The month of October flew by! As we embrace the vibrant colors of fall all around our school, we’re excited to share happenings from our school community during the month of October.
Here are a few highlights:
- One event that brought me such joy was our celebration of Unity Day. Every student received a Como bracelet that said "Cardinals for Kindness”. Our 5th graders wrote positive messages on the sidewalk for everyone to see the importance of being kind to one another.
- Our Como Cardinal Connections - every month, each classroom pairs up with a "buddy" classroom to do a fun activity. It is wonderful to see classrooms spending time together to strengthen community across grade levels.
- Students are learning about the Zones of Regulation. Each zone is a different color (green, red, blue, yellow) and represent different emotions. If you would like any Zones resources for home, please let your child's teacher know.
As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns.
Jennifer Ewald, Principal
651-744-6055
Moving into November and December, counseling classroom lessons will be focused on bullying prevention topics, including accepting differences, recognizing bullying behaviors, advocating for myself and others, and learning about the power of our words and actions. Be sure to ask your child about what they’ve been learning with Ms. Keela!
Curious about other happenings in School Counseling? Check out the Annual Calendar to learn more!
**5th graders did a “kindness in chalk” activity on Unity Day, October 16th
PreK
This month we began our new unit, “Exploring Change in Our World.” We learned about the changes that are happening outside. We went on a fall walk and noticed all of the changes happening - such as leaves changing colors, squirrels busy looking for food, the weather getting colder, and people wearing warmer clothes.
Kindergarten
Kindergarteners went on a leaf hunt to collect leaves we will be using in Writing and Art in the coming weeks. We enjoyed a Dance party with our K-2 community with music from DJ Blake in the Gym. We continue to learn about each other’s strengths and unique talents and use what we are learning with letter and numbers to express ourselves using our learning.
Second Grade
Second graders participated in their first Cardinal Connection. Cardinal Connection is where we pair up with another class and get together once a month to build positive relationships with other classrooms. Our students had so much fun interacting with our Cardinal Connection buddies. We can’t wait for next month!
Third Grade
Third graders have been busy writers! They have learned how to respond to texts, generate ideas, and write about prompts, and they are just wrapping up their opinion writing unit. They are able to share their opinions and provide reasons to support them. Stop by our 3rd-grade hallway to see their finished work!
Fourth Grade
In mathematics, 4th graders are diving into the world of multiplication by learning about partial products, a strategy that helps them break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable pieces. This approach is building their confidence in tackling larger numbers step by step. Meanwhile, in writing, they're unleashing their creativity by crafting their very own spooky stories, just in time for the Halloween season! From eerie settings to bone-chilling plots, these young writers are excited to share their scary tales.
Fifth Grade
Fifth Graders from Mr. Prescott’s and Mr. Smith’s Classes have been studying division in math, working on writing personal narratives, and reading about the Three Branches of government- the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branches. We have drawn pictures about ourselves, and how we got our names.
Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)
New Area Of Study: “Exploring Change in Our World.”
We have been observing the changes fall brings through different sensory experiences in the classroom. The sensory table has both real and pretend fall leaves, forest animals, tiny pumpkins and magnifying glasses. We have made fall apple pictures out of glue and colored sand and painted fall leaves using watercolor for our classroom tree.
Greetings Scientists!
This month has been a whirlwind of activities and experiences. As we move further into Autumn, we continue to notice change not only in our environment, but within ourselves as well. Students have been developing their sense of inquiry and observation.
In Pre-K and Kindergarten we have explored shapes and patterns. We have noticed patterns in nature by looking closely at the fallen leaves. In the first grade, we haven noticed how drastically plants and animals change and adapt to the cooling season.
Students in the second grade are able to use maps not only to understand how to find their place in the world, but as a tool to understand the features of our planet and how those features influence human development. We will continue this idea further as we discuss wetlands, mountains, valleys, and more. In the third grade, students are working on how to use various science tools, such as a microscope to explore different perspectives of observation.
Fourth grade students explored what causes earthquakes and subsequently tsunamis. These extreme forces on Earth have profound impacts on humans and animals. Students were able to locate areas on Earth that are prone to earthquakes and we explore ways in which scientists and engineers can strengthen buildings should an earthquake occur. In the fifth grade, students are understanding that materials and substances matter, literally! Our physical world is made up of many different elements, compounds, mixtures and parts. Students are exploring how various materials conduct electricity, heat, their density, size/shape/color/weight, and how they are produced.
Como Park Elementary School
Website: https://www.spps.org/comoel
Location: 780 West Wheelock Parkway, Saint Paul, MN, USA
Phone: 651-293-8820
Twitter: @ComoElementary
Translations of required school-related communications can be made available upon request. Our school can also provide translators. Please contact the office or your student’s teacher if you are in need of these services.