeks we have hit the ground running.

During the first nine weeks in music all grade levels will be learning proper technique and care for the many instruments we have in the classroom as well as what it means to be a polite audience member. Kindergarten will explore the various voices we all have, move in response to music, and listen for steady beats and patterns in music.

First grade will also work on recognizing patterns as well as same and different phrases. We will also practice singing songs with low, middle, and high sounds, and imitate short/long sounds in preparation for identifying and producing rhythmic patterns. Second grade will sing simple songs with correct singing technique and gain more experience using solfege syllables when singing (Do, Re, Mi, etc). Students will also create and demonstrate their own 4 beat rhythm pattern and improvise appropriate sounds to accompany a song or story.

Third grade will work on identifying notes and their values, as well as their correct letter name on the music staff and corresponding solfege syllable. Students will also play patterns and improvise on instruments.

Fourth grade will begin experiencing harmonizing in music through singing partner songs as well as identifying meters and creating their own composition in simple form. We will begin recorders with fourth grade this 9 weeks and more information on that has already been sent home. 4th grade will also be the actors and crew members for this year’s Disney musical! While we haven’t decided on the show yet, I wanted to get rehearsal days out to you. We will be rehearsing on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 5:00. This will most likely start late October/early November. There is a part for everyone that wants to be involved in the show and it is such a wonderful experience! I hope you will encourage your child to participate.

If you need to reach me, my email is emily.biederstadt@mnps.org and my extension at school is 105. My planning is from 8:00-9:00 each morning. I’m looking forward to another wonderful year!

Welcome to Physical Education. Our objective is for you and your family to develop an appreciation towards lifetime physical activity. Our goals are that students will be able to do the following:

· Demonstrate competency/proficiency in a variety of movement forms.

· Apply movement concepts to the development of motor skills.

· Achieve/maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness.

· Demonstrate responsible personal and social behavior.

· Understand and respect individual differences.

· Understand that physical activity provides the opportunity for enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and social interaction.

Thank you to the students for participating in our physical education program and to all the parents at home who support physical education and a healthy lifestyle. You may contact me at thesa.scott@mnps.org.

¡Bienvenidos a Español! I hope that your family enjoyed a restful summer and is ready to begin the adventure of learning Spanish. In Kindergarten the first nine weeks, children will be introduced to basic greetings, calendar vocabulary, numbers 1-15, colors, and shapes. In first through fourth grade, course content will include a review of basic questions, calendar words, and numbers. Also, in first through fourth grade, the focus of the new vocabulary includes emotions, basic needs, school, and sports. Third and fourth grade students will also focus on writing personal descriptions in Spanish. Finally, culture and travel time will continue to be a part of each class. This nine weeks, we will begin by discussing the 2016 Olympics in Rio, participating Spanish-speaking countries, and sports popular in Latin America and Spain.

Evaluations and assessments are a natural product of classroom activities. Our activities are designed to foster natural acquisition of vocabulary, grammar, and cultural content. Students are given multiple opportunities to experience success in the classroom.

If needed, you may contact me at tracy.poole@mnps.org. I am looking forward to a wonderful journey of learning and success with your children. Let the Spanish begin!

The School Counseling department will be presenting “The Ned Show” on August 24, 2016. It will be school-wide. Please see the attached video or you may go to www.thenedshow.com/meet NED.

Your School Counselor,

Marvetta Smith