Weekly Newsletter

We will hold our annual Sugar Rush 5K starting at 9:30 on October 31. Caregivers are welcome to attend! Be sure the permission slip is returned so your child(ren) can particpate.

Please bring your gently used winter clothing to the Sanderson Library this week and next Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The clothing will be organized and available for families to take during Parent Teacher Conferences on November 2nd and 3rd. We will accept hats, mittens, coats, snow boots, snowsuits, long underwear, and everyday winter wear. No used socks, please. Thank you!

It is VERY important that families notify the office if there is a change in where your child

will be going after school. Having your child tell us does not work. Please send a note, call the office or email me dsessions@mtrsd.org with any change.

Please bring gently used winter clothing to the Sanderson Library next week between Monday (10/23) and Wednesday (11/1). The clothing will be organized and available for families to take during Parent Teacher Conferences on November 2nd and 3rd. We will accept hats, mittens, coats, snow boots, snowsuits, long underwear, and everyday winter wear. No used socks, please. Thank you!

Tuesday, October 31 - Sugar Rush 5K

Thursday, November 2 - 12:30 Release for Conferences

Friday, November 3 - 12:30 Release for Conferences

Tuesday, November 7 - No School for Students

Friday, November 10 - No School

Saturday, November 18 - Local Goods Distribution - 9:00 to 11:00

Wednesday, November 22 - 12:30 Release

Thursday/Friday, November 23/24 - No School

Link to Sanderson Academy calendar.

It is that time of year again! It is a good time to get your influenza and covid-19 booster vaccinations. Vaccination helps to prevent serious disease, hospitalization and helps to protect the community as well. Did you know you can get both vaccines at the same time? This can be a helpful way to protect yourself and your family as well as being efficient and less time consuming. From the American Academy of pediatrics:

“What are the new COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for Fall 2023-2024? Who is eligible to receive the updated vaccine?

CDC has recommended that everyone ages 5 years and older receive at least one dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine (2023-2024 formulation). The updated dose should be given at least two months after any previous COVID vaccine dose.

• Children ages 6 months-4 years should complete a multi-dose initial series (two doses of Moderna or three doses of Pfizer-BioNTech) with at least one dose of the updated vaccine. All doses should optimally be from the same manufacturer for this age group.

• Children ages 5 – 11 years should receive one dose of mRNA vaccine,

• People ages 12 years and older have the option of receiving either the updated (2023–2024 Formula) mRNA (Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech) or updated (2023–2024 Formula) Novavax vaccine.

Individuals (6 months of age and older) who are moderately to severely immunocompromised may require additional doses.” ( frequently asked questions-covid-19 vaccination)

Influenza vaccination helps to reduce illness, hospitalization and helps to protect the community at large. Getting sick with the flu can cause significant distress, illness, loss of work/school time and be pretty miserable to go through. Why not try to reduce the chances of significant illness by getting vaccinated? You can get a flu vaccine at many pharmacies, grocery stores such as Big Y, local flu clinics and sometimes with your medical provider. Click on the link for a list of places you can get a flu vaccine as well as the links to register: Where can I get a flu vaccine?

Preschoolers are talking about Halloween and the costumes they will wear. Using this excitement and interest, we changed our Pretending Area into a Costume Shop. The children love browsing the shelves looking for costumes to try on, then looking at themselves in the mirror. They also enjoy the role of sales clerks, answering the telephone and using the cash register to collect payments for costumes. The creativity, imagination, and language skills have been amazing to see as the children cooperate, share, and interact with each other.

We are continuing to learn about the seasonal changes that are happening all around us. The children have been enjoying the fall foliage. They are making leaf piles to jump in and matching leaves that they find in the outdoor classroom. To piggyback on that, they made fun October leaf books with their 3rd grade buddies. The children had six varieties of leaves (hemlock, pine, oak, fern, ash, and maple) to use for making their books. They selected a leaf of each variety and made a rubbing on a corresponding page in their book. The 3rd grade buddies were so supportive and patient in teaching their little buddies to put each leaf under the paper with the bumpy side up and rub the crayon hard on the paper until the leaf image appeared. It was truly magical!

This week in math, we introduced the concept of tally marks to keep track when counting things—an easier strategy than writing out all the numbers. We built tally marks with sticks and played games connecting tally marks to 10-frame and numerals and showing with our finger patterns to 10. We noticed that the cross-line tally in a group of 5 is kind of like the thumb on our hand that we put out when we show all 5 fingers. In our math journal, we matched tallies to 10-frames and did some more practice writing numerals.

In ELA first graders have been learning about habits of character. These include initiative,collaboration and perseverance. First graders are learning that these three habits help you do your work and get the job done. We read two stories - The Most Magnificent Thing and The Little Red Pen that helped us learn more about habits of character and to see what happens when a character uses them versus does not use them. First graders will take these skills learned and apply them when they begin to create their own magnificent thing so soon!

This past Wednesday was a gorgeous day, perfect for leaf hunting with our 6th grade buddies! Buddies collected a variety of artifacts from nature and created a colleague together. These will be on display around our school for all to enjoy!

This week third graders spent some science time taking apart expired flower heads to discover what happens to flowers when they are done flowering. We looked at goldenrod, zinnia, marigold, aster, feverfew, and black-eyed susan flowers to discover the source of seeds. We discussed the importance of the over-abundance of seeds that plants create, and why they don’t all become new plants. If you are out wandering in a field this fall, see if you can get a few seeds stuck to you and ponder aloud, “Why does Nature do that?” Your third grader should be able to tell you the answer.

During our ALL Block time, students have been learning more about personification with Mrs. Upright. We first saw this in Love That Dog when Jack read “dog” and other small poems by Valerie Worth. We’ve been able to explore more of her poems, find additional examples of personification in her work, and write our own poems using personification. In our ELA block, we’ve started working on a literary essay. Students have been working in small groups to research Robert Frost, Valerie Worth, or Walter Dean Myers. They have been gathering information about their background, writing style, inspiration, and achievements. By the beginning of next week, we should be finished with the first draft of our literary essay and will then begin the process of making our writing stronger by editing and revising.

Fifth grade has been studying the American Revolution. Students have been learning about the events that lead up to the revolution and about the perspectives of both sides. In math, students are learning how to add and subtract fractions using various methods of finding common denominators. In ELA, the class finished the book Esperanza Rising. Most recently, students are using the notes they took to write two-voice poems. They are taking two characters’ reactions to the same event to write their poems. In Second Steps, students are learning the Problem Solving Steps using the mnemonic device of STEP. Say the problem (without blame). Think of solutions (that are safe and respectful). Explore the consequences (both positive and negative). Pick the best solution (and make a plan if needed).

Ask your kiddos about Number Corner! Number Corner is a skills-building program centered around the classroom calendar. Five different workouts provide opportunities to apply skills in new contexts. Sanderson students utilize Number Corner at the end of their morning meeting each day. Check out this link to learn more! :) aprew@mtrsd.org

This week, 4th grade enjoyed a very special treat in the library: a virtual visit with McCall Hoyle, author of Stella, which Ms. Lagoy has been reading aloud in class. Stella is a former service beagle who has to find the courage to overcome her fears and use her nose to save a girl’s life. Ms. Hoyle was just as animated and interesting as her book! During her presentation, she emphasized how we are all different and possess unique gifts. She also told 4th graders that they are all writers and that anyone who makes up stories in their head, or during play, is writing a story. Ms. Hoyle’s final message to students was to embrace their mistakes because “we learn more from our mistakes than we do when things are easy.” It was a wonderful presentation and the 4th graders were a top-notch audience.

The band and orchestra room is a busy place! Our young musicians are preparing for our first upcoming performance and the excitement is building. We are eagerly anticipating full band (winds, brass, and percussion) and full orchestra (strings) rehearsals starting in November. This will be an opportunity to come together as a group–bound to be fun! We also have small ensembles forming–duets and trios–giving some of our older and more experienced students an opportunity to learn and perform more challenging pieces.

Two reminders: The first is about remembering to bring instruments and music (book and binder) on lesson day. Mondays are strings and trombone; Tuesdays are clarinet, trumpet, flute, and percussion; Wednesdays are recorder and saxophone. It might be helpful to place music and instruments with backpacks the night before the lesson day so that nothing gets left behind.

And, just a note about practicing: Learning an instrument really does require practice. Daily practice helps to build the muscle memory needed to play freely without having to think about every finger placement, or how to hold the instrument, or how to form a correct embouchure (for wind and brass players) or bow hand (for string players). Our young musicians are also learning to read music which also takes time and practice. Now that we are a few weeks into the school year, the practice routine (or lack thereof) of each student is becoming quite apparent. Practice really does make a difference, and being prepared and confident makes it all the more fun and satisfying. Always, if any student would like extra help, please let me know.

An exciting event is coming soon! Several brave and talented Sanderson staff members have agreed to “Share the Music” with us at an upcoming performance! We are all learning a piece called Polka Dots and staff members will be playing alongside our band and orchestra students in what is sure to be a delight! More information to come–keep practicing!

Email: eliebowitz@mtrsd.org
Website: https://sanderson.mohawktrailschools.org/
Location: 808 Cape Street, Ashfield, MA, USA
Phone: (413) 628-4404
Facebook: facebook.com/SandersonAcademy