lower school news november 2014

Upcoming Events

12/10/2014

N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 4

12/12/2014

Grade 3 & 4 Parent Coffee in LSAR 8:15-‐9 AM

12/04/2014

On Friday, November 14, the Lower School took the morning to collaborate with other students and teachers in STEAM day. STEAM stands for: science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. The students broke out into different groups and met new friends, while working together on their STEAM project. They had to create a design brief and construct a bridge that spanned at least a foot and could hold the weight of a one-‐pound can.

Grade 2 Musical for Parents in the LSAR 8:30-‐9 AM

NO CLASSES for JK and K students. Admissions Discovery Day

The Gift Service for grades 1-‐4 will be held 9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. on December 19 at St. Stephen’s Church. This is a change from last year’s start time of 10 a.m. There is a service before St. Catherine’s; therefore, you will not be able to enter the church for seating until 9 a.m.

THE LOREM IPSUMS FALL 2016

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Lower School News November 2014

The Junior Kindergarten girls have been representing the human face...including their own...in multiple media. Among the media are natural materials, gourds (grown in the JK Outdoor Classroom) and pen.

November was a busy month for Kindergarten. They went to the Children’s Museum of Richmond where they learned about patterns and symmetry. The girls got a chance to also explore the museum! They started their unit on Thanksgiving and prepared for the Thanksgiving Harvest Celebration with St. Christopher’s. With their St.

Christopher’s partners, they ate a snack and played Native American games. They are getting excited for their

Holiday Workshop in December.


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A scientist asks questions, notices details, draws or paints what she sees, writes about what happens and has fun! These are just a few of the things a scientist does. In first grade, the girls are budding scientists, investigating the changing seasons and completing the study of leaves. They have read When Autumn Comes, A Tree for All Seasons, and Why Do Leaves Change Color? After reading these books, they went on a leaf walk collecting as many different types of leaves as they could find. Next, the girls identified the leaves found and identified the type of tree from which each leaf came. We used microscopes to take a closer in-‐ depth look at each one, observed each piece and identified what each part does. Finally, the girls painted pictures of the leaves they found.

November has been a busy month for the girls in second grade. The girls completed their study of the history of Richmond, viewed a delightful production of Charlotte’s Web at Theater IV, visited the wetlands at Maymont, where they learned about watersheds, and met their St. Christopher Pen Pals.

There is a lot of writing happening in second grade. Here is Prater with her Thanksgiving story, which is longer than she is!


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The third grade learned more about colonial times by visiting Thomas Jefferson's plantation.

The Fourthies are working hard and having fun! They are exploring the decades using their History4Fourthies site. The login to this website is on each teacher’s class blog. They are working on attaining mastery of their multiplication facts with various tools. Please encourage your daughter to practice, practice those facts! The Fourthies displayed their leadership skills on our Lower School wide STEAM day. They worked well with their first grade friends to design and create their bridges.


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The girls are finishing Dia de Los Muertos inspired art and beginning paintings inspired by nature and the fall season!

Mrs. Ivens’ first grade music classes enjoyed using the xylophones, glockenspiels and metallophones to accompany themselves singing “King of the Wild Things”. The classes then read the story Where the Wild Things Are and sang/played their song.

The second grade is rehearsing songs in preparation for their upcoming performances of Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite"... Overture, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Waltz of the Flowers.


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Both of our 4th/5th grade Lego robotics team, World Class Saints and Super Smart Saints, will compete in the VA/DC FIRST Lego League Champion's Tournament at James Madison University on December 6 and 7, 2014. Super Smart Saints scored the second highest score on the obstacle table and won the second place Robot Performance Award in Division 1. They also won the first place Champion's Award in Division 1 for best overall team. World Class Saints scored the third highest score on the obstacle table and won the second place Champion’s Award in Division 1.

November 26-‐Dec 1, 2014 Thanksgiving Break

December 2, 2014 Classes Resume

December 4, 2014 Grade 3 and 4 Parent Coffee 8:15-‐9 AM in the LSAR

December 10, 2014 Grade 2 Musical for Parents 8:30-‐9 AM in the LSAR

December 12, 2014 No School for JK and Kindergarten -‐ Admissions Discovery Day Program

December 15, 2014 Fall After-‐school Enrichment Ends

December 18, 2014 JK and Kindergarten Christmas Service, 9:30-‐10 AM in Bannard Chapel – Dismissal after service

December 19, 2014 Gift Service for Grades 1-‐4, 9:30-‐10:15 AM at St. Stephen’s Church – Dismissal after service in the Lower School classrooms

December 22, 2014 -‐ Christmas Break – No School

January 4, 2014

January 5, 2014 Classes Resume

LOWER SCHOOL NEWS NOVEMBER 2014

Research tells us that girls learn best in a socially interactive way. They like conversation, face-‐to-‐face contact and collaboration. Our days are designed to provide girls with many opportunities for collaboration in meaningful ways. Collaboration can take place within a classroom, across grade levels or across divisions. Our recent STEAM Day was a wonderful example of social interactive learning at its finest. Girls were working across grade levels to listen and discuss ideas and then work together to devise a plan and construct a bridge. Many of our younger girls surprised their older “sisters” with their ideas and solutions to some problems that they encountered as they built their bridges. Working together makes learning more enjoyable, effective and productive for many girls.

Happy Thanksgiving to all !

lower school news november 2014

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