In the month of October, we have done all the spooky art making! Kindergarteners and 1st graders practiced their fine motor skills. Kindergarteners made little JackOLanterns while 1st graders made quilted ghosts inspired by “The Little Ghost who was a Quilt.” 2nd graders worked hard on their Hayride Wagons and took on caring for a fuzzy monster! 3rd graders are working hard weaving dream catchers for the month of November, while 4th and 5th graders are taking inspiration from Yayoi Kusama, and creating patterned pumpkins! The month of November is going to go fast! Happy creating and be sure to check out Artsonia for a look at your students' work!

 -Miss Stumpf

 

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION?

During the month of October, students have been involved with activities that had to do with throwing and catching. 

Kindergarten through second grade have been working on both an underhand and overhand toss. Ask your students if they remember these cues for both throws: Underhand is “Tick-Tock goes the clock” and overhand is “muscle man, Superman, swimmer.” These students have also been working on the proper way to catch a ball while using the catch cushion or catch pillow so the ball doesn’t get away. 

Third through fifth grade has been working on throwing and catching during game play. They have incorporated all skills into games such as Birthday Party, Monarchy, and Medic Ball. 

All grades finished out the month of October with Halloween games--still related to throwing and catching--such as Ghosts on the Gravestone, Catching Ghosts and Pumpkins, and Pumpkin Patch Throw Down. 

WHAT’S NEXT IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Kindergarten students will be learning about locomotor skills and will be working to earn their locomotor licenses. They will then move into tag games and learn how to safely run around the gym. First through third grade will be playing hockey while learning striking skills, and fourth and fifth grade students are bowling in our gym. We will even be turning the gym into a ‘glow bowl!’

Right before Thanksgiving, students at Jefferson Elementary will again have a chance to break a Guinness World Record for Cup Stacking. We will participate in the “Stack Up” event the week of November 15-19. Students have to cup stack for 30 minutes and will then be counted in the school total. Many students have participated in this before and are very excited to be doing it again this year!

GYM SHOES

As the weather changes, please make sure students have proper footwear for P.E. They should have a pair of CLEAN shoes to leave at school. Boots, sandals and crocs are NOT acceptable footwear in the gym. 

TAKE YOUR FAMILY TO P.E. WEEK

Take Your Family to P.E. Week was a HUGE success! I cannot thank our families enough for joining us. We had over 60 families experience 45 minutes of P.E. with us and they all left sweaty and with a smile on their face. You are all great role models in the lives of your child(ren) and it was a great experience for all. To end the week, our Superintendent, Dr. Bryan Davis joined our 4th grade students and got to experience for himself that we are more than just dodgeball and tag...even though those games were very much enjoyed this week as well. Please enjoy the family photos below, and...

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FAMILIES! MRS LANGE APPRECIATES YOU!!

 

 

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 

 

 

 

National No Bullying week takes place from Monday, Nov 15 – Friday, Nov 19. Children's literature is a great springboard for learning and talking about this important issue.  Below are great titles followed by conversation starters on the topic of bullying.

 

Books About Bullying for Children

-Junkyard Wonders by Patricia Polacco

-Bully by Patricia Polacco

-I Walk With Vanessa: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoët

-Chick-O-Saurus Rex by Lenore and Daniel Jennewein

-Arnie and the New Kid by Nancy Carlson

-Red by Jan De Kinder

-The Juice Box Bully by Maria Dismondy

-My Friend Maggie by Hannah E. Harrison

-First Day in Grapes by L. King Perez

-The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade by Justin Roberts

-Spirit Day by Joy Yang

-The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

-Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks 

 

Conversation Starters About Bullying

-Have you ever witnessed someone being bullied? How did it make you feel? What did you do?

-How did the main character in the story deal with bullying? 

-What can you do to stop bullying?

-What do you want others to know about bullying?

-Why do you think some people choose to bully?

-Have you ever been bullied? 

 

Source: https://growingbookbybook.com

November 1st marks the first day of American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. Here are some book titles that can be enjoyed at home about indigenous folks, all written by members of indigenous communities.

 

   Source: www.childrenslitlove.com

 

What are Mathematical Practices? You may have noticed a category under the subject of Math called Mathematical Practices. Bridges in Mathematics explains that they are, “The attitudes and ways of thinking and working that characterize successful mathematicians. They are much bigger and somewhat more amorphous than math content skills, and at least as important.” We think of them as habits of mind when working in math. Check these out from the Math Learning Center source.