What's Up @ G&P: Winter 2019
Published on Jan 18, 2019 13:16

  Winter 2019
Need this newsletter translated? Please contact the Bilingual/World Languages Dept. at 617.349.6468. Questions about the G&P newsletter? Please contact [email protected].
frosty plant

A Note from Principal Tony Byers
The winter season begins with coziness, holidays, and the excitement of the first real snow. And then the excitement wears off by mid-January, somewhere between the third major snowstorm and second round of the annual winter stomach virus. But until then, winter is a time for inward reflection and gratitude for what the warmer, more productive months have brought us. However, finding gratitude is not always an easy task in a world and at a time when collective anxiety is more likely to prevail over collective optimism, and with good reason. And schools are not set apart from the world. Children arrive at our front door trailing adult concerns, no matter how hard we try to protect them. Hear more >>

friends
owl
Friends of G&P 
When a group of 5th grade students wanted to make wallets as a class fundraiser, they asked the Friends of G&P for help. The students wrote a grant application to Friends of G&P and were approved to receive funds to buy supplies. A call went out for experts to advise the students on design & marketing, and Charlie Friedman, the founder of the Maine startup company Flowfold, answered. He came to class and shared his story of making sails, finding ways to use the scrap material, and going from making wallets to bags to backpacks, now as part of the LL Bean line. The students left with ideas for sharing how their wallets are made, what their customers are looking for, and how to anticipate their needs. Look for the wallets on sale at upcoming fundraiser events! Thanks to Ms. Rose, Mr. Jesus, and the 5th grade class for following student initiative to engage in real world issues!

Thanks to the Friends of G&P, 1st graders were visited by owls as part of their Plants and Animals in Our Community expedition.

We'd love to see you at our monthly meetings! ?Friends of G&P holds meetings monthly on the 1st Friday of each month at 8:30AM in the G&P lobby. We’d love to hear your ideas for how to help our children learn and grow! Come for part or come for the whole meeting - we appreciate any time and help you can give us.


garden
Garden Update 
The garden has been put to bed for winter, but there is still a lot to explore. Most plants have been removed for the year, the flower bulbs and garlic have been planted for next spring, the winter rye has sprouted, and the garden beds have been mulched with leaves & straw to protect the soil through the winter. We've also constructed a hoop house in the garden! The plastic covering is tightly clamped to seal in the warmth from the sun and to protect plants from the elements. This allows us to extend our growing season and be ready for next spring with radishes, spinach, lettuces, herbs, and more. Stop by and take a peek!

kids news flash logo
G&P Kids News Flash 
Welcome back to another Kids News Flash!
Read it here >>


Mind Matters 
Please join us for a workshop series providing educational resources and community support for Cambridge families with children ages 4-8 years old who are looking to learn ways to encourage and support learning at home! More info >> 

kindness fountain
November & December Assemblies: Gratitude and Kindness
By Jodie Darnell, School Operations Manager

There is so much warmth and kindness in the G&P community. And that's exactly what we spent some time discussing during both November and Decembers All-School Morning meetings (assemblies). In November, several teachers and many, many students took turns making statements of gratitude. We also spent some time talking about how thinking about and expressing gratitude can be a powerful tool in helping us feel better when we are sad or mad. As a community, we engaged in a mindfulness activity which focused on feeling grateful.

In December, the JK/K students and teachers declared the entire day "Kindness Day". They challenged everyone in the school to participate in acts of kindness throughout the day. Students and teachers were provided a golden coin to write an act of kindness that they have experienced or received. The coins were added to our Kindness Fountain which is currently on display in the main lobby.
 
 

turkey trot
Turkey Trot 
By Susan Harris and Madelyn Regan, Physical Education Teachers

This year’s Turkey Trot was another great success. Students and staff started their morning by running around the inside of the school and finished the event in the gymnasium where they did relay races.

We would like to thank all the volunteers came and helped us, along with the parents and families that came and cheered on their children! In the past 5 years, this year’s event was the largest cheering section! We’re all looking forward to and gearing up for next year’s Turkey Trot! Thank you everyone for your support!


Music Notes 
By Debbie Sullivan, Music Teacher

–Junior Kindergarten students are using their singing voices more confidently as they copy their more experienced Kindergarten mentors!
–Grade 1 students have been playing musical games, singing simple songs, and reading rhythms in duple meter.
–Grade 2 students sing very well in unison and have already been conquering rounds and partner songs!
–After learning a number of folk dances at the beginning of the year, third graders have been working on songs and rounds in 6/8 meter! They are excitedly preparing for their concert on February 1, 2019 where they will be joined by the incredible vocalists from Grade 4! During the upcoming concert we will be paying tribute to Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King! And, thanks to the valiant efforts of parent Eugene Kim, we will have improved lighting for the concert!
Fifth graders are sounding great as they grow into the instrument they have chosen. Please encourage them to practice!


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

JK and Kindergarten artists are exploring ways to use paint and are learning about primary and secondary colors. They are mixing colors together, creating whole pictures, and trying out different tools for painting.
First grade students finished their castle drawings by reflecting on what ideas they would like to reuse and what ideas they would like to recycle in a quick castle collage project. They are about to begin a unit on comic strips and ways to show growth.
Second grade artists are beginning a lesson on Navajo weaving traditions and symbols. They will learn how to weave paper, how to create their own symbols, and how to identify warm and cool colors.
Third grade classes are embarking on a still life drawing unit. They will learn to draw from observation, to arrange a drawing that shows positive and negative space, and to name those spaces.
Fourth grade students are carefully finishing their role model word portraits. These artists will begin a green city painting project once they have reflected on their role model portraits.
Fifth grade artists reflected on their masks in a chalk talk critique and are starting a new board game unit. They will work with partners to design, create, and play-test a board game or a card game.


Seen Around G&P! 

weather
Third Graders enjoyed a special visit from NBC10 meteorologist Michael Page and the Weather Warrior Truck. They were able to add to their knowledge of weather and learned about different weather instruments used by meteorologists!

drawing
At the Kindergarten Family Breakfasts, students and families played math games and watched a wonderful slide show to families of students thanking their reading buddies.

leaves
By Karima Cherguaoui, English as a Second Language Teacher

During our 5 senses unit, my kindergarten students had such a joyful experience in the school garden. It was such a pleasure watching them raking and jumping on the leaves. Their excitement really exceeded my expectations. It was a wonderful language experience that prompted them to speak and write. This experience also informed my instruction about the importance of joy in our teaching and learning journey.

math maze
Remember Family Math Night?! It was Awesome! 
By Claire Dahill, Math Coach

Who knew toilet paper and math went together? Well, we made that connection at Family Fun Math Night on November 14th with Toilet Paper Olympics! Using lengths of toilet paper taped to the floor students estimated how far they could long jump or shot-put (toss) a roll of tp, then counted the squares of toilet paper to “measure” their jumps and throws. Students then compared their estimate to their actual and made adjustments for the next turn. Older students use their math skills to “convert” toilet paper squares to actual feet and inches. Hear all about Math Night >>

expeditions
Expeditions at G&P: First Grade Focus 
By Christina Astrove, ELA Coach

If you have recently walked down the hallway outside the first and second grade classrooms, you might have noticed three beautiful trees surrounded by intricate drawing of animals and their offspring. This work was created by all three First Grade classrooms as a final project during their learning expedition called “How Do Living Things Survive and Thrive? Plants and Animals in Our School Community”. For this primary grade expedition, the teachers designed learning activities that integrated art, science, social studies, math, movement, technology and literacy. Read on >>


In Our District & Community 
Hear about opportunities throughout our district and community. Learn more >>

G&P CALENDAR
School calendar >> 
District calendar >>

JANUARY

Monday, January 21 
NO SCHOOL - in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Friday, January 25
8:30-9:30AM 

Parent Coffee Talk

FEBRUARY

Friday, February 1
8:45-9:30AM

Grade 3-4 Concert (snow date: February 8)
Where: Graham and Parks auditorium
Families invited!

Friday February 1
Friends of G&P Movie Night

Monday, February 4
5-6:30PM

Tech Goes Home begins at G&P! 
See below for more details!

Wed., February 6
5:45-6:45PM 

Information Session about the G&P Grade 5 Overnight Field Trip
Fifth grade families and students, please join us for an info session to discuss this year’s June 6-7 field trip to Thompson Island. A representative from Outward Bound will provide additional information about the program and answer any questions you may have. Please contact Ms. Rose ([email protected]) if you have questions, but are not able to attend the info session. Fourth Grade families are also welcome to attend to learn about the trip for next year!

Thursday, February 7
2-4PM

G&P Market

Thursday, February 7
5:30-7:30PM 

Steering Committee

Friday, February 8
9:30-10:30AM

Friends of G&P

Friday, February 8
8:30-10AM 

Family Cultural Exchange Program

Friday, February 15
8:30-9:30AM

Parent Coffee Talk

February 18-22
No School: February Break

 
TECH GOES HOME
Tech Goes Home is now being offered at G&P! This is an opportunity for families with children in grades 3-5 to practice online skills together including technology resources used at school such as math and literacy programs as well as tools for creating and sharing. At the end of the 15-hour program, students will be eligible to purchase a new chromebook for $50. Classes will be on Mondays from 5-6:30PM, beginning Monday, February 4th. To register or for more information, please email Lauren Morse at [email protected].

free breakfast

FREE BREAKFAST
Thanks to the City of Cambridge, students can access a healthy, delicious & nutritious breakfast absolutely FREE of charge. Stop by the cafeteria before school and see what’s cooking! Did you know that all CPS students and Department of Human Services Programs preschoolers can now enjoy a healthy and nutritious school breakfast absolutely free? Plus, families who qualify for Reduced Price meals will no longer need to pay anything for lunch! Students won’t see any difference when they go through the lunch line. But we hope you will see how easy and delicious a free breakfast can be!

GROCERY BAGS NEEDED
Grocery bags are needed for the monthly Free Market. If you have any bags you would like to donate, please drop them off in the office.

book cover

CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING & THE BRAIN
All Cambridge Public Schools Administrators and Family Liaisons are reading and discussing this amazing book: Culturally Responsive Teaching & The Brain by Zaretta Hammond. We encourage families who are interested to check it out!

NURSE NEWS 
Friendly reminder to families with children in grades 1, 4, and 5 need to submit current physicals to Nurse Rollins in the Health Office.

Wintertime skin care tips:  
–Apply oils or cream to skin immediately after baths or showers.
–Shorter, less frequent baths or showers. Wash face, hands and toileting body parts areas daily.  
–Keep water bottles and chapstick in back packs or school cubbies to stay hydrated. Chapped lips are a sign of dehydration.
–Trim fingernails as needed. Long nails can inadvertently break the skin when scratching.  

Nurse Rollins favorites:  vaseline, pure shea butter, Trader Joe's Midsummer Night's cream

Many Graham & Parks families have been hit with the recent "stomach flu". Although this Norovirus-like illness has been widespread in our community, I believe the worst is over. Thank you to families for following the guidelines for keeping sick children home for 24 hours with no nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. This sometimes means a child remains at home who appears well enough for school. However, home care with rest, bland food and fluids are important steps to complete recovery and the prevention of more illness. Please continue to reinforce the importance of proper hand washing with soap and water especially after using the bathroom. A helpful tip is to lather hands while singing Happy Birthday or the ABC song, then rinse. Dry hands and turn off the faucet with paper towel. Hand sanitizer is not sufficient against Norovirus, which can still be spread for 2 weeks after feeling better.

connect

GET CONNECTED
Stay in the loop by joining our social media communities! 
G&P Facebook >>
District Social Media >> 


mobile app icons

CPS MOBILE APP
 
Keep informed via our FREE mobile app! 
Details >>  
 

find it

FIND IT CAMBRIDGE 
Looking for things to do in Cambridge? Then take a peek at Find It Cambridge!
www.finditcambridge.org 

Baldwin

Graham & Parks School
44 Linnaean St.
Cambridge, MA 02138
School's Website
Main Office: 617.349.6577
School Cancellation Line:
617.349.6513
Tardy/Late Line:
617.349.6577 x125

Contacting G&P Staff
For time sensitive messages, call the main office at 617.349.6577. While staff cannot take phone calls during the day, you can leave a voice message by calling 617.349.6577 and using the classroom number as the extension. Staff members have email addresses as follows: First initial and last name as one word, followed by @cpsd.us. For example, Jane Smith would be [email protected]. Staff members also have mailboxes in the front office where you may leave a note.

 
 
grahamandparks.cpsd.us
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