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The Weekly Update #4
April 15th, 2024
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THE KOALA QUARTERLY
3rd Marking Period Newsletter, 2023-2024 Edition
A Message from Principal Addi
Dear Connors Families,
I am very excited to share with you the 3rd Marking Period edition of the THE KOALA QUARTERLY. In our latest issue, I am pleased to highlight the celebrations, events and learning activities that took place during this marking period. I cannot express enough how proud I am of our staff, students, PTO, and Connors families.
In your child's backpack is a letter on how to access your child's 3rd Marking Period Report Card on OnCourse as well as their Spring 2024 Linkit Form C Scores. I am linking the letter here as well. Marking Period 3 and Linkit Information Letter
Lastly, for students in grades K-2, there are hardcopies of your child's individual DRA-3 scores. I am also linking the general K-2 DRA Information Letter our DRA3 Correlation Chart and DRA 3 Level Descriptors Google Site here as well. Please be sure to check your child's backpack for the hard copies of these letters with your child's individual DRA level information.
I am looking forward to you reading about all of our learning activities throughout the 3rd Marking Period. As always, if you ever need anything, please don't hesitate to contact me as your partnership is golden.
All the best,
Principal Addi
3rd Marking Period Monthly and Weekly Celebrations and Themes
The Year of the Arts Museum Field Trips
Kindergarten Trip to Children's Museum of Staten Island
The kindergarten classes had the BEST time on the field trip! We went to the Staten Island Children's Museum! We read the book “The Grouchy Ladybug” by Eric Carle and had a great discussion about the story. We made our own grouchy ladybug project using watercolor paint and construction paper. We also got to play in all the museum attractions! We first played in the “ladder 11” room which resembled a fire station. We dressed up as firefighters, played in the firetruck, used the station pole, and put out fires with the sensor fire hose! The next attraction was called “great explorations' ', which included a rainforest, a dog sled, a raft across a river, walking in snowshoes, ocean exploration, a WEXP radio station, and much more! We really were exploring the world! Lastly, we went to the 3rd floor which showcased three attractions! The “house about it” attraction which is a two-story unfinished house. The kids got to use a wrecking ball, a tool bench, bricks, a seesaw, construction worker outfits, a slide, and more! The “Bugs and other Arthropods” attraction which showcased many real life bugs! We also were able to try on an exoskeleton, crawl through an ant hill, and the displays taught us about hibernation, life cycles, and much more. And the “pets and people” attraction which showcased a veterinary office. We dressed up at veterinarians and checked up on all the animals using stethoscopes and scales! We had a BLAST at the museum and want to go back!
1st Grade Trip to the Children's Museum of Staten Island
First grade had an amazing learning experience at the Children's Museum. We enjoyed imaginative, creative, and cultural hands-on experiences through play and art!
2nd Grade Trip to the Museum of the City of New York
2nd graders went to The Museum of the City of New York. Founded in 1923, this history and art museum preserves and presents the history of New York City and its people. Thanks to the Hoboken Public School district for planning this grade level trip across all elementary schools. 2nd grade teachers also want to send a big thank you to all the chaperones who joined us during the trip!
3rd Grade Trip to the New Jersey State Museum
The third graders visited the New Jersey State Museum! Third graders watched a show at the planetarium and viewed the extensive galaxy gallery, explored the Paleo Lab & Steam Center that highlighted fossils, and saw the diversity of New Jersey’s Original People in the Archaeology and Ethnography galleries.
4th Grade Trip to the Museum of the City of New York
4th grade had a really nice time at the Museum of the City of New York. 100 Years of New York Life through Art, so many things to see and learn about!
5th Grade Animodule
Over this summer the Fine Arts Department applied for Arts in Education grant awards for the elementary level of our vibrant Fine Arts program. We were awarded and stood in gracious reception of this extraordinarily creative opportunity to create a Connors Koala Animodule designed and painted by our 5th Grade Artists along with Barat Foundation's Artist in Residence.
The Animodules is a three dimensional “Animated” “Module” sculpture, formed by notching two flat planes together, to create a third dimension. It is an original urban art form born in New Jersey, created by children and youth under the direction of professional artists. They are symbols of community collaboration and creativity, fostering peacemaking through the arts and promoting the civic ideals of inclusion, diversity, pride of place and the beautification of public space.
The Barat Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1997 as an educational corporation dedicated to expanding creative opportunities through immersion programs designed to help maximize artistic and intellectual achievement alongside personal growth. Their mission is to engaging youth and communities in the process of collaborative artistic creation, fostering peacemaking through the arts and promoting the civic ideals of inclusion, diversity, pride of place and the beautification of public space. Their commitment is centered around a single idea: “Public Art by the Public” promotes peacemaking through the arts, diversity, inclusion and creative placemaking highlighting a community’s unique history and culture and promoting healing.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 5TH GRADERS FOR THEIR AMAZING ARTISTRY AND CREATIVITY!
Sumay Ramachandran
Gregory Hanna
Elias Hanna
Faye Figueroa
Gabe Morris
Domenica Bussanich
Harper Appell
Abigail Murray
Nolan Pinchevsky
Romy Ron-Kushnick
Dylan Patel
Noah Renoni
Charlotte Young
Asya Longobardo
Kiran Cross
Maya Newfield
THANK YOU TO MS. CAPALBO AND MS. FASOLINO FOR ORGANIZING THIS ENTIRE PROJECT!
100th Day of School
We celebrated the 100th Day of School and Valentine's Day on the same day! Classes celebrated the 100th day of school with various crafts representing 100 days of their journeys!
Read Across America Week
The week of March 4th-8th we celebrated Read Across America Week! Each day we had a theme and activity for the kids to participate in! On monday it was Twin day and we had the HHS National Honor Society come in and read to the classes. On Tuesday, we dressed up to represent our favorite place to go! Wednesday was dress up as your favorite book character and everyone got to read with Principal Addi and her Chickens! Thursday, Valerie from the Hoboken Library came in to read and we celebrated with crazy socks and hair. Friday was Pajama day so our 3rd-5th grade students buddied up with our K-2 students and read to them! What a fun week!
Rosie's Adventures
This marking period we welcomed "Rosie", our Connors School Pet! Rosie, a hamster, will be visiting the classrooms throughout the school year. She's been on a few adventures with some of our homeroom classes, read all about it below!
Ms. Vayda's class was the first class to have Rosie for the week! We had so much fun learning with Rosie in the room. Everyone in class was so respectful and caring towards Rosie. We loved watching her play and sleep throughout the day. Rosie enjoyed watching students work hard in class. We started a traveling journal for homerooms to write in each week about Rosie. Throughout the week, students in 201 took turns writing things about Rosie and her day. By the end of this school year, Rosie will have a journal with so much writing from students with special memories. We can't wait to see her on her next adventure here at Connors!
Ms. Garcia's class had a special guest come to visit. It was Rosie the hamster! Everyone was so excited to see Rosie and take pictures with her. Unfortunately due to Ms. Rinaldi's and Ms. Hanberry's allergies, Rosie can't stay in Room 204. Luckily, 2nd graders in Room 204 were able to visit Rosie in Ms. Garcia's class for an entire period on Wednesday! The 2nd graders had a blast with Rosie! Here is A video montage of Rosie’s visit with 2nd Grade!
Rosie's adventures continued in Ms.Watson's class! The students loved having Rosie in class and looked forward to seeing her everyday! Each day we gave Rosie some treats, let her play in her ball, and of course gave her lots of pets and cuddles! We learned about how to properly care for an animal and how to be gentle and kind to Rosie. The students even got to "babysit" Rosie in her ball each morning when Ms.Watson cleaned up her cage. We learned that Rosie LOVES to chew and loves to climb on the walls of her cage, which is pretty silly to watch! We will miss Rosie Posie so much!
Pop Up Library
The Hoboken Public Library stopped by for more Pop Up libraries!
Solar Eclipse
Our first day back from spring break we had some stellar learning activities all about the Solar eclipse that was happening that day! Students learned about the process of a solar eclipse and how to protect themselves while watching. During dismissal student got to experience the solar eclipse!
Assemblies and Presentations
Walmart Women in Tech Presentation for 2nd graders
On February 8th, 2nd graders at Connors had a special visit from a project manager at Walmart named Ms. Farese as part of their K-12 Outreach Program. She taught us about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). We also learned how STEM relates to her job at Walmart by learning about the supply chain - going from the suppliers, moving to the store or warehouse, and eventually getting to the customers. After learning how STEM is something that we can find in different parts of our lives, Ms. Farese then presented us with the following materials: sugar cubes, toothpicks, frosting, and mini marshmallows. We were told that we needed to come up with a way to design an igloo using only these materials. We couldn't have more than 5 sugar cubes, a scoop of frosting, a handful of mini marshmallows, and 15 toothpicks. Before getting any materials, we had to come up with a plan of how we were going to build our igloo and which materials we wanted. After coming up with a plan, we were given our materials and went straight to work. When our igloo creation was complete, we discussed what we would have done differently, given another opportunity to create an igloo. We had such an amazing time learning about STEM with Ms. Farese!
Black History Month "A Tour Through Time" Presentations
As a school community we will celebrated African American visionaries within our classrooms and researched the life and legacy of those men and women who have paved the way for change. Students researched the African American Visionaries and designed and completed a door decoration for their visionary. The door decoration is composed of an outline of the Visionary’s life and the impact they have had on society in their quest of equality and justice. Students shared information such as the date of birth, accomplishments, challenges during their quest to overcome adversity to achieve their goal, a famous quote from the assigned visionary accompanied by student interpretation and their incredible impact on our society. Students presented this information to each other as they "Toured Through Time". Students also presented some of this information during our 2nd Marking Period Pep Rally. Here is the Black History Month Door Presentation
2nd Marking Period PEP RALLY
We celebrated our 2nd Marking Period Academic Achievements at our Pep Rally! Students received awards for Student of the Month, Perfect Attendance, Honor Roll, Koala-fied Effort, and Koala Character Awards. Students competed in a basketball challenge and scooter races to add to the fun! Students shared their "Tour Through Time" Black History Month Visionaries with the school community. Here is the Pep Rally Video
Math Fact Fluency Celebration
Students celebrated their mastery of math facts from their February Math Fact Fluency Assessments! Students earned more stickers for each mathematical operation that they mastered! It is so wonderful to recognize the accomplishments of our students!
1st Grade Theater Showcase
This marking period our first graders showcased a performance of singing, dancing and a little bit of acting. Each class had their own song and scene that was performed, but all surrounded the theme of happiness. We discussed as a class ways we can show that we are happy, how we can make ourselves happy when we are feeling down, and how to help others be happy! Our students were fearless on stage and should be proud of the amazing work they did!
Connors PTO
FAMILY BINGO NIGHT
Our second annual Connors PTO Family Bingo Night was a HUGE success! What a joy it was to see our school gymnasium jam-packed with Connors families and staff, smiles on their faces, enjoying a fun-filled evening with family and friends. The energy and excitement in the room was palpable and truly heartwarming. HUGE THANKS to all our attendees, parent volunteers, Hoboken Middle School volunteers, special guest callers, and our amazing faculty and staff.
Check out some Bingo Night photo highlights below – more to come! And, please add your photos to our PTO Bingo Night Google Album
Carmela Full of Wishes Theater Trip
Thank you so much to our Connors PTO for sponsoring this week’s exciting schoolwide field trip to see a live performance of “Carmela Full of Wishes” at the Growing Stage in Netcong, NJ! The show was an incredible opportunity for all K-5 students to be exposed to live theatre, and the students had an amazing time! For some of them, this was the first time they experienced a live theatre production and it was such a wonderful experience for all! Funds were raised by the PTO to sponsor this trip through raffles (including a raffle dating back to pre-pandemic that we’ve been waiting to use!) and family donations – thank you so much for your support of this effort!
Valentine's Day Friendship Bear and Kindness Card Exchange
We had our Friendship Bear and Kindness Card Exchange on Valentine's Day to celebrate how much we all care for each other! Each child gave and received a Friendship Bear with a caring card with one of their classmates. I want to send out a huge THANK YOU to our Connors PTO for sponsoring the friendship bears! Check out our Friendship Bear Exchange Video
Hygiene Drive for Hoboken Community Center
With your help, we were able to donate 144 items to the community pantry to help local families in need. We set out to gather 100 items (in honor of 100 days of school), and far exceeded this goal due to the generosity of the Connors community. Thank you so much to everyone who participated in the Hygiene Drive to benefit the Hoboken Community Center!
TREAT TROLLY
Thank you so much to the Connors PTO for providing an incredible TREAT Trolly for our Connors Faculty and Staff.
PARENT VS. STAFF BASKETBALL GAME
Move over March Madness, the annual Connors Parents vs Staff Basketball Game was the real highlight of March 21. We loved having mixed teams of staff and parents this year, and we were VERY impressed with the basketball skills displayed on the Hoboken High School court. Best part: Everyone had FUN and the well-played game ended in an amazing 37-37 tie! Our K-2 and 3-5 interactive halftime games were a hit as were the generous gift card prizes from Napoli’s Pizza and Thomas’ Ice Cream. And, Mr. Favino won the staff 3-point contest! THANK YOU to our party planner extraordinaire, Michelle Mazurkiewicz for planning and organizing the entire event and THANK YOU to all of the families and faculty and staff that helped out to make this event so special!
**Please view and add all photos + videos here!**
Student of the Month!
Congratulations to our Students of the Month for February and March! The students who have been awarded Student of the Month have been nominated by their teacher and grade level team. Students have been nominated for this award because they are excelling academically and/or have had tremendous academic growth. Awardees exhibit the KOALITIES of a Connors Koala in trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, kindness, care and good citizenship. Congratulations to all of our Connors Koalas who have earned this award!
February Student of the Month
Below are all our February Student of the Month for grades K-5!
Maya Perez
La'Mya Coe
*District Student of the Month
Jailyn Torres
March Student of the Month
Below are all our March Student of the Month for grades K-5!
Haley Janocha
Josiah Moreno
Josie Margolis
*District Student of the Month
Grade Level News
Kindergarten
ELA: Kindergarteners engaged in various literacy activities, including listening to stories, reading aloud, phonics exercises, and sight word practice during this marking period, showcasing their progress and enthusiasm for learning. They practiced retelling by identifying the topic, writing details, and sharing exciting facts. Recognized fiction in an interactive read-aloud and demonstrated their reading skills with "Ed and Ned." Explored fiction and sequenced events with "Mama Is It Summer Yet?" and "Is It Hot?" highlighting their reading fluency and phonics skills. Read fantasy stories then discussed elements of fantasy, and showcased their reading abilities with stories like "Rain," "Kim and Nan," and "The Battle of Wind and Rain." The students showed progress in reading fluency and sounding out words, with a focus on letters, phonics, and sight words each week. Some of the letters they worked on this marking period were Ff, Rr, Bb, Ll, Kk, Gg, Ww, Vv and Xx! The sight words being are, he, with, little, she, was, they, of, want and said. Additionally, they worked on writing their own published book about favorite places in Hoboken. They are still working on our published books and can't wait to share their writing!
Math: In Math students were focusing on 3D shapes. Students delved into various 3D shapes, participating in shape hunts within the classroom and around the school. Crafting exciting projects such as a "shape" Taco using various shapes like ovals, hexagons, squares, rectangles, triangles, pentagons, trapezoids, and circles. Students have begun working with numbers up to 20, engaging in activities like "collect 20" and learning about number lines. As they progress through math, they started exploring number lines. Students worked on identifying missing numbers on the number line, counting along it, and practicing addition. Furthermore, they are honing their skills in comparing numbers using the greater than, less than, and equal to symbols. Students have also been completing more and more story problems together! Now in Kindergarten math we started a new unit. Students sorted shapes and buttons by different attributes. They also started learning about surveys and organizing data. They did a survey on our favorite foods to eat for lunch. Then organized their data by different categories such as "sweet or not sweet". Kindergarteners have been showing off their FANTASTIC addition skills! We have Mathematicians!
Social Studies: In Social Studies, students delved into Black History Month They created a flip book to address key questions: when is it celebrated, why is it celebrated, and how is it celebrated. They highlighted significant figures like Bessie Coleman, Michael Jordan, Mary McLeod Bethune, and Shirley Chisolm. While engaging in listening sessions about each figure and completed worksheets detailing events in their lives. Transitioning into Women's History Month, students are studying notable figures such as Jane Goodall, Helen Keller, Amelia Earhart, Betsy Ross, Eleanor Roosevelt, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Oprah Winfrey, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and Kamala Harris. They have explored the lives of Helen Keller and Jane Goodall, with a project on animals inspired by Jane Goodall and an "I won't give up" project highlighting moments of bravery. Exploring Irish Heritage Month, students learned about St. Patrick's Day celebrations worldwide and Irish culture. They also took a virtual tour of Ireland's castles and cliffs, ending the tour with learning an Irish jig. The focus has now shifted to learning about needs and wants. Students grasped various monetary values, and discussed earning money, and the importance of using it wisely.
First Grade
ELA: Our first graders had a very busy marking period 3. Students engaged in various activities, from comparing and contrasting life in the past to today using Venn Diagrams to practicing phonics skills like long vowels and identifying red words. Additionally, students delved into informative writing by researching and organizing facts for their All About Books. Students explored the concept of teamwork in animals and expanded their vocabulary through context clues and red words. Throughout the weeks, students actively participated in grammar exercises and writing tasks, building their skills and knowledge in different areas of language arts. First graders also learned about irregular verbs and open syllables in grammar, analyzed nonfiction texts to identify main ideas and key details, understanding the feelings of characters through context clues and identifying narrator types and character emotions in texts. Worked on recognizing insects and their similarities and difference and recording vocabulary related to insects in their companion books. Explored how people work with animals through non-fiction text all while emphasizing the sequence of events and summarizing texts using graphic organizers! Our first graders demonstrated excellent reading and writing skills this marking period, keep it up!
Math: Students in the math workshop focused on mastering tens and ones and gained familiarity with larger numbers. To further enhance their skills, students are utilizing Math IXL and online Investigation games like a new math game called "10 Plus," where they utilize a deck of cards to add numbers and create new equations. Moving into Unit 6 of Investigations, students jumped into the world of data and graphs. They can now interpret data from graphs and compare different categories using the information provided, determine the differences in data when analyzing picture and bar graphs, and design their own graphs! Math fluency skills are being honed during Math Workshop, where students are tackling questions using picture graphs, bar graphs, and tally charts to comprehend given data. Exploring tens, ones, and place value, students are mastering counting with two-digit numbers and using manipulatives to understand higher numbers. They understand that the first digit in a two-digit number represents the groups of tens, and the second digit represents the number of ones. Furthermore, they are comparing two two-digit numbers and using notation (<, >, =) to record comparisons. They have completed their math Link It assessments, showcasing impressive growth since the fall. Well done, first-grade mathematicians!
Social Studies: In our Social Studies class, we kicked off our chapter on neighborhoods by defining income and discussing the significance of jobs within our communities. We also distinguished between facts and opinions. As we got deeper into the month of February students shifted eagerly towards Black History Month. The first graders were thrilled to learn more about historically significant African Americans. Their exploration of Black History Month lead them into the lives and legacies of prominent figures. Mrs. Sheridan's class focused on Mary McLeod Bethune, while Ms. Vayda's class honored Toni Morrison. Ms. Klag's class continued their study of Ida B. Wells. Students examined various aspects of these individuals' lives, including their origins, education, and families. They wrote about their achievements and societal contributions and showcased their creativity through door decorations. Students then delved into Women’s History Month, where they started by honoring the significant contributions women have made throughout our country's history. They discussed impactful women who have influenced our lives, spotlighting influential women in the arts. with their attention on Georgia O’Keeffe, learning about her background, career, and iconic artworks. Students had the opportunity to recreate one of her famous pieces, which was both educational and enjoyable. First-grade students engaged in activities to learn about the lives and achievements of Katherine Johnson, Marie Curie, Lise Meitner, Sally Ride, and Rachel Carson. The students were inspired by these women, some even expressing interest in pursuing similar career paths in the future. In Social Studies, they also explored the chapter "How are Other People the Same and Different from Me" from their Young Citizens text. Beginning by learning about the seven continents and then engaging in various activities like songs, games, and readings to memorize them. Students then showcased their understanding by creating maps and correctly labeling the continents and oceans. They also delved into defining climate and its variations across regions!
Second Grade
ELA: Our fantastic second graders delved deeper into the exploration of cultural differences among children worldwide. They grasped the concept of story settings and honed their skills in comparing and contrasting. Through the engaging realistic fiction tale, "Dear Primo, A Letter to My Cousin," students compared and contrasted the lives and activities of two cousins in America and Mexico. They focused on phonics was on r-controlled vowels: er, ir, ur, or, while the vocabulary skill centered on figurative language, specifically similes. Students embarked on their own realistic fiction stories, initiating the writing process with the aid of a graphic organizer, crafting introductions, and working on drafts rich with vivid details and sensory language to captivate readers' attention. Our second graders also delved into the realm of expository texts, reflecting on the essential question, "How does the Earth change?" They furthered their understanding of author's purpose and text elements like headings and bold print. Reading the narrative "Into the Sea," students explored the impact of erosion on communities, employing context clues to decipher unfamiliar words or concepts. They reviewed skills for their unit 4 assessment and revisited poetry, celebrated the Author’s Celebration, started a new unit on biographies, and prepared for LINKIT! Students also wrote an opinion writing piece about screen time usage. They brainstormed their ideas on a graphic organizer and then they wrote their opinions on a "gaming device". They learned about sequencing and timelines. Students also wrote an opinion writing piece about screen time. Students had to pick what the best pet was in their opinion. They had to use a graphic organizer to write their opinion, their three reasons to support their opinion, examples, and a closing. They had to illustrate and label the animal they chose. During Writers Workshop second graders started writing their opinion essays. Students used a graphic organizer to organize their ideas! They picked a topic and their three reasons to support their topic. They had a wonderful time sharing their topics with their classmates!
Math: In math class, students focused on using standard notation for addition and subtraction scenarios, honing their skills in solving word problems effectively. They enhanced their problem-solving skills for story problems, mastered identifying key information, determining unknowns, and creating representations, and solving equations. Students have made significant strides in understanding word problems with unknown starts and changes. They can now translate word problems into part-part-whole diagrams, aiding us in formulating equations for solutions. 2nd graders focused on working with categorical data by constructing picture graphs and bar graphs. The students confidently answered questions based on the data displayed in the graphs. Furthermore, they commenced Investigation 2, delving into numerical data. By collecting data on different topics from their class, they created informative line plots. They commenced with gathering data on the number of lost teeth among students. The class collaboratively represented this data. Subsequently, they devised a plan to survey students from various classes in the school to collect data on lost teeth. They enjoyed visiting first, second, and third-grade classes, collecting and comparing data with their own. They concluded it with the students representing teeth data in a line plot. The students are mastering the art of collecting and representing data in diverse ways. Way to go second grade!
Social Studies: Second grade completed their opinion essay named "A Problem in Our School." Each member put in tremendous effort, bringing in many intriguing reasons and examples regarding the issue. They then presented their essays to the class and voted on which problem to address together. They delved into President's Day and its significance as they engaged in a compare and contrast activity focusing on George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Furthermore, they explored different classroom doors to learn more about Black History Month. During Women's History Month they were introduced to remarkable women through stories, videos, and songs. Students conducted research on GetEpic to delve into various women in history and created stamps featuring a woman they studied and detailed their accomplishments. Finally, a group poster project was completed collaboratively, with each student following specific instructions to color their part. The result was a large, impressive poster showcasing our teamwork and collaboration!
Third Grade
ELA: The third-graders began this marking period by celebrating their writing progress by hosting their second Writer's Cafe. During the event, they shared their final Literary Analysis essays, exchanged positive feedback, and enjoyed donuts and juice. They then began focusing on Research Simulation Tasks (RSTs) and applied this knowledge to craft their first Research Essay on hot air balloons. In parallel, they delved into the novel "Who Was Coretta Scott King?" focusing on inferring and analyzing character emotions through direct and indirect evidence from various texts. They joined forces to reflect on the text, the author's intent, and the main themes to create posters symbolizing Coretta's beliefs, characteristics, and legacy. Building on their understanding of Coretta, they created a "Histogram" page from her perspective. They also commenced with their first RST Writing Task, crafting a research essay on the characteristics of great white sharks based on two articles. The students eagerly embraced their fourth core novel, "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White. They honed in on word choice and text structure to extract sensory details, aiding in their visualization of key story elements. Characterization was another focal point, with students scrutinizing character traits and emotions. Utilizing their knowledge of plot and sequence to assess and summarize chapters they also examined character development and sensory details in the text, along with the current Wonders text, The Dream Catcher. During centers, they honed their literary skills for Linkit and reinforced RST writing skills for their final Research essay on life in the Arctic. Exploring poetry elements, students analyzed text structure, word choice, and rhythm, reviewing literary skills for the Final Linkit Assessment. They capped off this unit by comparing the movie adaptation of Charlotte's Web with the book. Transitioning to the fifth core novel, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo, third graders began identifying story elements to understand characters and setting. They also delved into the author's craft, discussing the story's "sneak peek" theme. Students explored poetry elements, analyzing figurative language, word choice, and imagery to enhance their understanding of author's craft. They enjoyed identifying and creating similes, metaphors, idioms, alliteration, personification, and onomatopoeia, while focusing on repetition, rhyme, and syllable structure to craft limericks, haikus, and free verse poems.
Math: In math, students expanded their understanding of multiplication by practicing fact families, solving word problems, and using the distributive property to break down larger numbers. Continuing their math journey, students delved into solving multiplication and division word problems. They also tackled multi-step word problems by incorporating addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, which they found to be an enjoyable challenge. Wrapping up Unit 5 in math, students engaged with cube patterns, arrays, and Multiples of 10. They honed their problem-solving skills by tackling multi-step equations through arithmetic operations. Starting their fraction exploration in math, students identified fractions on shapes, number lines, and in word problems. After grasping the concept of finding fractions, they progressed to recognizing equivalent fractions. We focused on understanding equivalent fractions and introduced three methods for finding them: drawing pictures with shading, using number lines, or employing multiplication and division. Students began exploring data organization techniques. They learned to create frequency tables, tally charts, bar graphs, pictographs and line plots. Students even created their own bar graphs, pictographs and line plots using data they collected on their own. This skill will be continued in the upcoming weeks.
Social Studies: Third-grade students commemorated Black History Month, delving into its importance and paying tribute to African American trailblazers who have left a lasting impact on history and society today. Each class researched and depicted the life and legacy of a visionary individual. Ms. Gillen's class delved into the inspiring story of Rosa Parks, Ms. Schmidt's class explored the remarkable accomplishments of Mae C. Jemison in science, and Ms. Hall's class learned about the influential Maya Angelou. The Black History Month celebration continued as they explored the stories of various athletes who not only excelled in sports but also championed equality and change. Students delved into the remarkable lives of Jesse Owens and Wilma Rudolph, recognizing their impact on track and field and society. Also studying various black leaders, such as Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey, Shaquille O'Neal, and Muhammad Ali. Students drew parallels between the experiences of these visionaries and their own lives. Students also learned about the history and cultural significance of Valentine's Day. We discussed the narrative of St. Valentine and how traditions have been passed down through generations. Additionally, we took a glimpse into life a century ago to mark the 100th day of school. Students embarked on a new educational journey by delving into the third of four social studies units: a case study of the Lenni Lenape tribe. Throughout this unit, they explored the history and relationship between New Jersey and indigenous communities, specifically focusing on the Lenni Lenape. They began by learning about the initial settlers in their region, the resources they utilized, and the origins of immigration. Finally, in the month of March, to kick off Women's History Month, third graders celebrated the remarkable achievements of influential women who shaped history and contemporary life. They explored the remarkable lives of Harriet Tubman, Amelia Earhart, Helen Keller, Susan B. Anthony, Clara Barton, and Simone Biles. By examining the challenges these women conquered, their enduring impact, and ongoing inspiration, students gained valuable insights. They discovered the extraordinary contributions of courageous women. They learned about trailblazers such as Junko Tabei, Ellen Ochoa, and Sally Ride, and explored the groundbreaking work of Jane Goodall and the impactful journey of Sacagawea. Wrapping up their Women's History Month celebration, students conducted research projects to spotlight a woman of their choosing. This initiative not only allowed them to delve into the lives and legacies of influential women but also encouraged reflection, connection-making, and creativity in their presentations.
Fourth Grade
ELA: Phenomenal 4th Grade Readers delved into Unit 3, "That's the Spirit," by kicking off with the realistic fiction passage "Remembering Hurricane Katrina." Their focal skills include recognizing the narrator's point of view, inferring characters' perspectives, using context clues for new vocabulary, and dissecting flashbacks' purposes. Exploring trailblazing women, students engaged with the central text "What Would She Do?" Night Writes sessions had them analyzing Kay Woodward's take on why Elena Piscopia and Catherine the Great are trailblazers. Continuing their exploration of trailblazing women like Harriet Tubman and Florence Nightingale in "What Would She Do?" students tackled the text "Judy's Appalachia," reflecting on the question "How can one person make a difference?" Analyzing the author's perspective and deciphering new words with context clues enriched their learning. During Writer's Workshop, Phenomenal 4th Graders dazzled with their Literary Analysis essays, comparing and contrasting two texts. Collaborating with peers, students refined their writing, revised diligently, and polished their work before sharing their remarkable growth since September. Students also focused on reading skills such as analyzing the author's claim, evaluating text features like maps and headings, and decoding words with Greek roots. Students concluded the unit on writing Literary Analysis essays, with a focus on comparing and contrasting themes in two literary texts, edited their work using a checklist and collaborated with peers for evaluation and revision! They started a new novel "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio, following the story of ten-year-old Auggie who faces challenges due to Treacher's Syndrome and analyzed character traits of individuals Auggie encountered at school and prepared for Part 2 narrated by Via. Good work, fourth graders!
Math: In the 4th Grade Mathematics class, the students delved into Unit 6: Fraction Cards & Decimal Grids. They compared fractions in pairs to determine the greater value in Investigation 2. By identifying equivalent fractions and referencing landmarks like 1/2 and 1, they ordered fractions on a number line. The students continued their exploration of fractions, focusing on addition and subtraction with common denominators. They applied their understanding of fractions to real-life scenarios while solving word problems. Throughout their study, students added and subtracted fractions and mixed numbers, tackling measurement problems. They recognized similarities in strategies used for whole numbers and fractions. Despite the challenges, the students persevered and put in their best effort. Then the phenomenal 4th Grade Mathematicians embarked on Unit 7 in Math, focusing on longer multiplication and division problems. They began by making estimates for 2-digit multiplication problems, leveraging their knowledge of multiplication and multiplying by multiples of ten. The students proceeded to tackle 2-digit by 2-digit multiplication problems using the box method and also ventured into learning the traditional method. They also delved into long division and division word problems and began identifying measurement equivalencies, and mastering the conversion of measurements from larger to smaller units. Continuing their studies in Unit 4: Measuring & Classifying Shapes, the students focused on area, perimeter, and symmetry. They successfully identified lines of symmetry in designs, created symmetrical designs from given polygons, and utilized area and perimeter formulas to solve word problems. The students collaborated effectively and relished the process of learning new concepts!
Social Studies: 4th-grade students dedicated their efforts to learning about colonial New England and the Middle Colonies, exploring their governmental and educational structures, and comparing them to the present day. They kicked off Black History Month by diving into the lives of significant Black historical figures like Thurgood Marshall, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Booker T. Washington to adorn classroom doors. In addition to the door decor 4th graders created flip charts showcasing their researched information. They diligently studied and researched the various colonies in America, dividing into groups focusing on New England, Middle, and Southern colonies. They crafted informative slideshows, applying their textbook analysis skills. As they embarked on their exploration of early United States history, they delving into the late 18th century. Their journey commenced with a brief narrative outlining the events preceding the Revolutionary War. Engaging in both small group and whole class discussions, students shared their diverse perspectives and observations. Expanding their knowledge of America's origins and the events leading to the Revolutionary War, 4th graders delved into the Boston Tea Party and the concept of "quartering" soldiers and influential figures like Sam Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere, as well as significant locations where pivotal battles unfolded. Determined to grasp the foundations and progression of the Revolutionary War, fourth graders have been actively exploring the key figures and locations of the era. By engaging in insightful conversations sparked by thought-provoking questions, they continue to deepen their understanding. Keep up the impressive learning, 4th graders!
Fifth Grade
ELA: This marking period our fifth graders completed their core novel, Hoot. They delved into the author's theme and shared some insightful ideas. They tackled RACES and opinion-based questions related to the chapters. In writing, they progressed with planning and drafting a research simulation task essay. Students then started their next core novel, The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963. They focused on the first-person character perspective while exploring the author's perspective in their Reading Wonders text. The students learned about Frederick Douglass's life, understanding his struggles and accomplishments. they engaged in visualization exercises to vividly picture the storyline and the dramatic scenes from their small group readings in Reading Wonders. Students also delved into the play's use of adages and proverbs, analyzing their figurative meanings. As they concluded reading the core novel, "The Watsons Go to Birmingham" they felt that the novel provided a mix of humor and a realistic depiction of the 1960s United States, especially in the southern region. While exploring nonfiction texts in the Reading Wonders curriculum, the focus was on identifying the central idea and relevant details. Great job, fifth graders, keep up the fantastic work!
Math: Our mathematicians honed their computation skills across all operations and tackled multiplication and division problems involving large numbers. They also practiced solving multi-step real-world problems by applying their computation skills. students revisited the concept of decimal notation for tenths and hundredths, as well as explored equivalent fractions for decimals. They learned to represent decimals on grids segmented into hundredths and thousandths, and compared decimals up to the thousandths place using hundredths grids and a number line. Applying their understanding of decimals and fraction-decimal conversions, students learned to order decimals and participated in the interactive game "Decimal in Between." They were introduced to rounding decimals to the nearest one, tenth, or hundredth, as well as practiced expressing decimals in expanded form. hey collaborated in small groups to solve problems involving addition of numbers containing tenths, hundredths, and thousandths. Subsequently, they created posters detailing their solutions and discussed various problem-solving strategies. Additionally, students used decimal cards to practice adding tenths, hundredths, and thousandths. The fifth graders applied fractions by whole numbers by utilizing fraction bars to illustrate multiplying a whole number by a fraction, multiplied whole numbers by fractions and mixed numbers. Explored unit fractions, tackled problems involving diving whole numbers by unit numbers! Applying their knowledge of division, place value, and decimals, students solved division problems involving decimals, and utilized their skills in multiplying and dividing decimals to solve problems related to customary units of measurement.
Social Studies: In Social Studies, students delved into the history of child labor during the industrial revolution. They explored the various dangerous working environments children faced in textile mills, coal mines, farms, sweatshops, and on the streets. Reflecting on the reforms that enabled them to attend school, they realized how fortunate they are. The class further explored the industrial revolution, spotlighting industry titans like Carnegie, Vanderbilt, JP Morgan, and Rockefeller. They learned about the lasting impact these individuals had on business practices in the country, including monopolies and philanthropy. The students also studied Labor Unions from the industrial revolution, understanding the harsh working conditions and fears employees faced. They recognized the pivotal role labor unions play today, thanks to the efforts of workers during that period. The fifth graders focused on Black Lives Matter, discussing its significance and began preparing their doors for the Black History Month Project. Students selected dates from Barack Obama's life to compile a class Google Slide timeline to showcase on their door. Students celebrated Women's History Month. We learned about the history of the holiday, and learned that no one really knows why the date was chosen. We also watched a women's empowerment video. Students were then introduced to a poetry pattern inspired by Margaret Wise Brown's, The Important Book. Students chose an important woman and researched her. Students then had to write a sentence telling the most important thing about her life, list three interesting life events, and then end the poem with the exact phrase they used at the beginning of the poem. To celebrate Irish American Heritage Month students learned about important landmarks in Ireland. Students also learned that the official language of Gaelic. Students had the opportunity to use Irish slang and complete an activity using Irish slang. We also watched some videos on the instruments that are used in Ireland and saw those instruments in action while a band played them. We also discussed the Kilt and traditional garb. Moving on to the Civil War, Students learned that expansion, slavery, the Election of 1860, secession and confederacy all contributed to the Civil War beginning. We also made a connection to our novel "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" and discussed how the two strong opinions between the Union and Confederacy is what led to Lincoln's death.
Science🔬
Kindergarten: Kindergarten explored how the sun warms the earth, conducting an experiment to compare the speed of ice melting in sunlight versus shade. The students delved further into sun-related topics, learning that the sun is a star and emits heat. Continuing with the sun theme, kindergarteners grasped the dual nature of the sun's effects on us – both beneficial and harmful. They rose to the challenge by designing shade structures to shield themselves from the sun, showcasing fantastic creativity. Our kindergarten students concluded their sun studies. They comprehended how the sun provides warmth while also posing risks. Each student filled out sections in their science dimensions book and noted down 1-2 sun-related facts they learned. Kindergarteners then learned that plants are a living things that need water, air, light, and food to grow. Students are embarking on a journey learning about plants. Students completed a comprehensive book that dissected each part of the plant and its utmost importance. Students learned new vocabulary words such as sprout, seedling, and roots. They enjoy learning about plants!!! Our kindergarten classes delved into the fascinating topic of solar eclipse. Students learned how this rare astronomical event occurs every 20 years. An eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the earth and blocks all or part of the sun's light. To deepen their understanding, the students engaged in hands-on learning by creating solar eclipse projects, allowing them to visually represent and comprehend this celestial phenomenon. So incredibly proud of our budding scientists!
1st Grade: Our first-grade students have kicked off their plant investigation! They began by dissecting Lima beans and red kidney beans. They then planted the seeds to delve deeper into studying the life cycle. On Monday, April 8th, all classes delved into the topic of the solar eclipse! The day started with a captivating read-aloud session of "Eclipse" by Andy Rash. Students then learned about the occurrence of a solar eclipse and the safety measures to follow during one. The distribution of special protective glasses added to the excitement. Concluding Unit 4 in Science Dimensions, first-grade classes explored how plants and animals interact with their surroundings. This included understanding how senses like sight, hearing, and smell help animals process information and react to their environment. Moving forward, students will progress to the PLTW unit "Animal Adaptations". Through engaging investigations, they will explore various adaptations related to movement, protection, and camouflage. The first graders will conduct a scientific inquiry to investigate how different beak structures are connected to food gathering.
2nd Grade: Second grade learned about the Earths Surface this quarter. During the lesson on Changing Earth’s Surface, students delved into the mechanics of erosion and its impact on shaping the Earth's surface. They observed how water flow, freezing ice, winds, and glaciers contribute to creating diverse landscapes over extended periods. Additionally, they explored sudden landscape changes triggered by events like hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods. By applying this knowledge, they analyzed photographs from various global regions to identify erosion forces and determine the pace of change in the landscapes. The design challenge was introduced through three fictional characters planting a wildflower garden at their school. Students faced the task of clearing the area with existing plants and efficiently distributing wildflower seeds once the area was ready. In addition to academic content, the 2nd graders actively participated in the Veolia Water Presentation, showcasing their enthusiasm and engagement.
3rd Grade: Third grade students were actively engaged in various science activities and projects this marking period. They learned about African American scientists, working on research reports in groups. Each group selected a scientist to research, completing a slide template and being graded based on a rubric. Students also finished their mid-year assessments, showing growth and learning progress over the semester. They explored physical traits inherited from parents, conducting individual and class trait inventories. after conducting the lab with people they moved on to plants to understand offspring traits between two plants. Students were introduced to Gregor Mendel and Punnett Squares, learning how genetic information is passed down through generations. Engaged in a dynamic traits lab, students crafted offspring based on parent plant traits, predicting and creating physical characteristics to understand heredity and variation. Now they have moved on to the final project in PLTW Variation of Traits unit, where students created fictitious animals with detailed inherited traits in their habitats, showcasing creativity and application of scientific concepts to real-world scenarios.
4th Grade: 4th grade science started this quarter with a unit project on computer programing! Once students grasped the concepts of computing systems, they used a block-based coding language to develop programs. Students utilized the Use-Modify-Create Framework to craft programs featuring sequences, events, loops, and variables. Leveraging their skills and knowledge gained from the activities and project, students collaborated to design and code a digital game to engage children while they wait. Once the programing was wrapped up students moved on to identifying the different parts of the brain and their functions. Beginning with a labeled brain picture in their launch logs, students worked in groups using clay to construct a model of the brain over two class periods, highlighting each part's function. Continuing in the process of learning about the part and functions of a living thing students moved on to the plant structure and functions. They recognized the diversity in plant structures and the significance of seed dispersal in plant survival. Students explored the internal and external structures of plants, acknowledging their roles in growth, survival, behavior, and reproduction. Now 4th grade delved into how water shapes Earth's surface. They documented evidence of water, weathering, erosion, and deposition effects on Earth's surface. By studying the impact of water on Earth, students examined the interplay between the planet's surface and the physical processes of weathering, erosion, and deposition!
5th Grade: Throughout the marking period, students had an engaging time in science class with their new 5th Grade science teacher, Mr. Sottolano. This included completing Form C of the LinkIt! assessment and wrapping up Chapter 1 on Robotics and Automation in the PLTW program. Daily activities included working on NJSLA 5th Grade Science Practice Problems as a warm-up exercise. The class delved into PLTW Activity 1: Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Disaster, discussing and answering questions related to the topic. Following this, students were assigned specific robots, such as the 1994 ABE, 1995 Predator, and 1997 Sojourner rover, to research in small groups. Presentations based on the research are scheduled for next week. As the Robotics and Automation unit draws to a close, students have been diligently collaborating in groups to prepare presentations on their assigned robots. Some of the robots featured in the research project were the 1961 Unimate, 1972 Shakey, and the 1994 ABE. Students are now in their PLTW unit on Infection: Detection. This unit will cover topics like germs, their transmission, and methods for preventing sickness.
CTY (Center For Talented Youth) - ILP
Individualized Learning Pathway - Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
During the Individualized Learning Pathway (ILP) period, students who have qualified to participate in the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) programming engage in a wide array of math course offerings that address their specific strengths and interests. Johns Hopkins CTY believes in researching and advancing ways to identify and nurture academically talented learners. CTY furthers research, guides educators and families and inspires students from diverse communities and backgrounds to pursue their intellectual passions and create the world of tomorrow.
Johns Hopkins CTY Honors Grade 4 Mathematics
In this course, CTY students tackle lessons typically offered in a full year of honors math curriculum in this intensive course that offers a review of Grade 3 topics and preparation for Grade 5 mathematics. Students engage with videos, interactive web pages, graded assessments, and projects. They develop mathematical reasoning, learn critical thinking skills, and acquire problem-solving techniques to investigate and explore challenging math concepts for Grade 4 and beyond.
International Olympiads Global Academic Competition
This week, students who have qualified for either Verbal CTY or Math CTY had a wonderful opportunity to participate in the International Olympiads Global Academic Competition, along with students from other school districts, states, and even countries. CTY Students displayed remarkable concentration in answering questions from a variety of disciplines, including General Knowledge, Reasoning, Science, English, and Mathematics with many of the problems being quite challenging. (I don’t suppose you would happen to know the percentage of the earth’s water that is freshwater.) During the Reasoning Olympiad, students drew analogies, solved visual problems, used codes, and discerned patterns. For the Science Olympiad, students answered questions pertaining to earth science, physical science, and environmental science. In the English Olympiad, students saw questions concerning grammar, point of view, spelling, synonyms/antonyms, inferences, and more. It is certainly heartwarming to see kids savoring intellectual challenges and striving to do the very best they can. Kudos to all of them!
Fourth Grade CTY Dream Flags Project
Fourth grade CTY students created dream flags for the annual, nationwide Dream Flag Project, which was inspired by the poems of Langston Hughes. Our students wrote beautiful, heartfelt poetry about their personal dreams and their dreams for the world. They added the poems to “flags” and decorated them in the tradition of Nepalese Buddhist prayer flags, which are inscribed with important symbols, prayers, and mantras. For centuries, Buddhists have planted these flags outside for the wind to carry the good vibrations across the countryside.
On April 11th, students will partake on a field trip to the Hudson County Gifted and Talented Consortium’s Dream Flags Project celebration at which they will enjoy a variety of poetry and art activities and where their dream flags--along with those of other Hudson County students--will be proudly hung. Since the dream flags will “only” be displayed indoors, the good vibrations may not quite reach the countryside, but they will certainly be felt by everyone at this wonderful event!
Johns Hopkins CTY Cryptology: Math and Codes
CTY students will make and break secret codes in this exciting introductory cryptology course. They will begin with simple Caesar ciphers, learning to encrypt and decrypt messages as well as the history behind the cipher. They will then move through more advanced mathematical concepts to learn substitution ciphers, Vigenère ciphers, and multiplicative and affine ciphers. All of their newly acquired knowledge will be put to the test by finishing with public key cryptography and the modern-day RSA cryptosystem.
This CTY course combines mathematics, computer science, and electrical engineering, and it’s an excellent choice for those wishing to enhance their grasp of modern cryptology concepts such as ATM cards, computer passwords, and e-commerce. Our CTY scholars will certainly be challenged, though—many of the concepts covered in this course are often not seen until college!
Music🎶
K-2
Our younger Connors students engaged in enjoyable vocal warm-ups and dedicated themselves to learning new songs. To prepare their voices, students utilized the Solfege method, singing the major scale and harmonizing with the famous "Do, Re, Mi" tune from the movie "The Sound of Music," which they greatly enjoy. Celebrating every holiday including Groundhog Day, the students celebrate by singing themed songs. For this occasion, they performed "Shadow Free" in anticipation of an early spring. Progressing further, students learned to identify notes on both the spaces and lines of the musical staff, mastering the treble clef and moving on to explore the bass clef and instruments associated with it, such as the trombone, tuba, and standup bass. Then delving into note placement on the treble clef, they embraced a significant milestone in their music literacy journey, recalling notes with phrases like "Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge" and "Space in Your Face."
3-5
The 3rd-5th graders were very busy in music this quarter. Our clarinet players have been diligently practicing, focusing on playing notes with sharps and flats. Transitioning between natural notes and sharp/flat notes on the clarinet can be quite challenging due to the intricate fingerings and numerous keys on the instrument. The students then used the treble clef to complete a winter-themed poem, drawing parallels between poems and rap lyrics. They even turned the poem into a rap song, exploring the connection between rap music and past artistic forms like Beatnik poetry and radio DJ introductions. The students also mastered B, A, and G notes on the recorder, enabling them to play various songs. They excelled in understanding both treble and bass clefs! Additionally, they engaged in rhythmic vocalizations and practiced playing ukulele chords, embracing the island vibe in their music. The students also delved into Solfege vocal warm-ups and chord structures, showcasing their musical aptitude and versatility. The class also explored dotted notes and chord intervals, approaching complex musical concepts with ease which helps while they're honing in their skills and preparing for upcoming performances at the district spring concert! Lastly, they delved into the fascinating realm of music history, recognizing the profound influence of past musical eras on contemporary music.
Mandarin🌎
In Mandarin this marking period student engaged in various activities that celebrated Chinese culture and traditions and Women's History Month; as well as learning about Chinese Cuisine. Students created dragon, lucky envelopes, paper lanterns as part of their Chinese new year unit! They learned that the New Year is known as the Spring Festival (春节) and that this year is the year of the Dragon 新年快乐. Leading up to the hundredth day of school and Valentines day, they practiced writing our numbers up to 100 and practiced writing 我爱你 (I love you)! As they transitioned to the Chinese cuisine unit, Food Glorious Food, students learned about staples in Chinese Cuisine such as soup dumplings and hand pulled noodles and started their restaurant project. They promoted their restaurants with a menu and commercials. During Women’s History Month students learned about famous women such as Maya Lin, the real Hua Mulan and other important women such as Michelle Kwan and Elaine Chao and their contributions.
Art🎨
This marking period was FULL of art. All students K-5 attended art museums that really inspired their work in class! 3rd graders successfully finished their Van Gogh Sunflower paintings and their trip to the NJ State Museum, sparked ideas for their next projects – fossil imprints or planets. Kindergarten students crafted painted paper flower collages with textured backgrounds inspired by their visit to the Children's Museum of Staten Island. They engaged with Eric Carle's book and explored butterfly, ant, and insect habitats. 5th graders embarked on their art show projects by reflecting on their visit to the Newark Art Museum. They delved into different vase styles, their purposes, and the painting and sculpting techniques involved. The students got hands-on experience creating clay pots using the coiling technique and learned how to shape pinch pots from clay. Each student chose the sculpting method that suited them best to achieve their artistic goals. Everyone also diligently worked on their entries for the PATH Poster Contest, themed "Have a Great Summer From PATH!" Students had creative freedom to interpret what summer means to them, using any materials they prefer!
Physical Education🏀
MP3 was a great one as we started and finished our volleyball unit. This being one of the student's favorite units, our 3-5 students were eager to get right to games but we were able to master the skills of bumping, setting, and serving. Students in all grades learned the rules of a volleyball game and how rotations work throughout the unit. This was some of the most advanced volleyball I have seen since I've been at Connors! Recently, we have started our cooperative games unit where students participate in different activities that challenge them to work together, communicate, and accomplish a common goal. This is one of my favorite units as we get to take out the parachute, scooters, and play some of the classic PE games while students build key teamwork skills. One more marking period to the finish!