This week found the 4th graders designing artwork for the top of the their cornhole games and painting in the design. This whole project was a great way to connect math and art with a hands-on activity. Students learned about the use of number lines, fractions, angles, and ratios while also using their creative skills to make something unique and beautiful of their own design. Our class would like to thank Ms. Kniffin and Aurora for their help in sewing the cornhole bags and assisting the students in painting their projects.

In middle school ELA 5th and 6th graders have just finished their first writing pieces and are now working on publishing them in a book for our classroom library! We will soon be starting our next reading unit and we are very excited. Seventh and 8th graders are finishing the book Peak by Roland Smith this week and will be completing some final projects. Next up is a nonfiction writing unit where we will put our argument skills to the test!

Kindergarten

Ms. Kicza

At forest day we started to observe using our “deer ears,” sense of hearing, and listening closely. We all listened on the walk to the forest classroom then had a quiet minute at the log circle as everyone listened. They each shared aloud something they heard, from the mud in the field squishing under their feet to birds to the leaves of a tree rustling. I loved hearing a kindergarten describing that sound as: “It was some kind of music only the leaves could make." We played a challenging game to match the sounds of objects we could not see, ending up in pairs and celebrating successes and close matches as well as keeping at a hard task. They have had some fun outdoor play times lately, last week in a rainy downpour out in the field and this week in the forest in clear, cool weather. 

Recently we have been practicing

mindfulness and coping skills. Katie

Chestnut came to our classroom to

practice different coping skills with use.

Every first and third Wednesday of the

month, Ms. Lisa leads our classroom

through 30 minutes of yoga.

This week we started the planning stages

of making our Magnificent things!

During math, we learned a new game

called "Which coin will win?". Keep an eye pen for this to come home so you can play together!

We have been working hard these past two weeks!

In math we completed our first unit after practicing our fluency with our facts within 20. In phonics we learned many different glued sounds and how to apply them in our writing.

In reading we completed our first author study on Jory John. We discussed what his books always and sometimes have. In writing we began our final drafts of our opinions on the most important place in Strafford. Next week we will begin a STEAM project where we create the places we chose!

Art

Ms. Aurora

The Newton School is being overrun with amazing artists! By no means an exhaustive list: 

Kindergarten students kicked off the year with beautiful sunflower paintings, tissue paper fall trees, and some spooky pumpkin collages. 

First Grade buzzed back in to school with honeybee collages, leaf printing, and making our own painted paper for some pumpkin collage art. 

Second grade splashed straight into the deep end incredible textured sea creature collages, 3D paper mache pumpkins, and some creepy halloween art. 

Third graders jumped right in with colorful silhouettes, geometric castles, haunted houses, and learning new techniques for watercolor both in art class and in the Wolf Den. 

Fourth grade zoomed straight in with silhouettes, value scales, and of course, painting their incredible cornhole games! 

Middle School has a new approach to art this year, and I hope that the kids are enjoying it as much as I am. Using the framework of an artist's studio, students are able to create any art that they can think of (although I don't have welding supplies, much to a few student's dismay). We began the year with collage, and then slowly made more supplies available until we had everything open. We currently have students working with drawing, digital art, 3D modeling, watercolor, tempera, acrylic, collage, printmaking, sewing, cardboard sculpture, costume-making, mural painting, altered books, popsicle stick and hot-glue houses, zine making, crayon melting, and more. 

I don't get things written up for the newsletter nearly as often as I mean to, but I do my best to keep the school's Artsonia account up to date! Please check it out if you haven't had the opportunity yet, and if you have any questions don't hesitate to let me know. 

Middle schoolers are up to some fun and hijinks, which will be revealed on the 31st. Fifth and 6th Grades are creating silent film-inspired skits for our school-wide Halloween celebration, with the help of a pro—and parent community member—Jason Schumacher. Seventh and 8th grade are imagining and executing the Haunted House for post-trick or treating fun. If you, caregivers of any-age student, want to help with setup and/or breakdown, we'd love to have you! Please let me know and I'll give you the details. 

Third and 4th grades continue to amaze with their physical performance and comedy. There might be a lot of talk of Buster Keaton, who seems to have become a favorite (if he wasn't already), as we have moved from miming into silent films. I say "silent", of course, but we also pay close attention to how the musical underscore makes as much of a difference as the acting. We will expand upon that as the fall progresses. 

Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades are still moving and grooving. The 2nd grade has been introduced to some rhythm games which have become part of our routine now. Ask them about "Pass the beat"!

Library/Media

Ms. Simone

Wondering what we're up to in Library and Media classes? I scan our daily white board notes in a Google Folder, so you can see what books we've read, what our focus reflections have been, and other activities!

Grades 2-4 have been using Rocketbook Cloud Cards for reading reflections. This allows me hear students' thoughts about our focus question in a way that is easily scanned and saved, while providing them practice in responding to literature. 

Meanwhile, 5th grade has gone from playing mancala and learning about the history of board games, to playing a variety of tabletop games! We've discussed the differences and similarities between board games and tabletop games, and will further explore other genres of games.

Every month, a different group will be soliciting donations of non perishable food (going to the Sharon Food Shelf) and cash and coins from cars (going the Coburn's store food card).

The first Hike for Hunger food drive received approximately $97 and 143 servings of non perishable food donations. We had a beautiful day for the hike last Thursday. We hiked from the top of Alger Brook Road to Whitcomb Hill, and then down to Furnace Flats Road for a bus ride back to school.