June 10, 2010

Saying good-bye is extremely important for students, parents and teachers and I must admit, we do it well in the Lower School. As most of you remember, we did not have the chance to properly bring the school year to closure last year because the last day was cancelled due to the swine flu. But this year we did! We build our last week around a series of rituals and events that signify the ending of the school year and helping the students to realize they have just bumped up another grade level. On Monday students met their teachers for next year during “Jump Up Day.” Pet Day actually happened, although our Field Day ended up getting rained out about a half hour into the event. Today we had our Farewell Community Meeting where we publicly recognize those adults who will not be with us next year, and we “clapped” the fifth graders down the Lower School hallways and out the front door into the Middle School. You’ll have to ask your child for the details! We waved fir boughs so our fifth graders were surrounded with the scent of our very own Fir Grove they’ve come to love so well. And then of course there was the Yearbook signing.

Alas, it is summer, and we wish for you a safe and restful break! Thank-you for your support this year.

The fifth graders had their Portfolio Night on Tuesday and I found myself feeling inspired, proud and yes, a little weepy. The depth and honesty of the student reflections warmed my heart I’d like to share a
couple with you. This is what Beatrice said about her reading:

How  have I grown in reading this year? I am better at reading books that challenge me. Reading harder books has helped to enrich my vocabulary, from learning more descriptive words, and I have been able to include them in other areas of school. I have included more descriptive words in my pieces of writing. Also, a new genre I have tried this year is non-fiction. I really like reading about sports, the Olympics and monkeys. I have improved at understanding what I am reading from having the chance to read other non-fiction books in class such as Chew On This and What the World Eats. The last area of reading I’d like to discuss is books group discussions. I was a person who thought that my ideas weren’t very good. So, my solution was to not say them at all. And that’s what I did throughout two book groups. My evil plan worked until I realized that it might not hurt to share my thoughts during the discussions, and so I did. I now feel so much more confident with sharing my thoughts during discussions.

And Rubin wrote the following about his transition from the the Lower to the Middle School. (Would you have used the word “lackluster” in the fifth grade?!!)

I am very excited to go to middle school but I think I will miss lower school a ton. I think I am very ready for middle school and expect it to be a huge challenge with the work and especially the homework. I think I will be alright if I remember my planning skills over the summer and carry them to middle school.

Another thing that will help me next year is my attitude about learning. I think I have recently found pride in my work and discovered how fun and satisfying doing a great job can be. I think I will be fine with all the in-class work. I really hope I can take these skills home and apply them to my homework. If I am successful with this, which I believe I can, somewhat easily, achieve, I will be absolutely stellar!

I think next year I will really step up to the plate and take on all the responsibility of the middle school. I think going into the middle school will change me, in a good way, definitely for the best. I think it will make me more responsible and grown up which will make school easier. I will not complain about homework, I will do it. I will not argue with my peers, I will sort it out. Finally, I will not be a lackluster child, but a responsible child.

I am going to miss the lower school. I think I will never forget all the fun times. In first grade, all the big performances for the first time.

Please keep in mind that once students have selected a language for their third grade year, we ask that they stay with that language through grade five in order to build a foundation of listening, speaking, reading and writing. They are welcome to switch to another language in grade 6.

If we do not hear from you, your child will continue with the language s/he is currently studying. Thank-you!

2010-2011 Parent Calendar