Expert Project Complete!

Over the past month, the students did a wonderful job researching, planning, presenting and reporting on an animal that is known to be feared.   They presented their findings to each other, their peers, 4th graders and various staff!   As a result, they each received a certification of expertise ;)  Enjoy the photos below:

Greetings from Grenada!

Another stamp in our passports: this week we received 2 postcards from the island of Grenada!  We were shocked to hear that there are no fast food restaurants on the island---and hardly any cars!  Our sender informed us that the weather is always hot--around 80-90 degrees.   We also got to see what the customary dress of a local celebratory group of traditional dancers looks like--so colorful!

G'Day Mate!

Via the Global Greetings Project, the students and I have been able to "travel" to several places recently--both domestic & abroad!

We've received postcards from Eagle River, MI; Myrtle Beach, SC; and Townsville, North Queensland, Australia!  

We learned that copper mining is a main industry in Eagle River (so much so, that it was nearly named the capital city of the entire state) & it's the birthplace of ice hockey!  

Myrtle Beach is home to one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country--visitors flock to the main strip to ride the Sky Wheel :)

And The Strand in Townsville, North Queensland is the location of a huge cylinder-shaped Holiday Inn hotel.  Townsville is located along the northeastern coastline of Australia, near the Great Barrier Reef!

Many thanks to our friends and travelers for sending us your postcards: keep 'em coming!

No Bully Zone Spirit Week: Sept. 14-18, 2015

Get excited!! Next week, H.I.S. kicks off it's NBZ Spirit Week--a time when we can really come together as a community of learners to learn about and celebrate who we are collectively and as individuals.   Students who feel a sense of belonging are less likely to become a bully, to be bullied, or to stay quiet about bullying they observe.  At H.I.S., students matter and we want to foster healthy citizenship in our building.

We will be collecting pennies all week long for the organization Heifer Intnl.  Our goal is to raise enough money to purchase a pig!  And if we do, the student body will be duct-taping Mrs. Dyer and Mrs. Detering to the gym walls on Friday :)

The rest of the week's events are as follows:

Monday:  Identity Day
--Students should wear their favorite shirt to school and can bring in a special something to display at their desk
Tuesday: NBZ Day/Pro-Kids Show
--Students should wear their yellow No Bully Zone t-shirt to school
--Tim Hannig ProKids Show at 1:00 and at 6:30 at NHS
Wednesday: Hat Day/Wise Word Wednesday
--Students can wear a hat to school & will practice wisdom of speech
Thursday: SPARK Day/Neon Color Day
--"Students Performing Random Acts of Kindness"
-- Dress in neon!
--H.I.S. McStaff Night at Middlebury McDonalds
Friday: School Colors Day/Intnl. Day of Peace
--Wear yellow & green!
--Yellow Food Friday

2015-2016

Greetings!

The new year is in full swing, and the Globetrotters are now 5th graders!

Communication with home is important to me, and we all have different preferences in how we best receive information.  So, in addition to your child's planner, the following list is of alternate modes of communication that you can utilize throughout the year to stay abreast of what's happening here in the classroom:

• The blog's purpose is to share and celebrate the things that are happening in the classroom. Pictures and descriptions will be posted following classroom events that are unique to our class. These posts will occur on a irregular basis--so sign up to receive an email when the blog is updated.  Previous 3rd grade posts are not deleted.
• Newsletters will go home weekly to reflect on the week and communicate upcoming curriculum happenings as well as important dates.
• The website's (www.gonzalezglobetrotters.webs.com) main function is to provide you with the weekly spelling list, calendar of events and an electronic version of our classroom newsletter. It also includes helpful links to online academic resources and educational/fun videos.

**If you have completed a Denial to Publish form, your child's face and name will not be shared via the blog, web or electronic newsletter.**
**If there is enough interest, a Facebook group will be created and/or group text for daily and weekly communication.**

I look forward to sharing with you throughout the year the special things that happen in your child's learning at school!

Eagle Market

The event today was a success!!  Students put their entrepreneurial skills to work--developing, marketing and selling their goods.  

 

Celebrating Entrepreneurialship

We were happy to have a real life entrepreneur stop by our classroom last week Friday!   Rachel (Stalter) Aupperle is a Middlebury native who now lives in Upland, IN.  Her grandfather began and still owns Stalter Glass north of downtown.  She shared about her personal business endeavors as a photographer and artist.   Currently, she is selling prints of her original artwork depicting the great state of Indiana and its counties.   A poster-sized print has been added to our own classroom decor!

She told us that every business begins with an idea, and an entrepreneur is someone whose idea becomes their own business.  The students asked all sorts of great questions about Mrs. Aupperle's business.   In particular, they asked her for tips related to advertising.    Her responses will help them to prepare for their store in the Eagle Market!

Inside Recess Fun

With all these cold snowy days, the students have spent far too much time indoors playing for recess!  I thought you might enjoy a glimpse of what I've been seeing them do.   Legos, dinosaurs, towers, disguises....lots of creative play happening in this group!