Weekly Newsletter
March 2, 2023
Message from Principal Emma Liebowitz
Events/Calendar
Monday, March 6 - LEC Meeting at 3:30
Tuesday, March 7 - Students return from Mexico
Wednesday, March 8 - 1:50 Release
Wednesday, March 15 - 1:50 Release
Wednesday, March 22 - All School Meeting at 2:15
Thursday, March 23 and Friday March 24 - 12:30 Release for Caregiver Conferences
Monday, March 27 - Representative Sabadosa visits at 10:00
Wednesday, March 29 - 1:50 Release
Link to Sanderson Academy calendar.
Preschool News from Ms. Freeman
We are happy to see each other and be back together after our vacation. This week we are enjoying Dr. Suess books in recognition of his birthday and Read Across America Day. We are learning about him, his use of silly words and rhymes, and his creation of interesting characters and creatures. Dr. Suess’ imagination also inspires us to try making Oobleck. To make your own oobleck, mix 2 cups of cornstarch with 1 cup of water. Add a few drops of green food to match the story.
This week we also enjoyed playing outside in the freshly fallen snow. The photos show us enjoying the giant snow banks along the driveway.
Preschool News from Ms. Melanie
We are talking about birds–sharing what we already know and learning new things. We played “turn and talk” working with a partner, sharing one thing we know about birds–and we already knew a lot! Some of us knew that birds have feathers, laid eggs, had wings to fly, and made nests. And several of us said, “They eat a lot!” Shortly after we talked about birds, we went outside to go sledding with our third-grade buddies and we heard lovely birdsong coming from the trees. What a beautiful addition to our discussion about birds!
Kindergarten News from Ms. Sarah
In our social skills program, we continued our mini-unit about thinking strategies to help us cope with problems and uncomfortable yellow zone feelings. This week we learned about “rock brain:” that feeling of being stuck. We learned that the antidote to rock brain is “super flex” thinking, where we just think of as many possible solutions as we can and not even try them or worry about if they will work. Just the act of generating many possibilities can help us get unstuck and lead to maybe trying a solution later. We role played thinking of many solutions to common problems, such as wanting to play one thing and your friend wanting to play something else.
First Grade News from Ms. Wyckoff
As we return from February break, first graders are getting back into routines and reviewing our class promise and classroom expectations. First graders understand that we have a class promise because everyone has a right to play and learn. When children follow classroom expectations everyone gets to have fun and enjoy their day at school! First graders were eager to share all about their vacation- many went bowling, played outside and some even had their very first sleepover! This week in our Second Step program (SEL) we are focusing on strong feelings and learning some strategies to use to calm down when we feel overwhelmed. First graders learn the importance of naming your feelings followed by staying “stop” as a way to interrupt the intense emotions they may be feeling.
First graders enjoyed the fresh snow by building snow forts, carving horse sculptures and making snow angels.
Second Grade News from Ms. McMillan
Hi everyone! I am so happy to be here! We have had a great start in 2nd grade! This week we are focusing on getting to know one another and getting used to new routines. 2nd graders learned so much in such a short amount of time. Some things they learned about were their new morning routines, class jobs, transitioning, using different learning tools in the room (fidgers, wobble seats, etc), and so much more! Students helped create what rules they wanted for the classroom. They came up with Be Safe, Be Kind, and Be Responsible. I am always amazed by this process and how seriously students take this when they are the ones in charge of making this decision together. We are also writing what our hope and dream is for the rest of the school year. Students will work on an outline, rough draft and then complete a final draft for this assignment. The class also got to participate in a lego challenge where they had to work together with their tablemates to create a task. Some of those tasks involved creating a bridge, a new mascot, and even designing their own flag.
Sixth Grade News from Ms. Lilly
Before February vacation we had been discussing layers of the Earth and how our Earth’s crust is formed along with how Earthquakes and Volcanoes occur. We had taken a look at some videos, read some articles, and completed webquests to learn about these topics. On the Friday before break we were lucky enough to have a visit from Johanna Pratt, one of the owners of Ashfield Stone. Johanna was able to make a real-life, local connection to all we had been learning about! Johanna discussed the different types of rocks that are found in Ashfield and how each of these rocks are formed. The class asked fantastic questions and were able to answer many of the questions that Johanna asked. Take a look below at a sample she let us keep of the layers in a rock! Thank you Johanna!
News from Ms. Prew
Check out this Math in Our World problem! Click here for many more Math in Our World problems, plus tons of other games and activities! Enjoy! :) aprew@mtrsd.org
Library News from Ms. Wilson
Happy March! As we begin a new month, our research unit in the Library is wrapping up. Students have created some impressive products from their research! Fourth graders used Google Drawings to make posters about local authors, while fifth graders also used Google Drawings to create information cards to draw attention to the library stacks. Sixth graders used their research about a job or career to design mock business cards using a free online platform called Canva. They did great work! Younger grades are continuing to hone their Destiny Discover and library navigation skills.
March also brings back the Battle of the Books! Battle of the Books (or B.O.B.) is a month-long book tournament between eight books from our library, where Sanderson students vote in three rounds to determine their favorite! This year’s B.O.B. theme is based on Sanderson’s character virtues, C.A.R.E.S. (cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy, and self-control). The bracket is hung in the front lobby of the school if you have a chance to take a peek. Let the games begin!
March is also Women’s History and “Read Across America” month. In addition to some new book displays, students are also invited to take part in a school-wide “Read Across America” challenge. For this challenge, students have to find out which states the authors of their library books are from and place a sticker on those states on a US map in the library. Can we hit all 50 states in a month? Stay tuned.
Speech and Language News from Trish Aurigemma
Did you know that the ear holds three of the smallest bones of the human body? They are called the malleus (hammer), the incus (anvil) and the stapes (stirrup). These bones are found in the middle ear. They work together to form a short chain that transmits vibrations caused by sound waves from the eardrum to the inner ear. When the inner ear receives the sound waves it transforms that energy to the nerve endings as electrical impulses which travel to the brain. The brain interprets the signal. This is how we hear.
The middle ear bones are delicate and can be jeopardized by excessive sound and/or fluid build up in the middle ear. When the ear is exposed to very loud noise, like loud music, plane engines or explosions, the bones within the middle ear will respond by vibrating excessively. When this occurs the bones can become damaged and/or fixed in place. Then the middle ear will not be able to move the sound waves to the inner ear efficiently. The middle ear is also effected by excess fluid in the ear, sometimes caused by the common cold or allergies. The bones in the middle ear will be unable to move freely. People may feel like that they are hearing underwater. This form of hearing loss is known as conductive hearing loss and is usually temporary.
Resources:
https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/conductive-hearing-loss/ Asha.org Conductive Hearing Loss
https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/how-we-hear/ Asha.org How We Hear
Community Engagement and Enrichment News
March Lunch Menu
About Us
Email: eliebowitz@mtrsd.org
Website: https://sanderson.mohawktrailschools.org/
Location: 808 Cape Street, Ashfield, MA, USA
Phone: (413) 628-4404
Facebook: facebook.com/SandersonAcademy