February Newsletter

Happy February!

I can't believe February is already here! We have a lot of exciting events at school this month: Science Night, Track/Field Day, and Rodeo Breakfast to name a few. Thank you to all of the volunteers who help make these events happen. Our Character Strong Trait of the Month is Honesty.

• Tax Credit Donations – As you begin preparing your taxes, please remember that tax credit donations are crucial for funding staff and supplies for our fine arts, band and orchestra, OMA, dance, technology, and PE. These classes enrich our students and provide opportunities for our teachers to meet in their professional learning teams to analyze data to help guide their instruction. You can donate online on our website. Ask your friends and neighbors to donate as well!

• Counselor Appreciation Week – February 3rd - 7th is Counselor Appreciation Week, so I want to give a shout out to Ms. Lana for being our amazing counselor! She is always busy checking in with our students to make sure they are doing well and getting the support they need. Thank you, Ms. Lana!
  

• Volunteers – We will be in need of volunteers to keep a lot of the Fruchthendler traditions going, so please be on the lookout for communication from your student's teacher regarding opportunities to volunteer. Some of the upcoming events are the Rodeo Breakfast, Spring Book Fair, and Fruchthendler Olympics.

• K-2 Spelling Bee – The K-2 Spelling Bee will be 2/4 at 5:30. Each class will have their qualifying toward the end of January.

Counseling with Ms. Lana:

For the month of February, our focus in counseling will be on honesty. Kindergarten and first grade students will learn and understand the importance of honesty and how we develop trust with others. Second and third grade students will focus on sharing their feelings honestly, and reflecting on emotions associated with dishonesty. Fourth and fifth grade students will focus on choices and consequences and the value of trust.

OMA with Mrs. Gale:

This month in OMA, kinders will be working on cowboy and rodeo songs. First grade will be learning parts of “We Will Rock You” by Queen on xylophones to connect with their Earth unit. Second grade will be singing songs relating to flying to match their aviation unit. Third grade is working on a new recorder song that connects to their Vikings unit. Fourth grade is continuing to create a geological version of the song “We Will Rock You”. Fifth grade is continuing to work on their two Renaissance songs. And band is working on playing a two-part duet and learning new songs using the notes they already know.

Discovery Lab with Dr. B:

Kinder wraps up their unit on Trees and Weather, with a focus on how water cycles through a tree and how to measure the wind. We then get back to working on our computer skills with a continued focus on how to use our fingers on the keyboard. First and Second grade wrapped up their second science units and will be working on typing skills for a couple weeks before moving to the third and final science units of the year (Insects and Plants for First and Plants and Animals for Second). Third grade will conclude the Matter portion of the Motion and Matter unit with an investigation into changes in matter (reactions). Third will then also spend time working on improving their touch-typing skills. Fourth and Fifth grade will get a well-earned break from their science fair projects by working on typing skills before moving to our final science units. Fourth grade’s last unit is Soil, Rocks and Landforms and Fifth grade is Environments (Tinsley and Perdreauville) or a robotics unit (Dye).

PE:

4th and 5th PE – We are taking the month of February to focus on playing games to have fun. We will be trying out several different group games that focus on creativity, problem solving and fun. It’s a welcomed reminder that not everything has to be a competition. Firebird runs continue as numerous students have earned their way out of any more challenge day runs by completing three this year so far, and whole classes will be looking to be done with all Firebird runs if the entire class can meet the Firebird Challenge. A successful run is a full lap of the field without cutting corners short or stopping to run. This challenge helps students set and achieve goals that stretch their physical abilities and encourage them to maintain a positive attitude during difficult task. Help keep our Firebirds ready by making sure they wear PE appropriate shoes on their PE day, NO CROCS and NO BOOTS.

Kinder-3rd:

February will fly by, as there are only two full weeks of school. During this time, we’ll focus on cooperative games that incorporate skills we've been working on over the past few months. We'll play different variations of tag and introduce a fun game called "Switch," which is similar to Four Square. Despite the short month, we'll pack plenty of physical activity into PE!

Please remind your child to bring a full water bottle to school every day to stay hydrated, especially during our active PE sessions. Also, make sure they wear shoes that are comfortable and appropriate for physical activities, so they can fully participate and stay safe. We want everyone to have the best experience possible in PE!

FEBRUARY (Honesty)

2/3 – Track Season Begins

2/4 - Kinder Kickoff - 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

2/4 - K-2 Spelling Bee

2/6 – Science Fair Awards and Family Night

2/7 – Club, team and 5th grade picture day (rescheduled)

2/11 - Kinder and 1st Grade field trip to Sabino

2/11 - FCC Meeting

2/12 – Bus Evacuation Drill

2/13 – Parent Teacher Conferences – Early Dismissal 11:25

2/14 - Parent Teacher Conferences – Early Dismissal 11:25

2/14 – PTA Meeting @ 8:20 am in cafeteria

2/19 – Annual Rodeo Breakfast 7 – 8 AM

2/20 – 2/21 – Rodeo Break NO SCHOOL

2/24 – 3/6 – Q3 Benchmarks

2/24 - Site Council Meeting @2:45

If you ever have a question or concern, please do not hesitate to contact me at (520) 731-4400.

GO FIREBIRDS!!!!

Sincerely,

Mr. E