As always, Upper Elementary students have been busy. However, as Thanksgiving, Winter break, and the end of the second quarter approach, introductions to new lessons have slowed somewhat. During the work cycle, students continue to work on their individual paths in math, language, and reading and will take math and reading assessments. Students have finished their Book Club books and enjoyed discussing their favorite scenes.
Before the Thanksgiving break, students enjoyed a wonderful lunch with middle school students. Chef Ken prepared a delicious Thanksgiving meal for those who ordered school lunches, making it a great opportunity to share a community meal together. Upper students also had the opportunity to create beautiful, fresh flower arrangements. Thanks to Upper mom, Ms. Vinita, students were able to bring their arrangements home in time to display for Thanksgiving.
Reminders:
Vocabulary unit 9 is due on Monday, 12/9, and the test is on Friday, 12/13. That’s all for 2024!
Book Club book reports are due on 12/19.
The Upper Elementary Feast is on Wednesday, 12/18. Don’t order or pack a lunch on this day. An email will be coming from our room parent to coordinate
The Winter Concert is on 12/17—information in an email from Ms. Janelle.
Friday, 12/20, is a 1:00 dismissal, no aftercare.
It will be a pajamas, board games, and movie day. Lunch is normal.
For Upper, October was a busy month, so students have enjoyed returning to the regular routine. In language arts, students have had lessons on sentence-by-purpose, active and linking verbs, sentence diagramming, sentence-by-structure, and paragraph essay structure. In math, students have received lessons on lines forming regions, decimal place values, test tube division, and parts of an angle. Prior lessons allow students to continue working independently on the skill set until they are ready for a lesson at the next level. Students have shown a recent interest in the pin maps. There is a control map that students use to identify the countries of a continent by marking it with a label pin. Maria Montessori’s philosophy was to follow the child, and since there was a lot of interest in pin maps, the cultural class shifted focus to maps. Students discussed latitude, longitude, the International Date Line, the Prime Meridian, and other notable global features. In science class, students have been exploring the periodic table of elements, how the table is organized, what the information for individual elements refers to, and how to find a specific element.
Reminders:
School is closed the week of Thanksgiving.
The Winter Concert is on Tuesday, December 17th at 7:00 PM. Ms. Janelle will email details for the evening.
Our 3rd Annual Holiday and Cultural Feast is scheduled for Wednesday, December 18th. Do not order a school lunch for this day. More details will be sent at the beginning of December.
December 20th is a 1:00 PM dismissal and no aftercare. We will have a game, movie, and snacks day with a regular lunch.
The end of October has been a busy time for Upper Elementary! Students wrapped up organizing their portfolios for their parent conferences. As they led their conferences, students proudly showcased their best work to present to their parents. Students discussed highlights of their first quarter, areas where improvements are needed, and goals they set for themselves. It was great watching students learn to self-reflect on their academics and take ownership of their academic path for the second quarter.
Thanks to our supportive community, the Fall Festival was a big hit, and the PTO exceeded its fundraising goal! Thank you to all of our sponsors for your support! Upper Elementary’s Gru pumpkin won the popular vote and will receive a donut reward from the PTO.
Following the festival, on Monday morning, Upper students canvased the field and festival area, picking up leftover litter. While upper students were picking up trash, Mr. Dana asked them to pick up pine cones that inhibit walking to the field and playing on the playground. Students voted to give up their recess time to fulfill Mr. Dana’s request. Maria Montessori believed that children taught to care for their environment, inside and outside, would develop into more socially aware adults. You will occasionally see a random picture in a blog post of students sweeping an accidental mess, helping another student pick up a mess, tending to their daily classroom jobs, or other similar tasks. This is how Montessori instills care for the environment so that students care for it, even when no one else is looking or telling them to care for their mess.
The Fall drama production They Eat Sunshine, Not Zebra’s was a fabulous performance. Upper students worked on stage and off to perform a fantastic performance for students, staff, and their families and friends. Thank you to Ms. Peyton for her work directing the show, as well as Mr. Dana and all the parents who volunteered countless hours to make the wheels continue to turn smoothly for our drama department.
Bruno hosted its first Spirit Celebration following the dress rehearsal. The student body and our Bruno Bear celebrated students from different extracurricular and academic teams, such as soccer, basketball, volleyball, the JBMA Today crew, VEX Robotics, choir, student ambassadors, and cheerleaders. The VEX Robotics team, comprised of all Upper students, has excelled at their tournaments, placing 1st and 2nd, which earned them an invitation to The US Open in Omaha, Nebraska, in March! Go Bruno Bears!
October ended with Halloween fun! The day began with a parade around the track so parents and students could see everyone’s costumes. Thank you to the parents who could attend and support our community! The rest of the day was spent playing board games and enjoying friendships while Ms. Lucy kept an eye on her mischievous Minions and Mr. Gru to ensure no one stole the moon on Halloween. On Friday, November 1st, it was back to business as usual!
As we move into November, our daily routines will return to normal. We will not have a Thanksgiving celebration or feast but will instead have our Third Annual Holiday Feast in late December, which is a big event. We use this time for fellowship and encourage families to send dishes that reflect their culture or traditions. It has historically been one of the most enjoyable days for students and educators. More information will come regarding the Holiday Feast in December, but there will not be any Thanksgiving celebrations.
Reminders:
There is no vocabulary due this week, November 4th.
There is a unit review test on Friday, November 8th.
Unit 7 is due on Tuesday, November 12th.
There is no school on Monday, November 11th, in observance of Veteran’s Day.
There is also no school for Thanksgiving break from November 25th to the 29th.
Students return to school on Monday, December 2nd.
Students in Upper Elementary continue to work on their portfolios to present during their parent conference. They’re searching for their best work, writing up a summary of the work, summarizing their first nine weeks of school, and their goals for the next nine weeks. In between portfolio work, students continue working on their curriculum path for their work plans. Since this is a time of transition between quarters, there have been fewer group lessons, but individual lessons and assistance continue to be given, as always. They also worked on their PTO pumpkin, which will be displayed during the Fall Festival. Look for Gru from Despicable Me!
The Book Club dioramas and book reports turned out great! Thank you for helping your child turn projects in on time. The 5th-year history class also turned in their annual Native American diorama. Students each chose a Native American tribe, researched the tribe, created a diorama depicting their daily life, and gave a short presentation about their tribe to their class. The 6th-year history class has been studying the Gilded Age, particularly muckrakers. Muckrakers are investigative journalists who expose social issues, such as child labor, dangerous working conditions, women’s suffrage, and unsanitary conditions in food processing plants. Students each chose a muckraker of the time and wrote a persuasive newspaper article exposing the social issue and urging the public to take action. In Science class, students have moved past chemical properties and will move on to atoms and the periodic table of elements. Once the unit is wrapped up, students will finish the quarter with labs and experiments to apply their knowledge.
The STEM Lab received fantastic new equipment—a 3D printer! Students will learn how to design a 3D object and have their pieces printed. To help pay for the printer and fundraise for future STEM equipment, 3D-printed items will be available to purchase at the Fall Festival. Items will also be available at the Middle School’s Holiday Store, and eventually, individual and customized orders can be placed through the STEM Lab.
Reminders:
Vocabulary unit 6 is due Monday, 10/20, and the test will be on Friday, 10/25.
Vocabulary unit 7 will be due Monday, 10/28.
We have early dismissals at 1:00 this Thursday and Friday for conferences. There is no aftercareon either day.
The fall play They Eat Sunshine, not Zebras, is Friday, 10/25, at 6:00 PM.
The Halloween Parade will be on October 31st, located on the track. Families are welcome to attend.
There are many, many other things going on at Bruno. Please be sure to read Ms. Susan’s and Ms. Melanie’s emails to keep up with important dates.
The work cycle this week was different from our regular routine. One of the new themes of focus in Upper this year is “student-led.” Students are learning to take more ownership and responsibility for their academic work, and through that, they will be leading their own parent conferences. Students began assembling their personal portfolios to use as a guide for conferences. They reviewed the work they completed during the first quarter, chose work they thought was exceptional, and then completed a rubric for the content areas (language, math, culture, etc.), explaining more about the particular job and why they chose it for their portfolio. Students will also write a narrative on their first nine weeks of school and highlight events that were of importance to them. Students take the time to carefully select work they can proudly show off when they lead their parent conference.
While working on their portfolios, students also worked on some of their regular work cycle jobs. They have become familiar with the routine and how the curriculum flows, so they can pick up and continue their work independently. Students will continue preparing their portfolios and independently working on their work plans through the end of the first quarter.
Reminders:
Vocabulary unit 5 is due Monday, 10/7
The test will be on Friday, October 18th
No school Friday, October 11th, and Monday, October 14th
We felt a slight shift in the weather this week, which is suitable for the first week of Fall. A little rain kept us inside, but students could mostly enjoy the Fall temperatures on the playground.
In the classroom this week, the fourth-year students explored the Decanomial Square, a mathematical representation of the multiplication facts from 1-10. This allowed them to explore the communicative property and square numbers. The lesson also demonstrated cubes pointing back to some of the earliest lessons in Primary, with the Pink Tower, an iconic symbol of Montessori. Another Primary staple students used this week was the mental inset shapes. In Primary, they help prepare students for handwriting, as there is a particular process for using them. In Upper, students used them to create geometric art, pairing various colors and shapes in different order positions. These materials demonstrate how Montessori materials accompany children from Primary through the Upper grades while meeting their developmental and academic needs through both stages of childhood.
Reminders:
Vocabulary Unit 4 is due Monday, and the test will be on Friday.
A sign-up list was emailed for student-led parent conferences on October 24th and 25th.
This past week, Ms. Susan sent an email with upcoming important dates.
September 21st is the International Day of Peace, and each year, Bruno students celebrate with a Peace Ceremony. Sixth-year students were tasked with brainstorming for Upper’s part of the Ceremony, and they came up with “Our hands are for peace.” Students learned the lyrics to a song and the American Sign Language (ASL) to accompany it. Upper students performed beautifully as they sang and signed ASL for our whole Bruno community. Following the ceremony, a few Upper students assisted the Toddlers back to the other side of the campus. Each age group was thrilled to be together, and that is just the beginning of bringing back cross-division collaboration at Bruno. Collaborating activities with other divisions was once routine, but due to COVID-19, many of those traditions have been put on hold. Stay tuned for more community collaboration!
While students had their normal work cycle and some lessons, the annual Upper Geography Bee: The European Continent Edition, was the prominent academic event of the week. Students worked through elimination rounds as the week progressed. Friday was the finals, and while it was a close finish, there was a 5th-year winner and a 6th-year runner-up. The Geography Bee will move on as students study the continents of Asia and Africa.
Reminders:
Units 1-3 vocabulary review test will be on Friday, 9/27
Vocabulary unit 4 will be due Monday, September 30th
No school on 10/11 to 10/14 for Fall Break
The annual Fall Festival is October 20th
T-shirt orders and Sponsor sign-ups were emailed last week
Early dismissal at 1:00 PM on October 24th and 25th for Parent conferences. No aftercare.
The Fall drama performance is Friday, October 25th at 6:00 PM.
A hint of a change in color of the leaves.Students have been slowly working on this puzzle since around Spring break. This past week, the puzzle was finally completed!
Students started the week with Picture Day outside. Upper students were lucky to have pictures taken before the weather turned to storms and rain later in the week. In the classroom, students continued working and having lessons during the work cycle. In language, students received lessons on sentence analysis with adjectives and transitional and intransitive verbs. In math, students received lessons on types of lines, prime factors and multiples, and square roots. Students continued reading and discussing their books during the Book Club meetings. Their assigned chapters should be read by each Thursday.
Reminders:
Vocabulary review units 1-3 are due Monday, 9/16
The review unit test will be on Friday, 9/27
There is a PTO meeting on Monday, 9/16, at 5:30 PM
Our first Peace Ceremony of the year is Friday, 9/20, at 9:00 AM in the gym.
Parents and families are welcome to attend.
The PTO’s Movie Night is on Friday, 9/20, at 5:30 PM.
No school on 10/11 to 10/14 for Fall Break
The annual Fall Festival is October 20th
T-shirt orders and Sponsor sign-ups were emailed last week
Early dismissal at 1:00 PM on October 24th and 25th for Parent conferences. No aftercare.
The Fall drama performance is Friday, October 25th at 6:00 PM
It was a short week of school, but Upper students were hard at work. Some of the pictures below were taken during the work cycle, where you can see students wokring on binomials, hands-on-equations, checkerboard multiplication, writing, grammar practice, symbolizing paragraphs, among other work. Scroll down to the next section to read more about other parts of the week.
Reminders:
Picture Day is Monday!
Make-up day is Friday.
Vocabulary unit 3 is due Monday and the test is Friday.
Students must have their Book Club chapters read by Thursday; 6th-year by Wednesday
Friday, September 20th
Peace Ceremony for toddlers through middle school in the gym
PTO Movie Night at 6:00 PM
Students finished their cave art activity in cultural class last week.
In science class, students explored the states of matter, which was the perfect opening for introducing geology lessons. Students replicated the positions of atoms in solid, liquid, and gas states in the field. The lesson moved inside for a lesson on convection, observing how ice water (blue food color drops) versus hot water (red food color drops) has an effect on room temperature water (clear water). Students observed how the hot and cold water slowly moved to different spaces and how it links to the states of matter, water cycle, ocean currents, plate tectonics, and many other areas of science.
SolidLiquidGasGas
In a Montessori community, children are encouraged to spend time outside, exploring their own curiosities and engaging in free play. Students also care for their own environment, making sure the materials are clean and in the correct place and working together to keep the overall classroom environment tidy. Montessori students also engage in student-led community meetings. During this time, students discuss any community problems or observations, discuss how they can be addressed, and then, if necessary, vote on a solution. Students also use this time to affirm one another positively.
This week, students had a group social lesson in disguise. They were each secretly given a card from a deck of cards and told if they have a black card they are a villager and if it’s a red card they’re a witch. The objective is to have the largest group without a witch and for the witch to have the most villagers in their group. In the end, no one had a red card. Students discussed how it felt to be accused or not accepted into a village because of suspicion alone. These feelings were compared to our classroom community; how to include rather than exclude, especilly in a small classroom community.
Upper Elementary students have closed out the month of August! They will begin September after a long weekend to refresh, which means a short week in school. Students continue to have new lessons and refresher math and language arts lessons. Some of the math work students did this week included different levels of fractions and hands-on equations. Students also received lessons in geometry, such as the area of a rectangle and triangle and points to solids. In language arts, students received lessons in advanced grammar symbols, types of nouns, and types of adjectives.
History classes are moving along. The 6th-year students are studying the economic boost of the progressive era, the factors that led to a large immigration flux, and how it led to an economic downturn. The 5th-year students are studying migration from Asia to North America, but the landbrige. Students in 4th-year history study Alabama’s regions, the geography of each, and notable physical formations in that region. In culture studies, students have been discussing cave art. This week, they created art using symbols they learned about while studying ancient cultures. Science class is wrapping up the three states of matter and moving into the properties of matter.
Reminders:
Vocabulary unit 2 is due Tuesday, and the test will be on Friday, September 6th.
Vocabulary Unit 3 will be due on Monday, September 9th.
Chapters for the Book Club must be read by Thursday.
Picture Day for Upper is scheduled for Monday, September 9th.
Sibling photos are also Monday, 9/9.
Make-up pictures are scheduled for Friday, September 13th.
Play rehearsal starts on Tuesday, September 3rd.
See Ms. Peyton’s email with your child’s rehearsal schedule.
Order lunches by Tuesday.
A glimpse of some Specials classes: Library, STEM, Art, and Music.
It was hot this week, but students didn’t seem to care.
If you’re not following Bruno’s social media pages, you’re missing out on more great pictures of your child. Here are some pictures of Upper students in recent Facebook and Instagram posts. If you’re not following Bruno’s social media, make sure you do!
Upper students were busy this week! Students were introduced to their work plan, which is different from last year’s format. The focus of this year is “student-led”; therefore, students will have more of an opportunity to build their own work plan while still completing the necessary core academic work. We started our work cycles with our new work plans, and there were many lessons and refresher lessons given so students had direction to move forward with their work. The veteran upper students supported new and rising lower students, just as Maria Montessori intended when she created three-year work cycles. Watching the rising lower students navigate the classroom and find familiar material, which they excitedly brought to their workspace, was beautiful. Students will take off on their academic path as we continue to get into the groove of our revamped work cycle routine.
This week, students were introduced to their Book Club group, led or co-led by 6th-year students. The groups voted on a book to start with. Then, the 6th-year students had to plan and map out their chapter reading pace and develop discussion questions and prompts for when their group meets again on Thursday. Students received many new and refresher lessons this week. Some lessons were on grammar symbols, parts of speech, sentence analysis, equivalent fractions, fractions with different denominators, and checkerboard multiplication, among other lessons. In other areas, students received presentations on the Great Montessori lessons, the timeline of numbers, the timeline of time, introductions to their History classes, and the chemistry unit in Science.
Students greatly enjoy attending their special classes. Mr. Brendan has the students writing class in the library and assists them in checking out books during their library time. Ms. Lisa and Ms. Janell welcomed students back to the Arts Building. Coach D has had the student inside and outside, actively moving based on the heat. Mr. Zech has students in STEM learning to code mini-bots, and he has big ideas for the future. Ms. Lana has introduced the basics of Spanish to students and will continue to support building their fluency. Students have not yet had Ms. Peyton’s class, but they will begin her drama class this coming week. Speaking of this coming week, here are some reminders:
Flyers, forms, and emails have gone home for art lessons, tennis lessons, information for the Fall play tryouts, Robotics team, and JUNA (6th year only)
Students have been given their Google account name and password to set up access to the Drama Google classroom.
Tryouts for the fall production and other important information are posted on Google Classroom (the code for all of the play production information in one classroom/place is RVXQ3KD).
Students received their IXL username and password to work on their math fact fluency in the evening. Help your child log in to their Google account (best on a Google/Chrome browser), go to IXL.com, and their information will automatically be saved for them to log in (only if they are in their Google account on the browser).
Return the clear folder on Monday, including any activity forms, especially the signed copy of the student handbook acknowledgment. Just tear off the back page, sign, and send it.
We are so excited for a new school year in Upper Elementary! Student located their lockers, unpacked their new supplies, and were excited to explore the classroom for a new year! Returning students warmly greeted and assisted rising Lower and new students to become acquainted with the layout, procedures, and how to navigate Bruno. We had many group activities, went on a nature walk, played on the playground, and read the first three books of the Montessori Great Lessons, among other things. Students attended Specials classes this week, such as Physical Education, STEM, Art, and Music! In the next two weeks, students will be able to attend their other Specials classes.
We are looking forward to our first full week of school!
Reminders:
Bring in any remaining supplies, including non-marking shoes for PE.
Sign and return the last page of the student handbook.
The Home/School communication folder goes home on Friday, so be sure it’s returned on Monday.
The 2023-2024 school year has come to an end. This year had many highlights for upper students. New additions included JUNA, Robotics, STEM Lab, and Mr. Brendan. Upper students excelled in The Hunt for Milo Gato, The Lion King, The Living Wax Museum, the Art Show, and the Winter and Spring Concerts. The class went on field trips to The Birmingham Children’s Theater to see The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe and Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money. Students also attended the Birmingham Squadron game and the annual trip to Camp McDowell. While this is not an exhaustive list of the experiences Upper students had this year, they made the most of each experience. Many class activities and projects outside the work cycle promoted curiosity and knowledge retention through hands-on learning and self-exploration.
Our days remained busy during our final few weeks in Upper Elementary. Mr. Joel (a former Upper parent) returned to our class after a STEAM DAY presentation on User Experience. He challenged students to find a design error in something and decide what they would do to improve the design. Students identified design errors and proposed thoughtful solutions to improve the design.
As the last day approached, academics wrapped up in Cultural, Geography, Science, Writing, and our work cycle. Students cleaned their cubbies and lockers and packed up their belongings to take home for the summer.
Scroll down for more events…
Promotion Ceremony
We started a new tradition this year by organizing a promotion ceremony for our rising middle school students. The week before the ceremony, 6th-grade students wrote reflections on their time in Upper Elementary and shared fond memories. Some students gave speeches expressing heartfelt moments, friendships, feelings of acceptance, memories from Camp McDowell, and their favorite experiences with different educators. The speeches were well-written and thoughtful. Upper educators also addressed the group, highlighting what made their class unique to each educator.
Along with the new tradition of a promotion ceremony, rising middle school students were each given a Certificate of Superlative. Upper educators convened to determine the most fitting superlative for each student. In no particular order, the superlatives included:
Most likely to be a Primatologist.
Most likely to do something amazing, and never tell anyone about it.
Most likely to play the piano at Carnegie Hall.
Most likely to run a wildlife refuge.
Most likely to win a landmark Supreme Court case.
Most likely to be the next real estate mogul.
Most likely to design the first jet for Mars.
Most likely to play in the Masters.
Most likely to work on Broadway.
Most likely to use their fame for positive change.
Most likely to have a cartoon in the New York Times.
Most likely to be a History professor.
Most likely to have a piece displayed in an Art Museum.
Most likely to be the next Sam Raimi.
Most likely to read every book in the Library.
Most likely to be the best sculptor (like no one ever was).
Field Day
This year’s Field Day theme was “The Olympics.” Students from Lower through Middle school enjoyed participating in mixed groups. Each group chose a country and created a flag to represent their team. The variety of water games was the highlight of Field Day. Thank you to all the volunteers and the PTO for providing the snow cones! A new tradition added to the end of Field Day was the Volleyball Team challenging the staff to a game. Despite the staff’s best efforts, the Bruno Volleyball Team’s youthful skills led them to victory. (Pictures on Facebook and Instagram).
American Heart Society Fundraiser
One of our Upper Elementary students raised the most money for the AHS fundraiser. Their prize was throwing a pie in Coach’s face. Thank you for all the donations to the AHS and to Coach for being a good sport for a good cause!
The Last Day of the 2023-2024 School Year
Thank you to the Upper students and families for an amazing school year.
The last few weeks of a school year are always a blur. Not long ago, there was the Living Wax Museum, Camp McDowell, and SAT testing. Everyone can feel that the last week of school is close.
This week was no exception in keeping students busy with activities outside our normal daily schedule. Students practiced for the Spring Concert and put on an amazing performance for the audience. Setting a beautiful scenery for the Concert was their highlighted artwork for the year. Each student’s individual creativity made a unique presentation for the Art Show. Thank you to Ms. Janelle, Ms. Lisa, Mr. Dana, and Mr. Greg for your time and effort to make the Concert and Art Show successful!
We ended this past week with the second annual STEAM Day. Parents, family members, and friends gave our students great presentations about their careers and how STEAM is used in their fields. Thank you to Ms. Melanie and Ms. Jessica for coordinating the event. Thank you to all presenters for taking time away from your day and creating presentations that students greatly enjoyed. We are already looking forward to next year’s STEAM Day!
Students from Upper Elementary traveled to the Bankhead National Forest for three days. While at Camp McDowell, they received many lessons from the environmental center staff, both indoors and outdoors. They explored wildlife, stream habitats, hiking, and rock wall climbing. This year was no exception—one of the best highlights of the school year!
Camp McDowell
Meanwhile, Back At Bruno
Students who did not attend the Camp McDowell trip could explore the pond on our campus. A new bridge by the pond was built as an Eagle Scout project by one of Bruno’s alumni (with the assistance of Mr. Dana). Adding a new bridge is another great step in restoring the pond area.
Upper students have been very busy lately! On April 8th, we took advantage of a rare opportunity to observe an 86% solar eclipse. Fortunately, the eclipse occurred during Science class, so students reviewed information from the astronomy unit and made and recorded several observations throughout the afternoon. Students could observe the 86% eclipse despite the impending clouds and rain. Afterward, students shared their observations, such as the change in darkness/lack of sunlight, the temperature dropping, and a cool breeze forming. Thank you to Dr. Samal’s family for donating the solar glasses to Upper.
Students have been researching an individual who has contributed to our world, whether an inventor, scientist, or creative individual. The students wrote biographies about their individuals and dressed up as them for the Living Wax Museum. Students gave thoughtful presentations highlighting their achievements. Thank you to Lower, Middle, teachers, parents, and family members who were able to visit and support the Living Wax Museum.
One of Bruno’s many amazing qualities is a diverse student population and community. Two of our Upper students gave the class a presentation on Ramadan. Ramadan is celebrated as the ninth month of the lunar calendar and the holiest month for the Muslim religion. During Ramadan, Muslims fast between sunrise and sunset, which includes no water. While fasting, their focus is self-discipline, spiritual reflection, kindness, and growing closer to Allah. The last day of Ramadan is Eid-Al-Fitr, the final day of feasting. After Eid, Muslims have a large feast with their families. Thank you to the students who presented to the class.
While many things were happening in the classroom, our Drama students also wrapped up their production of The Lion King. All of the cast and crew put on an amazing performance, with beautiful singing and authentic language. Ms. Rachel and Mr. Brendan worked hard to ensure this production was the crème de la crème! Thank you to them for their dedication and the many parents who volunteered their time!
This week was business as usual, which is a good thing! Students continue to work in our newly renovated classrooms during the morning work cycle while receiving lessons on the Promethean Board in Culteral, Geography, History, Science, and Writing. In Culteral class, students discussed myths and stories associated with eclipses throughout history, which is perfect for the eclipse that will take place on Monday, April 8th. Geography class used the Promethean Board to play a game about the U.S. States, which is the topic they have been discussing. In science, students learn about different types of waves associated with sound and light and other ways waves are useful for technology. In writing class, students learn to use the five W’s (who, what, where, why, and when) to write a news article.
As the end of the school year approaches, many exciting things are happening. Pay attention to the school calendar and emails so you can stay on top of important information.
Reminders:
Vocabulary unit 15 is due on Monday, and the test will be on Friday, 4/12
Early dismissal at 1:00 on Thursday and Friday, 4/11 and 4/12, for Parent Conferences. No aftercare.
The Lion King Spring production is Friday, 4/12
The Living Wax Museum will occur on Monday and Tuesday, 4/15 and 4/16.
Students in Upper Elementary have many opportunities to use materials outside of the work cycle. In a properly prepared environment, this allows students to be more engaged and retain more information. Montessori materials have a control error of design, meaning they enable self-correction. Self-correction allows students to develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Students are often encouraged to work in groups, while the educators model appropriate social and collaborative interactions.
Below are pictures of Upper students working with materials during Science and Geography. Students in Science are studying electricity and using materials to explore how electric circuits function. Students used the material to create a circuit allowing electric current to properly flow in a series or parallel circuit. They can further explore by adding a resistor or switch into the circuit. The control is the power source working (light bulb, buzzer, motor with fan). In Geography, students used the cubing material to create their topographic map. The Promethean Board was the perfect tool to show students examples of a topographic map and how one is constructed.
Just as in the case of the solid insets, the control of error over such exercises [geometry cabinet] is absolute. A particular figure cannot be put anywhere except within its own corresponding recessed plaque. A child therefore can carry the exercise out by himself and perfect his perception of various shapes. – Maria Montessori
…it is not imitation. This may be shown even in the way that the child uses the material: he becomes so attentive to what he is doing and so immersed in his work that he does not notice what is going on about him but continues to work, repeating the same exercise dozens of times over. This exemplifies that phenomena of concentration and the repetition of an exercise which is connected with a child’s inner development. No one can concentrate through imitation. – Maria Montessori
Students in a Montessori environment are encouraged to use their creativity. In 6th-year History, students presented information on a topic related to WWII. They used Google Slides, dioramas, presentation boards, written reports, constructed materials, or brought in family memorabilia to present their chosen topic. Students could showcase their creativity in how they presented their research.
The chief symptom of adolescence is a state of expectation, a tendency towards creative work and a need for the strengthening of self-confidence. – Maria Montessori
This week, Upper and Middle school students went on a field trip to the BJCC. They watched a Birmingham Squadron basketball game to celebrate Literacy Week with other schools in the greater Birmingham area. Though the Squadron lost, students still enjoyed the game!
Reminders:
Unit 14 vocabulary is due Monday, 3/18. The test will be on Friday, 3/22.
Report cards for the 3rd quarter will be posted in FACTS Thursday, 3/21
Watch your email later this week to sign up for parent conferences, April 10th-12th.
No school March 25th-29th for spring break
Early dismissal at 1:00 on April 11th and 12th for parent conferences. No aftercare.
This week was amazing. Students had the opportunity to visit the Scholastic Book Fair, where Bruno receives a portion of the sales for fundraising. Students were excited to browse new books and take home new adventures for their imaginations. Upper students returned to their normal work cycle, using both classrooms. Students enjoyed using new spaces to do their studies. We have new counters with stools, area rugs, new movable tables, and plenty of floor space. Out of the entire remodel, one of the most exciting things we received was a Promethean Board for each classroom. The boards were used for interactive lessons in history, culture, geography, and science during our work cycle and for games during transition times. We’re excited about the advanced learning opportunities the boards will bring to Upper!
Reminders:
Field trip forms and payment must be returned on Monday! The field trip is on Tuesday.
No vocabulary is due Monday, but the unit 13 test is on Friday, March 15th.
6th year history projects are due Thursday, March 14th.
No school for Spring break, March 25th to 29th.
Spring parent conferences are April 10th-12
A sign-up list will be emailed before Spring Break
There is a 1:00 dismissal on April 11th and 12th for parent conferences
No aftercare
The Lion King spring production is Friday, April 12th at 6:30
Another busy week and month has passed by in Upper. Last week, the students selected the materials they wanted to present for Parent’s Night and started practicing to give their lessons. They spent the week practicing by giving lessons to each other and educators. Students delivered excellent presentations and enjoyed teaching their lessons to a diverse audience, while families who attended got to see our newly renovated classrooms. Mr. Dana spent significant time and effort renovating our classrooms, paying attention to every minor detail, resulting in a stunning appearance. The final touches were added to our classrooms at the end of the week. The stools for our new work counters arrived, and Mr. Dana installed our Promethean Boards! Upper is the only division with a Promethean Board besides the STEM Lab, and we have two, one for each classroom. We immediately began using the boards to explore their features during Geography, History, and Science classes. Incorporating new technology in our classrooms will enhance student engagement and cater to different learning styles.
Reminders:
Send in donations for the Upper golf basket to be auctioned at the PTO Trivia Night
Vocabulary unit 13 is due Monday
The test will be on Friday, March 15th
The Book Fair is this week, March 4th-7th
MandatoryCamp McDowell meeting on Thursday, March 7th, at 3:15, for 4th-6th
The trip is April 17th-19th
No school on Friday, March 8th, for the AMS Convention
Field trip to see the Birmingham Squadron Basketball Team on Tuesday, March 12th
No school for Spring break, March 25th to 29th.
Spring parent conferences are April 10th-12
A sign-up list will be emailed before Spring Break
There is a 1:00 dismissal on April 11th and 12th for parent conferences
No aftercare
The Lion King spring production is Friday, April 12th at 6:30
It’s amazing how much can be accomplished in just four school days! On Tuesday, we returned to school to see our amazing new floors. On Wednesday, students spent time preparing and practicing for Parent’s Night, then had their Specials classes on Thursday. Friday, we had a field trip in the morning, and we’re back to lessons in both classrooms for the afternoon.
Reminders:
No vocabulary is due on Monday, but the review unit test is this Friday, March 1st
Parent’s Night is Tuesday, from 6:00 to 7:00 PM in the Upper building. You’re welcome to visit other divisions, too!
The Community Open House is Sunday, March 3rd, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM.
No school on Friday, March 8th, for the AMS Convention
New Floors!
While everyone was off for Presidents Day weekend, our new floors were installed and are beautiful! Mr. Dana, again, worked all weekend to keep our Upper makeover moving forward by putting the final touches in both classrooms.
When we returned to school on Tuesday, there was a massive task ahead (refer to last week’s pictures of all the furniture, bookshelves, and materials in the hallway). Educators and students assisted in cleaning the furniture and materials as they were placed back in the classrooms. Students ensured all the Montessori material was handled with care. In Montessori, this type of activity is called Caring for the Environment in Practical Life, and it looks different at each developmental stage. Including students in this process gives them a sense of pride and responsibility for their environment.
“The children love to do these things [practical life activities] for themselves and they learn to be careful and precise in their movements. This is both education of movement, because there is a refinement of muscular co-ordination when the work is carefully done, and education through movement, because these activities involve judgement and will, self-discipline, and an appreciation of orderliness.”
– Maria Montessori
Back to Work
Tuesday’s hard work gave us one fully functional classroom, which means on Wednesday, we could get back to work during the work cycle. Students chose the jobs they wanted to present on Parent’s Night and practiced giving presentations with the materials.
Parent’s Night is Tuesday evening, 6:00 to 7:00 in the Upper building. Make sure to come and see our beautifully redone classrooms and visit with students eager to present their favorite lessons.
By Friday, we got both classrooms set up and functional for lessons.
Field Trip
We ventured downtown to The Birmingham Children’s Theater on Friday morning to see Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money. The play is based on the book by Christopher Paul Curtis, the first African-American author to win the Newberry Medal. His first book, The Watsons Go to Birmingham, received the Coretta Scott King Honor Book Award and the Newbery Honor Book Award, in addition to numerous other awards.
This week, Upper had a fun time! In Geography, students hid stones on our campus last week. Students used the cartography skills they had learned to create a map of their stone and then traded maps with others to follow the map. In Literature Studies, students recently began their third group rotation of reading Holes, Maniac McGee, or The BFG. Ask your child which novel they’ve enjoyed most and why.
Midweek, we celebrated Valentine’s Day with a board game in the morning. Students enjoyed socializing with their friends while learning new games or having a chance to play an old one.
We ended the week much differently than any other week. Mr. Dana has been tirelessly updating our classrooms for weeks. He and a parent volunteer have been putting some finishing touches and adding surprises to both classrooms. This weekend, since it’s a three-day weekend, our old tile floor and carpets will be pulled up, and we will have a beautiful new laminate floor laid and ready for when we return to school on Tuesday. To work in such a tight timeframe, Mr. Dana, Mr. Zech, and Mr. Fox cleared both Upper classrooms of all furniture so the flooring work could start Friday afternoon. We ended Friday afternoon sitting in one of our empty rooms, fascinated with how large the room appeared. Students are looking forward to returning on Tuesday to see our new floors.
Reminders:
No schools Monday, 2/19, in observance of Presidents Day
No vocabulary is due, but the review unit test will be on Thursday
The field trip to The Birmingham Children’s Theater is Friday, 2/23. Return permission forms and payment ASAP
Play practice resumes this week
Join us for Parent’s Night on Tuesday, 2/27. It will be a great opportunity to see our updated classrooms completed.
Sunday, 3/3, Community Open House
Week of 3/4, Spring Book Fair
No school on Friday, 3/8, for the AMS convention
Saturday, 3/9, PTO Trivia Night and Dinner Fundraiser
This week, the Upper renovation continues. Mr. Dana has worked tirelessly to ensure our classrooms are beautifully redone by Parents Night on February 27th. A few new surprises are being added to our classrooms, but we can’t share that intel yet. While we’re all excited to have our rooms remodeled and the change in scenery, we will also be excited when we return to our normal routines and classrooms. Students and other educators have been flexible as we use other classrooms and areas for quiet places to have lessons or to do work.
In Culture, students have been researching notable individuals for their Living Wax Museum. Students are composing a list of the top individuals they find the most interesting and what their contribution was to society as a whole. We can’t wait until April to see how students use their strengths and individual styles to present their notable individual.
Up-Coming Reminders:
The vocabulary review unit is due Monday, 2/12
The review unit test will be the following Friday, 2/23
Monday, 2/12: PTO meeting and noplay practice
Valentines Day, Wednesday, 2/14: See weekly email for details
Monday, 2/19, no school in observance of President’s Day
Friday, 2/23, Upper field trip to The Birmingham Children’s Theatre.
Permission slips will be sent home later this week.
Parent Night, Tuesday, 2/27. Division times TBA.
Sunday, 3/3, Community Open House… Bring a friend!
Week of 3/4, Book Fair
No school Friday, 3/8, American Montessori Society (AMS) annual conference
Saturday, 3/9, PTO Trivia Night and Dinner Fundraiser
This week we switched classrooms with Mr. Dana, as our Upper renovation continues. One of our classrooms now has a fresh coat of new paint and other aesthetic improvements. Mr. Dana still has lots of work to do, but there is already a lot of visible improvement! Mr. Dana is still scheduled to have the new floors laid on Presidents Day weekend.
We wish Mr. Brendan safe travels as he and Ms. Rachel travel to a Theater Festival in Bequia, a small island in the St. Vincent and the Grenadine Islands. While there, they will share the magic of the theater with local low-income children on the island. We can’t wait to hear about their trip when they return!
In science, students explored electricity and the flow and build-up of electrons through producing static electricity. They learned about the transfer of electrons and how that leads to atoms having a + or – charge. Their knowledge was put into action as they rubbed balloons on their hair, causing static electricity in their hair and also causing the balloon to cling to the wall or ceiling.
We were able to spend extra time outside this week. After experiencing freezing temperatures recently, it was nice to enjoy recess and PE outside. Geography class was also able to enjoy the temperatures while sitting at the outdoor theater. Perhaps Punxsutawney Phil was right, and we will have an early Spring!
Reminders
Vocabulary unit 12 is due Monday, and the test will be on Friday, 2/9
The vocabulary review unit will be due on Monday, 2/12
PTO meeting Monday, 2/12
Valentine’s Day will be a board game and social work cycle. Lunch and the afternoon will be our normal schedule.
No school on Monday, 2/19, in observance of President’s Day
Friday, 2/23, Upper field trip to the Birmingham Children’s Theater
It’s difficult to believe we’ve made it this far into January before there was a full week of school, yet here we are! We continued to work together in one classroom, but on Friday, we were able to return to two classrooms during our work cycle! Mr. Dana has finished all he can on our one classroom, for now, so we were able to use it before he begins on our other classroom next week! Our classrooms will be fully completed on Presidents Day Weekend when our new laminate floor is laid.
The other big news this week came from our JUNA students. Led by Mr. Fox, our seven 6th-year representatives of Chile ventured to Oxford for a two-day event with our Middle school and other schools in Alabama. Team Chile had several achievements: passing the Committee with a counterweight argument, Outstanding Boy Delegate award to Zayden, and Honorable Mention award for Best Resolution to Chile. Our middle school teams also had some achievements too! Considering this was Bruno’s first year participating in JUNA, they did amazing! What makes Team Chiles’s achievement more special is that the founder of JUNA Alabama is our own, Ms. Susan! We are all so proud of the hard work team Chile put in and for being amazing delegates to represent Bruno!
Reminders:
Vocabulary unit 11 is due Monday, 1/29. The test will be on Friday, 2/2.
Vocabulary unit 12 will be due Monday, 2/5.
Monday, February 12th, PTO’s Trivia Night fundraiser at Jubilee Joe’s
Wednesday, 2/14, board game, games, and Valentine exchange during the work cycle.
Normal lunch and afternoon
No school Monday, 2/19, in observance of Presidents Day.
Friday, 2/23, Upper field trip to the Children’s Theater
Our first full week of 2024 turned out to not be a full week, due to a day off for a severe weather threat. Aside from the weather excitement, Upper students received some other exciting news: Our two classrooms are being renovated! Mr. Dana is actively working on our Language/History classroom, and when he’s finished, will redo our Math/Science classroom. He’s repairing, spackling, painting, among other labor intensive things. Both classrooms will be receiving new floors, along with some other new surprises. Projects like this, the STEM room, and other renovations would not be affordable without the talents and dedication of Mr. Dana. When you see him, let him know how much he’s appreciated! Since one room is being renovated, we are all working in the same classroom during the work cycle. Students have enjoyed working with different friends and the change from our normal routine. Students in Ms. Rachel’s gardening classes welcomed author Claire Datnow to speak about her experiences as a writer and, more specifically, her book, The Whale’s Lament, an Eco-Adventure. A few students volunteered to be part of a readers’ theatre portion where they read excepts from the book. Special thanks to Isla’s mom who helped arrange this event and who, along with Claire Datnow, donated several copies of The Whale’s Lament to Upper’s library.
Reminders:
No school on Monday, 1/15, in observance of Martin Luther King, JR.
Vocabulary Unit 10 is due Tuesday, 1/16
Progress reports will be distributed for the second quarter on 1/16
With 2024 starting, we’re about halfway through the school year- the second quarter ends next week! Educators returned Tuesday for a Professional Development Day. We welcomed students on Wednesday as they returned to start 2024.
The Upper schedule has changed to incorporate the addition of a STEM class and Technology class (4th year only). Library class has changed to check-in/out only. Because of the addition of STEM and Technology classes to Upper, Lower, and Middle, our Specials morning has changed from Wednesdays to Thursdays. On Thursday, students had the opportunity to attend their first STEM class in our new STEM Lab. Mr. Dana worked tirelessly to transform the conference room into our amazing new lab. Ms. Jessica has also worked hard to ensure everything was ordered and ready in the Lab, and she is also taking professional development courses for our STEM curriculum. If you want to see the new STEM Lab and learn more about the curriculum, please attend the Grand Opening. It was a short week, but students picked up where they left off during our work cycle. Next week we will be back to our (new) regular routine!
Reminders:
On Monday, we will introduce the next Vocabulary unit. It will be due next Tuesday, 1/16.
Monday is the end of the 2nd Quarter.
In their new format, Report Cards will be released Tuesday, 1/16.
The STEM Grand Opening and Open House is on Thursday, 1/11.
Visitors are welcomed 10:00-11:00 AM or 5:00-6:00 PM.
No School on Monday, 1/15, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.
It was our last week of 2023, and it was a memorable week. Students had their Winter Concert final rehearsal and performance. Everyone performed fantastically! We then had our Upper Second Annual Holiday Feast Day! We had an extended social morning and heard a story from a professional storyteller (yes, Mr. Zech is a professional storyteller), followed by an extended lunch for our feast. Ms. Susan and Ms. Rachel (our counselor) joined us, and other educators stopped by to visit as well. Thank you to all who sent in delicious food! This year was once again a success, and we look forward to continuing the tradition next year! We ended the week with a pajama, movie, and board game day. Some students chose to watch either The Grinch or The Polar Express, while other students enjoyed a variety of games or simply chatted with friends.
It was a wonderful week to end the 2023 portion of the school year! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! We will see everyone again in 2024!
Students in upper elementary are wrapping up different subjects and activities as the end of 2023 approaches. This week, they continued to practice for the Holiday Performance, had a visit from St. Nicholas, talked about family traditions for this time of the year, and are finishing up their last work plan for 2023! We have a busy week ahead, so please read the weekly email carefully so nothing is overlooked!
Reminders:
The Vocabulary review unit workbook pages are due Monday, December 11th. There will not be a test for this review unit!
The Holiday Program will be on Tuesday, December 12th, at 7:00 PM. Students arrive at 6:30 PM. Refer to Ms. Janell’s email for student performance attire.
The Upper Annual Holiday Feast will be on Thursday, December 14th. If you haven’t signed up for a dish, see the link in the weekly email.
Upper movie, board game, and pajama day on Friday, December 15th.
December 15th is a 1:00 PM dismissal, with no aftercare.
No school December 18th, 2023 to Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024
Students return on Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024
Work Cycle
Saint Nicholas
Ms. Carmen presented the German tradition of children leaving a shoe outside on the eve of December 6th so St. Nicholas could leave some treats. Upper students left a shoe in the hallway, and St. Nicholas left everyone a treat!
Other Fun Parts of Upper’s Week
During our morning meeting, students had the opportunity to share a dish that was special to their family. Some students had stories to go along with their dishes, and others were dishes that students thought were unique or a special treat for their families. See if you can guess which dish your child might have shared! (Also, some ideas for the Holiday Feast).
This week, students had a variety of activities and opportunities for learning. On Wednesday, the Altamont School Orchestra visited our school for a performance. In addition to their fantastic performance, they demonstrated that each instrument has its sound, and Bruno students had the opportunity to guess its name. Speaking of music and performances, students have also been practicing for perfection for the Holiday Performance with Ms. Janell’s guidance. Please encourage other members of your family and family friends to attend!
In the classroom, students are wrapping up a variety of topics in classes as we prepare for our Winter Break. Most new lessons will slow down until we return in 2024, but students are still expected to work hard during the work cycle.
Reminders:
Vocabulary unit 9 is due Monday, December 4th, and the test is on Friday, December 8th.
Vocabulary unit 10 will be due Monday, December 11th
Coffee Chat with Ms. Susan on Tuesday, December 5th
The Holiday Program will be on Tuesday, December 12th, at 7:00 PM. Students arrive at 6:30 PM.
The Upper Annual Holiday Feast will be on Thursday, December 14th.
Upper movie, board game, and pajama day on Friday, December 15th.
December 15th is a 1:00 PM dismissal, with no aftercare.
No school December 18th, 2023 to Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024
Students return on Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024
Work Cycle and Altamont Performance
Lesson on polygons and anglesDecimal boardStudents workingGrammar lessonGrammar workUpper novel readingDemonstrating the sounds of different instrumentsStudents wanting to guess the name of the instrumentAltamont School Orchestra
Outside and Inside Fun
Even though the weather took a frosty turn in the mornings, students were still able to enjoy warmer temperatures on the playground in the afternoons (in this case, warmer refers to above 40 degrees).
Football catchSoccer gameSwingingSwingingMore swingingHanging out Enjoying the fresh airBeing creative with natureFriends hanging outProblem solving for the football stuck in the treeFrosty morning on the way to SpecialsUpper races before practicing for the Holiday Performance
This week, students had extra time to work on their work plan. This allowed some students to work on their own paths and for others to catch up. Ms. Janell worked with Upper students to practice their Holiday performance in the gym, and they will continue leading up to their performance on December 12th. Students also voted for their new group leaders, who will manage their group jobs for the next month. This is an important position, as they need to assign each person a job, monitor that the job is being completed, and fill positions for absent students. Students interested in being the group leader give a short speech to the group before voting.
We hope you all have a fabulous Thanksgiving break and enjoy the time with your families. We look forward to seeing everyone on Monday, November 27th.
Reminders:
No vocabulary assignment is due over the break!
Vocabulary unit 9 will be due on Monday, December 4th
Coffee Chat with Ms. Susan on Tuesday, December 5th
The Holiday Program will be on Tuesday, December 12th, at 7:00 PM
During the week of December 11th, we will have our Holiday Feast and Holiday party.
Early dismissal is on Friday, December 15th, at 1:00 PM.No aftercare.
Winter break begins December 18th, 2023 and students return Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024
Work Cycle
Grammar lessonPractical Life, sewingVocabulary testStamp game divisionGrammar lessonHands-on equationRespect for the environment: cleaning their own mess, without guidance from an adultCultural lesson6th-Year History- WW1 lesson
Positive Discipline, Morning Meetings
Morning meeting discussionMorning meeting: students voting on suggestions to a community issue they brought upElecting new group leaders
A thank you from the Middle School for the food donations.
This week was packed with various fun activities and learning! On Monday and Friday, we had our regular work cycle. Of course, Tuesday was filled with lots of fun. We enjoyed seeing the whole school gather on the track for the parade, an event that had not happened for a long time. In our class, we enjoyed various board games, a movie, a special lunch, and time spent chatting with friends. Students enjoyed the break from our regular routine! On Thursday, we ventured downtown to The Children’s Theater to see Peter Pan. By coincidence, this was also the Spring play, so students could make many connections between the similarities and differences in the storyline, character traits, and artistic presentations of the set and props.
In Geography, students continued to build their marshmallow structures. After testing their small structure in a mock earthquake last week, students expanded their structures. They built their structures higher and broader, trying to keep the best earthquake design strategies in mind. In Science, students put their air-resistant designs to the test in hopes of slowing the effects of gravity to protect their eggs from cracking. The students had some great designs! Afterward, students discussed their design and what worked well or improvements that could have been made. Students in Cultural have been studying the Olmec civilization. They have been working on writing a tabloid article, using facts learned about the civilization to create an interesting fictional story.
Reminders:
Vocabulary unit 7 is due Monday, 11/6. The test will be this Thursday, 11/9
Vocabulary unit 8 will be due Monday, November 13th
Safeguarding Your Child with Social Media, presented by Shelby County COMPACT on Monday, 11/6
No school on Friday, November 10th, in observance of Veteran’s Day
Children’s Choir informational meeting, Tuesday, November 14th at 6:00 PM
No school November 20th-24th for Thanksgiving Break
The Holiday Program will be on Tuesday, December 12th, at 5:30 PM
Early dismissal on Friday, December 15th, at 1:00 PM.No aftercare.
Winter break begins December 18th, 2023 and students return Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024
Students were extra busy this week with lessons, class activities, and extracurriculars. In Geography, students have been studying plate tectonics and earthquakes. Students created structures out of toothpicks and marshmallows, and then the structures were tested on a mock earthquake simulation table. Students will reevaluate their designs, make necessary changes, and then test their new designs. Students in Science have been studying gravity, gravitational force, and resistance, and their relation to the solar system. To understand the effects of gravitational force and resistance, students are using ingenuity to protect an egg cracking from gravitational force using air resistance. Their designs will be put to the gravitational force test next week when they’re dropped with an egg inside.
Students in the drama club invited others to view their dress rehearsal of The Hunt for Milo Gatto. Their effort and hard work were demonstrated as they had an excellent dress rehearsal performance. Student performers also did amazingly at Friday evening’s main show. Thank you to Ms. Rachel, Mr. Brendan, and all of the parent volunteers for helping to make the show successful. Traditionally, more than half of Upper students are involved in the play somehow, so we always appreciate and recognize the hard work it takes for a successful show.
Reminders:
Permission slips and payment for our field trip to the Children’s Theater are due by Tuesday.
Permission slips to watch movies on Halloween are due by Tuesday.
The Halloween parade will be on Tuesday on the track, and parents are welcome to attend
Halloween is a board game and movie day.
The vocabulary review unit test is Friday, November 3rd
Vocabulary unit 7 is due Monday, November 6th
No school Friday, November 10th, in observance of Veteran’s Day
No school November 20th-24th for Thanksgiving break.
Information about our holiday feast coming soon.
Our Work Cycle
Fourth-year students received a lesson on triangles and angles. They learned how to identify the types of angles (acute, obtuse, and right). They then learned how to use a protractor to draw a triangle with specific angles.
Some fifth and sixth-year students were given a lesson on using our new, updated material hands-on equations. This material helps students work out the value of a variable in an equation.
All students had a group grammar lesson. They were shown how symbolizing a paragraph does not have to be an overwhelming job. In the lesson, students were shown how they could break down a paragraph and symbolize different parts of speech one at a time, which led to being able to quickly identify the parts of speech of other words.
Earthquakes and Structure Engineering
Gravitational Force and Resistance, Designing Process
The cloudy, misty weather on Sunday didn’t stop the PTO’s annual Fall Festival from being a success! Even though it was too chilly to dunk Mr. Fox and Mr. Zech, there were still many fun activities and delicious food to keep students and families happy and busy! If you did not have the opportunity to see our Upper scarecrow, The Lorax, pictures are below. We drew a random name for a student to take The Lorax home and use as a decoration for their home. Students did an amazing job of designing, cutting, sewing, stuffing, and putting the final details on the Lorax. Well done!
In 5th-year history, students presented their Native American dioramas to their class. Students chose a Native American tribe, researched the tribe, and presented the information and their diorama to their class. They did a fantastic job! Students in Geography are constructing structures that can withstand an earthquake, and in Science students are exploring the effects of gravity by experimenting with an egg.
Reminders
The Book Fair will be all next week
The vocabulary review unit is due on Monday, 10/23
The review unit test will be on Friday, 11/3
Early dismissal at 1:00 PM on Thursday and Friday, 10/26 and 10/27, for conferences
No aftercare
Friday, 10/27, The Hunt for Milo Gatto play, 6:30 PM
Tuesday, 10/31 Halloween parade, board game day, movie, and special lunch
Thursday, 11/2 field trip to the Children’s Theater
Friday, 11/10, No School in observance of Veterans Day
