We're super excited to announce that Shawsheen Elementary School finally has a food pantry! Any Shawsheen family can access the pantry for FREE! Our pantry is currently stocked by The Pantry, a program managed by Greeley-Evans School District 6 Nutrition Services. The Shawsheen Food Pantry is open during school hours Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-3:00 PM.
Food
We have a variety of non-perishable food items, including; tuna, Spam, canned chicken, tomato soup, green beans, corn, pasta, a variety of cereals, peanut butter, rice, beans, ramen, and many more. **While supplies last
In our refrigerators, we also have a small stock of milk, juice boxes, and fruit cups. **While supplies last
Hygiene Products
At the moment, we only have small toothpaste and toothbrushes.**While Supplies Last
Other
We have a limited supply of laundry detergent, as well as twin and full-sized sheets and blankets.**While Supplies Last
Shawsheen Families,
Field Day will be held on May 17th, 2024!
Field Day will be half day. Kinder – 2nd grades will participate in the morning and 3-5 grades in the afternoon. (Preschool students will have an opportunity to use the inflatables in between morning and afternoon sessions.)
Please have your child wear tennis shoes. It is mandatory that they wear them! I would also recommend that you apply sunscreen at home. Students should bring a water bottle and a towel, as we will be getting wet! You may want to send your child with a set of dry clothes too. Sunglasses and hats are something your child might want to bring as well.
Parents are able to come join us for the time students are at Field Day! If parents would like to join us in having lunch outside, feel free to bring your own or feel free to bring money to purchase a meal at the cafeteria.
As always, thank you for your support and feel free to contact me with any questions! I look forward to a fun day on Friday!
Mr. Grabenstein
Physical Education Teacher
Preschool
Most preschool children love playing with water and are drawn to its many uses. From splashing water in the sink rolling up and pouring out cups of water at the sand and water table, children enjoy exploring water in different ways. We have noticed the children asking questions about water and showing interest in the different ways people use it, how it can change from one form to another, and how it helps people and the environment. The children’s ongoing curiosity about water has helped us realize that water would make a good study topic. We would also like to share that preschool graduations will be taking place on Wednesday, May 22nd, during the regular school day hours. Please check-in with your preschool-aged child’s individual classroom teacher for further details.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten Families,
We are having a great time in Kindergarten! We are learning and growing so much!
We are working hard on teen numbers, addition, subtraction, and counting to 100 in math in preparation for 1st grade.
In reading we are reading stories and focusing on reading whole words accurately and fluently. Thank you for supporting your child’s learning by supporting them with daily homework and reading aloud to them regularly.
During writing we continue to add new sight words to our word wall every day. We are writing sentences with more detail as we compose opinions and facts about a variety of subjects.
In science we are learning about the butterfly life cycle with live organisms in our classrooms.
We are looking forward to Field Day on Friday, May 17th and our End of Year Picnic on Tuesday, May 21st. Be on the lookout for more information on both events in the weeks to come.
Thank you for your continued support!
The Kindergarten Team
Mrs. Duplex, Mrs. Maresh, and Mrs. Z
First Grade
First Grade Families,
Reading/Language Arts
We are finally to May! To wrap up the school year, we are finishing our work in Module 4 with unit 3. In Unit 3, students become advocates for birds after learning about the many ways birds help other living things. A new letter from the ornithologist and jazz chant incite students’ active participation in caring for birds. Students spend the first part of the unit reading the beginning part of the text A Place for Birds by Melissa Stewart to learn about the problems birds face and how people can help them live and grow. Students use the information from the text to answer the unit guiding question: “How can people care for birds so they can live and grow?”
MATH:
We are completing Unit 7 in math, working on shapes and telling time. Students reason with shapes and their attributes, partition shapes into equal pieces, and tell time to the hour and half hour. To finish off the school year, we will be reviewing concepts learned through out the year that students may need some extra practice in.
OTHER:
Thank you for all of your hard work helping your students throughout the year. It has been such a pleasure getting to work with this first grade class and seeing them grow. Please continue to read with your kids at home for about 20 minutes a day so they go into next year ready to be second graders!
Thank you for a great year!
Mrs. Kotalik, Ms. Beeman, and Ms. Cruz
Second Grade
Dear Second Grade Families,
As we gear up for the final stretch of the school year, we have some important dates and updates to share with you!
NWEA Testing: May 14th and 15th NWEA testing is just around the corner! On May 14th and 15th, our second-grade students will be participating in the NWEA assessments. These tests provide valuable insights into each student's progress and help us tailor our teaching to meet their individual needs. During this time, students will also be setting goals for themselves, empowering them to take ownership of their learning journey. Encourage your child to do their best and remind them that their efforts are what truly matter.
Field Day: May 17th Mark your calendars! Field Day is scheduled for May 17th. It's a day filled with fun, teamwork, and friendly competition. Students will have the opportunity to engage in various outdoor activities and games, promoting physical activity and camaraderie. Please ensure your child comes prepared with comfortable clothing and plenty of enthusiasm for a day of excitement!
Math and Literacy Updates In the classroom, we are wrapping up Math Unit 8 and EL Module 4 Unit 3. These units have been filled with engaging lessons and hands-on activities to deepen your child's understanding of key concepts. As we approach the end of the year, it's crucial for students to stay focused and diligent in their studies. End-of-year testing is on the horizon, so practicing by completing homework assignments and reviewing class materials at home is more important than ever. Your support in reinforcing these academic habits is greatly appreciated!
We appreciate your ongoing support and involvement in your child's education. Together, we can ensure they finish the school year strong and ready for the adventures that lie ahead. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.
Warm regards,
Ms. Dillehay, Ms. Johnson, and Ms. Shultz
Third Grade
Third Grade Families,
In math we are reviewing different units that we have studied throughout the year. These include fractions, multiplication and division fluency and story problems.
In literacy we are wrapping up our unit about water conservation and will be making a PSA about why water conservation is important and writing an opinion essay on water conservation as well.
Some important dates:
May 9th-10th NWEA testing
May 17th Field Day
May 22- Park Field trip (permission slips will be sent home soon)
Fourth Grade
Hello Fourth Grade Families,
To end the school year, we will be finishing our 4th and final EL Module for literacy. We will be learning about Responding to Inequality: Ratifying the 19th Amendment. For our Performance Task students will be answering the question: How do we take action to make a difference in our community?
In math we will spending the majority of the time in Unit 8. Properties of Two-dimensional Shapes. In Unit 8, students will classify triangles and quadrilaterals based on the properties of their side lengths and angles, and learn about lines of symmetry in two-dimensional figures. They will then use their understanding of these attributes to solve problems, including problems involving perimeter and area. Towards the end of May, we will be going back and reviewing some of the big standards from fourth grade.
We have 2 field trips coming up at the beginning of May. On May 1st went to the Water Festival at the Poudre Learning Center in Greeley and on May 8th we will be going to the Spring History Fest at Centennial Village. Both field trips are lots of fun as we travel to different stations and learn.
Respectfully,
Mrs. Apparito and Ms. Wikoff
Fifth Grade
ELA: We are in the middle of our last module of the school year which is focusing on natural disasters. Students will be reading literary and informational texts to understand the impact of natural disaster on people and places. Students will begin researching supplies that need to be included in an emergency preparedness kit. The students are very excited about the end of this unit. Math: We are starting unit eight which will have students consolidate their learning and will solidify their understanding of various concepts and skills related to major work of the grade. They also continue to work toward multiplying and dividing with whole numbers and decimals. Science: Students are working on describing the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment and that energy in animals’ food was once energy from the sun. YMCA: We will have our chaperone meeting on May 6th. We will discuss expectations and responsibilities. The meeting will take place at 3:00. Our trip is planned for May 13-14. We will leave school the morning of May 13th and return around 3:00 pm on the 14th. Just a reminder that we will be outside hiking and learning no matter the weather. Permission slips should be returned by now. If you need a copy, please let the office know. We will send home another list of packing materials and a weather update. Please be on the lookout for that. Please contact your classroom teacher with any questions, thoughts, or concerns.
Kindergarten: For the remainder of the year, kindergarten will continue to reinforce the concepts of opposites: high/low, fast/slow, loud/quiet, long/short, etc. Put on your kinder’s favorite song and see if they can tell you how the music sounds using those opposites! They are also working on identifying the rhythms of words. For example, ask them to clap their name: Mrs. Small (3 syllables=3 claps).
1st Grade: 1st graders will continue to review ta, titi, and rest as well as Sol, Mi, and La with hand signs. Ask them to draw you the symbols for ta, titi, and rest or show you the hand signs for Sol, La, and Mi.
2nd Grade: 2nd graders are learning a song about bats to go along with their science unit, as well as learning a lot of musical terminology. Ask if they can tell you what a time signature, bar line, double bar line, or measure is. Bonus points if they can name all four!
3rd Grade: The last part of the year 3rd graders are reviewing tikatika, high and low sol, as well as partner songs and canons/rounds. Ask them to sing you one of our canons or rounds!
4th/5th Grade: 4th and 5th graders are writing songs using the notes on the staff. Ask them to show you their hand staff or if they can speak the EGBDF rap off the top of their heads.
With the school year coming to a close, be on the lookout for students being home artworks. If your student had a piece of artwork in an art show those works will be coming home with your student soon. I have been working on adding digital art stations to 3rd through 5th grade art. This is an exciting choice driven art experience for students. Students can pick the art they are interested in, scan a QR code, and have access to self paced instruction as well as materials. Students have really enjoyed this choice in the art room. Also, with the nice(er) weather, we have been enjoying some outside art activities!
Kind regards,
Mrs. Small & Ms. Shultz
