February 2015

Dear Parents,
    We're so glad to have our students back after a long testing season! We've also enjoyed welcoming our new Target students. The transition back to our routine has gone very smoothly.
    Our new first grade Target students have had a great start! We've been strengthening our Target community and learning convergent thinking skills. Next week, we'll begin learning about the multiple intelligences and how to identify and develop our strengths and weaknesses. They are already a great group of Target thinkers!
   We're excited to begin our new units for the Spring. In 4th and 5th grade, we're starting Nothing but the Truth, an evaluative thinking unit with elements of Democracy, law and debate. We held an art show with art critiques in January. In the coming weeks, we'll hold a debate and mock trials. We're also looking forward to a STEAM mini-unit in the Spring in which we'll build working solar-powered water heaters.
     2nd and 3rd graders have been working on a STEAM mini unit in which they are constructing umbrellas. Perfect for this nasty weather we've been having! Hopefully, our stuffed animals will stay dry during our test and present session. 2nd and 3rd graders will soon begin our new unit 'Gizmos and Gadgets'. They are fascinated by the new Recon robots and can't wait to start programming!
     As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.
                     Thanks for your support,
                             Mrs. Parsons and Mrs. Sanders

December 2014

Dear Parents,
    We're continuing our Target testing! The testing window involves a variety of evaluations to determine eligibility for the Target program. We cannot share test results until all students have tested. Letters will be mailed the week of December 15th. Target classes will resume when the testing process is over. We look forward to working with our new students in January. Happy Holidays!
    Mrs. Parsons and Mrs. Sanders

November/December 2014

Dear Parents,

   We had a great Fall with our Target students! We are now in full-on testing mode, so we won’t see the students for at least a couple weeks.

    We wrapped up our Shakespeare unit with ‘Shakespeare is my Idol’ and our Shakespeare festival. The students presented modernized versions of a scene from Romeo and Juliet for the judges during ‘Shakespeare is my Idol’.  Students performed individual poetry readings (in costume, of course) for their classmates during our Shakespeare Festival. We really enjoyed our field trip to the Alliance, where we saw a modernized version of Red Badge of Courage and honed our acting skills with professional acting coaches. Special thanks to our guest acting coaches, Ms. Rachel, as well as one of our Target parents, Mrs. Perry. 

    We concluded our River unit with The Streammie Awards (like the Emmy’s but much more prestigious and based on our River Unit). The students wrote acceptance speeches to reflect on all they have learned. They gave their speeches as they received an award and edible trophy. We were disappointed that the 4^th graders weren’t able to make it to the stream one last time, but we brought the stream to us for some final chemical testing. All is well at Rubes creek!

     Second grade culminated their PACE unit of study with Multiple Intelligences projects. They have been working so hard on their primary algebra and critical thinking skills. We are looking forward to diving into their first content-based unit of study in the Spring.

    We are working hard on our Spring units – but we aren’t announcing them quite yet! Stay tuned!

    Happy Thanksgiving!

Mrs. Parsons and Mrs. Sanders

October 2014

Dear Parents,

    We’ve had a great start to our Fall units!

     Second and Third Grade Target Students began the year with a mini-STEAM unit called Geronimo!  They learned how air dynamics powered parachutes so that they could create their own.  After designing and creating their group parachute; they had fun seeing how they working outside.  They learned a lot about how structure, elements, and materials can effect a smooth ride from air to ground.

      In our Life is River unit for 3^rd and 4^th grades, we’ve been learning about the natural and man-made water cycles. We visited a water treatment facility that uses innovative designs to clean wastewater to be returned to the river. Ask your child about the “spaghetti filter”. This week, we will be training for our creek water analysis. We are looking forward to our first creek visits on October 28^th and 31^st. Be on the lookout for a field trip permission form in your child’s Target folder.

    Our 4^th and 5^th Graders enjoyed visiting Yellowstone National Park in our mini STEAM Unit: Energy, Ecosystems and Eruptions!  Ranger Sanders and Ranger Parsons guided the students on a park adventure that kept everyone engaged.  They especially found the making and demo of our geysers exciting.  We finished our park adventure with  a “campfire” and smores while sharing cowboy stories and reflections.

    Our 5^th graders have traveled back in time for the Reinventing Shakespere unit. The Bard have been working on their acting skills through tableaux exercises and improv. The students did a phenomenal job on their Shakespeare Tic Tac Toe menus. We had some very creative presentations! We are looking forward to our upcoming field trip to the Alliance theatre on October 30^th and our Alliance In-school Imrov Workshop on November 6^th.  Watch for more information on both of these activities. 

    Second Grade Target Students have been enjoying our PACE Unit and STEAM activities. They have been working hard to master primary algebraic standards, understand thinking skills and thinking styles, and enjoying affective lessons that encompass making smart choices.  Second Grade knows how to use their divergent thinking skills to create and invent new and unique products.  They are strengthening their collaboration and communication skills during partner and team activities.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Thanks for your support,

         Mrs. Parsons and Mrs. Sanders

Welcome to the 2014-2015 school year

 We look forward to a year of learning, laughter and making memories. Please come to our Target Parent Orientation on August 20th at 8:10 am in the Media Center for important information about Target in the upcoming year. We hope to see you there.

Dissection

Dear Parents,
    STEMsations was a huge success! High Touch High Tech scientists commented on the depth of knowledge that our students showed about shark anatomy. Studying for the tests was well worth the effort.       Thank you so much to all the parent volunteers for braving the cold weather to dissect. Special thank you to Kris McBride and the AppAttack club for documenting our day. We've had great reflections and discussions about what we learned from our hands on experience.
    2nd and 3rd graders also had the opportunity to experience dissection. As we've studied the heart and it's functions, it was beneficial to see an actual pigs heart and be able to label it's parts. It's so much different than labeling a diagram! We were proud to provide this valuable experience to our younger students. Hopefully, it prepares them for future dissections.
    Genius Hour projects have been fantastic! We are so pleased with the students and their hard work. The research based questions have been meaningful and led to interesting oral presentations. We are looking forward to more presentations in the coming weeks.
                     Thanks for your support,
                               Mrs. Parsons and Mrs. Sanders

Target News and Upcoming Events

                                            

      On April 8th, 4th and 5th grade Target students will participate in STEMsations! Permission slips are money are due ASAP! We are still in need of volunteers for this event. We sent home some half-sheets with a request. Please return if you would like to participate. 

      Shark test re-takes are going on now. Students may re-take on Tuesday, March 25 and Thursday, March 27th in the morning. Students are required to pass the tests to ensure that they understand shark anatomy prior to dissection. 

       Genius hour presentations for all grade levels begin in April. Make sure your child is aware of his or her date and is prepared for his or her presentation. Please see the parent information sheet and reminder that will be sent home by next week. 

                    Thanks for your support, 

                                    Nancy Parsons and Nora Sanders