The Schofield Scoop

Greetings Forestdale Families,

We are knee deep in the month of November and the events pictured below show it! We've had voting, a Wampanoag presentation and the Book Fair - some great extras to enrich our student's academic days. Meanwhile, math, reading, writing, sharing, playing, laughing and working continue in all corners of the school.

Teachers in grades K-2 have completed their first scheduled times for parent (caregiver)/teacher conferences. If you have missed your conference, please reach out to your child's teacher to schedule a time to discuss your child's progress in school. Our first term ends on November 27, and first term report cards are scheduled to go home after 4:00 on December 6th.

This week's shout out goes to Grayson Johnston. His bus driver has made a point to tell me - more than one time - how respectful, kind, polite he is as a bus rider, and continually provides a positive example of how to safely and appropriately ride the bus. Keep up the great work Grayson, and thank you for being a fabulous Forestdale example.

I hope you enjoy this week's Scoop!

-Kara Schofield

Forestdale students and staff participated in school wide voting. The candidates were Chicken Nuggets or Pizza. When the students finished lunch in the cafeteria, they each got a voting "ballot". If they opted to vote, they entered the voting booth, and placed their ballot in the appropriate ballet box (two different containers with Pizza or Chicken Nuggets images and labels). After they voted, each student received a voting sticker showing their participation. Some students utilized their privilege not to vote as they couldn't decide between candidates. Some students felt really strongly about "their" candidate, and started loudly chanting in favor of their choice! In the end, once all the ballots were counted, Pizza won. Forestdale has spoken - they prefer pizza to chicken nuggets for school lunch!

While students did not vote for the political candidates, each got an opportunity to vote in a community voting activity. Here are some takeaways that students learned during the process:

* Only one person goes into the voting booth at a time.

* Sometimes the line is long to place your vote.

* You can exercise your right not to vote.

* You can keep your candidate vote private - no need to share if you don't want to.

* You and your friend may not agree on the same candidate, but you can still be friends.

* It is TOUGH to wait until the voting is over to find out which candidate won!

On Tuesday, November 13 Forestdale students and staff had an uplifting and exciting assembly featuring The Red Hawk Singers and Dancers from the Mashpee Wompanoag Tribe. CheeLukna Pocknett, along with his brother David and another tribe member Nicki, led the students in an hour of singing and dance and storytelling weaving history and culture.

CheeLunkna Pocknett invited staff to join in a dance symbolizing shedding skin like a rattlesnake for renewal. Another song paid homage to the turtle shell and how the scutes represent 13 full moons.

He spoke about the three sisters: bean, corn and squash and the traits that allow them to grow stronger together despite having quite different characteristics. He brought up a parallel to how we as people have different and unique traits, but how we can work well together in our communities. This visit was part one of a two part series...CheeLukna will return in the Spring and plans to work in grade levels to develop a farmer's market (in conjunction with the PTA) as well as helping students get our garden beds thriving again with new plantings. Stay tuned for more updates!

Many thanks for the PTA for helping to fund this amazing presentation for our students.

The Scholastic Book Fair is an exciting event for teachers, students, families and staff. We are so lucky to have PTA provide this program for our families. Purchases can be made in person or on line, and no students walks away from the Book Fair without a book! Huge thank you to the parents who helped with set up, shopping, parent night, and take-down. We understand it is a lot of work, but also know that it provides huge rewards to our students and families. Look below at the joy you see in students and adults book shoping!

Math can be seen in so may ways throughout the school. In the photos above, Kindergarten students are building with 3D shapes. No, those aren't boxes and paper towel rolls, they are rectangular prisms and cylinders! Students play puzzles and math games to reinforce basic math skills in a fun, cooperative way. Below, students are using manipulatives to help make the math learning more concrete. As the concepts increase in difficulty, students utilize hands on materials to "see" how the math problems can be solved. In all our classrooms, math tools are available to all students to help facilitate their learning. Yes, even fingers count! We saw lots of students using fingers to help count on when choosing books at the book fair.

Share feedback here: kschofield@sandwich.k12.ma.us Thanks for all your great suggestions and ideas.