Dawsons Doing Their Personal Best

Today was a sad day for room 301 because our Falmouth Academy and former Mullen Hall (yes, my student) volunteer, Lily, is leaving us for the rest of the school year to live in Italy.  Lily has been such an incredible part of our Tuesday mornings and the kids and I so look forward to seeing her.  She is patient and loving with each and every student and the kids love knowing that she was once a student at Mullen Hall in my class.  They made her wonderful cards with heartfelt words of gratitude as well as Italian flags and a phrase or two in Italian.  Just love the internet!!  Anyway, Lily will be back to the Cape at the end of June and plans on visiting Morse Pond regularly.  As far as volunteering, she has assured me that she will be back next year.  I can’t wait to have her back and am tremendously grateful to have had her this year.  Grazie and Cia Lily!!

We started our new read aloud book today.  Top Secret is about a 4th grade student who’s unique  experiment for the science fair ends up being a “top secret” project with the United States government.  This funny story will help us review scientific process as we get ready for the upcoming 4th grade science fair on March 4th.

At today’s class meeting we starting talking about our upcoming 4th grade Science Fair on Friday March 4th from 11:00 to 12:45. We welcome visitors during this time and encourage you to visit all of the 4th grade classrooms.   Your child will be receiving a detailed package regarding the fair in the next couple of days.  It is very important that you and your child read this package together and pay particular attention to the various due dates during the month of February.

This project is designed to give students an authentic opportunity to use their knowledge of scientific method to perform an experiment.  They will be presenting their findings in an informal manner to their peers, teachers, and families on the day of the fair.

They may also choose to display their projects at the Town Science Fair at Falmouth High School on Saturday, March 5th.

Posted below are most of the documents that will be included in the package your child will be bringing home.

We will be leaving school at around 11:15ish after eating lunch in the classroom.  The Arts Foundation of Cape Cod’s annual regional art exhibit at Cotuit Center for the Arts is a free exhibit featuring the colossal sized work of well-known Cape Cod artists.  The work is displayed with the children in mind-at a height of 4 feet throughout the exhibit.  We will also have the opportunity to create our own art project while we are there.  We will be returning to Mullen Hall prior to dismissal.

There will be no school on Friday, January 14th.  I will be joining my fellow teachers to learn more about the ANSWER routine for open response questions.  Enjoy your day off from school.

Don’t forget that school will be closed to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. day on Monday, January 17th.

Congratulations everyone-your good behavior earned you enough goody stones to buy a big reward!  Don’t forget to wear your school appropriate PJs or comfy clothes on Friday and remember to wear sneakers for PE and recess.