Related Arts Newsletter

Welcome to the 2015-2016 school year! We hope that you enjoyed those long lazy days of summer. This issue is the first of four newsletters that you will receive from the Related Arts Team at the beginning of each nine weeks. In it, we will provide you with necessary information regarding course content, policies, and requests. As your related arts teachers, we recognize the vital role that our courses play in the development of your child. It is our hope that your child discover a passion in our classes that will last a lifetime. Thank you,

Your Related Arts Team

Find us on twitter @SPRelatedArts.

Hello! My name is Elizabeth Williams, and I am the new art teacher here at Sylvan Park Design Center. I’m thrilled to be back at my elementary alma mater as a teacher now. 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.

Beginning this year, Guidance will be a class offered as part of the Related Arts rotation. Character education will be the central focus throughout the year. In the first nine weeks, we will explore and discuss responsibility and respect. If you have questions, please contact me at marvetta.smith@mnps.org.

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.

Welcome back parents and students! I am ready for another great year at Sylvan Park. This first nine weeks music will have a “Music Around the World” theme. Each week we will visit a different country and experience their music in addition to activities that will help us reach our standards goals for the 9 weeks. 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 will come in a few weeks! If you need to reach me, my email is emily.biederstadt@mnps.org and my extension at school is 105, and planning is from 8:00-9:00 each morning. I’m looking forward to another wonderful year!

¡Bienvenidos a todos! Welcome to all! Each year our curriculum centers on common topics relating to vocabulary, conversation, grammar, and culture. Class content focuses on a development of the Spanish language that builds, expands, and deepens from kindergarten through the fourth grade. In K-4, our first nine weeks curriculum content includes numbers, colors, calendar vocabulary, and basic conversation appropriate for each grade level. Other topics include school, activities, and weather. Culture will also be a part of each class. Topics are chosen to promote a deeper of understanding of Latin culture and to maximize student interest and motivation. Specific class content including vocabulary, activities, and class discussions will be sent home to you by e-mail and in your child's folder.

Evaluations and assessments are a natural product of classroom activities. Our activities are designed to foster natural acquisition of vocabulary, grammar, and cultural information. 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 year of learning, success, and adventures with your children. Let the Spanish begin!