Important Dates

I hope you and your family enjoyed a pleasant and relaxing Thanksgiving break. Tomorrow (Monday 11/28) is an inservice workshop for teachers at TGS. We'll be planning and scheduling individual tasks for our reaccreditation with NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges).

On Tuesday, fifth graders should bring recorders to school. Ideally, students will have been practicing the recorder over the break.

On Friday, between 10:00 and 12:00, the fifth through eighth grade students will travel to Vermont Academy for our first PSD ice skating activity. If your child does not have skates, I suggest visiting the ski/skate sale at TGS. The sale will begin on Thursday after school and the doors will be open through the day on Friday. I'll be at the sale on Thursday and I am happy to answer your questions about buying cross-country ski equipment.

On Thursday, I'll be attending a professional workshop focused on technology and engineering in the middle school curriculum. I'll have a substitute despite the fact that fifth graders will spend only one academic period in the classrooom. Instead of a regular schedule, fifth graders will have a special chorus rehearsal, a technology class, and a double art period.

Classroom News, a Few Links and Some Pictures

On Tuesday, the fifth grade traveled to The New England Youth Theater to see James and the Giant Peach. Rachel and Isaac (6th grade) took on roles in a truly terrific adaptation of Dahl's classic story. In class, we've started reading the text and today students worked to write the first of several creative alternative chapters. The exercise of imitating Dahl's narrative style is always fun. In the process, students practice writing and punctuating dialogue.

In science, students continue to work on building wooden bridges. Each student has nearly completed building one of two truss members. We're on schedule for completing this project before Thanksgiving break.

With Thanksgiving in mind, a school buddy activity is scheduled for next Wednesday. During All School Meeting, we'll be assembling Thanksgiving baskets for the local food shelf. Ponnie Derby has asked each fifth grader to bring in a ready mix pie crust (not frozen). If you can add a pie crust to your regular shopping schedule, please send it in with your child no later than Tuesday. I'll make a count on Tuesday afternoon and if we're short (no pun intended) I'll pick up a few extra boxes.

Tomorrow in social studies, we’ll welcome Dr. Steven Kiruswa from Tanzania. He will be visiting classes in the morning and answering questions about life growing up as a Maasai and his work as a Wildlife Conservationist. Dr. Kiruswa is an acquaintance of Leyeyo (8th grade) and his American parents, Paul Weber and Sarah Messenger. As homework tonight, fifth graders should write down a thoughtful question or two for Dr. Kiruswa.

As mentioned in the Wednesday Notice, TGS will host a ski and skate sale on December 1st and 2nd. This is a great opportunity to unload outgrown winter clothes and equipment. It's also an opportunity to outfit your child with cross-country or alpine skis. I recommend digging through your child's outgrown clothes and equipment as soon as possible and delivering the goods to Deb Gray in the business office. She'll recommend reasonable prices. On a separate note, we'll begin PSD ice skating at Vermont Academy after Thanksgiving break. If your child has skates, please be sure the blades are sharp. If your child needs skates, please check with Deb Gray.

As we look toward the winter sport season, I wanted to direct your attention to a program known as Fifth Graders Ski for Free. This is a great opportunity for fifth graders. If you're interested, I recommend applying to the program early. http://www.skivermont.com/love-winter/news-notes/fifth-graders-ski-free

There seems to be a nasty flu virus floating around TGS and Windham County. I've encouraged students to wash hands often and before eating. Please remind your child that this is a good practice and encourage him or her to wash hands at school. I had a free flu shot at Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital the other day. If you find yourself in the Hanover/Lebanon area, you might want to stop in. Check the attached free vaccine schedule. http://patients.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/health_information/flu_vaccine_information.html

Pics from the Week

I'll be posting a curricular note soon. In the meantime, here are some photos from the week. You'll see students working on maps of Africa, bridge design and construction, geometry activities, hiking during PSD and participating as a team member in an Australian belay.

Tomorrow is an exciting benchmark for fifth graders. A good two thirds of the class will travel to Montreal with parent chaperones and Johanna. The home-stay visit with pen pals promises to be a special and unique opportunity.

On Tuesday of next week, we'll travel to New England Youth Theater to see Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach. Rachel is in the play as well as Issac Freitas-Eagan! The performance will kick off our next literature unit. We'll be reading Dahl's classic story and writing a series of creative additions to his tale.