2nd Graders are off and running. We started off the year by getting to know each other in the class by playing some movement games. The focus for the month is on eye –foot coordination. In order to improve and advance these skills, the children work on a unit called “SOCCER”. The children can relate to the sport and not even realize what actual skills they are improving on. The smiles and laughter in the gym or out on the Hilltop field is one of my goals for them. I will be getting the children conditioned by starting off with a little jog either in the gym or out on the Hilltop field. This will be the start to an ongoing jog that they will take every time they enter the gym. I am hoping that this little jog will inspire them to run the fun run at the Harvest Hustle on Sept. 27.
Welcome back! I hope
you all had a wond-ART-ful summer!
To start off the new school year with a bang, all students
have begun a big project that is going to be a part of the HSA fundraiser. Our students are working hard to create a
nice artwork that can be kept for many years.
Parents – look out for the HSA notice in a month or so to order your
child’s artwork to be printed!
Our first graders will be learning about different types of
pictures this school year: portrait, still
life, landscape, and folk art, to name a few.
This year we started out with learning about what “scene”(a picture of a
place that tells a story) is and how to show it visually. The first graders thought about a fun moment
they had in the summer, then they drew what that “scene” looks like. Their
pictures are truly something to be seen!
Hilltop fourth graders will be taking up their recorders again to begin a year-long journey inRecorder Karate, a recorder curriculum by Barb Philipak. I have made adaptations for songs to suit our students’ skill levels and needs. To see what we plan to do, click on this link: http://www.mendhamboro.org/
This program is designed to hone students’ recorder skills and music notation skills in a year-long format. Most fourth graders have their recorders at school and are ready to begin. If your child took his/her recorder home for the summer and needs to bring it back, please send it in ASAP. If you cannot locate the recorder, let me know via e-mailkanefke@mendhamboroschools.org
Hilltop fourth graders who elected to take a band or orchestra instrument will begin lessons on their instruments during the week of 9/22/14. We have 12 band & orchestra groups! Mrs. Kanefke will teach lessons to groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,and 6: all saxophone groups and violin, viola, and cello groups. Mr. Alzaher will teach lessons to groups 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12: flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, baritone, and french horn. For the lesson schedule, click on this link:http://www.mendhamboro.org/
Lastly, the fourth graders took a music survey to let me know what their favorite parts of music are, what their favorite instruments are in the music room, what instruments they would like to use more, and what their favorite songs are. I have begun to use their favorite songs, if school appropriate, during choice time. Ask your child about the popular songs Rude and Human on the keyboard or xylophone.
Third graders are having a
“fabuloso” time so far in Spanish class! They jumped right back into español,
remembering how to tell their name, how they are feeling and share their
interests with their classmates. Challenge your child to do the same with you!
Be on the lookout for their “Todo Sobre Mí/All About Me” pennants that will be
hanging up in the hallways at school. We are working really hard on speaking only
in Spanish during class … both during the lesson and when a student needs
something, such as a pencil or to use the bathroom. Our first unit this year in
third grade will be “Yo Soy Especial/I Am Special,” in which students will
introduce and describe themselves in Spanish. They will be expected to ask and
respond to simple questions about themselves, such as what they are like and
what they look like. Finally, this year students can review and practice topics
we are learning about in class using the web based tool Quizlet! Be sure to
check the Spanish website under “Preparing for PARCC” where your child can
learn, practice, self-assess and play games to review what we are doing in
class!
The Hilltop Library and Technology students extend a huge thank you to the Mendham Borough HSA for our new Smart TV. We are all very excited to use this new technology to further enrich our learning experiences!
