UEW Update

Hello UEW Families, 

 

 Happy February!  We are very busy in UEW, 4th and 5th grade students should be wrapping up their state and native peoples reports this week.  Their work is due next week.  We will not formally share this work with families, but students will have an opportunity to share their research/projects with their peers.  6th year students presented their immigration studies project today!   Not only did they share with parents, but A1 faculty came and got a chance to meet students and see their work.  

 

Our Soiree basket donations are due!  If you have something to contribute, please send it as soon as possible!

 

Upcoming dates:

 

2/13 - 6th Grade trip to the St. Paul RiverCentre to watch a naturalization ceremony and sing the national anthem as part of the ceremony

 

2/15 - All Upper El trip to Dodge Nature Center, 9:15am-2:45pm

 

2/20 - No School

 

I've attached this week's homework.  We have been getting very low returns on homework.  We don't want to monopolize your family's time, but please help your child set aside time to complete their work.  

 

Stay warm,

 

Jean and Amanda 

1/20/17 UEW Update

Greetings UEW Families,

The Soiree is coming up quickly!  The students voted to put together a cooking basket.  They composed and sent home a note yesterday requesting items for the basket.  Any donation would be greatly appreciated!  Please bring in items on Monday.

 

We are going to see the A1 JTerm Play next Wednesday.  We will leave school around noon and return around 2:45pm.  We will be taking the city bus to Mixed Blood Theater in Minneapolis.  Students from A1 are visiting this week to talk about their writing process and what we will see next week.  We're excited to see their hard work!

 

Please check in with your child to make sure they have a pair of shoes to wear indoors.  We have many students with only boots.  This makes our classroom wet and messy!

 

Thanks to all who have sent in greens for our very special bunny.  He loves fresh greens!

 

Enjoy the January thaw,

Jean and Amanda

UEW 1/12/17 Update

Hello UEW Families, 

 

What a snowy week we are having!  The students in UEW have really enjoyed the snow this week, and getting back outside after our latest bought of cold weather.  UEW has chosen to do a cooking basket for the Soiree!  Students voted on a theme and brainstormed what could be included. One pf the ideas that they have is to place items in a large pot instead of a basket.   They will be sending more information home soon.

 

All students have started a new round of research. 6th grade students are working on their MN Immigration Study projects. Imaginary Island projects are just beginning, and students are working with materials at school.  You can support them by simply asking them about their islands - they should have an idea about where their islands will be located and how big they are. 5th grade students are working on their Native Peoples Projects.  You can support your children by taking them to the library to get additional sources and helping them stay on track with their work by frequently checking in with them.   If they are not, you can encourage them to bring their work home to catch up.  4th grade students are working on their US State Reports.  You can support your children by helping them construct their "state floats" if they are choosing to build them, and by checking in frequently to see if they are on track.  If they are not, you can encourage them to bring their work home to catch up.

 

January 16 -no school Martin Luther King day

January 30- no school

January 25th – field trip -we will be taking the city bus to see the A1 JTerm Play from roughly 11-2:30

February 13th - 6th graders are attending a naturalization ceremony at the River Center from roughly 9:15-Noon

February 15th – field trip to Dodge Nature Center learning outdoor survival skills and environmental ed

 

Please consider donating your children's gently used gear to GRS.  The lower el classrooms are in constant need of warm gear - several students do not have the gear they need.  Both upper and lower el commons spaces have "borrow boxes" for students to use gear when they forget theirs.  

 

Please let us know if you have any questions!

Jean and Amanda

UEW Update 1/4/2017

Hello UEW Families, 

 

Happy New Year!

We have had a wonderful start to the new year, even with the ice and cold.  Please make sure your children have gear for the cold weather!  Even on days like today where the -27 wind chill forces us inside, we still have time at parent pick up or waiting for the bus to bundle up for, and many kids don't have gloves and boots.  

 

Each grade level is working on a big project for January.  4th graders are doing state reports and will choose to make a slideshow or a float that demonstrates their learning.  5th graders will study native peoples of North America, and 6th graders will begin their semester-long Imaginary Island projects.  

 

The 6th graders are also working on their Minnesota Immigration Study projects.  This work emphasizes the use of primary sources and is intended to develop critical thinking skills as well as strengthen students' understanding of Minnesota cultures.  Students will present their Immigration Projects on Wednesday, February 1st from 3:45-4:15pm.  We would like to invite 6th grade families to attend our project sharing, and will invite the A1 faculty as well in order to introduce them to our students.  

 

We won't be giving out new homework this week.  We'll work on getting organized starting our projects and will resume homework next week.  

 

Thank you to those families that have already sent greens for the bunny this week!  He's a voracious eater and we very much appreciate having a stash of lettuce, kale, cabbage, and other leafy greens to feed him.  

 

Stay warm!

 

Jean and Amanda

UEW Update 12/15/16

Dear UEW Families,

It was great to see so many of you at the Science Fair yesterday.  The students really enjoyed sharing their work.  Today's fort day was a great success!  We had a city of forts in UEW. If your child is participating in Secret Snowflake, please check in with them to make sure they have given their gift.

For our weekly writing prompt, the students have been writing poems about snow.  Here are some for you to enjoy over winter break. 

Have wonderful break and we will see you next year!

Jean and Amanda

 

Daddy, daddy! Look it snowed,

Daddy, daddy! Where did your car go?

It's three feet below,

A mound of snow.

I think we'll stay,

Instead of go.

By Finn

 

The cold wind blows,

There's frost on my clothes,

And there's snot of my nose.

I looked around,

No one to be found,

Then I fell to the ground.

By Silo

 

Snow is a white substance that falls from the sky,

Please tell me why it falls from the sky.

It makes me cold,

So I am told,

It's time for me to blow my nose.

By Mandi

 

Snow is fuzzy,

Snow is fun.

I like snow falling on my tongue.

Snow is crystally,

Snow is cold.

Snow is funny,

Snow is bold.

When things get chilly,

Snow falls, and that's fun.

Snow is cool,

Snow is flakey,

Snow is perfect,

Snow is delicate.

I LOVE SNOW!

By Sofie

 

Snow is awesome,

Snow is cool,

Snow is white,

Snow is cold.

Snowball fights,

Afton too,

Chair lifts,

Moguls,

Jumps too.

Berms,

Grab rails are cool,

That's why snow is cool.

By Reid

 

 

Snow…

  

  Inside I sit and peer…

 At the snow, so crystal clear…

 It makes not a sound,

 As it rests on the ground,

 And I know that Winter is here…

 

 It seems the wind has come…

 Yet the Spring has nearly begun…

 And as I rest,

 I see the white crest,

 And I brace for the light of the sun…

 

 And every year, when it is over…

 The world will begin a nova…

 And I cannot wait,

 In this prolonged state,

 Of longing for the bloom of the clover.

 

By Daniel

 

Snow

A poem involving snow.

 

In the night,

A pretty sight,

Will greet us in the morning.

When we wake up,

Because of our pup,

We see the snow adorning.

 

The children squeal,  

They break open the seal,

The door has been burst open.

They play in the snow,

And before they know,

Their snowman has been broken.

 

By Torben

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UEW Update 12/9/16

Hello UEW Families,

 

Students in UEW have spent time this week meeting and organizing some special events for the week before break.  I have attached a letter from them with details of the upcoming events.  All events are voluntary.

 

 

Science Fair!  We look forward to inviting families into our classroom to see the work your students have prepared.  Next week will be focused on preparing for the fair, with no new work and extra support to get kids ready.  The Science Fair will run from 2-3pm on December 14 and we will not be going to the park.  

 

In support of the Science Fair, we did not send new homework this week.  Students can use their extra time to finish their research and experiments, or to gather materials needed.  

 

The Upper Elementary team has meetings scheduled with Admin the next Wednesday and will not be able to receive kids that come early to make up lessons or work. We will resume early Wednesdays after break.  

 

Thursday and Friday, December 15 and 16 will be fun activities and catch up days.  Students that have missing work will have time to meet with us and finish it up. 

 

Thank you for all your support!  

 

Jean and Amanda

UEW Update 12/1/2016

Hello UEW Families,

Our classroom is filled with conversation about science and science fair projects!  The students should have a clear plan for their project with a materials list, procedure and a hypothesis.  Please check in with your child to make sure they are on track for presenting at the science fair on December 14 from 2-3.  Many of the students are choosing to do their projects at home so they can surprise their friends with the results.  The project should be displayed on a tri-fold display board, we do have some at school, but would appreciate it if students are able to provide their own.

 

We go outside every day!  Your child should come prepared for winter weather with a hat, gloves, jacket and warm footgear.

 

Every week the students have a writing prompt to do.  This week they are writing about science.  What are they interested in?  What do they want to learn more about?  What do they not understand?  The prompts change every week and on Friday, students choose to share their writing with their classmates.  In January, the students will pick one of their pieces of writing to take through the five step writing process.  It will then be put into their portfolio!

 

Our Leo, BunBun, continues to entertain and sooth us.  He loves to hop down timelines and sprawl in the middle of the room in his super-bunny pose.  He is always in need of fresh greens to eat!  He would love any gifts of greens and vegetables.

Thanks much,

Jean and Amanda