McFarland-Mayberry-Begley Bulletin

for the week of May 25, 2015

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Adventure-Based Learning Finale

Thursday, we had a culminating event for our ABL program, and it went great!  Of course, in keeping with the philosophy of the program, there were surely challenges -- but the kids had a school year’s worth of strategies and experiences to draw from to compromise and support each other.  Some talking points:

• Ask your child if s/he summited Mt. Everest!
• Ask about protecting a golfball “egg” -- while blindfolded!
• Ask about what happens when the ice in your lemonade melts!

Our students have become stronger communicators, more creative problem-solvers, and better compromisers.  These skills take years/decades/lifetimes to hone, but each child now has more language and increased awareness of her/his role in a group and how to constructively confront struggles, frustrations, and challenges.

4th Grade Musical

Thank you to all of you who were able to fill the bleachers Tuesday evening for the 4th graders’ musical!  Look, it’s not everyone’s forte, we get that.  But, all of them together, how good were they?!  They looked fantastic, they were well-practiced, and they had the most supportive audience!  As you would imagine, the logistics of putting together practices of 140+ children, simply reserving the gym for four rehearsals in a school that services 1,000 people, and the positive energy required to pull off a quality show…  Whew!  And, it’s all worth it.  I get choked up at every rehearsal (I know, I know...); it’s so gratifying to see the progress the kids have made since late August -- not so much as singers, but really, simply, as people.  It’s hard not to gush.

Project ACES (All Children Exercise Simultaneously)

What energy we had on Wednesday when all our 4th- and 5th-graders and lots of the staff assembled in the gym for an hour of vigorous aerobic dancing! Some of the dances were led by teams of staff members. All participants looked smashing in their colorful tie-dyed shirts. Fun was had by all!

Math

This four-day week seemed to fly by with so many special events. We did continue working with perimeter and area of rectangles. Students participated in a fun activity called Area Scoot and played an EM game called Rugs and Fences.

Theme

This week students had an opportunity to play “Whack a Bone” which helped them to practice the names and locations of bones in our body.  They also enjoyed visits from two guest speakers.  Mrs. Carlson talked about bones, joints, and reflexes, and Mrs. Irish talked about how bones and injuries heal and how to keep our bodies safe from injury.  Next week we’ll hear from Renie Allen, a myofascial release therapist, who will talk about muscles, and Susan Horton, a speech language pathologist, who will talk about swallowing and digestion.  

A reminder that our last quiz of the year will be on Friday, June 5th.  The kids will receive their study guide Monday and will have class time to make study tools.  We’ll review, as always, with Jeopardy on Wednesday.

Due Dates / Upcoming Events:

Monday, June 1st

Tuesday, June 2nd - 5th grade band concert @ 2:25 / a visit to a special classroom to share some skits (more details in next week’s newsletter)

Wednesday, June 3rd - Early Release

Thursday, June 4th  

Friday, June 5th- Skeletal and Muscular Systems Quiz

*Please remember to send $2 by Friday, 6/5, for hula hooping activity scheduled for 6/12*