December is an exciting month in art class! Kindergarten, first and second grades are all practicing their three dimensional skills in order to make holiday themed clay projects! Third and fourth graders are going to be making zentangles and using multiple materials to create. Fifth graders are going to be doing something crazy, and making glass works of art! We will be learning about how to fuse glass, the temperature used, and what we can all do with that material. Super excited about the projects in December and cannot wait to share them! Happy creating! 

 

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION?

 

During the month of November, students in grades 1-5 participated in Speed Stacking (cup stacking). When most people think of this sport--yes I said sport--they do not relate it to physical education. However, students are able to get up and move our bodies and play all sorts of games such as Builders and Blasters, Fox and the Hound, Stack 12, and Indy 500 all while learning the basic skills of stacking. Stacking also helps hand eye coordination which in the long run will make students smarter in the classroom as they are learning how to use both sides of their brain. Between November 11th and 19th, we participated in National Stack Up! Day and tried to be part of a world record. This year, the record to beat is 645,000 people! There will be an update in the next newsletter about what the final number was!

Students ended the month by doing stations which is extremely exciting because we could not do them last year with so many people touching different equipment. Stations included hula hoops, jump ropes, scooters, velcro toss and catch, and the rock wall which is a school favorite! 

 

CHECK OUT OUR 3rd-5th GRADE STUDENTS CUP STACKING AT RECESS!

           

 

WHAT’S NEXT IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION?

In the month of December, we will move from striking with an implement (paddle, hockey stick) to using our feet...which means soccer! We will be starting a soccer unit in all grade levels as well as finishing out December with some winter themed games. 

 

ALL STARS OF THE MONTH

During the month of November, Mrs. Lange kept an eye out for students that went above and beyond in the gym. Their behavior was spot on! They were positive role models and leaders, had great sportsmanship, and were respectful, responsible, and safe. The all stars of the month for each grade level are below with their pictures. Great job Patriots!

 

TIPS TO BE FIT AT HOME

Cold weather and the holidays are here but that doesn’t mean that you can’t be active! What can you and your children do at or around home to keep you moving through the seasons? 

1. Take the stairs instead of the elevator during your holiday shopping trips.

2. Build activity into family outings.

3. Shovel snow instead of using the snowblower (BE CAREFUL NOT TO LIFT WITH YOUR BACK!)

 

Be on the lookout for “holiday homework” that your children will bring home to help them stay active while they are away from school!

 

 

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

We will have 2 concerts this year, one in the winter for grades K-2, and one in the spring for grades 3-5.

• Thursday, December 2nd: Students in grades K, 1, and 2 will be performing.

• Tuesday, March 1st: Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will be performing.

Both concerts will start at 6pm, and they will both take place in the Alberta Kimball Auditorium inside Oshkosh West High School.

It is expected that all kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade students will be at the winter concert. Many students will have a special role (speaking, playing an instrument, singing, etc.) so if you know that your student will not be there, please let me know in advance. 

I will be sending home more information mid-November. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, feel free to contact me.

Ms. Schneider

april.schneider@oshkosh.k12.wi.us 

 

 

 

Digital Citizenship: Help Boost Kids' Safety, Privacy, and Security

When kids start to go online, whether they're playing multiplayer games, using educational apps, or just following their curiosity on Google, it's important that they understand the basics of online privacy and safety. With some general guidelines around what information is and isn't OK to share, and some help from parents when they're unsure, kids can have fun and learn a lot in the digital world.

 

Check out these 5 tips

1.  Discuss personal vs. private info.

Talk about the difference between what's OK to share online (favorite color) and what's not (home address).

2.  Use privacy settings.

Together, go through the settings on all new apps to make sure you both know what information your kids are sharing. Especially in the beginning, it's better to share very little.

3.  Avoid location tracking.

Location-aware apps can be super helpful. But apps that use a device's location to help people find your kid or offer them ads for nearby businesses should be used with caution. Turn them off if you can.

4.  Power up passwords.

Work together with kids to help them come up with complex passwords. Think outside the dictionary. Use phrases and special characters that make passwords hard to guess but easy to remember. Remind kids to keep passwords private and change them regularly.

5.  Skip quizzes.

Help kids identify and avoid clickbait, quizzes, special offers, and anything that asks for personal or private information. This helps keep information secure and devices safe.

 

With winter break approaching, it is important to keep reading every day. As a fun challenge for students, we’ve attached a Winter Break Reading Bingo challenge for students to complete if they are looking for a fun way to keep reading going this month.