Ms. Smith's Class
Ms. Smith's P3s and P4s were very busy choosing centers that challenged them in a variety of academic ways. Some of the centers were entirely focused on gross or fine motor skills, allowing students to get their hands moving in precise, practiced motions. Other centers were thinking stations where students engaged in reading and math activities or iPad apps. There were other opportunities for students to work creatively with one another in imaginative play. All students were excited to find something that spoke to their interests.
Ms. Munnelly's Class
Ms. Munnelly's preschoolers were all about the literacy stations during centers time! Students had many choices of materials and activities that were literacy-based, and students were able to work independently or with their peers to pursue their learning. Students also had the chance to work with the instructors in the room and even asked Dr. Rogers to join the fun and read with them in the library. Their enthusiasm for reading was contagious!
Ms. Womack's Class
Ms. Womack's preschoolers were busy with centers on Wednesday morning as they explored letter games, imaginative play, iPad apps, art projects, and individualized instruction. Students were highly engaged in the work. Some students worked independently while others worked in pairs or small groups, and others worked with one of the instructors in the room. Students were excited by their choice of activity, and they were also challenged by the content of the center.
Ms. Young's Class
Ms. Young's preschool students were busy learning the letter "D" through song and dance. Students gathered in their special chair on the carpet to hear the introduction to the new letter, and they sang along with the music. Dr. Rogers is a little biased because her first name starts with D (Deborah!), but she thinks most people would agree this is an excellent letter of the alphabet!
Ms. Willard's Class
Ms. Willard's guided reading lesson allowed students at the table to receive instruction based on their specific reading needs while the rest of the class engaged in collaborative literacy centers. Students were excited to work together and even gave each other high fives when they made progress in their activity!
Ms. Versen's Class
Ms. Versen's first graders were deeply engaged in guided reading. This means that some students met with Ms. Versen for a reading lesson designed specifically for their level while the rest of the class worked in their groups on literary centers. Students had puzzles, games, and iPad apps that were all focused on literary development.
Ms. Hadley's Class
Ms. Hadley's second graders were in the middle of their math lesson. Students were working hard on math strategies to solve problems in different ways. Ms. Hadley and Ms. Wendy guided them in several methods to solve the same problem, helping students to realize that there are many ways to think about math problems and solve equations using different strategies.
Ms. Ivory's Class
Ms. Ivory's students were deep into their independent math practice while they practiced subtracting two-digit numbers from two-digit numbers. This is a challenging skill to learn, but the students demonstrated several strategies to get them to the right answer, showing off their critical thinking skills along the way!
Ms. Jami's Class
Ms. Jami's third graders were in the middle of their math lesson where they were focused on the time continuum, exploring time as a continuous measurement using a stopwatch. Students had to time themselves completing various challenges like snapping their fingers, naming different animals, and writing out numbers. They were attempting to understand how long each task took, and students were recording their results together.
Ms. Hammock's Class
Ms. Hammock's class were observed during their improv lesson through Springboard. Students were able to move in response to their acting partner. The improve instructor used special terminology so students became familiar with "stage left," "stage right," and "movements." They had to work with what their partner was giving them, and their creative skills really came out!
Ms. Brown's Class
Ms. Brown's 5th graders were busy reading about the great gila monster, a creature that lives in the American Southwest. Students had to read a story and then answer comprehension questions about the monster, determining if they were dangerous or harmless, and identifying where they live and how they survive such extreme desert climates. Students were focused and learning the entire day, which was very impressive given the shortened week and the disruption in our regular schedule. Well done, 5th grade!
Ms. Gonzalez's Class
Kindergarteners were in Ms. G's music class getting all of their shakes and wiggles out through both song and dance. Students were able to musically and physically express themselves through a variety of songs and tools. The kids got especially excited when the ribbons came out!
Ms. Godfrey's Class
In art class, Ms. Godfrey's students have been exploring the magic and fun of PAINT! Students wear smocks to protect their clothing, but otherwise, the materials are allowed to inspire students to create exciting artwork that expresses themselves!
Ms. Ralphs' Class
Students began their soccer unit this week, learning the essential rules of the game as well as the moves of dribbling, passing, and shooting the ball. Students were strongly encouraged to tap into their teamwork skills to make sure their teammates had a great time too. Captured here, students were warming up for their soccer game with push-ups and sit-ups so they were game-ready!
Ms. Bailey's Class
Ms. Bailey received two new students this week, so they spent their time welcoming our returning family and acclimating the students to the structure and routine of the classroom. Students were assessed and veteran students were utilized as "tour guides" to the class so that everyone felt welcome and comfortable!
3rd Grade Walking Field Trip
Ms. Jami's class made use of their three-day week to go on a field trip downtown to the St. Louis Central Public Library Branch. Students got to experience the magic of this beautiful building. If you have never been to this branch of the Public Library, this is a MUST see in St. Louis! The unique architecture of the building is different in every single room, and you can see everything from a 1960s mod pod to a modern day recording studio to an 1800s Danish inspired cottage. It is a one-of-a-kind place, and our students enjoyed the children's and young adult's wing immensely!
Winter Coat Distribution
Stifel Investment Services became a new community partner of Patrick Henry this week as they gifted every single one of our students with a brand new winter coat! Stifel volunteers sized every student so that the winter coat fits well, and students were then able to move through the boutique to choose their colors and patterns. This could not have come at a more perfect time given the forecast for this weekend - snow in November?! Thank you to our partners at Stifel, and to our Patrick Henry team for making this event possible!
Why is SLPS Closed on Election Day?
Many parents asked why school was closed on Tuesday, November 8th in honor of Election Day. There are two main reasons for this decision. First, many of our schools are polling places, and there are hundreds of citizens who walk through the building to get to the polls, creating a safety concern for our students. Though we love to be a part of the voting process, we do not love the exposure of our students to strangers while the building is open as a polling place. Second, our staff members are also citizens with the right to vote, and they need time to get to their polling place. Having the day off ensures that all of our staff members are able to do their civic duty and vote in our local, state, and federal elections.
What is Veterans' Day?
On Friday, November 11th, SLPS will be closed again in honor of Veterans' Day. This is a day that honors all of our troops who have served in some capacity. Originally, this holiday marked Armistice Day, the day that ended World War I, and all of the Americans who fell during that specific war. Eventually, Veterans' Day became a day to celebrate and honor all of our Veterans who served in any capacity.
Take a look below for resources on how to teach kids about Veterans' Day.
November 18th: Progress Reports
On Friday, November 18th, students in Kindergarten-5th Grade will receive Progress Report cards for 2nd quarter. Preschool students do not receive Progress Reports. All Progress Reports will be emailed to families, so please click here to update your contact information here to make sure we have your updated email address.
November 21 - 25: Thanksgiving Break
All SLPS buildings and offices will be closed for Thanksgiving Break the entire week of Thanksgiving. We wish you and your family a very happy holiday, and we hope this season brings you time to relax and connect with one another. We are so thankful for each one of our Patrick Henry students, families, and staff members!
December 16th: Patrick Henry Family Dance
On Friday, December 16th, all Patrick Henry students and their families are invited to attend our first ever Patrick Henry Family Dance! We will have our gym set up with decorations, food, and a DJ ready to get the party going! This dance can be as formal or informal as you want it to be - come dressed up in your holiday best, or just come as you are! We just want to have fun and dance the night away!
The dance will open at 6:00pm and the evening will end at 7:30pm.
Please click here to RSVP for your spot so we make sure to order enough food.
