Halloween by Braden and Collin

Kim’s math class did Hopscotch Math and we skip counted by 8. Betsy’s math class did two Halloween papers. One was on fractions and the other was a logical thinking activity. After Fruit Break we did Halloween activities with other classes and had a costume parade. In Spanish we read a book and Daniella translated it. We had Poetry Day with Kim’s class and now we are going to music.

School Spirit Friday by Josiah and Collin

In Betsy’s math class we did mental math then we went to music, since we missed it on Thursday. Kim’s math class did subtraction as fast as we could then we practiced counting by nines. In science we made levers. We changed the position of the fulcrum so we could see what happened when we tried to lift a small rock. After lunch we read in our books and listed adjectives to describe our favorite characters. During Buddytime with Tulie we made skeletons. Now we are going to Spanish.

*Note from Betsy
Look for our Word of the Day on the right. Last week's words were: codswallop, fabrication, succinct, zounds, and egads.

Wacky Tacky Thursday by Collin and Josiah

Betsy’s math class did a pre-algebra problem and worked in our DynaMath books. Some people went to the Masterclass for music. In Kim’s math class worked in our packets. We had Hollytime. In drama we played some games and rehearsed our plays. After lunch we read Science News. Now we are going to Spanish with Kim’s class and then computer.  

Favorite Character Wednesday by Josiah and Collin

In Betsy’s math class we did two multiplication Sudoku puzzles with 7.  Kim’s math class counted by 2’s and worked in our packets and cleaned out our folders. In class we worked on our Fall Festival stories. The second years went to drama and the first years went to music. After lunch we listened to a CD of songs that one of our fathers made. Then we played an I Have…. Who Has game. Now we are getting ready to go to the Roanoke United Methodist Home and sing.

Inside Out Tuesday by Collin and Josiah

This morning our class and Kim’s class shared our Book Projects.  In art we rolled up magazine pages that we had cut and folded. We are going to use them for our Thanksgiving project. We learned about levers in science and tested where the fulcrum should be to make different levers balance. We worked in our Nature Journals from Fall Festival and we read our books.

Crazy Hat/Crazy Hair Monday by Josiah and Collin

Betsy’s math class did a number puzzle and we worked in the October Dynamath booklets. We learned how to multiply two digits by one digit. In Kim’s math class we worked in our packets. During class we rewrote our cinquain poems. We read and then we divided words into categories: nouns, verbs, and adjectives. In Spanish we did body parts. We learned about different kinds of screws and screwdrivers in science and saw how an inclined plane becomes a screw. Now we are going to music.


Tomorrow is Wear Your Clothes Inside Out Day.

FYI

Wednesday, October 26 we will visit Roanoke United Methodist Home to sing for the residents. We will leave at 1:30 pm and return to campus by 3:00 pm.

Please check Kim Halsey's blog for more photos of our Fall Festival trip. http://uekimsclass.blogspot.com/

Fantastic Friday by Josiah and Tallulah

In Kim’s math class we worked on our packets and we did Hopscotch Math. We listened to Chinese modern music. Betsy’s math class did mental math and learned about perimeter. In science we did an activity with inclined planes. We had to change how steep the incline was and then pulled a weight up each incline using a spring scale. After lunch we made cards for Troops with our buddies in Tulie’s class. Now we are going to Spanish.

School Spirit Week

Middle School is sponsoring a School Spirit Week for the whole campus the week of October 24-28.

Each day will have a theme, and we encourage everyone to participate. Have fun!

Monday (10/24) Crazy Hat or Hair Day Wear the craziest hat you have or fix your hair in a crazy way

Tuesday (10/25) Inside-Out Day Wear all of your clothes inside out

Wednesday (10/26) Character Day Come to school dressed as your favorite book, movie, tv show or game character

Thursday (10/27) Wacky Day Put together a wacky outfit

Friday (10/28) School Spirit Day Wear your Community School shirts and show your school pride

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Thursday by Tallulah and Josiah

Betsy’s math class did a math puzzle that has 4 numbers (1, 2, 3, and 4). You can only use those numbers in each row and column. The numbers have to add up to the little number in between the 4 boxes. We had to use certain pentominoes to make rectangles and squares. In Kim’s math class we practiced counting by 4’s. Kim taped a hopscotch board on the floor and we had to jump and say the answer. We practiced math to African music. We had Hollytime. The second years went to music and the first years went to drama. In music we got to use ukuleles. In drama we are working in groups to write short plays. We worked more on our Fall Festival stories. In science we used gears to see how many times different sized gears would turn compared to each other.

Wet Wednesday by Josiah and Tallulah

Today in Kim’s math class we listened to marching band music by John Phillips Sousa. Betsy’s math class did a multiplication sudoku. We used pentominoes and looked at the patterns of the inside and outside corners. After Fruit Break we made bat and spider web pictures with our Buddies in Katlyn’s class. After Buddies the first years went to music and got their recorders and the second years went to drama. In drama we’re working in groups to write plays. After lunch we wrote about Fall Festival. In science we made a list of things that have gears. In art we worked on sketches about Fall Festival.

Tuesday by Tallulah and Devin

In Kim’s math class we did the same thing as yesterday except today we listened to Mozart. In Betsy’s math class worked with pentominoes and figured out their names. We also learned about parallel, perpendicular, and skew lines. We drew a cube and labeled the kinds of lines. In art we worked on our projects that will be displayed at the Thanksgiving luncheon. We finished our thank you cards for Camp Roanoke and Fall Festival. We are learning about simple machines. We made our own little gears out of paper and connected them. Then we chose our poems for Poetry Day. Betsy is going to copy them and give them to us tomorrow.

Special Visitor

Every year one of the service projects my class enjoys most is corresponding with deployed Troops. Monday of last week we were honored to meet Nathan's uncle, one of the Soldiers we wrote to last year. He answered a few questions and told the children how much their letters, drawings, and jokes mean to the Troops.

Monday by Tallulah and Josiah

Kim’s math class listened to music for a few minutes while we worked on math problems. Betsy’s math class did a pre-algebra problem. Some people worked on geometry papers and some people worked in DynaMath. We had Fall Festival Follow-Up with Kim's class and talked about who should get Jellybeads for nice things. Our class put 164 in the jar!  We ate lunch in Spanish and it was fun. One of the Bolivians was there. In class we wrote thank you notes.

Fall Festival Reminders

Please remember this week's homework is due on Monday, October 10th (not Tuesday).

Please remember to pack your child’s lunch and fruit break snack for Tuesday in the daypack.

Do not put clothes in the daypack as it will be used for hikes and other activities. Pack all clothes separately.

It is helpful if children assist with packing so they know where things are located and what they have.

One of the programs the Ranger has planned for us is a creek walk. Please send boots or waders with your child. It is essential for the children to have several pairs of shoes. Any child without a change of shoes or boots will not be allowed to wade in the water. Extra socks are very important. Hiking in wet shoes and socks can be extremely uncomfortable.

Please be sure to pack a warm hat, gloves, and coat. The mornings can be very chilly.

Electronic equipment and toys not allowed. Children may bring a ball, cards, and a book.

Gum is not allowed.

Your child should not bring any food other than Tuesday’s lunch and snack.

Thank you for helping us make this an enjoyable experience for everyone.

Friday by Tallulah and Sierra

In Kim’s math class we finished the ball but then we started another one. Betsy’s math class used upper case letters as a way to think about symmetry. We also made a Venn diagram of letters that are formed by lines that are straight, curved, or both. In social studies we wrote letters to Virginia Senators and talked about important issues in the United States and Virginia. In science we made nature journals for Fall Festival. During lunch we ate outside and listened to someone play the hammer dulcimer. After lunch we helped our buddies in Tulie’s class draw maps of the playground. Then we wrote down things we heard and marked them on the map. Now we are going to Spanish.

Thursday by Sierra and Tallulah

Today we had Hollytime. Holly had to leave so Kim read part of the time. Kim’s math class finished the ball. Betsy’s math class worked with geoboards.  In music we had a test about the notes. This afternoon we read, finished writing about our trip to Camp Roanoke, went outside and wrote poems called cinquains, and played Bananagrams. Now we are going to computer class.

Wednesday by Tallulah and Sierra

Today we had Journal day in Art. We had buddies with Katlyn and finished our leaf pictures. In drama we played the machine game. We did a word puzzle with letters and we had to make words out of the letters. In Kim's math we are still working on the dodecahedron. We are almost finished. We put something about ourselves or a math problem on each triangle. Betsy’s math class worked in DynaMath and played PIG.

Gluten-Free Blintz Recipe

Several weeks ago Tulie helped us make gluten-free blintzes. They were a big hit and several children requested the recipe. Tulie kindly shared the recipe with us.

Gluten-Free Blintz Recipe


Preheat a pan or skillet over medium/medium-low heat. Grease the pan with butter or olive oil. Before you begin to cook, mix the following:

1 tablespoon of cream cheese

2 tablespoons of vanilla yogurt.

Set aside. This will be your filling.

Whisk together the following ingredients:

¼ cup Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free pancake mix

¼ cup of milk

1 egg

1 tsp olive oil

Pour the batter into the hot pan. Cook for about 2 minutes or until the bubbles in the center begin to pop. Flip the blintz over and cook for an additional 30-60 seconds. Remove from pan.

Place the cooked blintz on a large plate and top with a thin layer the prepared filling. Roll it up. Top with a sprinkle of confectioner's sugar and enjoy!

Tuesday by Sierra and Tallulah

The best thing about today was the Jellybean Celebration. We got to play outside for a longer time. We earned 171: 25 responsibility, 24 enthusiasm, 14 self-control, 20 perseverance, 26 kindness, 24 cooperation, 16 friendship, 11 honesty, 9 respect, and 2 clean. In art we worked on our Thanksgiving luncheon project. Kim’s math class made decahedron balls and Betsy’s class learned how to use a protractor to measure angles.


The day was awesome!