Friday, December 12, 2014

CYCLONE CHATTER 12/12/14
There will not be a Cyclone Chatter next week due to a shortened week. The Teachers, Staff and Administration would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Student Spotlight
Colby


Student Spotlight
Madison


CYCLONE CHATTER 12/12/14
This Week: This week the preschoolers continued their travels. They visited Italy and saw pictures of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Venice. Tuesday, they visited Egypt where they saw pyramids, camels, and mummies! After a long flight, they landed in Australia where they jumped like kangaroos. Today we listened to classroom visitor Ralynn Shrader, to share her photos and mementos from when she visited China! 

CONGRATULATIONS to Mrs. Michaelson as she graduates from WSC on Friday! We are so glad she will still be here with us next week! Next week: MONDAY: Santa will be in the preschool room in Orchard, before the Crristmas concert for all preschoolers! 6:00-7:00 Next week Mrs. Shrader will be teaching again! We will be doing some festive activities! We will also be getting heights and weights for all the preschoolers!

 REMINDER: PLEASE READ!!!
 If your child would like to participate in the gift exchange next Wednesday, please remember to send their gift to school!

Only 1 More Friday until Christmas!!!

The Kindergarten this week studied the letter Ll. We kind of improvised this week since Christmas is approaching and listened to the Polar Express (which has an l in it) and made candy trains. We also had fun making Santa cookies with fun marshmallow beards. The students have been very busy finishing up with Christmas projects and writing letters to Santa. We also learned lots of Christmas words by "writing the room" activities. Learning about solid figures was fun but they have some funny names. We will have library this Friday and will check out books, but please have me return them by Wednesday so we don't have them over break. Don't forget party and movies next Wednesday, the 17th and to bring a boy or girl gift. Will be Christmas break soon. 

First graders are working to finish units before Christmas break. In Math, they finished geometry learning about plan and solid figures. They are working now on understanding patterns. They have finished Science units on natural resources and Social Studies unit on maps. The first graders are reading very well. They will read and spell a list of 25 words next week. Besides lots of learning they have been making a Christmas gift to give their parents. We wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and a relaxing break from school , so everyone is ready to begin 2015 with excitement for learning. 

The Second Graders soared into space this week and explored the inner and outer planets in our solar system. We learned that Jupiter is the largest planet, Neptune is the windiest planet, and Mars has the largest volcanoes in our solar system. We acted out the moon's orbit around the Earth and the Earth's rotation and orbit around the sun. We got a little dizzy doing it! :) The 2nd graders are becoming super duper double digit subtractors! We have practiced and practiced subtracting with and without regrouping! It sure is hard, but fun work! In language, we play the synonym and antonym game. Each of us are given a word and we have to walk around the room to find our synonym or antonym match! Some synonyms we've learned is sour/tart and careful/cautious. Some antonyms we have learned is end/begin and weak/strong! We love learning about new words!

The 3rd graders have been busy beavers this week. They have taken end of unit tests for animal life cycles and division concepts. They enjoyed writing letters to Santa and working on a surprise for their parents. Working with cause and effect was a little tricky because sometimes the effect is listed first and you have to look back to find the cause. Prepositions were also a new concept that was introduced this week. They were really excited to see how much they improved in their DIBEL scores since the first benchmark. Mrs. Neumann is excited to see their progress also! What a busy and fun-filled week!

The 4th graders have started reading mythology in Reading Mastery. Learning about gods and goddesses is fun, but it's sure a lot of work to remember how to say all their names and remember what powers and traits they each have! *Our division test in math went very well-- with 12 students getting an A on the test!! In fact, 8 of those were even 100%!!! Now we are working hard in geometry to learn about lines, shapes, angles, etc. The 4th graders have even started using a protractor to measure and draw angles. *We're starting to really gear up in our writing skills as we begin to prepare for the state writing test that will happen at the end of January. Our focus right now is on writing "show" sentences that give sensory details and descriptions, rather than plain and boring "tell" sentences. "Show" sentences really help to make our writing more interesting to read! *Our Nebraska history test over all the explorers, traders, and missionaries also went well last week with 12 students getting an A or a B on the test. We have since moved on to studying how/why pioneers moved west along the Oregon Trail, as well as other trails. When we thought about how difficult that move would have been (walking, fixing wagons, tending to animals, enduring weather, finding/preparing food, etc.), it made us thankful for cars and moving trucks that help people move to new locations faster and easier today! *There is a lot happening in the 4th grade room as we study energy in science. We are currently focusing on sound and light energy. Mrs. Metschke even let the 4th graders experiment with Boomwhackers (plastic tubes of different lengths) to demonstrate how different sound pitches can be produced. We'll be testing over all the different types of energy next Wednesday!

NEXT WEEK

Elementary t-shirts will be handed out Wednesday morning before school to each of the Elementary students. A big shout out to everyone that has collected Box Tops to make things like this happen. An elementary picture will be taken that morning, so please wear a t-shirt or a long sleeve shirt that a t-shirt will fit over. "Frozen", "Rio 2" and "Mr. Peabody and Sherman" will be the featured movies for the Elementary this year. Don't forget to bring something to drink with a lid if you want. Popcorn will be provided.

***Not all the scores are in, but would like to send a huge SHOUT OUT to the Elementary Students for doing such a GREAT JOB on their Winter DIBELS!!! VERY IMPRESSIVE

3/4th and 5/6th Grade Boys Youth BB Practice Dates for December!!
December-
Saturday ¡V 13th @ Orchard 9:00-10:30 3/4th and 5/6th Grade Girls Youth BB Practice Dates for December!!
December
Saturday ¡V 13th @ CLEARWATER 10:30-12:00
Game Dates Are:
Dec 7th ¡V O¡¦Neill (boys) Atkinson (girls)
Dec 14th ¡V Neligh (boys) Clearwater (girls)
Jan 11th ¡V O¡¦Neill (girls) Atkinson (boys)
Jan 18th ¡V Neligh (girls) Clearwater (boys)

Recipe for Christmas All Year Long Take a heap of child-like wonder That opens up our eyes To the unexpected gifts in life¡X Each day a sweet surprise. Mix in fond appreciation For the people whom we know; Like festive Christmas candles, Each one has a special glow. Add some giggles and some laughter, A dash of Christmas food, (Amazing how a piece of pie Improves our attitude!) Stir it all with human kindness; Wrap it up in love and peace, Decorate with optimism, and Our joy will never cease. If we use this healthy recipe, We know we will remember To be in the Christmas spirit, Even when it's not December. By Joanna Fuchs

Precious Memories May this holiday season leave you with precious memories: A Christmas filled with love and light, perfect gifts, delicious foods, love and joy all around. A New Year with continuing blessings¡X friends, family, good work, great fun, and delightful surprises. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! By Joanna Fuchs 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year We're wishing you a Christmas Full of laughter, love and light, With delicious holiday foods To excite your appetite. We're hoping you receive Delightful gifts to make you smile, With family and friends To love you all the while. We wish you a Merry Christmas; May your Christmas dreams come true, And when Christmas is over, Happy New Year, too! By Joanna Fuchs

 The Staff/Teachers/Administration at Clearwater-Orchard (Clearwater Site) would like to wish you a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Enjoy your LONG BREAK!!!
CYCLONE CHATTER 12/12/14