Monday, February 6, 2017

Elementary Specials Newsletter

Spanish



iHola familias y Feliz Año Nuevo!


Second quarter went by so fast!  We are presently working on Vocabulary Assessments (grades 2-5) as well as practicing the 2 songs we will be performing at the Spring Musical:  Cristo Me Ama (Jesus Loves Me) and Cada Vez Que Nos Juntamos (The More We Get Together).  Please encourage your student to study the Spanish words we learn each week.  Making flashcards help!  


Here is new vocabulary we learned or reviewed in 2nd quarter:+


  • All grades worked on body parts and family vocabulary.  We also learned to say gracias and de nada to express thankfulness and appreciation. And of course everyone’s favorite, Feliz Navidad, saying the sentiment as well as singing the best selling Christmas hit written by Puerto Rican singer songwriter José Feliciano.
  • TK-1:  Classroom vocabulary
  • 2-5:  days, months, counting, the alphabet


iPaz y bendiciones! (Peace and blessings!)


Señora Church

Music Melody’s News


Happy New year! It is hard to believe that we are halfway through the school year. The children have already learned so much. They have learned how to keep temp, how to sing “a capella” and how to play various instruments.
We are now practicing for our spring musical where students will sing various uplifting songs and band students will showcase their talent as well.
I am still excited about what God is going to do in the lives of the children and I am encouraged by what He has already done. God is AWESOME and that is the message I hope to convey through music.

Peace and Love to you all,
Lisa Freeman


Computer Lab


Our lab was filled with lots of excitement during second quarter with the holidays! Students worked hard to earn tallies each week. Five tallies earned their class a free day in Computer. Students have loved choosing their own activities during those days. And I have had the pleasure of witnessing them make choices that reflect how important their education is to them.


The younger grades have continued mastering skills like clicking and dragging, double-clicking, and controlling the mouse.
The upper grades have practiced many skills; keyboarding, arrow keys, mouse control as well as applications like Word and Google. Fourth and fifth have completed projects that involved a Google Slides presentation.


Continue encouraging your child to utilize educational websites which not only help master computer skills, but core classroom skills that can aid in math, science, language arts, and social studies.


Blessings,
Mrs. Wallace

Elementary Art



Art in November and December was very exciting!   All grades worked on Thanksgiving projects.  TK made Fall owls, K5-2 created Thanksgiving Turkeys, and 3-5 worked on Glowing Pumpkins at Night.


In December, we jumped right into Christmas!  TK made giant Christmas ornaments and Nativity scene, K5 created a Christmas Teddy Bear, 1st grade drew and colored their own Gingerbread person, 2nd grade drew a decorated Christmas tree and a water resistant nativity scene, 3rd grade created Christmas tree through a window art and painted a Christmas poinsettia flower,  4th- 5th grade created a Christmas postage stamp and Glowing bauble art.

Mrs. Massie

4th & 5th Grade Band



Parents, If you have not already signed your child up for the Charlotte Symphony field trip do so before February 21st! Tickets are $9.50 and can be purchased using the following Brushfire link: https://hgchristian.brushfireapp.com/events/434636


We ended our second quarter with our wonderful first concert! Concerts this year are all about featuring what we have learned in class:
  • 4th Grade has learned five notes, quarter and half notes / rests, and dynamics
  • 5th Grade has learned seven notes, eighth - quarter - and half notes / rests, dyanmics, and harmony
Practicing their instrument is absolutely crucial to their success! Parents, your child should be opening their case and playing at home everyday. This keeps interest high and will help with their sound tremendously.


I will be sending home music for our Spring Musical, “Jesus Loves Me,” this will be in their blue band folder.


Again, thank you students and parents for all of the hard-work put into learning an instrument!

Mr. Caton

Science Lab


In the Science Lab we have added a new animal- a baby box turtle!  She is the cutest thing ever and easy for the students to handle.  We always wash hands after handling her- so don’t worry!  We have had some great lessons this past quarter with awesome participation and enthusiasm from students.  I appreciate the privilege of sharing the wonders of God’s creation every day!


TK: Lessons were on farm animals/making butter, seasons, pumpkins, and Christmas.
K5: Lessons were on farm animals/making butter, pumpkins, Thanksgiving/pumpkin pie in a bag, pinecone birdfeeders/leaf rubbings, and Christmas.
1st: Lessons were on simple machines, animal habitats, pinecone birdfeeders/leaf rubbings, and Christmas.
2nd: Lessons were on seasons, measuring, and Christmas.
3rd: Lessons were on milk/molecules/lava lamp and Christmas. (they missed several Fridays)
4th & 5th: Did lessons on recycling/landfill (set-up), owl pellets (5th), animal adaptations, crystal ornaments, and landfill (uncover/finish).
* For the Christmas lesson, our focus was on Christmas trees.  All students in elementary made a crystal ornament.  Some also made paper Christmas tree magnets, and others made a painted pine cone Christmas tree. :) I hope you enjoyed their handmade treasures!

Mrs. Bright

Physical Education



PE classes have been movin’ and groovin’ these past few months!


Since our first quarter ended, TK, Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade classes have been working on developing and improving hand-eye coordination through dribbling, throwing, and catching. Classes have also enjoyed several days of playing with the ever so popular parachute and scooters. We have also spent a few weeks doing tumbling and basic gymnastics. As the year progresses we will continue to introduce large group games and more competitive activities, all while put a large focus on sportsmanship. Our most recent vocabulary words include: form, coordination, self-control, fitness, focus, sportsmanship, agility, and core.


In our upper elementary--grades Third, Fourth, and Fifth--students have been working hard on improving their individual fitness testing scores. Almost every single student saw improvement from their first quarter to their second quarter results! In addition to working on fitness and total body strength, classes have completed an ultimate frisbee unit and a very lengthy basketball unit. We have also taken several days to engage in cooperative games and large group activities such as dodgeball and crab soccer. These students have been learning many vocabulary words and key concepts with each and every class period.


I am excited to continue teaching each and every one of these wonderful students! They all make teaching PE such a joy every single day.

Miss Wisehart