September/October 2016

September - October 2016

Hilltop artists have been working hard this month creating their first art pieces of the school year that will be used for the HSA fundraiser, Display My Art.  The actual artworks will be returned to the students some time in the winter, when they get returned from the printer.  Please look out for more information to come from HSA.

In October, we will be welcoming fall with lots of seasonal art.  We will be making pumpkins, fall leaves, bats,  scarecrows and more.  We will be creating fall still lifes and landscapes.  

Kindergarteners will continue to develop their drawing, cutting and pasting, and painting skills while getting accustomed to using different art materials properly.  First graders will learn about what still life and landscape are. Second graders will start to delve into the first two elements of art:  line and color.  Third graders will continue to apply the principles of art, emphasis, unity and balance.  Fourth graders will begin their unit on Art of Face with symbolic portrait.   

Technology: 3rd graders have been learning about their new Google Drive, how it can enhance their learning experiences, and how a great digital citizen uses their drive in respectful, constructive and productive ways to enhance their learning. Each student was given a Google License, and now has full permission to use their drive at home and in school.  Both 3rd and 4th graders have been working on a collaborative Google Drive project, sharing data, collecting results, and analyzing those results through the creation of Web 2.0 Word Cloud. Both 3rd and 4th graders are now active OPAC users. Ask your child what the acronym OPAC stands for, and how it can help learners locate and explore literary resources.  

Library Information Literacy: Our K-4th grade students have begun exploring and checking out literature.  In addition to our focus on our school-wide character pillar, RESPECT, we are diving into literature. In Kindergarten we are reading and singing along with Pete the Cat. 1st Graders are exploring the Clyde the Bunny books, and reflecting on the beginning, middle, and end of a story, as well as character, setting, genre, problem and solution.  Our 2nd Graders are learning about Tall Tales, the 398.2 Dewey section, and of course, the use of exaggeration in many Tall Tales. 2nd-4th Graders learned about the amazing Emmanual Ofosu Yeboah. We read Emmanuel's Dream, and were in awe of Emmanuel's determination. His message of respect, perseverance and compassion is remarkable. Check out his page at http://www.emmanuelsdream.org/Index.html and video footage at https://vimeo.com/149088517.

We look forward to exploring and experiencing wonderful literature throughout the 2016-2017 year!

Happy Fall!  The children have been getting their bodies back into Hilltop Phys Ed Shape.  That means jogging in the gym for minutes, exercises with classmates and for the 3rd and fourth graders, having an Olympic Captain lead their group. The Soccer unit was enjoyed by all grades. Mini games of soccer were played along with activities using the soccer skills they learned.

During October students will be focusing on their personal fitness.  How many sit ups can they do in 1 minute, running a shuttle run, testing their flexibility with a sit and reach,and jogging either ¼,½, or 1 mile. This will be recorded and then tested again in May. The goal is for children to complete the laps.  If they need to walk at any time, it is acceptable.  

BIG REMINDER: PLEASE HAVE YOUR CHILD/CHILDREN WEAR THEIR SNEAKERS ON GYM DAYS.  ( if they forget, they are not able to take gym for that day.)   

Music:

Kindergarteners have been learning how to breathe deeply to support singing, singing familiar songs,learning correct names and age-appropriate techniques on classroom instruments, and experiencing musical stories and new songs to be usedfor skill/concept development.

First graders have been demonstrating their understanding of tempo through Italian terms - allegro, moderato, adagio) and dynamics through Italian terms - forte, mezzo forte, piano. They have played classroom instruments with poems to demonstrate that they can follow a conductor’s cues.

Second graders have reviewed rhythm symbols and 4-beat rhythm patterns from last year. They have begun to accompany poems and songs on xylophones and classroom instruments and to read pitch from iconic notation.

Third graders have reviewed rhythms from last year and have been working on singing in unison and harmony. Soon, they will add new rhythm patterns to their rhythm repertoire.

Fourth graders have reviewed rhythms of songs from previous years and begun Recorder Karate to develop their staff reading/notation skills. Next, they will study common time signatures.

May/June

JUNE: During this last month of the school year, students have been bringing home their art works from the last marking period.  The portfolios do not have to be returned this time.  As I have explained to the students, they will be making new portfolios next year so please keep all the artworks and portfolios home.  

Fourth graders are still working on their clay bottle people that are really beginning to come alive in the art room.  We have presidents to athletes to movie characters to  personal favorites that are looking fantastic! Hopefully most will be finished by the last day so that they can be taken home for the families to keep for years to come.  

I am going to miss all of my Hilltop artists this summer.  Hope that they continue to draw this summer and keep up with their growing potentials!  Thank you for all of your support for art this year!

MAY: Third graders have learned about Claude Monet, a French artist who is known as the father of Impressionism movement.  They have dabbed into the impressionist technique of creating a dreamy atmosphere with loose brushstrokes of pastel colors.  Their waterlily pond paintings are beautiful!

All grades are finishing off the school year with sculptural learning experiences.  Be on the lookout for some clay projects to come home!

June: Spanish:  It has been a fabuloso year in Spanish at Hilltop School! Kindergarten and First grade students ended the year reviewing some topics they learned about throughout the year, such as introductions, feelings, numbers, colors, body parts and animals!  

Students in grades 2-4 ended the year with some fun class presentations… Frutas Commercials, El Supermercado Skit and El Restaurante! They all did a wonderful job; it is amazing to see their confidence with the language and they way they help one another if needed.

This summer, please have your child visit the Spanish website to go on Quizlet for review or to preview future topics they will learn about! Students also have fun using the website ABC YA Spanish and Rockalingua. Bilingual books are another great way to learn and practice Spanish together, as well as watching kids movies in Spanish with English subtitles.

¡Que tengas un verano magnífico!/Have a magnificent summer!

May: Kindergarten and First grade students have been learning about Los Animales de la Granja y del Zoológico/Farm & Zoo Animals! Your child should be able to tell you some names of animals that they love (Me encanta), like (Me gusta) or dislike (No me gusta). We have practiced describing their colors and size and played fun games such as Charades! They are also describing them with adjectives such as rápido, feroz and grande. At this point in the year, students should feel comfortable saying the colors in Spanish, numbers 1-10 (K) and 1-15 (1st), stating how they feel, and introducing themselves. We always move around the room and stretch out different body parts as well! Can your child tell you how to say eyes or mouth in Spanish?

Second graders have been learning all about Las Frutas/Fruits! In addition to sharing their interests and surveying their friends, students describe the fruit’s size, color, shape and taste! They are currently presenting their comerciales de las frutas/fruit commercials to the class. They have chosen a fruit that we have learned about and are sharing about it in a fun, catchy way! Props, posters, songs, cheers, and dances are just a few of the ideas. Be sure to ask your child about their commercial!

Third and fourth grades are in the middle of a delicioso unit…La Comida/Food! Third graders are busy planning a skit at the supermercado, which they will present to the class in the following weeks. Fourth graders are working in groups to plan their restaurante skits, which they will present in the next few weeks as well! Can your child talk with you at the dinner table about the food they are eating and how they feel about it? Can they tell you some common foods from Spain and Mexico and how their food traditions are similar and different than ours?

Check out the June School Bulletin For MUCH MORE Information From The Hilltop Library Media Center

“Books I Want To Read This Summer!”

Student Constructed Summer Reading Lists Grades 2-4

Students in grades 2-4 compiled lists of books that interested them.  Students listened to Mrs. LeMay booktalk many titles, listened to 4^th Grade Hilltop Student book review podcasts, listened to 3^rd grade reading reviews, and watched book trailers via the links on the HT Library Media Center website.  Students should keep their self-constructed lists handy as they embark on frequent summer trips to the library and bookstore.   Happy Summer Reading!

Summer Reading Activities Packet for ALL STUDENTS and Resources for Summer Reading…go the the Hilltop Library Media Center Webiste and click the link below the sunshine image on the main page to access Mrs. LeMay’s summer reading activities packet, or just CLICK HERE.  Students that complete the packet and submit it to Mrs. LeMay in September will earn prizes from the prize box.  Resources for Summer Reading includes lnks to summer reading programs, resources and free online books! Click HERE for resources.

Digital Citizenship!  Students in grades 1-4 have participated in detailed discussion and review of what is considered ‘private’ information and how to stay safe when we go online.  Students watched “Internet Safety” on BrainPop Jr., and we reviewed the “Pause and Think Online Song” at www.commonsensemedia.com.  For additional information regarding online safety, be sure to check the Hilltop Library Media Center Website and click on the Cyber-Safety and Digital Citizenship links on the left side of the page. 

MAY: This Spring, 4th Grader musicians have read, written, and performed rhythmic patterns with sixteenth notes. They have learned a few pitches on their recorders: F#, Low C, and F.  They are currently earning brown belts in Recorder Karate for Cotton-Eye Joe (different melody than the dance version) and Wayfaring Stranger.  They have learned to identify the following markings in music notation: key signature (for F#), ritardando (slow down), fermata (hold the note/pitch until the conductor tells you to stop), and slur (connect pitches on one breath instead of individually stopping and starting each pitch).  In the next few weeks, they will have an opportunity to complete Recorder Karate by earning black and black “plus” belts.  Lastly, 4th Graders are preparing two selections: Whacky Chopstix (using Boomwhackers) and Ode to Peace (Choral) for the upcoming 4th Grade Talent Show on Friday, June 10, 2016 at 8:45 a.m. in Hilltop’s Gym

MAY: It’s fitness time, the children performed their Presidential Physical Fitness test, sit ups for 1 min, shuttle run, sit and reach and ¼ mile,½ mile and mile runs.  About 85% of the students improved from October.  I am really proud of how hard they work on keeping fit.  The classes are also getting ready to run the baton relays and jump over hurdles in the gym.  This is a fun time of year.  

Every year, Hilltop fourth graders have participated in designing the logos used for Harvest Hustle 5K that takes place in the fall of each year.  This year was no different, and our fourth graders have submitted their best designs this month.  Fourth graders have also started their weaving project to make a pouch.  It has been fun to work on a functional art.

Next month, fourth graders will begin the art project, “Clay Bottle People.”  This is a project where modeling clay is applied to the surface of a 12 oz. glass bottle to make characters of their choice.   We have seen presidents, movie stars, scientists, athletes and scores of the famous and infamous through the years.  Please have a GLASS(not plastic) bottle for this project, washed, with top, name and class on the bottom of the bottle.  Also have the students send in a picture of the characters of their choice for the project. These pictures can be returned, if requested.

These bottles are due Friday, May 2nd, so even if you do not normally drink from glass 8 to 12 oz bottles, please pick up a drink at a local convenience store, from a neighbor or friend, etc. for this event. Some suggestions:  Perrier, Coke, Clearly Canadian, Snapple, juices, teas, etc.  Please nothing over 12 oz and no beer bottles, and feel free to bring in extras to help others.  Thanks!

Mrs. Na

Kindergarten and First grade students have been learning all about their body parts! Can they tell you which body part hurts using “Me duele”... or sing the song “Mi Cuerpo Hace Musica” for you? Second grade students are learning all about Frutas or Fruits! They are sharing their interests and preferences, as well as using adjectives to describe the fruits. One class favorite was playing “Headbands” in Spanish with their friends to guess the fruit they had!

Third and Fourth grade students are both starting their final unit of the year about something we all love- food! In addition to learning about foods and traditions in Spanish countries, students will learn vocabulary, phrases and conversational language. The goal is that they would feel comfortable being in a Spanish speaking place and talking about the food, asking how much something costs, sharing their interests… and more! At the dinner table, can your child show off some of their Spanish knowledge to you? Challenge them!

4th Graders have been busy conducting biographical research in preparation for hosting the 4th Grade Character Education Wax Museum on May 5th. 4th Graders will be presenting their research to an authentic audience...our 3rd grade learners! All 4th grade presentations will be videotaped and can be viewed on the password protected video portion of our website. 3rd Graders have been busy working on a collaborative “Wonders of the World” research project. All students have been listening to and writing poetry in celebration of National Poetry Month.  Stay on the lookout for the kindergarten “Signs of Spring” poem, 1st grade “Five Senses Poem”, 2nd grade “Simile Poem”, and 3rd and 4th grade “Best Part of Me” poem.

Kindergarteners explored and identified the musical elements of pitch (high, medium, and low) and rhythm (long/short sounds) via movement, singing, listening, and playing instruments.  We played a fun game of “pitch and play” on the SMART Board with yarn balls and xylophones to identify and demonstrate high, medium, and low pitch.  They should be able to tell you which classroom instruments can make long sounds and which can make short sounds.  They should also be able to tell you that, in general, big instruments/xylophone bars produce low pitches and smaller instruments/xylophone bars make higher pitches.  They learned that pitches can go/move higher (from low pitch to high) and lower (from high pitch to low).  They explored going higher and lower on glockenspiels and xylophones (new instruments for them).  We played another fun, listening game on the SMART Board called: Sounds go UP and Sound go DOWN.  Kindergarten students have also played other new instruments: boomwhackers, and jingle sticks.

SPRING TEMPERATURES SHOULD SOON BE APPROACHING.  THAT IS THE BEST TIME TO GO OUT AND DO ACTIVITIES THAT MAKE YOU FIT.  

INDOORs OUR STUDENTS ARE PRACTICING TO BOWL.  THE 3RD GRADERS WILL EXPERIENCE WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BOWL BACK IN THE DISCO ERA AS WE DISCO BOWL WITH LIGHTS AND MUSIC FROM SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER.

AS WE APPROACH MAY, THE STUDENTS OF HILLTOP SCHOOL WILL BE LEARNING HOW TO JUMP SOME HURDLES.   THE BIG FIELD OUT BACK WILL BE TURNED INTO A PLACE FOR THE CHILDREN TO RUN THE BATON RELAYS. IT IS AN EXCITING TIME OF YEAR.  

DON’T FORGET TO WEAR YOUR SNEAKERS OR YOU WILL MISS OUT ON THE FUN.

First graders started the winter in music by reading, playing, and conducting the beat in short songs.  Once they could track the beat by reading, playing, and conducting, they moved to doing the same experiences with the rhythms to those short songs.  They began to understand rhythm aurally (“the way the words and syllables go,” “put every word/every part of a word/syllables in your clapping”) and to read song rhythms using iconic/picture notation.  We made the switch from reading iconic notation to traditional rhythmic notation in early March.  

Students have performed the rhythms to songs on various percussion instruments including boomwhackers, lolllipop drums, and resonator/melody bells.  First graders now know how to read and perform rhythms with quarter notes, eighth notes, and quarter rests for the following age-appropriate, developmentally appropriate songs: Hot Cross Buns; Snail, Snail; Naughty Kitty Cat; All Around the Buttercup; We are Playing in the Forest; Cobbler, Cobbler; Rain, Rain Go Away; Bee, Bee Bumblebee.  

The next step is to understand whether beats have one, two, or zero sounds.  We will learn about that in April.  Another challenge for first graders will be to apply what they know about reading/performing quarter notes, eighth notes, and quarter rests to figure out unknown rhythm patterns.  Below is an example of iconic/picture notation for reading rhythms and the same song with traditional rhythmic notation.

Hot Cross Buns -Iconic/Picture notation below Hot Cross Buns -Rhythmic Notation below

Each picture represents a sound to be performed.   1 Picture = quarter note rhythm

The red box = no sound/pause that beat 2 Pictures = eighth note rhythms

0 sound/red box = quarter rest symbol

                                 

WANT TO SEE SOME ANIMALS MOVE AROUND AT HILLTOP SCHOOL?  WE HAVE PLENTY OF THEM IN MRS. MORALES’ GYM CLASS.  OUR UNIT THIS MONTH FOCUSES ON BODY AWARENESS. IN THAT UNIT WE FOCUS ON BODY CONTROL, BODY BALANCE, USING YOUR OWN BODY WEIGHT AND UPPER AND LOWER BODY MUSCLES.  

ANIMAL WALKS COVER ALL OF THESE AREAS, AND THE CHILDREN LOVE IT.  I ADD TAG GAMES AS WELL, WHICH IS ALWAYS A FUN WAY TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN OF HILLTOP SCHOOL IN SHAPE.  ASK YOUR CHILD TO SHOW YOU SOME OF THE ANIMAL WALKS.  

   DON’T FORGET TO WEAR YOUR SNEAKERS ON YOUR GYM DAYS.  

From the Hilltop Library Media Center

3rd & 4th Grade Keyboarding: Many students have been practicing and applying their keyboarding skills, and submitting their weekly keyboarding log. When we return from spring break students will submit their final log for the school year.  Students are still strongly encouraged to practice keyboarding skills and apply the correct technique to their ‘real world’ keyboarding tasks.

In celebrate of National Women's History Month, students in all grades learned about various women from our history. We read about Jane Goodall, Waagari Maathai, Isatou Ceesay, Clara Lemlich, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Ester Morris, and many others. Students in 3rd and 4th grade gained a greater understanding of the Women's Rights Movement and our 3rd graders collected data reflecting the years in which many countries and states granted women the right to vote!

February 2016

Kindergarten and First grade students have been learning all about Las Mascotas or Pets! Can your child tell you the names of the some pets the like, and perhaps their colors too? Second graders are having fun with Los Deportes or Sports. They have done surveys, games and other fun activities to practice sharing their interests and talking about what sports they play. Soon they will be presenting to the class as an athlete of their choice!

Third grade students have moved onto La Familia or Family in Spanish class. Since they learned immediate family member vocabulary in Second grade, they are now onto extended family vocabulary! Can your child tell you how many aunts, uncles or cousins they have? We are also having fun interpreting family trees and creating our own. Finally, fourth grade students have begun their unit that starts with La Ropa or Clothing! This is a fun unit because students can also practice body parts, seasons and weather as well. It will end with a fun fashion show project next month… stay tuned :)

This winter, second graders have reviewed rhythm patterns and identified, wrote, and read these rhythms in Meter in 2.  They have learned the following vocabulary: bar line, double bar line, and measure.  Our focus has switched, now, to melody.  Second graders are learning what the music staff is and how to write notes on it to create 2-pitch patterns from songs they know: Rain, Rain, Go Away; Cobbler, Cobbler; Snail, Snail; Here We Sit, etc.  Right now, we are using a 3 line-2 space staff.  We will be moving to full staff (5 Lines-4 Spaces) in the next month.

In the next few weeks, they will teach themselves how to play the melodic patterns that they are writing on the music staff on xylophones, keyboards, and piano.

February, Heart Month  The focus is on keeping your Heart Healthy.  The Third graders just did Jump rope for Heart.  They were excited to jump. All grades learned what the word pulse means, and how to take it. For kindergarten, just understanding that you can feel your heart beat with you hand on your heart when you do lots of exercises fast.  

The grades have enjoyed learning about Volleyball and the 3 key skills you need to know in order to play in a game of volleyball.  Ask your Son or Daughter, I bet they can show you what the skills look like.  

Stay Warm this February by speed walking down your street with your children.

Then hand in a Walked with a parent slip and maybe win a token.  

DON’T FORGET KIDS WEAR YOUR SNEAKERS ON GYM DAYS   

March is Youth Art Month!  As it’s done every year, a sampling of  artworks by Hilltop students will be exhibited at the Mendham Public Library for the month of March.  Come and show your support! Fourth grade classes will be showing their printmaking skills.  Third grade classes will be displaying their dragon works and some other artworks from the fall and winter months.  Second graders’ beautiful pastel works of birds will be exhibited.  First graders grayscale winter landscape will be presented.  And lastly, a selection from kindergarteners’ artworks will be presented.  

Because of the limited space, not every student’s artwork can be exhibited.  However, we will try to include all of the fourth grader’s artworks.  And some of the artworks will be switched during the month to include more students’ works.  

February has been a busy month! Students have been researching and learning about presidents, honoring African Americans in celebration of Black History Month, as well as discussing our character education pillar this month... COURAGE.

3rd and 4th Graders conducted mini presidential research using an assigned source. Students accessed information from non-fiction texts, www.whitehouse.gov, or our online subscription to Encyclopedia Brittanica. We then went on to explore various narrative nonfiction and historical fiction texts, including Henry’s Freedom Box, Dave the Potter:Artist, Poet, Slave, and Separate but Equal.  4th Graders interpreted many of Dave’s couplets, and then went on to write their own character-ed based couplet. In the technology lab students have continued to learn about the importance of being a great digital citizen, and have each created a page for our class book.

In 2nd Grade we have been honoring African Americans in celebration of Black History Month, as well as discussing our character education pillar this month... COURAGE. We have been reading various nonfiction and historical fiction books and discussing the meaning of equality. Students also spent time time reading nonfiction text passages in groups, recalling details and providing evidence from texts they have read to ensure understanding and further develop their reading and comprehension skills. In the technology lab students are extremely close to completing their very comprehensive State Research Project, and will soon be participating in a “Tech-Time Walk About” in order to celebrate their work.

In 1st Grade we have been learning about courage and equality, and what better individual to illustrate courage than RUBY BRIDGES!  Students learned about Ruby Bridges, discussed the meaning of equality, and then went on to write about and illustrate what equality looks like to them. Students have spent time reading nonfiction text passages, recalling details and providing evidence from texts they have read to ensure understanding and further develop their reading and comprehension skills. In the technology lab students completed their biographical research. Students accessed our online subscription to PebbleGo, located an online article about a famous individual, and located and printed a photo and citation for their project. Students also participated in a “Tech-Time Walk About” giving them the opportunity to celebrate their learning, and practice reading and speaking for an authentic audience.