Thanksgiving Feast 2016

Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away! A cherished tradition that we have at Willowwind is to participate in our school feast for K-6 students. Each class is responsible for planning and preparing dishes for our annual potluck style lunch.  It is a great chance for students to cooperate and work together to enjoy a meal and celebrate thankful hearts with everyone.

Our much anticipated Thanksgiving Feast is just around the corner.  The K-6 students and staff will gather together on Tuesday, November 22nd to give thanks and enjoy traditional Thanksgiving foods created by each classroom.  This year, the students will be preparing for an unprecedented 100+ guests.  Because of our large numbers, and due to the students cooking all the dishes, this event is a K-6 student and faculty only event.  The Feast will be a hearty one and students will not need a lunch from home on Tuesday, November 22nd.

The Cottontails are excited to bake three batches of Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting.  Please use THIS LINK to sign up to bring one or more ingredient for us to use in our cooking.  Please bring in ingredients no later than NEXT Friday, November 18th.  Please note, we have combined all K-6 classes', as well as school wide, needs onto one spreadsheet.  Please click THIS LINK if you are able to help contribute any items to our classroom our beyond . On the spreadsheet you will also see whole school needs listed, as well as volunteer opportunities to help with serving and clean-up that day (scroll down and to the right to view).  Feel free to sign up for any spots that are open.

Finally, Willowwind is also in need of card tables (just tables no chairs).  If you have a card table that Willowwind can borrow please indicate so and the number of people it can seat on the above linked sign up sheet.  Your help is much appreciated.  Thanks in advance!


We are so very excited for our Feast Day.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  I know that your child will be excited to share all the fun we have when they see you Tuesday after school.  Thank you in advance for your preparation help!  We could not make this special event happen without you!

November Reminders

Please take a look at the following reminders.

1)  No School - Friday, November 11th

There will be no school or BASP on Friday, November 11th due to Parent Teacher conferences.  Child care is available in 30 minute increments for families who have a scheduled conference on that day.  Please let Rachel B. know if you are interested.

2)  Fall Conferences

Fall conferences are here.  Please use THIS LINK to sign up if you have not done so already.  Friday's conference dates will be blacked out beginning tomorrow morning and next week's conference dates will be blacked out beginning Monday.

3)  Scholastic Orders

November Scholastic Orders went home yesterday.  Visit www.scholastic.com/readingclubs to place an online order and look to yesterday's flyer and letter for more information.  All orders must be submitted by November 22nd.  Thank you for your support.

4)  K-6 Thanksgiving Feast

Willowwind's annual K-6 Thanksgiving Feast is Tuesday, November 22nd.  Please look to the previous blog post and THIS LINK for volunteer needs and help.  Our classroom will be making 3-4 dozen Pumpkin bars for upwards of 100+ guests.  Students will not need a lunch or afternoon snack on the 22nd of November.

5)  Thanksgiving Break

Thanksgiving Break is November 23 - November 27.  The office will be closed, and school will resume on November 28th.  Enjoy the time with your family.

6)  Library Field Trip

Kindergarteners will be taking their November field trip to the Iowa City Public Library on Wednesday, November 30th.  Please be sure they have their library card.

Specials Update - Oct/Nov

Each month, Specials teachers will be providing updates to give you a peek into the progress your child is making in Specials classes.  If you ever have questions about your child within a particular class please feel free to email that teacher directly.  They are always available and happy to help.

ASP w/ Mr. Dan & Friends
dand@willowwind.org
Visit ASP's blog for regular updates.
http://willowwindasp.weebly.com

Music w/ Ms. Katherine

katherinea@willowwind.org

Visit Ms. Katherine's blog for monthly updates.

http://willowwindmusic.weebly.com/

Art w/ Mr. Ryan

ryanb@willowwind.org

During the first art block, K-2 got back into the Visual Arts by learning about and reviewing three of the Elements of Art: Line, Shape, and Color. I taught them that a line is a “dot that takes a walk” (Paul Klee), when the line connects it makes a shape. There are two types of shapes geometric (shapes with names or math shapes) and organic (uniques shapes.) Color was introduced with watercolor, and we learned about the primary and secondary colors.

I also introduced and reviewed what media was in art (“things used to make art”), and we got to explore graphite, markers, crayons, watercolor, oil pastels, and collage. Kindergarteners learned about Piet Mondrian as an artist example, and I showed 1st/2nd Mondrian and Theo van Doesberg. To wrap up the first block, students made a final project using mixed media, which is using two or more mediums on one art piece.

During this second block, we will be learning about ceramics. We will understand earthenware clay and its stages of drying. As far as hand-building techniques we will cover pinching, coiling, and slab-building, and how to attach clay by using slip and scoring. Students will show their understanding and practice these techniques by making a pinch pot, a coil bowl, and a slab vase. Once they complete these tasks of making a functional piece of art, they will be free to make a “free” project which may be functional or non-functional. I will show slides from traditional and contemporary ceramic works for Native American and Pacific Island cultures to inspire creative ideas of their own.

Espanol w/ Ms. Ximena

ximenac@willowwind.org
We just finished the Unit: “Parts of the face”. We started with Halloween activities, adding the Unit: “Parts of the body”. They have enjoyed the class singing, drawing, and playing.  One of the activities they did this month was to draw a Monster’s face. They had to create a monster drawing his face parts, and saying them in Spanish. Also, we played a game called "Toca tu cara", where they had to touch their own face parts as I was calling them in Spanish. An extension of this is that the students are now feeling more confident at saying Spanish words, which is really rewarding.

This month, I added “Halloween” as a cultural topic. We have talked about Halloween celebration and most of the activities are related to this event. For example, we created a Pumpkin face and they helped me put the parts of the face together when I said the words in Spanish.  Next month, I will introduce the Unit: “Numbers” and “Thanksgiving” as a cultural focus.

Phy Ed w/ Ms. Susan

susant@willowwind.org

The curriculum for Kindergarten and Primary School students promotes both gross and fine motor skill development through use of warm-ups, games and manipulatives. Warm-ups consist of stretching exercises and free choice as a leader. Games include soccer, football, and noodle tag. Manipulatives like bean bags, parachutes games, and jump rope are being incorporated . The goal of physical education class is to learn how to lead and promote a healthy, active lifestyle. This unit is essential to building a positive, active, successful and safe learning environment. Students are learning to understand how physical education class is organized and the expectations related to their participation.  

As their Physical Education teacher I continue to pay particular attention to their social development. Taking advantage of building their self esteem and confidence throughout  their physical education class. Students are working on problem solving, cooperation and even learning to be leaders by taking turns which is critical to a successful program.

The goal of physical education is to develop physically literate individuals who have the knowledge, skills and confidence to enjoy a lifetime of healthful physical activity.

To pursue a lifetime of healthful physical activity, a physically literate individual.

• Has learned the skills necessary to participate in a variety of physical activities.
• Knows the implications and the benefits of involvement in various types of physical activities.
• Participates regularly in physical activity.
• Is physically fit.
• Values physical activity and its contributions to a healthful lifestyle.
• Believe that honesty, respect, and responsibility are character traits.