Week of April 8

 It's a first grade newsletter week! Check out all of the measuring and relationship building they've been doing. They've been getting into some pretty big numbers with all that measuring!

1st graders in Kelly's class measuring animal sizes with centimeters by using 10’s and 1s! Go IM!

Ellen and Courtney are continuing on with big buddies during crew once a week- they just started an activity where the 3rd graders are tracing their first grade buddies… next week they're adding details to the tracings and the week after they're going to do some targeted measurement activities with the tracing.

Weekend	4/7- Happy Birthday Ellen!
Monday 4/8	CMAS STARTS- ela for 3rd and 4th 9:30-10:30- first grade to CMS for play
Tuesday 4/9	CMAS- ela for 3rd and 4th 11-2:30 (back for specials?) Meserve and Jaynes to RBR 5:30-7:30 Parent Night in Library with Meghan Backhoven from Riverbridge Happy Birthday Paula!
Wednesday 4/10	SST: kinder SW and 3rd grader AR Kinder/1st Learning Wednesday Brass Quintet at CMS: 9:30-10:00 (2nd Grade) 10:15-10:45 (1st grade) ERW: Strategic Planning. Meet in library at 2:15
Thursday 4/11	CMAS- ela for 3rd and 4th 11-2:30 (back for specials?) Lyons and Marostica to RBR Happy Birthday Kenly!
Friday 4/12	Spirit Day CMAS- math for 4th
Weekend

Tuesday, April 9th	2 absences
Wednesday, April 10th	5 absences
Monday, April 15th	3 absences
Tuesday, April 23rd	3 absences
Thursday, April 25th	2 absences
Tuesday, April 30th	4 absences
Wednesday, May 1, 2024	2 absences

New information and need to know:

staffing: Paula has decided it's time to retire from RFSD. We are so grateful for Paula's experience and expertise which was so important after Kim's departure. We will be posting this position, and we are exploring the possibility of creating a 1.0 position with newcomer support. If you are interested in teaching PEAK and if you have feedback about these preliminary ideas, please reach out to Aimee.

eclipse: Everyone check out your Mystery Science Lesson, "Why does it get dark during a solar eclipse?"  Watch the video and take your class outside! There is a really fun partner printout activity that provides a safe way for students to view the eclipse without having to use the glasses.  Mary 

This is a fun story for students to listen to and it explains the solar eclipse Someone is Eating the Sun. I absolutely love this story as I grew up on a dairy farm and read it as a child and never really understood what an eclipse was until later in life!  Mary

more eclipse info: We will have a bag of glasses for each playground! Please keep an eye on kids and help them share, and also remind them not to look at the sun without glasses.

In our area, the eclipse will begin at about 11:25am and extend until about 1:49pm. This is right during prime recess viewing time! ]

Educator Handout: This excellent clickable guide explains the science, what to expect, and safe ways to view the eclipse, and handouts for students and families. There are also separate Administrator Handouts and Guides for Families (you would want to translate though).

Video about Moon Phases: This video explains the phases of the moon and details how you can do this same experiment with students. It would be great to do in case we have cloudy weather on April 8. You could also show this during Crew to students.

PBS Video: A simple video explaining the eclipse. Available in English or Spanish.

Bilingual Resources: A curated list of resources in Spanish and English. Scroll down for videos with English and Spanish speakers

Books: There are many video read alouds if you don't have actual books about eclipses. Try some of the ones below. Epic also has some options.

Total Solar Eclipse: A Stellar Friendship Story: This video read aloud would be more appropriate for younger learners, perhaps up to 3rd grade.

Eclipse: This story highlights the 2017 eclipse but tells the story of a student excited about seeing the eclipse. Also for younger students.

A Few Beautiful Moments: Another poetic tale of a total solar eclipse. Best for grades 1-4.

Totality!: Read aboard the ISS by Astronaut Steve Bowen-a poem with some scientific explanations. Suitable for older students, perhaps grades 3 or 4 and up.

Time and Date Link: Use this website to see the exact time and percent of the eclipse for our area (other areas too-might be a fun way to incorporate geography).

NASA Video Feeds of the Eclipse: In case of clouds on April 8, you could show this as an alternative. How about setting up a projector with a feed in your cafeteria? Even if there are clear skies, this would be another great way to view the eclipse.

NSTA has a bunch of resources available.

You could coordinate with those artsy people among us to have an art station set up. You could have colanders or pinhole viewers available. A small disco ball could reflect the image of the sun onto a safe surface. You could set up binoculars as outlined in the Educator Handout (DO NOT look through binoculars at the sun!).

Summer Advantage update on enrollment

We have 62 applications!  Check to see who is enrolled from your class.

cmas video: is here! K-1-2 teachers, your students are all in it, so please share with them as well!

blue lake tickets: have been claimed! have fun, everyone! (and send a photo to be featured in the NEXT NEWSLETTER)

science! If you have about 10 minutes and have more than neutral feelings about teaching science in your classroom, please consider taking this survey from Sam Agoos, the K-12 Science Specialist at CDE. There is a lot more talk at the state level currently about what the needs are in science instruction, in the same way reading and math have been recently a focus.

from the frc: If you are in support of establishing a grant program to award community-based organizations funding to help migrants navigate services then you can take action by sharing this Action Alert with your Senators and Representatives. Instructions for how to respond are included in the attached Alert document. Legislators will be voting soon, so please reach out as soon as possible.  

request from SSN: If you have SSN students in your homeroom, please keep Heather and Mary informed as we head into the busy season of special events. It is helpful if you add them to your remind and/or make sure they get your newsletters!

Shoutouts and FUN

I'm expressing gratitude to the universe (and this list) for an anonymous gift sent to my home a couple of weeks ago.  Thank you!  Acts of kindness performed in this instance and others are always meaningful.  Thank you!  -Mary, The Groomeinator

I have a shout out for Jessie for gracefully stepping into the second grade and being positive, open and keeping a consistent learning environment for our students! Thanks for joining our team Jessie! Mary

I am just so dang grateful for everyone on this staff who has supported Eamon, Cora, and I this calendar year.  It's extra work and TLC, and I appreciate it.  If you are wondering if I mean you, I DO!  :) -Lots of love from the Groomeinator

River went on quite the spring break adventure!

Shout out to Tori and Audrey for their amazing dedication to CRES and the community.

 New adventures for these two! Congratulations, ladies +1!
~Eryn




Shoutout to Hannah who literally gave me the shirt off her back after a wardrobe malfunction.

GUESS THE FEET: