UEW update

Hello UEW Families, 

 

Thanks much to those of you who have brought in greenery, both living plants and veggies for our bunny!  We are trying to grow lettuce for him, but he seems to eat it faster than we can grow it, so keep those donations coming!  He is happy to eat slightly wilted greens!

 

Students have been focusing on averages and data representation this week along with a variety of writing.  One of our student picked the weekly writing prompt this week.  His question was "What is the meaning of life?'  Fascinating responses!

 

The iRace Potluck will be elementary only this year and will take place on 3/22.  We will ask students to sign up for dishes closer to the date, but wanted to give you some lead time.  

 

Upcoming dates:

March 15 – ½ day- early dismissal

March 16-17- parent teacher conferences (5th and 6^th year students will participate in conferences)

March 22 – iRace potluck

March 27-31 spring break

 

Thanks!

Jean and Amanda

UEW update

Hello UEW Families, 

 

We won't be giving out new homework this week.  We're asking students to catch up on all missing homework assignments.

 

Please help your child remember indoor shoes!  We're entering mud season, and are hoping to keep our classroom floors as clean as possible, especially as we sit on the floor for so much of the day.  

 

We have been doing a lot of work with geometrical constructions and many of our compasses have been worn out!  We would love to have some new ones in the classroom.  If you are interested in donating a compass to our classroom, we would appreciate it.

 

We are also looking for a variety of plants in our classroom.  As spring is right around the corner, I hope, we will be focusing on biology.  If you have any extra plants or would be willing to purchase one, we would love to have it.

 

Thanks,

Jean and Amanda

 

UEW Update

Hello UEW Families, 

 

We are doing a big push to help all students master math facts. The first goal is to do 100 facts in ten minutes in all four operations, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.  Once they have achieved this goal, we want them to work at getting 100 done in five minutes!  We will be working daily on this goal.  Please check in with your student and give extra support at home as needed!

 

Thank you so much for everything you've donated to the Soiree basket!  We're very grateful for your generosity.  We hope to see you all at Como Dockside this weekend!

 

Sixth grade students will be attending a naturalization ceremony this coming Monday.  We'll be taking the city bus to the RiverCentre and will be gone all morning.  4th and 5th grade students will have work time as usual.

 

All Upper El students will be visiting Dodge Nature Center for an all day field trip on Wednesday, 2/15.  Students need to dress for the weather, as they will be outside for most of the day.  Students should also bring a lunch that doesn't need to be heated that day.  

 

A note about Valentine's Day:  We will not be handing out cards and candy at school this year.  We'll take time to make gifts and notes for each other at school, and to appreciate the strong community students have built at school this year with craft and play time.  

 

Best,

Jean and Amanda

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