Volume 20 Issue 4 January 2014
The Wilson Word A publication of The Wilson School, Founded 1913
The Value of Setting Goals
Now In Our Second Century of Excellence!
By Head of School, Thad Falkner n my experience as a career-long educator and school administrator, I’ve often observed the immediate and long-term benefits of working toward a goal. We see it in our students while they are here and long after they leave us and become adults. Whether it’s a business executive in negotiations, a musician in the orchestra pit, an artist in the studio or an athlete on the field, people who strive toward a goal achieve more in life.
I
Being goal-oriented is a trait both inherent and learned. It is a process that requires practice and an ability to self-reflect. I believe the middle of the year is an optimal time when parents and educators can help teach elementary and early childhood students the valuable skills of goal setting and self-evaluation. After receiving a progress report from teachers, here are five steps parents can follow to introduce the process of goal setting with your child: 1. Introduce the topic by sharing that your child’s teacher gave input about all subjects taught, as well as the student’s efforts and cooperation. 2. Give a very basic summary of the highlights. At this time, it is important for the parents to also give their own special comment, or view of positive aspects. For preschool students, emphasize only about two things, and about four with elementary students.
In This Issue! Head of School 1 Welcome! 2 Admissions 2 Thistle Auction 3 Summer Camp 3 Junior Kindergarten 4 Art 6
Library Resource 8 Technology 10 5th - 6th Language Arts 12 2014-15 Dates 13 “Wall” of Fame 13 Calendar 14
3. Ask the child for their comments on that subject. This encourages self-reflection. 4. Inquire as to if there might be one or two things to place more, or different, effort toward with the goal of improvement or reaching an even higher level. 5. End with a simple plan. For children this plan is most effective if it can be articulated in one phrase or sentence. Write this down and put it somewhere that it will be seen regularly. By adding the skill of self-evaluation, you can prepare a child for a milestone circumstance, setting and achieving a goal. Happy New Year and here’s to success and joy for our students in 2014! 1
A Warm Wilson Welcome to Two New Students!
A
very warm welcome is extended to two new students and their families who have recently joined the Wilson community!
Pre-Kindergarten
Makenna Murfin Heather Flabiano and Ross Murfin
Junior Kindergarten
Jonah Macanufo Elizabeth and James Macanufo
By Director of Admissions Laura Hartung
Admissions News By Director of Admissions Laura Hartung our children are likely to tell you that a visitor was in their classroom today! January through mid-March is a very busy time for processing applications for the 2014-2015 academic year. Because applications have been accepted for all grade levels, every classroom will experience visitors in the coming weeks.
Y
Prospective parent tours are also ongoing. Parents and children alike continue to feel at home at Wilson, and love the facility. Reactions to the Innovation Room could not be more positive, and the same is true for our beautifully restored historical section. To the delight of all who heard him, one little boy visiting Junior Kindergarten declared, “I LOVE this school!” Several others have not wanted to leave after their visit, a sentiment which is not uncommon.
2
“I LOVE this School!” --Prospective JK Student Re-enrollment contracts for returning students will be due February 28th. New students will be admitted to grade levels in which there are openings for the 2014-2015 academic year on March 14th.
Tuition Assistance Update
Current Wilson parents applying for the school’s Tuition Assistance (T.A.) Program are asked to be aware of changes to the procedure. Information regarding changes in the T.A. application process has been sent to all who are applying, and is also available on the school’s website. Please call the Admissions Office if you are in need of assistance.
Last Minute Thistle Auction Questions Answered! Y
our faux fur is ready to go, but are you? Here are some last minute Après Ski pointers, so you don’t get left out in the cold!
Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. at Palladium St. Louis (1400 Park Place, 63104). Complimentary valet parking will be available.
Don’t forget your cell phone: it is your bidding tool. What? You can’t come to the Auction? (You’ll be missed, just like Lindsey Vonn!) You can still bid online at www.bidpal.net/wilson for that adorable class project or coveted Teacher Gift-of-Time!
Bidding will be open on the website for all items except Sign-Up Parties and the Live Auction.
As always, contact auction@wilsonschool.com with further questions. See you on Saturday, January 25th for Olympic-quality fun at the Après Ski Thistle Auction!
Summertime Fun By Summer Camp Coordinator Michael Hinkebein t may not feel like it now, but summer is just a few months away. We hope that your family will join us this year for summertime fun at The Wilson School Summer Camp. We have eight wonderful weeks beginning June 9th. With themes ranging from Robotics and Movie Making for the older campers, to Dr. Seuss and Let’s Solve a Mystery for the younger set, there is always something new to experience!
I
Questions? Contact mhinkebein@wilsonschool.com. For more information, visit www.wilsonschool.com.
3
Junior Kindergarten is an Active Classroom!
“Indian Paintbrush,” the students enjoyed making their own buckskin watercolor painting depicting a variety of pictographs. In art they made headdresses, vests, and jewelry that were worn for the “We Sauk He Chak” schoolwide performance. The JK class had their own pow wow, taking turns dancing to the wonderful drumbeat of Native American Indian music. Music and movement provided a wonderful and informal way to experience this unit of study. In math, JK students are learning about patterns. They learned the pattern song and dance: A pattern has things in order (3X) Repeating again and again.
By JK Teachers Fritz Fahrenkamp and Amy Wilson he Junior Kindergarten (JK) class completed their study of Native American Indians with the performance of “We Sauk He Chak.” And, what a grand performance it was!
T
They were very proud of themselves as they rehearsed, made costumes and learned songs. During this unit, the students learned about the Native American Indian culture of past and present. We read “Giving Thanks: A Native American Morning Message” introducing the concept of how Native American Indians believed in respecting Mother Earth and not wasting anything. The JK students learned how they hunted for food, using all parts of the animal: muscle for food, the sinew to make bows, skin and fur for clothing, blankets, their homes and shoes. In the science center, the students explored deer antlers, bones, rabbit pelts, moccasins, Native American jewelry and fetishes. After reading a variety of Native American Indian books, the JK students and their Buddies made dream catchers. Their Buddies helped the JK students decide on a Native American Indian name. JK students also made beautiful turquoise jewelry as a gift for their parents. During this unit, the students learned how important storytelling was to the Native American Indian culture. They learned about pictographs and how they told stories through pictures. As an interactive writing activity we wrote two class stories using pictographs. Each student wrote and read their own story using four pictographs. They did an amazing job sequencing their story ideas. After reading 4
We sang pattern songs, did pattern dances and played pattern games to enhance their understanding of patterning. The students are learning how to copy, create and extend two- and three-part patterns in small groups, partners and independently during literacy and math centers. We are encouraging the students to verbalize their patterns in all of these activities to help them gain math skill confidence and overall confidence. The JK students are learning about Martin Luther King, Jr. and what a peacemaker he was. We are connecting his kind, peaceful ways of dealing with problems to our use of the JK peacetable. They are learning to use kinds words and solve problems in a peaceful manner. We will discuss what the “I Have A Dream Speech” means and make a class book. We will continue to learn more about the concept of “same and different” through the lives of many great Americans in history.
5
Exploring the Ceramic Process in Art By Art Teachers Diane Signor and Mary Beth Tipton
“GREENWARE” TURTLES BY FIRST GRADE
6
ll students have been learning about the ceramic process during art. First, students created their work by shaping, molding, rolling and/ or pinching, wet clay into a form. Once dried, the clay is called “greenware” and is ready to be baked, or fired, in our special ceramic oven, the kiln. Once fired, the clay piece has hardened and becomes “bisqueware”. The clay can then be painted with ceramic glaze. The last step in finalizing the process is to fire the pieces in the kiln a second time. The glaze reacts to the extreme heat and transforms into a permanent, glossy and brightly colored surface.
A
“BISQUEWARE” PINCH POTS BY PK, JK AND SK
UNFIRED GLAZED BISQUEWARE ANIMALS BY THIRD GRADE
FIRED GLAZED CERAMIC PLATES BY SIXTH GRADE
FIRE GLAZED STORYTIME CHARACTERS BY THIRD GRADE
7
Library Resource By Library Resource Teacher Pam Comello
E
PK & JK
xplore Wilson School’s online library catalog and discover resources with your child from home.
Here’s how to get started: Go to http://wilsonschool.follettdestiny.com and click on WILSON SCHOOL to gain access to DESTINY QUEST. Each student’s username is their LAST NAME and FIRST 2 LETTERS OF THEIR FIRST NAME and the Password is 1913 for everyone to login. From the top menu bar, clicking My INFO will allow students to see what they have currently checked out and the due date.
•
•
•
In addition to being a quick and easy search tool, you can save a list of resources you need for a research paper or a list of books you want to read.
SK
1st 3rd
The Missouri Mark Twain Award and Missouri Show-Me Reader Award
It’s that time of year for the Missouri Mark Twain and Show-Me Reader Awards. The purpose of both awards is to promote literature, literacy, and reading in Missouri elementary schools and to promote recognition of authors and illustrators of books that are favorites of Missouri children. Children in first through third grade participate in the Show-Me Reader Award. Upper grades participate in the Mark Twain Award. For each, students read from the list of nominated books and cast their vote for his or her favorite. Both the Missouri Mark Twain Award and the Show-Me Reader Award voting results are tabulated after the March 15 deadline, and the results and announcement of the winning titles are given at the annual Missouri Association of School Librarians Conference. This year’s conference will be held in St. Louis at the Union Station Plaza Hotel April 13-15, 2014. For more information, visit www.maslonline.org.
8
4th & 5th
6th
Ask your Pre-Kindergarten (PK) student to tell you about penguins and how they take care of their young. PK listened to the CD story of “The Biggest, Best Snowman” by Margery Cuyler and drew pictures of snowmen. Junior Kindergarten (JK) students listened to the story, “There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow!” by Lucille Colandro. This story is an adaptation from the favorite nonsense nursery rhyme “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.” They drew pictures of their favorite part of the story. Senior Kindergarten (SK) students heard “The Moon’s Revenge” by Joan Aiken. We will read more fiction and non-fiction books related to space and write a story starting with “If I saw a falling star I would wish for….” to complement their unit on outer space. First through third graders received an orientation for the 10 books nominated for the Missouri Show-Me Reader Award. We will read at least one book every week until Spring Break. Each student casts a vote for his or her favorite. Votes are sent to the State committee and added to all votes collected from students across Missouri. We will learn which book was voted the favorite for each award after Spring Break. In addition to participating in the Mark Twain Awards nominations, the fourth and fifth graders have been reviewing the classification categories of non-fiction books using the Dewey Decimal System to improve their ability to locate more books on specific topics. Students are excited about our new Science Fiction collection which includes classic titles such as, “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury, as well as titles by authors Andre Norton, Robert A. Heinlein, and Isaac Asimov to name a few. Books by contemporary authors like Neil Gaiman and Michael Carroll’s series “Quantum Prophecy : The Awakening” are just a few more in this collection. Sixth grade students are reviewing the steps to writing a research paper. They will decide the sequential order of the 14 research steps and discuss the importance of each step. We will debate what the consequences might be if you skip an important step.
Students enjoy finding a sunny spot to read on a cold Winter’s day. 9
Digital Natives at Work
then” commands. Next, they used repeating commands. Currently, we are working on using functions in our programming. A function enables a programmer to write a certain set of commands one time, and then execute that set of commands multiple times in the program with only one command. We have been using the iPad app, Kodable Pro, to learn these concepts. I am so proud of the problem solving and critical thinking the students have done to come this far!
Fourth Grade
By Technology Teacher Melika Panneri
F
rom learning the basics of Internet research to computer programming, Wilson students know their way around a keyboard.
First Grade
First graders are beginning to write their very own autobiographies in their classroom. In conjunction with this classroom project, they have created posters all about themselves using Kidspiration in technology class. They will also be creating their own self-portraits during their time in technology class. They will use the webcams on the computers to look at themselves and make sure they get their hair, eye color and everything that makes them special, just right.
Second Grade
Second graders have been working hard to do their first Internet research. This research is a way to begin discussing how to find reliable information on the Internet. Students this age usually believe everything they find online is true. They are doing well and starting to understand what makes a good source of information. Next, the students will begin writing acrostic poetry and finding appropriate images online to accompany their writing.
Third Grade
Third graders are in the midst of a computer programming unit. They have learned so much and welcomed every challenge that has been presented to them. They have discovered that the sequence of commands matters when programing. Then, they tried out conditional, “if, 10
Fourth graders have been thinking about what the kind of careers they would enjoy when they are adults. In their classroom they have been writing about their ideas. In technology class they have searched for copyright friendly images of these career choices. We are currently using a Photoshop-like program called Pixelmator to edit these images to include the faces of our fourth graders. They are learning all about photo editing with the use of layers, smoothing, re-coloring, and much more. Way to go fourth grade!
Fifth Grade
Fifth graders are working on a project we call Poetry Illumination. In their language arts classes they have written two original poems each. In technology class we have used Keynote to illuminate these poems. For example, if my poem states, “The rain falls down on me,” I could make the word rain fall down on the page as I read the poem. The goal is to make their words move in a way that portrays the feeling of the poem. They should be proud of all of their hard work. These poems will be presented to their parents at the Fifth Grade Annual Poetry Coffeehouse soon.
Sixth Grade
The sixth graders have been working on a computer programming unit. They are using MIT’s Scratch program to create original games and animations. The projects are going well and are quite impressive with some including game levels, points, timers, and even choices for the characters to make. We will continue to work on these projects throughout the year. In January, we began a unit on Internet Smarts. The following topics will be covered in this unit: • Social Networking - Don’t Give Yourself Away • Digital Permanence: Forever is a Long Time • Cyberbullying: Not Just Name Calling • Misinformation: Truth or Spoof? • Fair Use: Beg, Borrow, or Steal? • Keeping Personal Information Private • Music Downloading: Paying the Piper
11
Non-Fiction 101
By Fifth Grade Teachers Laurie Finkenkeller and Kevin McGinnis
hen the fifth and sixth graders were told they would have the privilege of exploring the world through non-fiction, there were some initial groans, but that quickly changed. As it was revealed that they would become the catalysts for the unit, and that they would drive the content to whatever vault of knowledge they chose, the groans turned to exclamations of excitement. The possibilities of an entire world of knowledge laid themselves bare in front of the students, and they alighted with a desire to begin.
W
The task was purposely open-ended, yet familiar in nature. Each student was to choose several topics of interest they would want to research. The only limitations were those imposed by the amount of information possible to discover, and the amount of information required to satisfy a student’s interest. If a topic was seen as too obscure, the students were asked to pick a topic with information more readily available. Likewise, if a topic was found to lack substance, the students were advised to pick a topic with more depth. After topics were chosen, the students set off on individual quests to learn about space, history, technology, fashion or design, to cite a few examples. They were asked to read about their topic each night in place of their normal fiction based reading. From there, the goal was primarily to learn as much as they could. From this base, they began to focus on the true heart of the unit, the development of an unquenchable thirst for information that causes the creation and development of questions about their topic. They began to see that in the process of reading new information, they developed more questions that needed answering. Their mentors, rather than historians, scientists, or other professionals, became the young child whose incessant inquiries of “why,” leave parents exhausted by such profound curiosity. They learned that asking questions while reading non-fiction takes the reader on a path towards learning that truly speaks to their hearts. The product of the unit was a final presentation on what was learned. Similar to the unit itself, the presentation was left up to the creativity of each individual student. The only requirement was to keep it around five minutes. We saw Power Point presentations, posters, stop-motion videos, movie trailers, diagrams and demonstrations, often with a thoughtful snack to accompany the presentation. More importantly, we saw a true excitement about learning, about wanting to learn more and about sharing what was learned.
12
Mark Your Calendars for 2014-2015 et out the family calendar because the important dates for the 2014-2015 year are announced. These dates are now available on the school calendar in the parent portal of the website.
G
Wilson “Wall” of Fame s seen here in some of our most popular Facebook photos, Wilson students enjoy spending time with their friends and family. If you haven’t already, visit our Facebook page to get a daily glimpse of life at Wilson and share with your friends and family.
A
August 19: First Day of School August 28: Curriculum Night September 1: No School – Labor Day October 10: Parent Teacher Conferences November 7: No School – Professional Day November 26: Grandparents’ & Special Friends’ Day November 27-28: Thanksgiving Break December 12: No School – Progress Report Writing Day December 20 - January 4: Winter Break January 19: No School - MLK Day February 13: No School – Professional Day February 16: No School – Presidents’ Day March 13: Parent Teacher Conferences March 14-29: Spring Break May 25: No School - Memorial Day May 28: Last Day of School
In Memory We were saddened to learn about the passing of long-time Wilson friend, Ruthild Kronberg. Considered The Wilson School’s resident storyteller, Ruthild shared her wisdom and personal stories with our students. Ruthild was beloved by both children and adults in our community, and will be sincerely missed by all. 13
Calendar of Events
The Wilson Word Check the Wilson School website for more dates and details:
www.wilsonschool.com 14
Jan. 25
31st Annual Thistle Auction @ the Palladium
Jan. 27-31
Visiting Artist Maria Ojascastro
Feb. 3
100th Day of School of our 101st School Year
Feb. 5
4th, 5th, 6th Grade Book Club
Feb. 5-11
Candy Gram Sale
Feb. 14
Valentine’s Day Celebrations and Parent Coffee
Feb. 17
No School - Presidents’ Day
Feb. 18
Board Meeting
Feb. 19
Speaker Devorah Heitner
Feb. 26
Assembly - BBC
Feb. 28
Re-enrollment contracts due
Mar. 11
Board Meeting
Mar. 12
Assembly - BBC
Mar. 14
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Mar. 15 - 30
Spring Break
Mar. 31
School Resumes