Sunday, September 13, 2015

TA’s Notes:
Reminder that all snacks brought in for sharing need to be nut-free!

Dates to Remember:
September 16th- Picture day at WCS
September 17th- Curriculum Night & Learning Expo: 6pm in auditorium, 6:30-7:30 in Voyager Kiva, 7:30-8 Learning Expo
September 23rd- No School
October 9th- Parent Teacher Conference Day (more info to come soon) / No School
October 12th- No School
November 7th- 24th Annual Craft Show at WCS- free entry, free parking
November 9th-13th- Scholastic Book Fair at WCS
November 10th- Guest Speaker, Paul Auxman - Anxiety and supports for children at WCS

*Please feel free to contact me for anything at KFieldsend@cssu.org or 871-6148*

Don’t forget to bring a photo or printed picture of your summer SELF!  Our wall has a lot of spaces for our missing Voyagers!

⅚ Jupiter Grades:  Please be sure you have received the parent login information for Jupiter Grades.  For 5th grade families, this is new!  Check out our assessment program on https://login.jupitered.com/login/.  See the folder info that came home earlier in the week.  Didn’t get it?  Email Colleen or Aron.

The Week in Mr. Merrill’s Room (⅚ Humanities):
This week we started our first read aloud of the school year -  I Am Malala. Students wrote a Thinking Stem response ( Wow, I didn’t know that… or I was confused by…) in their Reading Response Notebooks. The book is the autobiography of Malala Yousafzai, who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban. It is an inspiring story of courage and hope for change.
Our Peace One Day lessons included a discussion about bullying and students creating role plays to perform and share on the issue. We also used BrainPop to learn about 9/11. Students brainstormed what they know about the topic and questions that they wanted answered. We then took a look at some of the vocabulary that might come up with the topic and viewed a short age appropriate video about the event. Students then used a collection of Q & A repsonses to learn the answers to their questions. They wrapped up by taking a quick online quiz.
Spelling and Vocabulary classes are off and running. Wordly Wise students will have a spelling and vocabulary quiz next week. Check Jupiter Grades for specifics.
On Friday morning, students completed a Degrees of Reading Power assessment. This data will help us with aligning our support system and teaching to the needs of the students.
⅚ Humanities After School Support Time - I will be available for students evey Wednesday from 3-4pm. Please let me know by email if your student will be staying for extra help. Also, just let me know what the pick up plans are for the end of the session.
The Week in Ms. O’s Room (⅚ Math & Science):

Math 5:  
  • Our work this week has been focused on factors of a number.  We played the Product Game for a couple of days and analyzed strategies for winning.  Students used omnifix cubes to build shipping packages for Brad’s Baseball Enterprise, another reinforcement of factors and products in action.  

  • We have been slowly piecing together all of the responsibilities and pieces and parts of the program.  Please take a quick browse through your child’s math folder to learn about all the things we have in there!

Math 6:  
  • We began our work in the first Connected Math 3 book this week and things are going seamlessly!   Our first book, Prime Time, is a reinforcement of number and operations, specifically properties of numbers and operations.  There is a project attached to this unit - to publish a children’s book about a special number each student has chosen to explore.  See the description in math folder and on Google Classroom (your child must log you in).

  • PS: We were busy Thursday and I did not check in Wednesday homework for 6th grade (First ACE assignment on J grades).  Check with your Voyager to be sure they have completed it!  A bonus weekend if they didn’t!
Science ⅚:
  • Magnet circus designed to play with and explore magnets.
  • Scientist meetings to discuss our understandings of magnets and learn how to talk in this circle.
  • Demonstrations of magnets in action and solidifying our Claims about the Properties of Magnets.
  • Introduction to Engineering and our first engineering task:  To build a motor using our understanding of magnets.
  • To come...Electricity and its connection to magnetism!

The Week in Ms. Wesnak’s Room (⅞ Humanities):

Tweet the Week:
  • Captain Cork flew away! Summer’s over - let’s see the LEAFs!
  • #WCS will never forget 9/11
  • Peace One Day, I Can’t Wait
  • Science experiments to writing assignments packed with work but FUN
  • 9/11, Captain Cork Challenge, Summer Reading Writing Piece
  • 9/11, Peace One Day, Infographics
  • Peace One Day, 9/11, Captain Cork, Labor Day
  • #PeaceOneDay
  • Captain Cork!! 9/11 :( Never Forget

This week our morning classes were focused on writing our FIRST graded writing piece of the trimester. Students were asked over the summer to read a book that was later turned into a movie. Students were expected to not only read the book but to also watch the movie. For this first assignment students will be answering the question: Did the movie stay faithful or stray from the book? This question connects directly to one of our Common Core Standards for the year. Students were administered this assignment through Google Classroom and were provided the following scaffolds and tools to help in finding success in this assignment: in-class work time, peer edits, rubric and standards, and a fill-in-the-blank outline to help in developing their ideas, organization, and structure. We had 2 in-class work days, and 1 day for peer editing. The final piece is due next week! We rounded out our week by spending our Friday morning taking the DRP.

Our afternoon classes have been dedicated to viewing the Peace One Day documentary, “The Day After Peace”. Students seemed to be really engaged in the film and the journey of Jeremy Gilley the founder the Peace One Day organization. Students took part in short discussions with a partner and with the full class. We also took time to reflect on the documentary using a prompt administered through Google Classroom. To bring our week to a close students were introduced to their first mini project, which is to create a Peace One Day infographic to inform people why it would be so beneficial to support Peace One Day or take part in Peace One Day activities. We will be showcasing these infographics using the Voice and my class website. Students are really enjoying the program we are using called, “LucidChart” and they are developing some really creative work! We also took some time on Friday afternoon to talk about 9/11, share stories, and reflect on the impact that day made on our country.

The Week from Ms. Q’s Room (⅞ Math & Science):

CMP7
We had a shortened week, but a week full of everything polygon.  We classified different polygons, looked for commonalities and differences between all groups and subgroups of polygons and reviewed how to use protractors to measure angles. We began talking about the relationship between the number of sides of a geometric figure and the sum of the internal angles.  Students logged onto Google Classroom and Mobymax.  Both applications will be utilized this year.
CMP8
8th graders began the week with a series of experiments and games to collect data. We played the Wooly Mammoth game, where each roll of the dice brings birth or death.  This system of inputs and outputs showed a non-linear trend. We then looked at bouncing a ball and recording the drop height and bounce height, building a bridge with different layers and collecting data on the mass that it can hold before it folds. Both of these models showed different trends.  We discussed line of best fit and practiced finding the equation from data on resting heart rate and exercise.  Students logged onto our Google Classroom and a new online math program called IXL.
Science 7th/8th
Captain Cork was put through his/her paces this week.  Students continued to find ways to get Captain Cork safely to the landing zone deep within enemy territory.  Students did multiple trials, recorded data and did some redesigning of their devices using limited resources.  Only 1 team from each class was really successful in getting Captain Cork to the safe zone. An engineering lab report is due on Monday. Students access Google Classroom and Birdbrain Science.  Birdbrain Science is an online science resource for science readings on many important subjects.  The program assesses understanding and reading level while giving Next Generation Science Standard content.
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Friday, September 4, 2015

Week of August 31st - Sept 4th

TA’s Notes:
Reminder that all snacks brought in for sharing need to be nut-free!
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Summer Faces:  We are making a wall with photos of our Voyager students from the SUMMER 2015!  Right now, we have about 8.  We want to fill up the wall.  No need for fancy printing, just a printed copy of a photo of your child with friends, family, on top of mountains, whatever!  Thanks for encouraging your Voyager to make this happen!
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Jasmine and Kayla Cousino's uncle, Brendon Cousino, was tragically killed this summer in an auto accident, leaving behind a wife and three daughters. Many Voyager families have asked how they can support Brendon Cousino's family.
If you would like to make a donation, directly to the family, please send a check made out to Heidi Cousino and we will get the donations to the family.
There is also a gofundme set up for the family at www.gofundme.com/cousinofamily that is shareable on Facebook (gofundme and it's payment processor do take a small percentage the donation).
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Looking for Furniture Donations! Wesnak Core is looking for a couple pieces of furniture. If you have any of the following items just hanging around...we would LOVE to take them off your hands!
  • A large coffee table
  • Small fold-up “tray” tables
  • Oversized comfy chair
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It's time to talk up the SPARK selections for the first session. 20 kids are signed up and we could use another 20. Click here for the registration form. It can also be found in the School Bell and the Enrichment web page. Send this home to parents. Here's a list of the fantastic offerings:
Machine Sewing - Mrs. Goulette will be teaching you how to  "up-cycle" clothing from thrift stores, use a sewing machine to create new clothing all your own style, and participate in a mini fashion show on the last day!

Let's Go Biking with Mrs. Bartley - In this Spark session we will review bicycle safety and rules, have fun on and off the road, using woods behind WCS (maybe a trek to Catamount Family Center), play team building games, both on and off our bikes. Students should bring their own bike, (a mountain bike or hybrid only), properly adjusted helmet, closed toed shoes or sneakers, and water bottle. We will meet at the bike racks, outside the gym doors to the fields.

Nature Studies - Study field ecology with Mr. Dippel around the school grounds and create a nature journal to keep track of all your wild findings.

Computer Coding - Mr. Silber will open the door to  block coding (used for creating online games and activities) and apply those lessons at Code.org and Scratch.

Cooking - Join Mrs. Datillio, baker extraordinaire, and learn some new tips and tricks for baking delicious treats. Something new every week!

Team Games with Mrs. Conry & Mr. Merrill- Teambuilding games are a fun and active way to meet other students, build trust and learn to work together. Do you want to meet kids from other houses, build relationships, play games outside and have a lot of fun? Do we have the Spark Session for you!

Studio Art - In this session Ms. Baker will be helping you create a piece of artwork in a medium that best suits your artistic passion and needs.

3D Printing - WCS Librarian Ellen Arapakos will be taking you into the world of 3D printing through a web based application called Tinkercad. Tinkercad is easy-to-learn and you will be creating and printing your own 3D models in no time flat!
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WCS 2015-16 Learning Expo/Curriculum Nights Sept. 19th 6-8pm

After school with Ms. Sherman:
The after school homework club will begin on September 8th. It will be every Tuesday and Thursday that school is in session, from 3:00-4:30. It will be facilitated this year by Jon Sines, our new house para. Mr. Sines has a background in Math and Science and is already familiar with many students as he has been a substitute teacher at WCS. Students will have access to the late bus if they need transportation home. ALL STUDENTS THAT STAY AFTER SCHOOL HAVE TO STAY UNTIL 4:30 WITH A TEACHER OR STAFF MEMBER!!!! Students are not permitted to leave early from the homework session unless their parent or guardian has come to pick them up.

The Week in Mr. Merrill’s Room (⅚ Humanities):
We started the week off with some name games in the morning and introduced the students to some important chromebook expectations. We spent some Kiva time reviewing digital citizenship and students played a game on Common Sense Media to explore some interactive digital dilemmas.
We organized our spiral notebooks for Humanities. Students should now have a Reading Response Notebook, a Humanities Notebook, and a Writer’s Notebook - all organized with tabs for specific tasks and assignments.
We also started preparing for Peace Day. Students watched a short film about the organization Peace One Day and we read about a variety of folks who have worked for peace in the world, brainstorming qualities and characteristics of these people who have sought change. Peace Day is September 21.
Students also had a 15 minute free write session, choosing from a variety of prompts to write their own story. We practiced self editing following the free write and had a short sharing session.

The Week in Ms. O’s Room (⅚ Math & Science):
Math 5 and Math 6: We have spent the week engaging in Jo Boaler’s Growth Mindset work at Stanford University.  She has inspired us all with interesting brain research and tasks that demonstrate the capacity our brain has to learn math.  We have been checking in with our “mathitudes” this week, to see how these challenging tasks feel, and students have demonstrated a willingness to consider that they too, might be mathematicians.  I have posted these lessons and the week’s work on my google classroom account.  Ask students to show you what we have done!  Interested in learning more? Youcubed.org

Science ⅚ Highlights:
  • Brainstorms for: What is science?  What belongs in a science notebook?  Why do we make our ideas public?  What are the norms we will use when talking to each other?  
  • Roadrunner and Bugs video:  Our Anchoring Phenomenon is a cartoon from your time and mine!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1kDXHvNZyE (section on the electromagnet)
  • Magnet Circus:  Our first taste of the science behind magnets!

The Week in Ms. Wesnak’s Room (⅞ Humanities):

Wow! Our first full week is complete! This week has been filled to the brim around excitement for our new Chromebooks, learning about what it means to be a digital citizen, and kicking off our Peace One Day unit.

This year I am starting a little weekly reflection called... “Tweet the Week”. We’ve created a real world (not digital world) Twitter board in the classroom (we may go digital later in the year). At the end of each week students are asked to “Tweet the Week” in 10 words or less. The goal of this assignment is to have table groups working together, have students consider and re-think word choice, and reflect on their week in its entirety. Their 10 word tweet needs to focused on what students have been “buzzing” about in the classroom. The added bonus of this activity is that it gives YOU the news of Wesnak Humanities straight from the source: The Students. So here we go...

Straight From the Students: TWEET the Week!

  • #VoyagerDoesDigitalCompassBetter
  • Finding our way with Digital Compass and chromebooks covered with stickers.
  • Peace One Day introduction with videos and articles.
  • Received chromebooks and used Digital Compass this week.
  • Week one: got chromebooks, Digital Compass, Peace One Day movie.
  • Voyager is bae! Much learned! Yes!!
  • Chromebooks, Digital Compass, AND Peace One Day. OMG!
  • OMG, new chromebooks, so fab!
  • Be safe in the cyber world. Peace One Day. Yay!
  • New Chromebooks, played Digital Compass, Peace Day movie, #sofun

I think the students have summed up our week pretty well, but here are my additions.

During our morning classes students focused their time on a game called, “Digital Compass”. This game was created by the lovely people at Common Sense Media with sponsorship from people like AT&T. The game is “choose your own adventure” and focuses on the possible real world scenarios students can encounter when using technology and having technology at their fingertips! On Friday students were asked to reflect on their learning and experience with “Digital Compass” by beginning their first graded writing assignment.

Interested in Digital Compass or perhaps playing Digital Compass? Log-in with your child here and check it out!  Digital Compass Game

During the afternoon classes students created a contract for learning, and they also created student profile cards where they reflected on how they learn best, what they feel really strong in with academics, and what they feel they’d like to work on or set goals around. These profile cards were formatted to look similar to a sports trading card, so students were asked to do some kind of self-portrait on the front. As the week continued on we kicked off our Peace One Day unit by watching a TED talk, creating our own definitions for peace, reading “One Person One Powerful Idea” and beginning to watch the full, feature-length documentary titled “The Day After Peace”. The Peace One Day unit is taught throughout WCS as part of the social studies curriculum and is full of great activities, videos, readings, and mini projects.

Interested in Peace One Day? Take a look at the following links we’ve been using in class:

The Week from Ms. Q’s Room (⅞ Math & Science):
CMP7 and CMP8
This week both of my math classes took part in Mathematical Mindset Work based on several courses created by Professor Jo Boaler of Stanford University.  Students watched a series of videos on such topics as:
·         Messages we get about math from others and ourselves
·         Fixed and Growth Mindset
·         Importance of Talking about Math
·         Using Drawings to Represent Math Thinking
·         Using Intuition in Math Work
·         Looking for Patterns and Connections to the Real World in Math
Students also had the opportunity to do a series of fun and challenging math problems that called them to talk to each other, draw representations and make connections.  All of this work is part of our ongoing “Best Practice” in mathematics.  It was a great way to set up our class culture for the year. Next week each of the respective classes will begin the CMP curriculum.  It was a great week!
Science 7th/8th
This week began with setting up our science journals and reviewing expectations for class.  Our science journals will be our “go to” for our investigations, scientific reflections, notes and general observations.  Students were faced with their first engineering challenge “Captain Cork’s Descent”, a multi-step task that includes getting Captain Cork to the airspace above a drop zone and then safely landing the captain. Students were given very limited materials: cork, baggy, toilet paper roll, cardboard, rubber bands, Popsicle sticks, a push pin, brass fastener, string and 12 inches of duct tape. We began testing, building, and reviewing the physics behind falling and gliding objects.  The competition will take place next week.  Students will be required to connect their scientific observations, data and scientific concepts in a brief written piece next week.  Readings will also be online with a website call “Birdbrain Science”.  Students will have leveled readings and reflections.
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Friday, August 28, 2015

Week of August 26-28

Welcome to the 2015-2016 Voyager Newsletter! For our fifth grade families, this is your first official look at the weekly newsletter published by Voyager teachers, and for others, well, this is a return to the good ole' times!

We welcome all, old and new, to our first edition of the year.

The Week's Events:

  • Introductions of all 5th grade to the 6, 7, and 8 grade Voyager members
  • Review of the chromebook guidelines for the year
  • A SMART (Safe, Mindful, Accepting, Respectful,  and Truthful) assembly kickoff to remind students of what it means to be a student at WCS
  • Lots of team building activities
  • Our Voyager Breakfast Social
  • The 4th Annual Beach Olympics at Sand Bar State Park
See us in action!

























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