Lower School Update - November 6, 2017

The Eagle Way

Each Monday morning, our Lower School students gather together in the “The Eagle’s Nest” assembly to come together as a community and celebrate our learning.  One of our rituals is as call and response of The Eagle Way.  Here is a small glimpse of what that looks and sounds like:

Thanksgiving

Join us on Saturday for our annual PTA Thanksgiving Celebration!

LS Musical

Our LS Musical team is ready to share their hard work. Join us November 22 for our musical The Phantom Tollbooth Jr.!

Linda Sue Park is Coming to Graded!
Your Graded Libraries are thrilled to be hosting award-winning author, Linda Sue Park, the week of Nov 27-Dec 1. Ms. Park is the author of more than 20 books, from picture books to novels. While at Graded, Ms. Park will talk with students in PK5-grade 12. She will also offer a parent presentation on Tuesday, November 28 from 8:15-9:00 am. Students in grades 4-8 who would like to meet Ms. Park in a smaller setting to talk with her about her books and about writing are encouraged to participate in our Essay Contest. Twenty-five students will be selected for a special lunchtime event. Ms. Park's TEDx Talk, Can A Children's Book Change the World?, will give you a glimpse into her thoughtful approach to reading and writing. Livro Facil will have copies of Linda Sue Park’s books available for sale. Students will have the opportunity to have books autographed.

Upcoming Important Dates

November 10	Community A Assembly 8:15 am (auditorium)
November 11	PTA Thanksgiving Celebration
November 13 & 14	5th Grade Salesópolis Trip
November 14	Pre-Primary Field Trip: Estação Natureza (Bruna and Fernanda O’s classes) PTA Coffee: Information Literacy in the Age of Fake News 8:30 am (auditorium) PTA Bookclub 1:00 pm (E12)
November 15	Proclamação da República Holiday (no school for students)
November 16	Pre-Primary Field Trip: Estação Natureza (Cibele and Joyce’s classes)
November 17	Pre-Primary Field Trip: Estação Natureza (Alex, Fernanda R. and Phelane’s classes) Community B Assembly 8:15 am (auditorium)
November 20	Dia da Consciência Negra Holiday (no school for students)
November 22	LS Musical: The Phantom Tollbooth Jr. 5:30 pm (auditorium)
November 23	Community C Assembly 8:15 am (auditorium) Thanksgiving (students dismissed at 11:30 am)
November 24	Thanksgiving Holiday (no school for students)
November 28	Visiting Author Linda Sue Park Parent Coffee 8:15 am (auditorium)
December 1	Community D Assembly 8:15 am (auditorium)
December 8	2nd to 5th Grade Holiday Concert 8:30 am (auditorium)
December 13	Pre-Primary and 1st Grade Holiday Concert 8:30 am (auditorium)
December 15	Students Dismissed at 11:30 am (holidays begin)

Around the Lower School

Ms. England's Spelling Update

Parents sometimes ask us, “What words should you be spelling correctly in your homework and writing?” In first grade it is tricky because we are pretty new to this spelling thing. However, Ms. England wants to give you a little clue to help you guide us when doing our homework or reflecting on our writing. She has asked us to share our “sight words”, also known as “word wall words”, up to this point in the year. These words are on the word wall and in our writers’ offices to help us make sure we spell them correctly. In homework we might need gentle reminders on how to spell them, and you can correct us when we spell these words wrong. Here is our list up until now:

I	a	to	and	we
me	the	is	in	it
go	my	see	can	not
said	you	look	come	here
big	little	for	down	up
find	run	help	play	where
one	two	three	four	five
yellow	red	blue	green	brown
black	away	funny	make	jump

We will have this list taped in our homework folders starting Monday. It would be good for us to reference our folders as a mini word wall at home. It is important that we start to develop good spelling patterns for these very common words. Some of the words we can stretch out, but some we cannot so we must just practice and practice until we have it stuck in our brains. 

Also, please continue to help us with our short vowel sounds. We should be able to apply our knowledge of the a, e, i, o, and u short vowel sounds (such as in the words, cat, met, big, pop, and rug). These can be very tricky, especially since a few are the opposite in Portuguese. We can always do with a little extra practice, maybe singing the fun little youtube song from our last assembly?  

**Another very important way we are learning to spell is through our spelling patterns. Ms. England uses some crazy word called differentiated, which means that these patterns are based on where we are right now as spellers. This week we are going to bring home our spelling words. We need to explain our spelling headers to you (these are how we sort the patterns). Please encourage us to show you how we sort our spelling words into our headers and then practice spelling these words with us. It would also really help us to find other words that also fit the rule for our headers (or spelling patterns). This helps us to apply our patterns in other settings, and that will help us to become better spellers. If you are unsure, or if I have trouble explaining anything at home, please feel free to e-mail Ms. England.  

Ms. Heineberg's Class - Learning Community B Assembly on Nov. 17th

Dear Families,
Mark your calendars! Our next Learning Community Assembly will be on Friday, Nov 17th, at 8:10 am! Students will perform a song they are learning in Portuguese class.

Ms. Keane's Student Led Conferences

Student Led Conferences were a great success. I know the children were so happy that they got to show you their learning. Thanks to all those that attended. Here are a few pictures of their time with you.

Curriculum Update: What's Going on in First Grade

Literacy: The next unit in writing is called "Non-Fiction Chapter Books." Students will be learning how to write teaching books on topics that they are experts in. For their pre-assessment in this unit, students were asked to bring in items about the topic they are experts in and write all about them.

Math: Students have continued skip counting forwards and backwards. They have been introduced to the frames and arrows pattern. Finally they have been learning time to the half hour.

Science: Students wrapped up the Magnet Unit and applied of all their knowledge during various visits to Inventor's Workshop Studio. Students created amazing inventions that used magnets.

Social Studies: The next Social Studies Unit will be "Community Family" where we will learn about all the people that help us at school.

Portuguese PLA: Os alunos continuam fazendo atividades para refletir sobre os sons em português a partir das cantigas "O sapo não lava o pé" e "O Jipe do padre".

Portuguese PAL: In PAL, students are learning the alphabet in Portuguese through different songs. Then, they will do activities that will make them compare and contrast the sound of letters in Portuguese and English.

Lower School Update - October 30, 2017

Conference Feedback

Thank you parents for attending conferences last week. Just a reminder to please complete this brief survey to give feedback and help us in planning future conferences.

Halloween Parade - November 1

We will have our Halloween Parades on Wednesday, November 1. For half day students (full day Pre-Primary students also participate) the parade will begin at 10:00 a.m. For full day students (K5 to 5th grade) the parade will begin at 2:00 p.m. We encourage children to dress in fantasy costumes that are creative and fun, but discourage violent and horror costumes. Pre-Primary students may come dressed in their costumes from home. First through Fifth grade students should bring costumes to change into at school in the afternoon.

The Eagle Way

Last week, your children shared their personal learning goals with you during Student-Led Conferences.  As they work to achieve their goals, they are likely to experience moments of challenge .  You can help them follow The Eagle Way and embrace their challenges by providing them ways to think about approaching their work.  Here are 25 sentences you can share and use with your children instead of “I don’t know” or “I can’t”.   

Thanksgiving

Join us on November 11 for our annual PTA Thanksgiving Celebration! If you are interested in volunteering, please sing up here.

Linda Sue Park is Coming to Graded!
Your Graded Libraries are thrilled to be hosting award-winning author, Linda Sue Park, the week of Nov 27-Dec 1. Ms. Park is the author of more than 20 books, from picture books to novels. While at Graded, Ms. Park will talk with students in PK5-grade 12. She will also offer a parent presentation on Tuesday, November 28 from 8:15-9:00 am. Students in grades 4-8 who would like to meet Ms. Park in a smaller setting to talk with her about her books and about writing are encouraged to participate in our Essay Contest. Twenty-five students will be selected for a special lunchtime event. Ms. Park's TEDx Talk, Can A Children's Book Change the World?, will give you a glimpse into her thoughtful approach to reading and writing. Livro Facil will have copies of Linda Sue Park’s books available for sale. Students will have the opportunity to have books autographed.

Upcoming Important Dates

November 1	Pre-primary Halloween Parade 10:00 am K5 to 5th Grade Halloween Parade 2:00 pm
November 2	Dia de Finados Holiday (no school for students)
November 3	No School for Students
November 10	Community A Assembly 8:15 am (auditorium)
November 11	PTA Thanksgiving Celebration
November 13 & 14	5th Grade Salesópolis Trip
November 14	PTA Coffee PTA Bookclub
November 15	Proclamação da República Holiday (no school for students)
November 17	Community B Assembly 8:15 am (auditorium)
November 20	Dia da Consciência Negra Holiday (no school for students)
November 22	LS Musical: The Phantom Tollbooth Jr. 5:30 pm (auditorium)
November 23	Community C Assembly 8:15 am (auditorium) Thanksgiving (students dismissed at 11:30 am)
November 24	Thanksgiving Holiday (no school for students)
November 28	Visiting Author Linda Sue Park Parent Coffee 8:15 am (auditorium)
December 1	Community D Assembly 8:15 am (auditorium)

Around the Lower School

Student Led Conferences

Student-Led Conference Guidelines

To ensure smooth and productive conferences, here are some guidelines for parents and students to follow.

Parents

• Please silence your cell phones
• Listen to your child and provide positive feedback.
• Feel free to ask questions to further understand your child’s learning.
• If you have another child present, they can go to the playground.
• If you need to talk to the teacher in private, schedule a conference for a later time.

Students

• Keep a lively pace, but don’t rush.
• Keep the materials at each station organized.
• You’re in charge of the conference, so be prepared to explain the activities.
• Smile and have fun!