Mr. Ward’s Message:
This week will bring the amazing Fun Run to Freetown Elementary School. Our students have been pumped up about the Castle Quest theme as they have learned of the various virtues of the Castle Quest adventure. On Thursday,October 10th, our students will participate in the culminating activity of the Fun Run. Each child will receive a Fun Run T-Shirt provided by our generous sponsors. The students will all participate in the run and then cool down with a snow cone provided by Kona Ice, sponsored by the FES PTO. In the end, this event is fun, amazing and worthy! BUT, please know this could not be possible without your support and the work of the FES PTO. From the bottom of our hearts at FES, we thank you!
FES News and Happenings…
Please be reminded that Friday, October 11th is an Early Release Day for students. Students will be dismissed at 12:15 PM. Breakfast will be served. Lunch will not be served however.
Also, please be reminded that there is no school on Monday, October 14th due to Indigenous Peoples Day / Columbus Day. School will resume again on Tuesday, October 15th.
Attendance Matters Weekly Update:
Goal: 94% of the FES student population will attend school daily.
September Daily Student Attendance for September was 96% - Goal achieved!
October weekly attendance data indicate:
October 1-4: 96.5%...Met Goal!
Upcoming events:
October 10: Fun Run Day
October 11: Early Release Day - Students will be dismissed at 12:15 PM. Lunch will not be provided.
October 14: No School - Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples Day
October 19: FES Annual Trunk or Treat from 2:00 - 4:00 PM
October 21-25: STEM Week at FES
October 30: Preschool Picture Day
PTO Corner:
Please consider joining us at our next PTO Meeting on October 21st. Please note PTO meetings will be held in person and virtually. Mr. Ward will share the meeting invite link the week before the meeting. We encourage more parents/guardians to attend our next meeting, October 21st beginning at 5:30 PM. Please note the time change at the start of the meeting. Why, you might be wondering? There is a special town meeting beginning at 7:00 PM on October 21st.
FES PTO website is...https://freetownelementarypto.weebly.com/
News and Happenings from around the classrooms - Week of September 30 - October 4:
Pre-School: This week in preschool we began our study of apples. The children learned the parts of an apple, and how apples grow. The children tasted red, green, and yellow apples. They chose their favorite, and the results were graphed. The preschoolers also learned about the letter T and the sound it makes.
Kindergarten: This week in kindergarten we focused on a number of skills in our Wonders reading program. Those skills were to review our high frequency words (HFW)- I, can. Our print concept skills were learning parts of a book, distinguishing words from letters, and spaces between words. In phonemic awareness(PA) we recognized and blended syllables. We reviewed the letters Ss-Zz. Our math lesson to describe and compare height and weight. We continued to complete a variety of apple science and activities.
Grade 1: This week in first grade we started unit 1 in Wonders. We focused on short a and plural -s. For comprehension we focused on visualization and characters. In writing we are working on understanding the parts of a sentence. For math this week we learned about using strategies to help add and subtract. In science, we began talking about what a scientist is and what they do. We also had our Fun Run Pep Rally! Be sure to sign up for the Fun Run!
Grade 2: Second graders learned mental math subtraction strategies including making a ten, counting on, and using fact families. In reading, we learned about the central message/themes of stories and read several fables. In phonics we focused on reading and spelling words with two letter blends. In writing, students are learning to write how-to procedural texts. In science we are continuing to learn about landforms, continents and maps.
Grade 3: This week in third grade, students learned how to solve multiplication equations using the distributive property. In reading, they continued to explore the essential question: how do people in different cultures contribute to the community. They have read a variety of short stories that explored this essential question. In writing, students started writing their first drafts of their own personal narrative. In social studies, students learned how the Wampanoag tribe wore their clothing, built shelters, ate food, and completed daily chores in summer and winter months. We kicked off the Fun Run fundraising event, and we are looking forward to the exciting Fun Run next week!
Art: Kindergartners practiced cutting curved lines to reinforce correct technique. They also drew adorable snails from spiral lines. Grade 1 also drew snails from a spiral line and then added line patterns to it. Grade 2 is learning about the art of Mehndi (Henna), and is creating a paper version of the Indian tradition. Grade 3 is working on a continuous line design. They are doing a lot of problem solving as they learn to fill up the paper completely with 1 line that never touches or intersects, is neat, controlled and varied, and ends where it started.
Physical Education: All students practiced their underhand throw and accuracy while playing a few games of Pizza Party.
Music: This week, students K-3 have started the third week of their unit on being expressive in music. We will learn new songs, games, and movements to be performed with appropriate musicality. In addition, Gradees 2 and 3 have explored mallet instruments and composing.
Library: On Makerspace Monday, Day 3 students listened to the read aloud "If I Built a School" by Chris Van Dusen and then built a school out of straws and tape with their group. They also designed floor plans and came up with creative ideas for what they would like to have in their school! During the rest of the week, kindergarten students began learning about where the keys are located on the keyboard. They played Keyboard Zoo. Students in grades 1-3 read and listened to biographies in Pebble Go for Hispanic Heritage Month and answered questions in Google Slides.