A Note from Principal Tony Byers
We sent progress reports home at the end of January, and then I received my daughter’s progress report a couple days later. It was waiting for me on our kitchen counter when I got home after school. There’s no reason why I should have been nervous to read it. My daughter is 4 and still in nursery school. Her academic career has hardly begun. Moreover, as a developmental psychologist, former preschool and kindergarten teacher, and now as an elementary school principal, I have a good sense of how her academic and social development compares to her peers and where she could use support. For example, despite years of stressing the importance of a proper pencil grip prior to kindergarten, my daughter holds her pencil as if to strangle it. She loves to draw, and draws well with her odd grip, so I can’t bring myself to break her of the habit. With sincere regret, I’m planning to leave that to her frustrated kindergarten teacher. Read more >>

Friends of G&P Update 
Please mark your calendars for the 3rd Annual Trivia Night on March 10th – we welcome all students to play, with teams representing JK-2nd and 3rd-5th graders working to answer the questions posed by our MC, Principal Tony. There is no cost to join the fun. Money is being raised for this event by local businesses. If you know of a business that might be interested in sponsoring a team, please let us know!

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to our 2017-2018 Annual Appeal – we have raised $10,715 so far in direct donations and an additional $4,020 through fundraising events. Visit our website, www.friendsofgrahamandparks.com, for more information and to donate.

Since November, Friends of Graham & Parks has given a total of $1,851 to the G&P School. This money has been used to send the 4th graders to Lowell Mills, will help the 3rd graders walk the Freedom Trail, and will deliver the 1st grade students to the Moakley Courthouse, as well as used by teachers and staff for discretionary spending. These field trips are essential to Expeditionary Learning, so thanks again for your supports!

As always, Friends welcomes new members, new ideas, and feedback. We even welcome your stuff – as in the stuff you don’t need anymore. Set aside the books, games, clothes from spring cleaning and donate them to the G&P Rummage Sale in June. Our next meeting is Friday, March 2nd at 8:30AM - please join us!


                                      
December's Assembly:
G&P 1st Annual Kindness Day 
By Jodie Darnell, School Operations Manager

November's assembly was centered around one of our school values, "Showing Kindness." It was hosted by the JK/K classrooms, who declared December 19th as G&P's 1st Annual Kindness Day. The assembly began with a school-wide greeting, same as last month, but with a twist! Each grade greeted the grade above and below them in Haitian Creole (Bonjou!). Next, all four JK/K classrooms sang a song about kindness for the school community and then we all took turns sharing acts of kindness with the person sitting next to us. Finally, Melissa (JK/K teacher) read the morning message you see in the picture below but the assembly did not end when students filed out of the gym. Students and staff were given a heart-shaped sticky note and wrote an act of kindness they witnessed during the day. Each note was posted on the G&P's Kindness Tree in the school's front lobby.

The Graham & Parks Kindness Tree is blossoming in the foyer with all your acts of kindness. Check it out as you come in the front door. If you still want to add your act of kindness, it is okay to add it yourself to the tree.



In Our Classrooms 
All second grade classes have been having families come in to share immigration stories, traditions, and more! Photo: Room 106 making Manakish Zaatar from Palestine with Malik's dad.



G&P Spotlight: G&P Parents on the Community Engagement Team 
The Community Engagement Team is a multi-agency collaborative that reaches out to underserved Cambridge families and connects them to community events and resources, develops community leaders, and supports agencies in working with a diverse community. Three members of the Community Engagement Team are also G&P parents! Please keep your eyes out for these parents and the other CET workers at G&P events, they are incredible resources for the community! Learn more >>



Anatomy of an Expedition, Part 3 
By Kathy Greeley, Literacy Coach

Read the latest installment in the Anatomy of an Expedition series! Hear more >> 


What's Up in the Art Room? 
By Liana Trail, Art Teacher

–Kindergarteners are wrapping up a variety of painting projects, and are beginning to learn about sewing. First graders are working on a book making project. They are learning to make books that show something growing.
–Second graders are finishing up a Navajo-style weaving lesson. They are beginning to learn about the artist Sol Lewitt for their upcoming sewing project.
–Third graders are looking closely at Picasso's portraits and learning how to create their own. They are creating self and peer portraits with cray pas.
–Fourth graders are working on a green city drawing and painting project. They are imagining and inventing their own environmentally friendly cities.
–Fifth grade classes are working on a game design project. They are working with partners to invent and create a board or card game for others to play.

Library News
By Ann Niederkorn, Librarian

For the fourth year in a row, fifth graders were entertained and informed by artist/writer George O'Connor, the creator of The Olympians, a series about Greek gods and goddesses illustrated with dramatic comic-style art. Thanks to the Cambridge Public Library for sponsoring the event. Extra special thanks to the Porter Square Books Foundation, which donated signed copies of O'Connor's newest book, Hermes, to every student who attended!

Are you looking for online resources to support reading and research? Or do you want to browse our library catalog? Check out the newly re-designed Library Catalog page. Click the Library icon on G&P's webpage, then choose "Search the Catalog" on the left. The Home page has links to databases, WorldBook encyclopedia, e-book and audiobook resources, and even free online access to The Boston Globe and The New York Times. Some of these resources require passwords. You can get them in the library, email the librarian, or 4th and 5th graders have the password page in their Library/Tech Google Classroom. The Catalog page lets you search for books in our library. Have fun exploring!  

Music Notes
By Debbie Sullivan, Music Teacher

In December, Fourth and Fifth grade students auditioned for the Massachusetts Music Educators All-State Treble Chorus. The concert takes place in Boston in March.

The following students were selected this year: 
Raphael Duboisett
Evan Gan
Nathaniel Greenleaf

Congratulations to them!

Upcoming - Save the Date:

Grade 4 Field Trip to Symphony Hall 
When: Friday, March 9
Time: 10AM
Students will take the T and then enjoy a wonderful performance by the Boston Symphony Orchestra! Thank you to the Friends of Graham and Parks for making this trip possible!

Grade 1-2 Concert
When: Friday, March 23
Time: 8:45-9:30AM
Where: Auditorium

Please contact Debbie Sullivan ([email protected]) if you would like to volunteer to help with music events or if you have any questions!

What's Happening in Physical Education
By Shira Catlin, Physical Education Teacher

–Kindergartners have recently finished our unit about chasing, fleeing, and dodging. Last week we finished our unit about balance. Today we started out new unit about manipulatives such as throwing, catching, and kicking!
–First and Second have been exploring levels, pathways, and speeds. Last week we finished our unit about rhythm and balance. Today we started our unit about manipulatives such as throwing, catching, and kicking!
–Third graders have been spending time learning about balance, strength, flexibility, and endurance. Last week we finished our unit where we practiced in a circuit and obstacle course. Today we started our unit about science of the body and nutrition.
–Before the new year 4th and 5th graders were learning about Tchoukball, a game that comes from Switzerland.
–Since break 4th graders have been working on balance, strength, flexibility and endurance. Today we started our science of the body and nutrition unit.
–5th graders have begun Ballroom dance! We are halfway through our learning about Ballroom dance and have explored the Bachata, Merengue, Salsa, and Swing rhythms. The 5th graders will be preforming on March 14th at CRLS, we will send more information home soon with details!



Team Spirit! 
Paul (center) made a bet with 5th grader Patrick (left) that if the Patriots lost, he would wear an Eagles' jersey to school. Phil (right), a die hard Eagles fan, had to jump in the photo, too!

In Our Community 
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