MUSIC NEWS

        

      All music students are busy this spring.  Students in Kindergarten and first grade are learning more about how music brings about emotions in people.  We are also learning new class songs.  Second graders are learning about rhythm and the instruments of the orchestra.  We are getting ready to complete an art and music project.  The third graders are finishing our flutophone unit and learning all about 4^th grade band.  Girls and boys in the fourth and fifth grade are completing our original selection of music.  We have learned how to compose the form, melody, and rhythm of a piece of music.  We will finish our unit with lessons on harmony, tempo, and dynamics.

             Band members are working on technical exercises in the band books.  We had a great spring performance season with our Fine Arts Night and the County Band Concert.  The members of the 5^th grade band are getting ready for middle school band.  They are especially working on scales to use as warm ups in 6^th grade.

             Mr. Cooper is looking forward to many more musical opportunities in the years to come!

 Media News

         This year the library will be doing a full inventory of all books.  This process takes a very long time.  Please return all library books back to the library by Friday, May 9^th.  We will continue to visit the book mobile so students are able to have books to read. I am sorry for this inconvenience!

 

Book Fair

We will be having the spring Scholastic Book Fair in the media center on May 2^nd to May 9^th.  Family Night will be on Monday, May 5^th from 5:00-7:00.  Flyers with book previews have been sent home.  Please help by participating in the “One for Books” program.  This money allows the library to purchase books from the book fair and put them on the library shelves.  On the book fair inventory there are both “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” books and several High School Musical and Hannah Montana Books.  All of the profits from this fair will go toward updating our non-fiction and biography section, which is a popular section with our students.  Please let me know if you are interested in volunteering at the book fair.

Type to Learn

Type to Learn is a countywide software program for keyboarding.  It includes typing instruction, practice, and assessments to teach students this valuable lifelong skill.  Students learn keyboarding skills while reinforcing spelling, grammar, composition, and punctuation skills.  All letter and number keys are taught and it is designed to help students increase speed.  Each lesson takes approximately twenty minutes and there are a total of 26 lessons.  Students must complete this program by the end of 5^th grade.  Students begin this program in 3^rd grade.  This year the 2^nd graders were doing so well with their computer skills I began this program with them.  The goals are the following.

3^rd grade-  Lesson 10

4^th grade-  Lesson 18

5^th grade- complete the program (Lesson 26)

Technology Fun

http://animal.discovery.com/

No matter what your favorite animal is, there's a good chance you'll find it at Animal Planet. Explore animals by subject, learn more about your dog or cat with the pet guides available, play fun games, and much more.

http://www.childrensmuseum.org/cosmicquest/spacestation/index2.html

Design a Space Station - with help from the Children's Museum of Indianapolis. See if you can earn a Mission Specialist's certificate.

                                       P.E. News

       

         May is finally here and we have a lot to do in the last six weeks of school.  Jump Rope for Heart was a major success again with 6,188.48 dollars raised for the American Heart Association!   Great job everyone!  I am so proud of everyone who participated and volunteered in this great event.  Students who will receive prizes associated with the Jump Rope for Heart should allow 2-3 weeks for delivery of the prizes.

             Activity Day will be on Friday, June 6^th with the rain date being June 9^th.  Your child’s P.E. class will be continuing with our Softball/Tee-ball unit and then we will be reviewing all games and activities for Activity Day.  Weather permitting we will be going outside for class for the rest of the year so please dress your child appropriately for physical activities.

                                                    Thank you!!!

                                                           Mr. Ewing