Washington Oak School

May Newsletter

Believe, Achieve, And Succeed!

 

 

Principally Speaking…

 

    With all of the cold, rainy weather in April, we are ready for some nice, warm, sunny weather in May! Our Reading Week festivities were a huge success. Thank you for all of your help with assisting your child during Reading Week. Once again, I would like to thank all of our parent volunteers for their assistance during the 2008-09 school year. Without you, many of the fine programs and activities at our school would not be possible.

    On Friday, May 8th students may wear their sports uniform to school and bring in an item (ball, jump rope, sidewalk chalk, etc.) to benefit our playground during recesses. We are also collecting used coats May 4th- 15th for the Wrap Around Project as part of our May Feinstein Good Deeds projects. Midtrimester 3 reports will be sent home on Friday, May 15th. Additionally, on May 19th, 20th and 21st, our grade 4 students will be participating in the state science NECAP assessment. We ask that the children arrive to school on time and have a healthy breakfast.

    A notice will be sent home that we would appreciate you filling out and returning to school if you plan on moving during the summer months. We are in the process of working on class lists and this information is needed as we finalize our number of students.

    Lastly, I’d like to remind parents of our Mothers’ Day Breakfast at Applebee’s’ on Saturday, May 9th from 8:00 to 10:00. Forms were given to students and sent over the listserv, however walk-ins are always welcomed. Our faculty and former students will be the servers.

Happy Mothers’ Day to all our moms!

 

Putting children first,

Your Principal,

Dr. Donna Raptakis

 


 TEACH Update

     Mrs. McDonnell and Mrs. Patrie did a great job organizing the April TEACH reward.  Students had a wonderful time outside playing Wallaby Kickball!  They have been working very hard to earn these rewards and also to earn white slips.  Each week during our TEACH pod meetings, Wallaby white slips are drawn from the raffle box.  Students can pick from a variety of rewards including a prize from the prize box, lunch with a favorite teacher, or being a special helper.  There are also TEACH suggestion boxes in the office and cafeteria for students to put their ideas for TEACH rewards.  We are very proud of all of the students' hard work!

 

Library         

During the month of May will be celebrating Children’s Book Week with awesome activities in the library. From May 11th – May 17th, students will be participating in three events during library classes:

  1. Make Your Own Book Mark contest
  2. Book Clues game
  3. Scavenger Hunt

We will also be holding our spring BUY ONE GET ONE FREE Book Fair! The fair will be held during the Night of the Arts on Thursday, May 14th, 5 – 8 PM. It will not be open during library classes.

Look for Book Fair flyers and book mark contest information to come home soon.

 

The April TEACH reward was kickball.  We hope everyone had a good time.  Remember children should continue to follow the teach values and collect those wallaby slips!  Keep up the good work. 

 Teach Committee+

 

Art Studio           

     How wonderful it is to see how proud the students are when they choose their artwork for display during the Night of the Arts! The students are selecting a favorite artwork that will on display in the Washington Oak Art Gallery!

Night of the Arts will be held on Thursday, May 14th from 4:00~7:00 with many wonderful events planned. From chorus and band to arts, & a craft, to summer Book Fair! Please mark that date for a wonderful afternoon and evening filled with art activities. Watch for the upcoming flyer with specific event times. Please keep this date available.

In the Studio:

      5th Graders are studying pen and ink techniques.

      4th Grade will be studying concepts of size and proportion in their May art lessons. Painting florals ala Georgia O’Keefe and Exaggeration in design

     3rd Graders are very excited about their pastel animals.

     Thank you 2nd Graders who remember to bring in colored sand for our sand art project. We will be studying landscapes to better understand depth and dimension in art. Please continue to donate colorful sand.

    1st Grade Eric Carle unit is fun! Tissue fish are everywhere!  Lots of glue and paint will be the focus for May.

      Kindergarteners are looking at colors and line in Stained glass. Please point out local stained glass windows to your child as you go around town. 

See you at the art show! ~ Mrs. Carlu

 

Music News from Mrs. St. Martin

    We have been very busy learning in the music room! Grade 1 students have completed their entire beginning music notation. Great job writing! Grade 2 just finished learning where all the notes go in the staff so they will be ready to read music next year as they learn recorders. Grade 3 completed a unit on meter – tough work but they hung in there! Grade 4 is in the middle of their pioneer music unit to correspond with their social studies unit. Grade 5 is just completing their jazz unit. They are the first class to finish all 6 segments from the Ken Burns documentary Jazz adapted for educational use.

    Arts Night at Washington Oak is Thursday, May 14, 2009!!! Recorder students are invited to perform their repertoire for family and friends at Arts Night starting at 6:00 p.m. The concert will be about 25 minutes long. Remember to bring back your permission slip for extra credit and take home your recorder that day! All classes have played through black belt and most have earned their brown belt! Awesome job recorder students!

    The band and the chorus are gearing up for the spring concert. They are putting the final touches on their pieces for “It’s All About Music”. Watch for your invitation to Arts Night, Thursday, May 14th. The band and chorus concert will start at 7: 00 p.m. We will gather in the music room at 6:30 p.m. to set up instruments and sign each other’s concert t-shirts. Wear black pants or skirt to go with your t-shirt.

    Fifth Grade Band students will perform at the PAWSOX where they will play the National Anthem on the field! The rehearsal for the PAWSOX is Tuesday, May 5th from 4:30-5:15 p.m. at Coventry High School. The performance at the PAWSOX will be on Wednesday May 7th. Report to the first base side, Gate A at 5:45 p.m. Students will need a music lyre (tiny music stand that attaches to their instrument) to hold their music as they walk on the field and play. Return your permission slips ASAP! Remember to wear black pants or skirt and a white shirt.

 

Physical Education          

    Beginning May 11th, grades k-5 will begin a walk/run unit. This unit promotes health and fitness and encourages students to appreciate exercise as a lifelong activity. With a $1.00 donation, students in grades 3-5 are allowed to bring their IPOD or MP3 player to school on days they have Physical Education class. The students will be able to listen to their music as they walk/run on the schools outdoor track. The $1.00 donation will help raise money for new equipment for the PE department. The students will be encouraged to wear comfortable walking attire on the days they have Physical Education. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. Thank you again for your continued support and generosity!
Amy McGovern

 

From the Health Office

    Spring is here and brings the warm weather, birds singing and flowers blooming!

    I know everyone has been watching the news regarding the H1N1 (swine) flu. It is most important to practice preventative medicine and make sure your child knows how to wash their hands properly. I have also seen a resurgence of strep throat; you may have received notices home.

    Growth and Development health education for 4th grade girls and 5th grade boys and girls will take place on May 7th and 8th.

The district is also planning a Wellness Week during the week of May 11th. Each school will be doing different things. Washington Oak has some interesting things planned with the students.

    Be healthy and happy!

Mrs. Hennessy J

 

   

 

 

Reading Newsletter          

    It’s that time of year again…spring cleaning time!  Time to dust off those books you’ve finished with and donate them to your school or public library.  Think about taking stock and choosing a book you’ve wanted to read but haven’t had the time.  What could be nicer than a book, a cool glass of lemonade and a hammock or porch swing on a warm spring day?

    We’ve been keeping busy in the reading center here at Washington Oak.  Reading Week was a fun time to learn about new books and revisit old favorites.  What fun it has been to walk around the pods and see the creative door decorations that the teachers and students made for reading week. 

    Mrs. Malachowski is helping her students learn lots about bees and other interesting non-fiction and fiction topics with her groups in grades K-2.  Mrs. Wright is currently reinforcing non-fiction reading skills with a book about bananas.  We have been practicing questioning and inferencing techniques as well in groups and with Raz-Kids.  Mrs. Limoges is working with her students in fourth grade on comprehension and Raz-Kids.  Her reading recovery students are making leaps and bounds!

    We wish you all a healthy happy spring.  Here are a few book recommendations from some of our students:

Cole Loughlin: GR.4-Old Blood and Guts by Alden Hatch

Dan Cotrone: Gr.4-Hatchet by Gary Paulson

And for parents:

Mrs. Malachowski-The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

Mrs. Wright- Spartina by John Casey

 

Preschool

The children are enjoying learning about Earth and ways to keep the earth clean and green.  We are recycling at school and we encourage you to recycle at home, too.  The preschoolers know that it is very important to throw garbage into the trash to prevent littering and help planet Earth!

Students will spend the rest of the school year learning about the remaining letters of the alphabet.  We are beginning letters Dd and Qq and studying ducks and pond life. 

It’s Spring in New England!  The weather can change quickly.  Please be sure that your child is prepared to play outdoors each day.  We will be sending home your child’s extra clothing sometime during the next two weeks.  Please return another set of clothes that fit (They have grown so much!) and is appropriate for the season. 

We hope that all Moms have a very special and Happy Mother’s Day!                                                                                      Ms. Joy Marshall

Ms. Ellen Murray                                                                                          

 

Kindergarten News

    We are all enjoying the wonderful weather!  The children are even enjoying a few minutes of recess each day!  What fun! J  Our worms arrived and the children are learning to be scientists.  We are asking questions, using our senses to learn, noticing and observing details, and drawing and writing about what we see in our science notebooks.  Our visit from the Audubon Society, entitled Wonderful Worms was the perfect way to kick off our learning about worms!

    This month we will continue to be super scientists with units on Caterpillars/ Butterflies and Planting.  We will observe the lifecycle of a butterfly firsthand, and learn to take care of our butterflies before setting them free.  We will also be planting seeds, and learning about how we can help them to grow. This month our author study on Eric Carle will give us the opportunity to read many wonderful stories with beautiful illustrations. We will learn about Eric Carle, how he gets his ideas for his stories, and how he creates his colorful illustrations. Two particular stories by Eric Carle, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Tiny Seed will fit nicely with our themes this month!  Check out some Eric Carle books next time you are at the library! 

    *The week of May 18th, we will be administering a test called the GRADE to our Kindergartners.  The test will be administered in the classroom for short periods each day over the course of the week.  Be sure your child gets adequate rest and a good breakfast so they can be at their best! J

Enjoy the month of May! 

Mrs. Abood and Mrs. Schofield J

 

Grade 1

    The warm weather is upon us finally!  The children in first grade are excited about their field trip to Mystic Aquarium.  Please send in $18 in an envelope with you child's name and permission slip if you have not done so already.  We will pick the chaperones from a lottery.  Chaperones will be notified the week of May 4th.

    All students and chaperones should bring a bagged lunch.  We will not visit the gift shop, so there is no need to bring money.

     First grade students are allowed to bring in water bottles and keep them in their cubbies.  It can get quite warm in the classrooms, so please remind your child to bring one each morning.

    The children in first grade will be taking a standardized reading test during the week of May 18th.  Please make sure your child gets to bed on time and has a good breakfast.  This can really help the students’ concentration and test results.

 Thank you for your continued support and enjoy the beautiful weather!

 

Grade 2

Spring has really sprung in grade two! We have begun our last science kit on Pebbles, Sand and Silt. Children will be classifying and sorting rocks as they explore the places earth materials are found and the many ways that they are used.  These lessons coincide nicely with our work on our "Garbage to Gardens" grant.  We will be visiting  URI 's learning landscapes on May 5th and 6th and continuing our work throughout the month arranging and planting our new flower  beds under the windows on the playground side of the building.

The weather outside is FINALLY  nice out and summer shoe time has arrived. However running outside in flip flops can be dangerous....so maybe sneakers/sandals would be best.(also remember  sneakers on gym days) As spring fever settles in any extra reinforcement you can provide for completing homework would be helpful.

An additional THANK YOU to our volunteers this year is certainly in order! With our large numbers your help was beneficial has been greatly appreciated!!!!!

 

Grade 3

    Thank goodness that the warm weather is here!  After a long winter the children are enjoying being outside during recess, gym, and sometimes even for lessons, as a special treat.  Unfortunately, sometimes students lose recess as a consequence of not having homework.  Please encourage your child to remember their homework.  Typically, it should be taking around 30 minutes to complete nightly homework.  Thanks for your support!

    As a continuation of the RADKIDS program Office Lombardi and School Resource Officer Burlingame will be teaching a refresher class focusing on 'out and about safety'.  They have requested that students bring a canned good for the food bank.  More information will follow regarding this special program.

     A fieldtrip notice has been handed out for our trip to the Aperion Institute for Environmental Living On May 12th.  It's located right here in Coventry!  This fieldtrip complements the service learning project related to recycling that was completed this year.  We are so proud of our 3rd graders for doing such a great job recycling at Washington Oak.  Keep up the great work, students!   

    We are running low on pencils and tissues and would greatly appreciate donations!

 

Grade 4

    Grade 4 students have begun their final science kit, ecosystems. Thank you to parents for sending in soda bottles and to those of you who assisted in cutting them and putting them together. We will be adding terrarium and aquarium components over the next few weeks. Mrs. Hammer’s class has enjoyed working with Ms. Ribeiro, who will be with us until Friday, May 8th.  The third trimester project, writing and illustrating a children’s book, was assigned and is due on Monday, June 1st.  NECAP testing in Science for grade 4 will take place on the mornings of May 19, 20, and 21st. Please make every effort to have your child here on time. Also, all students need to be well rested and have a good breakfast the mornings of the test. We appreciate your cooperation. Happy Spring!  

 

 

Grade 5

Toy Projects due Monday, May 11th. They will be on display on Arts Night in the red pod.  Upcoming fieldtrips will be the RI Philharmonic on May 6th and Gilbert Stuart on May 14th and 15th.  Ms. McKinney and Mrs. Pullano’s classes will attend The Gilbert Stuart Museum on the 14th.  Mr. Greenwood and Mr. Colomb’s classes will attend on the 15th.  The Safety Patrol fieldtrip will be on June 3, 2009.  Permisson slips will be going home soon.  The grade 5 end of the year celebration at Camp Westwood will be on Monday, June 22nd.  All parents are invited! Spanish students from Coventry High school have been teaching Spanish lessons to our 5th graders on Thursday mornings.  They will be here for the month of May.


Dates to Remember

 

Monday, May 4- May 8                                            Faculty and Staff appreciation week

 

Tuesday, May 5                                                        TEACH meeting 8:20

                                                                                    Grade 2 rms 168 & 166 fieldtrip

 

Wednesday, May 6                                                  Grade 2 rms 169 & 171 fieldtrip

                                                                                    Grade 5 fieldtrip to Philharmonic

 

Thursday, May 7                                                      School Based Improvement Team meeting 8:20

 

Friday, May 8                                                            Feinstein Sports Day

 

Saturday, May 9                                                       Mothers’ Day Applebee’s’ breakfast

 

Sunday, May 10                                                       Happy Mothers’ Day!

 

Monday, May 11-15                                                 Wellness Week

 

Tuesday, May 12                                                      Grade 3 fieldtrip rms 164 & 165

                                                                                    PTA meeting 6:30

 

Wednesday. May 13                                                Grade 3 fieldtrip rms. 170 & 167

 

Thursday, May 14                                                    Arts Night and grade 5 toy display

 

Friday, May 15                                                          Midtrimester 3 reports home

 

May 19, 20, & 21                                                      NECAP grade 4

 

Monday, May 25                                                       No school- Memorial Day

 

Tuesday, May 26                                                      Grade 1 to Mystic Aquarium

 

Wednesday, May 27                                                Grade 5 PowerPoint presentations for superintendent

 

Thursday, May 28                                                    Elementary Service Learning celebration 6-7p.m. at CHS