Class of 2031: October 2019

Monday, October 28, 2019

Lower School Update - October 28, 2019

Halloween

Halloween will be celebrated on Friday, November 1. Just a reminder that the preprimary parade will start at 10:00 in front of the LS office and the afternoon parade will start at 2:30. All parents are asked to sit in the stands during the afternoon parade. Children will walk back to classrooms for their Halloween parties. Parents are welcome to join. Please remember that costumes should not be scary or violent-themed and students will change into costumes after lunch.

School Pictures

Ordering for school pictures will be a little different this year. This week, you will receive a link through email and you will be able to place an order online.

Intellectual Curiosity

The Lower School has had a great time focusing on intellectual curiosity for the last month. Students have been asking questions, conducting research and initiating their own learning about a variety of topics. If you’d like to continue to encourage intellectual curiosity at home, here is a list of books your young reader will love.

Eagle’s Nest

Each week during our Eagle’s Nest on Monday mornings, two classes are awarded the “Golden G.” Nominated by teachers, this class is chosen for exhibiting the Eagle Way around the school. This week, Ms. Julia’s class won for following the Eagle Way in the hallways and the classroom. The Green Club After School Activity won for showing curiosity and problem solving skills.

Upcoming Important Dates

October 28 to 30	Visiting Author - Peter Reynolds
October 29	8:30 am LS Parent Coffee: Visiting Author - Peter Reynolds (Innovation Studio)
November 1	Halloween Parade
November 7	Pre-primary Field trip to Jardim Botanico
November 9	PTA Thanksgiving
November 11 - 14	Kindness Week
November 15	Holiday - No School (Proclamação da Republica)
November 18	Holiday - No School (Observance Consiencia Negra)
November 19	LS Parent Coffee
November 26	LS Musical
November 28 & 29	No School - Thanksgiving

Around the Lower School

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Curriculum Update

Literacy- Students have been delving into nonfiction books, both how to write and read these books. During writing students have been focusing on teaching their readers all about a topic. To do this they have learned how to ask thick questions (questions you cannot answer with a yes or no or with a single word), and then how to answer those questions in their writing. During reading students have been learning to focus on every page (paying attention to both the words, pictures, labels and captions) as well as the words. They have also been focusing on rereading to build both understanding and fluency.

Math- Students are solving addition and subtraction stories with unknown addends (“mystery number”). They are writing number bonds, number sentences, statements, and using simple math drawings to explain the math story. Students are developing subtraction fluency within 10. They will be taking the end-of-unit test within the next few days.

Social Studies- Building on the learning students did during trimester one about classroom communities, now students are learning more about their school community. They are brainstorming ideas about how grown-ups help them at school. This new Social Studies unit will focus on various Community Helpers at Graded. The next step will be to plan and interview some of Graded's community helpers to learn more about their work and how they help the school.

Portuguese- Estamos começando a trabalhar com narrativas pessoais, tanto na oralidade, quanto na escrita. Além disso, iniciaremos o trabalho com cantigas e parlendas. Com elas, trabalharemos elementos da cultura, assim como a oralidade, a leitura, a escrita e a reflexão sobre a língua.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Lower School Update - October 21, 2019

Teacher Appreciation

It’s Teacher Appreciation Week at Graded! Please feel free to show your thanks to our awesome teachers with a handmade card or a “Thanks!”

Halloween

Halloween will be celebrated on Friday, November 1. For specific details, please refer to the email sent to all Lower School parents today.

Intellectual Curiosity

A great way to feed a hungry mind is to listen to podcasts. You might have your favorites but are your children listening to any? Here is a great podcast for curious kids to start with.

Eagle’s Nest

Each week during our Eagle’s Nest on Monday mornings, two classes are awarded the “Golden G.” Nominated by teachers, this class is chosen by exhibiting the Eagle Way around the school. This week, Ms. Kulikowsky and Ms. Takamura’s class won for following the Eagle Way in the hallways and the classroom with two teachers. Ms. Fernanda R’s class won for getting ready so promptly in the morning to go to class.

Donations

The Global Issues Network Club, run by high school students, is hosting a basic necessities drive this semester. The aim of this drive is to collect items like toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, soap or any other item which could potentially improve the hygiene for those less fortunate. The team has placed cardboard boxes throughout the whole school, including the hallways, near the office and in the student center so that depositing donations takes only a second. They will be accepting donations all throughout October and November and will package the donations for the upcoming holiday season. On behalf of GIN, we thank you for your participation; we can all make a difference.

News from the Library

We hope you can join us for this special opportunity with world-renowned author/illustrator, Peter H. Reynolds. In this interactive session, Peter will explore how families can promote creativity in their homes. There are limited spots, so please RSVP today! CLICK HERE TO RSVP. Livro Facil will have several of his most popular books for sale if you'd like to get autographed copies. His books have important messages and kids love them! The bookstore already has copies of Say Something, as well as the Portuguese translations of The Dot and The Word Collector. They also have English copies of The Dot, Going Places, and Ish. Get yours while they last!

Upcoming Important Dates

October 21 to 25	PTA - Teacher Appreciation Week
October 24 to 30	Visiting Author - Peter Reynolds
October 29	8:30 am LS Parent Coffee: Visiting Author - Peter Reynolds (Innovation Studio)
November 1	Halloween Parade
November 7	Pre-primary Field trip to Jardim Botanico
November 9	PTA Thanksgiving
November 11 - 14	Kindness Week
November 15	Holiday - No School (Proclamação da Republica)
November 18	Holiday - No School (Observance Consiencia Negra)
November 19	LS Parent Coffee
November 26	LS Musical
November 28 & 29	No School - Thanksgiving

Around the Lower School

Monday, October 14, 2019

Writing Celebration and More!

Before the Writing Celebration began, we had a private '1D Writing CEREMONY' complete with music, certificates, treats, and a giant pencil for all!