First Quarter 2014-2015 School Year

Extras:

       The week of october 6-10 was National Fire Prevention Week. Students learned ways to deal wtih a house fire, how to keep themselves safe, and what to do in the event of a fire. They also learned the causes of house fires and what precautions to take to avoid them.

       Report cards will be sent home the week of the 20th marking the end of the First Quarter.

*No School October 17th.

First Quarter 2014-2015 School Year

What to expect

We will be having spirit week for Halloween this weke of October 27-31. It will go as follows:

Monday October 27th - Mismatch Day

Tuesday Ocotober 28th - Pajama Day (no slippers!)

Wednesday October 29th - Hat day

Thursday October 30th - Team Spirit Day

Friday October 31st - Halloween Costumes

A look ahead:

November 26th - Half day for students

November 27-28th - Thanksgiving Break

December 22-January 2nd - Winter Break

First Quarter 2014-2015 School Year

What's Happening:

       This month we did a project base learning unit on the book James and the Giant Peach. We read the book, created our own scenes from the book, made a board game, and even baked our own peach muffins. Next month we plan on doing another unit on the history of magic. We will study where magic came from in the form of making things vanish, card tricks, mind reading, and other tricks of the eye. We will study famous magicians such as David Blane, David Copperfield, and Houdini. In the end we will perform our vary own magic tricks!

       In Mathematics we have continued working on addition up to four addends with regrouping and multiple digits. We no longer need the use of manipulators and we haev moved on to subtracting with borrowing through the 1,000 and 10,000 place.

First Quarter 2014-2015 School Year

Educational Quotes for the Growing Mind

"Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself."

                                                         - John Dewey

"Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing y our temper or your self-confidence."

                                                         - Robert Frost

First Quarter 2014-2015 School Year

Class Favorites

       This nine weeks the class took polls/voted on some of their favorite items:

Favorite Animal - Dog

Favorite Food - Chicken

Favorite Movie - Ride Along

Favorite Music - Rap

Favorite Season - Summer

Favorite Dessert - Chocoate cake with white frosting

Favorite Sport - Basketball

Favorite Subject - History

First Quarter 2014-2015 School Year

       We are currently doing a research project on different countries around the world. Giving the kids insight on different cultures and beliefs from around the world is important in developing a well rounded perspective in the ever growing and changing landscape of the world. Some of the countries we are learning about are:

• Nigeria (Africa)

• Italy (Europe)

• Japan (Asia)

• Somolia (Africa)

• France (Europe)

First Quarter 2014-2015 School Year

The Moon

The moon has a face like a clock in the hall;

She shines on thieves on the garden wall;

On streets and fields and harbour quays;

And birdies asleep in the forks of trees.

The squaling cat and the sqeaking mouse,

The howling dog by the door of the house,

The bat that lies in bed at noon,

All loved to be out by the light of the moon.

But all the things that belong to the day

Cuddle to sleep to be out of her way;

And flowers and children close their eyes

Till up in the morning the sun shall arise.

First Quarter 2014-2015 School Year

Here is a delicious Halloween recipe to try at home:

The Great White Pumpkin Cheese Ball

Ingredients:

• 2 10oz. blocks of extra sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded*

• 1 8oz. package of cream cheese, softened

• 2 4oz logs of goat cheese

• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

• Braided pretzel, muscadine vine and leaf

• Crackers and assorted vegitables

Preperation:

Stir together cheddar cheese, cream cheese, goat cheese, and pepper. Shape mixture into a ball to resemble a pumpkin. Smooth the pumpkin's entire surface with a spatula or table knife. Make virtical grooves in the ball, if desired, using fingertips. Press pretzel into top of cheese ball to resemble a stem; place muscadine vine and leaf beside pretzel. Serve with crackers and assorted vegitables.

* extra sharp cheddar cheese may be substituted.

First Quarter 2014-2015 School Year

       In Language Arts we read a novel called Seedfolks by Paul Fleichman. The stroy was about a vacant lot, rat infested and filled with garbage, looked like no place for a garden. Especially to a neighborhood of strangers where no one seems to care. Until one day, a young girl clears a small space and digs into the hard-packed soil to plant her precious seeds. Suddenly, the soil holds promise: to Curitis, who believe he can win back Leteeesha's heart with a harvest of tomatoes; to Virgil's dad, who sees a fortune to be made from growing lettuce; and to Maricela, sixteen and pregnant, wishing she were dead.

       Thirteen very different voices and perspectives -- old, young, Haitian, Hispanic, tough, haunted, and hopeful -- tell one amazing story about a garden that transforms a neighborhood.

       Chosen as a state and citywide read in communities across the country, including Vermont; Racine, WI; Tampa, FL; Newburgh, NY; and Boca Raton, FL.

First Quarter 2014-2015 School Year

Seedfolks: Project Base Lesson

       In Seedfolks, Newberry Medalist Paul Fleischman creates an urban garden that brings a new sense of hope and community to a bleak Cleveland neighborhood. Seedfolks consists of a series of firstperson vignettes, each told by a different character. As persepectives, dispositions, and backgrounds shift with narratives, the reader comes to understand the personal reasons that bring these thirteen very different individuals, one by one, to a vacant lot to plant and nourish seeds. Despite prejudices, hesitancies, and language differences, the isolated neighbors begin to find ways of overlooking these barriers to develope new relationships with one another. Before long, the multiethnic seedfolks have developed a sense of pride and fellowship. The distinct voices of each character show the reader the vast differences and similarities that can exist simultaneously amont diverse people, and how these differences can actually help those people form a community as vibran and rich as the garden they have created.

Student Responces:

"I thought Seedfolks was a good book. My counsin Trinity read it at her school. It was so good, that i wanted to plant a garden of my own"

"I really liked the book Seedfolks a lot. The book was really creative."

"I think Seedfolsk was a good story. I really liked the variety of seeds that were planted, they were amazing."

First Quarter 2014-2015 School Year

Back to School Supply List:

       Students are still in need of school supplies, please send in the following items with your child, if you have not already done so:

• Kleenex

• Binder (3)

• Small hand sanitizer

• Small lotion

• Clorox/Lysol wipes

• Small pencil sharpener

• Shopping/ grocery bag

• Dry erase markers

• Highlighter

• Ruler

• Scissors

• Gym Shorts

First Quarter 2014-2015 School Year

       Welcome back to the L.E.A.P. Program. We would ike to extetend our wamest welcome and sincere happiness to all our families and children who make up our unique circle. As the 2014-2015 school year begins it is our pleasure to officially welcome back everyone to the L.E.A.P. Program at Garfield.

       The children will be hard at work this year learning and exploring. All of the teachers along with our wonderful assistants have been hard at work as well; developing exciting group activities to help spark your child's imagination and bring learning to life. We ahve worked very hard to create the perfect environment for the children. All of our clasroom have been freshly painted. The room has been revamped, decorated, and is ready for action. The children love their new classrooms! But most of all the love the new computers, the hands-on lessons and activities that support core learning and an education as an aid to life. We thank all of our parents for their continued support in making our class a success. We want to make everyone's experience at the L.E.A.P. Program at Garfield a wonderful one.

Lunch Program

       We are excited about the uncoming lunch program to L.E.A.P. Garfield. If you have not already sent in your child's lunch application, please do so as soon as possible.

Coping Skills

       These skills and tools give us power to control our stress and get over daily upsets. We learn coping skills like we learn Math, English, or Music. Coping is like learning a new language. Please remind your child to implement the coping skills learned at L.E.A.P. in their home environment as well.

First Quarter 2014-2015 School Year

Start Saving Your Box Tops!

       Did you know that Box Tops can be found on hundreds of products? You probably have at least 10 in your cabinate right now. They are work 10 cents each. Please visit www.boxtops4education.com to sing up to support our school and get email newletters, play games to earn free Box Tops and clip coupons for savings on great Box Tops. EBox Tops deals can also be found at www.rewardyourschool.com and www.2ways2learn.com. Send in your Box Tops today.

First Quarter 2014-2015 School Year

Halloween Party

       Students will be permitted to wear a costume on Friday, October 31st for our Halloween party. Students' costumes must be appropriate, including but not limited to: no gory costumes, no face paint or masks, and all body parts must be covered as per normal everyday school guidelines. You are permitted to send your child iwth a treat if you so choose. We will have a snack, play games, do a craft, and watch a movie.