March Newsletter

It is very hard to believe that March is finally here! March is an exciting time with Read Across America Week, completing Benchmark exams, Spring Break, 5th grade AZSci Test, and our Regional Track Meet. Thank you to all the teachers and staff for making this year amazing. Also, thank you to all the families and volunteers for helping make this community so awesome! Our Character Strong Trait of the Month is Cooperation.

• Tax Credit Donations – As you begin preparing to file 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!

• 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.

Counseling with Ms. Lana:

This month in counseling, our focus will be on cooperation. Kindergarten and first grade students will focus on skills that lead to effective cooperation such as listening, taking turns, and sharing ideas, and will practice these skills while working on small group projects. Second and third grade students will learn and discuss some of the challenges of cooperation, and how they can resolve conflicts that may arise when working together. Fourth and fifth grade students will be focusing on leadership skills including communication, decision-making, and conflict resolution.

OMA with Mrs. Gale:

This month in OMA, kinder will be learning the song “Breakaway” for their May performance. First grade will be learning the song “The 13 Colonies”. Second grade will be learning a new version of the Bumblebee song and what bees need to survive. Third grade will be working on their new note, low E, and the new song “Star Light, Star Bright”. Fourth grade will be learning some songs from the musical Hamilton to relate to their American Revolution unit. Fifth grade will be engaging with music from the Tohono O’odham Nation, our local Native Americans. And band is learning how to play “Old Town Road”, which is preparing them for band at the middle school level.

Discovery Lab with Dr. B:

New units are starting in all grade levels focused on biological investigations that will carry us to the end of the year. Kindergartens unit “Animals Two-by-Two” explores fish, isopods, worms and snails by comparing two similar species of each. First, Second and Third grade have similar units looking at the development of plants and animals and working to understand the development of the structures for each organism and the job those structures serve. Fourth grade dives into a geology unit called “Soil, Rocks and Landforms” where we will investigate the earth materials that make up the surface of our earth and the forces that change them. In Fifth grade, Tinsley and Perdreauville classes are tackling the “Environments” unit where we are working to investigate how different environments provide for the needs of the plant and animal organisms they contain and how plants and animals within an environment co-exist. Mr. Dye’s class will be using Scratch-based coding to program Edison robots through increasingly complicated challenges.

PE:

4th and 5th PE :

We have the most fun in our games when everyone is involved. Firebird runs continue as many of our students have earned there 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, NO SANDALS and NO BOOTS. As our weather is warming up, it becomes increasingly important that they come to school with a water bottle on their PE day as well.

Kinder-3rd:

In PE for the month of March, we will be focusing on developing key soccer skills through fun and engaging activities. The students will work on dribbling, passing, and shooting to build their ball control and teamwork abilities. We'll also focus on improving their balance and coordination with various footwork drills and agility exercises. As we progress, the kids will learn how to communicate effectively with teammates during drills and activities. The weather is warming up and kids get easily dehydrated. Please send a water bottle with your child daily and remind them to drink throughout the day. I'm looking forward to another great month of 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!

MARCH (Cooperation)

3/3 – 3/8 – SARSEF Science Fair

3/3 - 3/6 - Read Across America Spirit Days

3/4 – Spring Picture Day

3/4 - 2nd Grade Math Benchmark

3/4 - Kindness Crew Meeting

3/4 - Read Across America Reading Night at Fruchthendler

3/7 – Grading Day – NO SCHOOL

3/8 – SARSEF Fair STEM EXPO

3/10 – 3/14 – SPRING BREAK

3/17 – 4/11 AZSci TEST Window – 5th Grade

3/17 - Spirit Day - Wear Green

3/18 - AZSCI Test 1 - 5th Grade

3/18 - FCC Meeting

3/18 – Cub Scout Meeting @6:15 pm

3/20 - AZSCI Test 2 - 5th Grade

3/21 - AZSCI Test 3 - 5th Grade

3/21 – PTA Meeting @8:20 am

3/26 – PLD NO SCHOOL

3/25 or 3/27 - Regional Track Meet (during school hours)

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

GO FIREBIRDS!!!!

Sincerely,

Mr. E