Greylock Elementary School Family Newsletter, Jan., 2023

Link to Family Newsletter - January 2023

     Greylock Elementary

Family Newsletter - January 2023

Important Dates, Calendars and Helpful Links

Event

Date

Students and Staff Return from December Break 

1/3/2023

PTO Meeting (5:30-6:30) on Zoom

1/10/2023

Winter Benchmarking Begins

1/5/2023

No School - Martin Luther King Day

1/16/2023

Stuffed Animal Sleepover - 6:00-6:45

1/19/2023

Stuffed Animal Day

1/20/2023

Link to 22-23 NAPS Calendar

Hello Greylock Families, 

Happy New Year!  I am hopeful that all of you were able to have a relaxing and enjoyable December break.  As we return from this break, we are looking forward to continuing our work to support all students in being successful in all areas.   If you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher or me at ariello@napsk12.org

Happy New Year, 

Anne Riello

Winter Benchmarking Begins

Beginning on January 5th, all students in grades K-6 will begin taking Winter Benchmark Assessments.  Students will be assessed in both ELA and Math.  The data that is gathered from these assessments will be analyzed and used to inform educators of students’ current performance and most importantly, utilized to inform future instructional decisions.   Benchmark scores will be communicated with families at some point in early February.  If you have any questions regarding any of the assessments that will be administered, please feel encouraged to reach out to your child’s teacher.  We appreciate your support in this work and we look forward to gathering data that will demonstrate growth in students.  

MCAS Dates

While MCAS is still a few months away I want to provide the testing dates in order to help families plan accordingly. It is important that students are in school on the dates of their scheduled tests.

ELA Testing Dates

Grade 3: 3/30 and 3/31

Grade 4: 4/6 and 4/7

Grade 5: 4/4 and 4/5

Grade 6: 3/28 and 3/29

Math Testing Dates

Grade 3: 5/11 and 5/12

Grade 4: 5/9 and 5/10

Grade 5: 5/2 and 5/3

Grade 6: 5/4 and 5/5

Science Testing Dates

Grade 5: 5/16 and 5/17

Recess in the Winter Months

We feel it is important for students to be able to go outside, run around and get some fresh air whenever possible.  Knowing that we will be going outside to recess whenever the weather permits, please send your child to school prepared to go outdoors for recess.   Students should come to school each day with a coat, gloves/mittens, and a hat.  Boots can be left here at school or brought to school when there is snow on the ground.  

Updates from our Specialists

From the librarian, Mrs. Alexander:

I read an early fiction book to kindergarten and 1st-grade classes and then they color a picture corresponding to the book. I have read many of Jan Brett's books over the last month to all the grades because her books include many cultures, clothing designs, and architecture from around the world.

Second and third grades are picking level 1,2 or 3 books or holiday books and reading to a partner for the first 10 to 15 minutes of the library.  After partner reading, they find other books to take out or renew their library books, and then they read, color, play a game, or do a puzzle.  Grade 4 is reading the book, Cam Jansen and the Snowy Day Mystery all together as a class for the first 10 to 15 minutes of library class.  Then they are changing out their books, coloring, reading, games, and puzzles.  The 6th grade is reading the book, The Family Under the Bridge as a class for the first 10 to 15 minutes then the same as the other classes.  The 5th grade has been completing their biome projects during library class over the last month.  Once they are complete, we will start reading a book also as a class.  I plan on continuing to have the students read for the first 10 to 15 minutes for the rest of the year as well as discussing authors, fiction, and non-fiction books found within the library.  

 

From the art teacher, Mr. Strack:

In art, we will be continuing projects and starting some new ones! 

Pre-K will be creating different winter/ arctic animals.

Kindergarten will be making mitten tissue paper colleges and tissue paper watercolor backgrounds.

1st Grade will continue their penguin drawing w/ chalk shading and add watercolor warm or cool swirls for the background.

2nd Grade will be working with primary and secondary colors and making organic and geometric shape collages.

3rd Grade will make some colorful cardinal birch trees.

4th Grade will learn about mixing tertiary colors and creating some colorful chameleon paper sculptures.

5th Grade will practice value with oil pastels to create a "shattered image / stained glass” using warm and cool colors.

And 6th Grade will continue to work on their traditional or nontraditional self-portrait in the media they choose.  

 

From the PE teacher, Mr. Keller:

Season greetings parents and guardians,

I am happy to report my first semester has been productive as your school's physical education teacher.  I am also happy to report that our students have been enthusiastic about working with me and seem to enjoy my creative and challenging class instructions.

 

Looking forward to more exciting and new activities in the New Year!