Fourth & Fifth Grade: October 21 - 25, 2024

Dear Fourth and Fifth Grade Families,

This week, our students delved into the fascinating world of nerve-sense animals, focusing on creatures like rodents and birds. They explored the eastern bluebird, a bird native to Georgia, creating beautiful drawings and composing poems about it. 

We also learned about "trunk" animals, including carnivorous mammals. The students studied the cheetah, illustrating it and writing poems that capture its unique qualities. Additionally, we examined limb animals, specifically ungulates such as cows, camels, goats, sheep, and giraffes. The students drew and penned poems about giraffes, celebrating their distinctive features.

In our spelling activities, students have been enjoying searching for words in the dictionary, further enhancing their vocabulary skills. 

As we wrap up our unit on Humans and Animals, this week, we will focus on the eagle, cow, and lion, exploring how these animals relate to humans through art and poetry. We are also excited to host Pynthalir and her family for a special Diwali presentation on Thursday.

Announcements and Reminders for Fourth & Fifth Grade:

  • Please send in two full water bottles daily.

  • Layers, layers, layers! They will continue to keep your child comfortable regardless of the weather/temperature range of the day. The mornings are now consistently cold. Please send your child to school with a coat, hat, gloves, and scarf. Please make sure that they are bundled up and ready when they are dropped off. Hand Warmers are helpful as well!

  • Our entire class is beginning to train for the Fifth Grade Pentathlon in April. Each morning, during Circle, the students will jog/run laps around the forest. Please make sure your child has enough water and is wearing appropriate shoes for this activity.

  • I brew tea for the class on chillier mornings. If you would like, feel free to share your child’s favorite tea with our class! I need at least six (6) tea bags for a pot, please. Please make sure the tea is caffeine-free!

  • November 1: No School (Teacher In-Service day)

With Gratitude,

Ki Paulyna

Fourth and Fifth Grade: October 14 - 18, 2024

Dear Fourth and Fifth Grade Families,

It was wonderful to see so many of you at Kingdom of Halloween this past Saturday. This event is always such a fun time for adults and children alike, and I loved seeing everyone in their costumes. Thank you to everyone who volunteered to help this event run smoothly and to those who donated items to be sold at the food booth. Your help and support allow these types of events to be a great success.

Thank you to all who joined our Garden School community at the meeting yesterday. 

This week, students delved into the fascinating world of the five senses, exploring how they compare and contrast with those of various animals. They engaged in a hands-on investigation of sensory perception by examining three distinct animal groups aligned with the concept of the three parts of the human being: head, trunk, and limbs.

For the head, students studied the octopus, discovering its exceptional vision and ability to sense its environment through texture and color. In the trunk category, they learned about salmon, which possess a remarkable sense of smell that guides them during migration. Finally, when exploring limbs, students focused on monkeys, highlighting their dexterous movements and strong tactile sense.

The class also covered broader classifications of animals, distinguishing between invertebrates and vertebrates and examining the characteristics of mammals. They specifically looked at nerve-sense animals like mice and birds, which have developed unique adaptations for survival.

As the week progressed, students shifted their focus to carnivores, using the cheetah to illustrate speed and hunting instincts and exploring ungulates through the example of the giraffe, which has evolved specialized senses to thrive in its environment. Discussions about animal instincts deepened their understanding of how different senses drive behavior.

In addition to their scientific explorations, students continued working on fractions and spelling, utilizing dictionaries to enhance their vocabulary and comprehension. This integrated approach not only fostered a deeper understanding of the animal kingdom but also reinforced essential academic skills.

Announcements and Reminders for Fourth & Fifth Grade:

  • Please send in two full water bottles daily.

  • Layers, layers, layers! They will continue to keep your child comfortable regardless of the weather/temperature range of the day. The mornings are now consistently cold. Please send your child to school with a coat, hat, gloves, and scarf. Please make sure that they are bundled up and ready when they are dropped off. Hand Warmers are helpful as well!

  • Our entire class is beginning to train for the Fifth Grade Pentathlon in April. Each morning, during Circle, the students will jog/run laps around the forest. Please make sure your child has enough water and is wearing appropriate shoes for this activity.

  • I brew tea for the class on the chillier mornings. If you would like, feel free to share your child’s favorite tea with our class! I need at least six (6) tea bags for a pot, please. Please make sure the tea is caffeine-free!

  • November 1: No School (Teacher In-Service day)

With Gratitude,

Ki Paulyna

Fourth and Fifth Grade: October 7 - 11, 2024

Dear Fourth and Fifth Grade Families,

It was great seeing you all last week at the parent/teacher conferences. I enjoyed sharing with you all what your children do here at school and having the opportunity to hear from you about how they are doing and adjusting to the new school year. 

Last week, the students began the Human and Animal Block. This block brings an awareness of the connectedness between humans and animals, as well as the plant and mineral world. We began by thinking about rocks and minerals and what they can and cannot do. We then moved on to plants, animals, and finally, humans, comparing and contrasting, finding similarities, differences, and what makes them all unique. From the human perspective, the students looked at the head and the importance of the location of their head in relation to the rest of the body and all the sensory inputs and outputs located in the head space. They had an opportunity to walk on all fours around the classroom from the perspective of an animal, such as a cat or a dog. They quickly noticed how difficult it was for the head to be in a downward position and how their eyesight had to adjust to looking at the ground. The class also experienced the importance of the sense of sight and the challenges that can come when someone has limited or no sight. In pairs, the students were blindfolded while their seeing partner led them around the forest. The feedback from this activity is that it is very difficult not to be able to see, that they felt immediately disoriented, that it was hard to trust someone to lead them safely, and it was also difficult to be the leader. The class discussed the sense of hearing, closing their eyes and listening to the forest around them, noticing other classes talking, the creek water rushing, cars passing by on Canton Road, and birds chirping. They noticed how their sense of hearing became more heightened when their eyes were closed. Finally, the class learned about the sense of smell and how this is a very important sense for many animals, particularly those who hunt. For this sense, the class was able to smell different scents (lemon, cinnamon, vanilla, cumin, garlic) and had a great time deciphering which was which.

This week, the class has been learning about animals that relate to the “head” part of humans, such as the octopus and cuttlefish. They listened to a fun poem about octopi and drew a beautiful picture of an octopus in the ocean, accompanied by an entry about octopi in their Main Lesson books. They then will continue on with the torso and those animals that share the qualities of this part of the human, such as mice and worms. Finally, the class will learn about the limbs of humans and the animals that share these qualities, such as monkeys.

The class has been enjoying this block’s reader, A Wolf Called Wander. The story is rich in imagery, and this has helped the students' spelling skills as we build on our weekly spelling word list. Thank you to everyone who has worked with your student at home on weekly spelling words. I have seen a great improvement in their skills and their confidence when we review the words at the end of the week.

Announcements and Reminders for Fourth & Fifth Grade:

  • PLEASE remember to sign up for Kingdom of Halloween volunteer spots. This year, 4/5th grade will be working at the Troll Booth(s). Please sign up for a spot to allow us to cover the booth and to ensure that everyone is able to enjoy the festival! Sign up HERE!

  • Please send in two full water bottles daily. The children get very warm with all the speech and movement work they do in addition to recess. 

  • Layers, layers, layers! They will continue to keep your child comfortable regardless of the weather/temperature range of the day. 

  • Our entire class is beginning to train for the Fifth Grade Pentathlon in April. Each morning, during circle, the students will jog/run laps around the forest. Please make sure your child has enough water and is wearing appropriate shoes for this activity.


With Gratitude,

Ki Paulyna

Fourth and Fifth Grade: October 1 - 4, 2024

Dear Fourth and Fifth Grade Families,

The students and I were excited to get back into our rhythm and finish up the Fractions Block. To round out this first Math Block, students learned about fractions, factors, prime and composite numbers, and refreshed multiplication and division facts. A highlight of the week was completing a Sieve of Eratosthenes. From a large 100s chart on the board, the students went number by number, from 2 to 10, skip counting, noticing patterns, and thinking and wondering about why and how the chart would look at the end. This was an engaging and fun activity, as the magic of numbers came to life. The students completed journal entries on Soft Rain, depicting their favorite and most poignant moments from the novel. Time was spent pondering the life of the Cherokee people then and learning about celebrating the differences that make us all unique individuals.

The block was finished with wonderful presentations by the students. One group created a fun fractions game that the entire class had a chance to play. Another group entertained us with a lively puppet show about numbers. We were serenaded by a beautiful song written and sung by another group. Two students wrote and retold a story about fractions, while the last group wrote and acted out a fun skit. These block projects have allowed the students to show creativity, retention, imagination, and social skills as they learn to work together. 

This week, we began a new block-Human and Animal. We began by looking at the human form: head, torso, and limbs. The students spent time thinking about and pondering the importance of these parts that make us human and set us apart from our animal friends. The students had an opportunity to sketch and model the human form out of clay. 

I look forward to seeing you all on Thursday and Friday for conferences.

Announcements and Reminders for Fourth & Fifth Grade:

  • PLEASE remember to sign up for Kingdom of Halloween volunteer spots. This year, 4/5th grade will be working at the Troll Booth(s). Please sign up for a spot to allow us to cover the booth and to ensure that everyone is able to enjoy the festival! Sign up HERE!

  • Reminder that Thursday and Friday are parent/teacher conferences. Please remember that there is NO school on Friday. 

  • Please send in two full water bottles daily. The children get very warm with all the speech and movement work they do in addition to recess. 

  • Layers, layers, layers! They will continue to keep your child comfortable regardless of the weather/temperature range of the day. 

  • Our entire class is beginning to train for the Fifth Grade Pentathlon in April. Each morning, during circle, the students will jog/run laps around the forest. Please make sure your child has enough water and is wearing appropriate shoes for this activity.


With Gratitude,

Ki Paulyna

Fourth and Fifth Grade: September 16 - 20, 2024

Dear Fourth and Fifth Grade Families,

I hope you all had a wonderful and restful break! The weather has finally turned, and it was time to give bodies and minds much needed rest. The students were very excited to share with the class what they did over the break.

Before the break, the students continued learning and experimenting with fractions. They worked on many ways to understand and comprehend the concept of a whole and how it can be fractured into parts. They have been especially engaged in this block because it included many snacks, which makes it more tangible for students to understand the concepts. 

The students have new partners they are working with on their end of block projects. It has been very insightful and interesting to see students blossom, take the lead, and show their creativity when working with different peers. 

Announcements and Reminders for Fourth & Fifth Grade:

  • Please send in two full water bottles daily. The children get very warm with all the speech and movement work that they do in addition to recess. 

  • Layers, layers, layers! They will continue to keep your child comfortable whatever the weather/temperature range of the day. 

  • 10/10-10/1:1 Fall Conferences (adults only). Please sign up here. If you need a different time, please let me know.


With Gratitude,

Ki Paulyna

Fourth and Fifth Grade: September 9 - 13, 2024

Dear Fourth and Fifth Grade Families,

Last week, the students began their second block of the year-Fractions. This is a fun and interactive block, as previous concepts are revisited (Fourth Grade remembered their Third Grade cooking and measurement lessons), and students can have hands-on experience with discovering fractions. The students enjoyed brownies on the first day, first experiencing them as a whole and then going step-by-step to cut them and create fractions, ending up with 32 brownies, three for each student and two to spare. The students also cut apples, played games, and discovered fractions all around us. They finished their writing and drawing on the seven Cherokee clans and finished reading Soft Rain. A deep discussion was had about the harsh reality of the displacement of the Cherokee people, their way of life, and how they live today. We culminated the week with students presenting the projects that they worked on with a partner during this first block. We listened to a beautiful song, written by two students, about the seven clans. Two students performed a puppet show on the Trail of Tears, while two others wrote and retold a story about a Cherokee family. The class played a game created by two students, which demonstrated their map-making skills. And finally, we watched a short performance written and performed by two students about how the states were made.

Next week, we continue working on fractions, learning about prime numbers and adding fractions with common denominators. The class continues to enjoy weekly spelling words and daily activities to accompany those words. As we prepare for our next block, Human and Animal, the students will begin a new reader, Wander, A Wolf’s Story. 

Announcements and Reminders for Fourth & Fifth Grade:

  • On Friday, please remind your child to wear fiery colors (red, orange, gold, yellow). 

  • We have now moved to our forest platform. Please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather by sending them layers of clothing - the forest can be chilly in the mornings!

  • If you are willing and able, we would love to have a small stash of quick, packaged snacks that students can access if they feel like they need more food during the day. Thank you!

  • Fall Conferences are on October 10th and 11th and will be held at school. Please sign up here.

With Gratitude,

Ki Paulyna

Fourth and Fifth Grade: September 2 - September 6, 2024

Dear Fourth and Fifth Grade Families,

Thank you to those who joined me last Wednesday for our fall Curriculum Night. It was great to see you all, share what your children are learning and doing, and give you a brief glimpse into their day-to-day lives here at school. 

Last week, the class finished their First Block of the year. This block brought them many enriching stories and legends about the Cherokee people and their way of life. The students worked diligently writing, summarizing, learning and reviewing grammar rules, developing spelling skills, and creating a broader understanding of the history of the land that we live on at the moment. We finished the block by learning about the Seven Cherokee clans. This lesson brought beautiful pictures and descriptions of the important role that everyone played in Cherokee society, including how these people cared for the land, for the animals, and for each other. 

Our next block, Fractions, began this week. The students were greeted with a fun and educational activity on Monday - learning about fractions with brownies! The mathematical concepts of numerator, denominator, and fractions were introduced through practical examples. We will continue to delve into the world of fractions in the coming weeks.
Announcements and Reminders for Fourth & Fifth Grade:

  • For this block, we will have class most days on our forest platform. Please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather by sending them with layers of clothing - the forest can be chilly in the mornings!

  • If you are willing and able, we would love to have a small stash of quick, packaged snacks that students can access if they feel like they need more food during the day. Thank you!

With Gratitude,

Ki Paulyna

Fourth and Fifth Grade: August 26 - 30, 2024

Dear Fourth and Fifth Grade Families,

The class began the week by drawing campus maps in their Main Lesson books. This was an interesting activity, as each student shared their feelings on how challenging it can be to visualize and imagine a different perspective, in this instance, a bird’s eye view. The students were then tasked with going home and viewing their room from various perspectives: a small animal point of view, their own point of view, and then, if parents allowed, to stand on a chair and view it from higher up. They then drew maps of their room, which were copied into their Main Lesson books. Expanding their sense of place and direction, each student wrote down and learned the different parts of their address. They were tasked with taking a sheet of paper with their address written on it home and writing directions from their house to school. The class had a great time looking at printed maps of their trip from home to school. Observations included noticing distances between locations, how close some classmates lived to each other, and who lived the furthest away from the school.

The students continued exploring Tsalagi (Cherokee) history and culture. The class learned about the dynamics of the families, the jobs and roles of the adults as well as the children, and the importance of giving thanks to the land for what they hunted and gathered. Students learned how Tsalagi houses were made, how their towns were structured, and about the seven clans that made up a tribe. Beautiful pictures were drawn in Main Lesson books for these lessons, as well as written summaries. Some summaries were written collectively by the class, while others were individually written. The class continues to reinforce and create an image of Tsalagi life through our reader, Soft Rain, and all eagerly await the time during our lesson when we read more about Soft Rain and her family as they are forced to move west. 

Next week will be the last week of this block. The class will continue to learn about Cherokee life, the importance of the seven clans and what they represented, as well as the tragedy that ensued with the Trail of Tears and the loss of their land. 


Announcements and Reminders for Fourth & Fifth Grade:

  • Curriculum Night is tomorrow from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Please plan to attend as we look together at the year ahead.

  • The forest can get chilly in the mornings. Please help your child remember to bring a sweatshirt or sweater.

With Gratitude,

Paulyna

Fourth and Fifth Grade: August 19 - 23, 2024

Dear Fourth and Fifth Grade Families,

Last week, we were finally greeted with “cooler” weather, so we took advantage of that by spending more time outside. The students continued reading from our class reader, Soft Rain. They discussed the different ways and traditions of the Cherokee people at the time, as well as the challenging reality of the Cherokees losing their land and being forced to move westward. The class looked at maps of our state, the country, and the world. We spoke about perspective, distance, and estimation. Our lessons on cardinal directions continued and included the importance of being able to orient oneself and find true north as a guide for where one might need to go.

The class walked around the campus, enjoying a cooler morning, as we traced the boundaries of the property. Students pointed out different areas of importance, both natural and human-made. They observed the changes in the terrain, in elevation, and even in temperature. When we returned to the picnic tables, each took time to develop a map of the campus from a bird’s eye perspective. This task proved to be quite challenging for some. After working on maps individually and with a partner, the students guided the teacher in drawing a large map of the campus on the board, which was then copied into Main Lesson books. In another lesson, the class was asked to imagine the place where they spend the most time at home. Each student was asked to imagine what their room looks like and, when at home, to walk around, crawl around, and maybe even stand on a chair and look at it from a different perspective. Perspective maps of bedrooms were also drawn from memory in Main Lesson books.

This week, the students will focus on writing their address and giving directions from school to home and vice versa. Our class will then move to learning more about their wider surroundings - their city, their county, and finally, their state. Sharing conversations about where a parent grew up and what the areas were like (way back) then, are encouraged to have together as a family. 

Announcements and Reminders for Fourth & Fifth Grade:

  • Please remember to send your child in with two full bottles of water.

  • During the school day, I have office hours the following days/times:

    • Monday - Wednesday - 10:50 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.

    • Thursday: 10:50 - 11:30

If you need to communicate something time sensitive (such as a carpool change, early pick-up etc), please call the front desk or email hello@thegardenmarietta.org as it is entirely possible that I may not see your email and/or text message until the school day is over.

With Gratitude,

Paulyna

Fourth and Fifth Grade: August 12 - 16, 2024

Dear Fourth and Fifth Grade Families,

The class settled into a full week of school last week with great success. Everyone was ready to learn, ready to play, and ready to work together as a class. The students continued working on Geography, sharing what it means, why it is important to learn about it, and the different tools we use to navigate our way around the world. Maps of the world, the United States, and the state of Georgia, were used to mark where students were born and who had traveled the furthest distance away from our school. The students enjoyed seeing how truly big the world is, and that it includes so many countries and cities. The class learned about the compass rose and how it is used for directionality. They did a wonderful job free-hand drawing their own compass rose in their Main Lesson books, labeling the cardinal and intermediate directions, and beautifully decorating it. The students took time looking at their desks from a bird’s eye-view and then made maps of what their desk looks like from this point of view. They then went around the school building and made a map of the building. 

The class listened to Cherokee stories telling how the deer got his antlers and why the deer’s teeth are flat. They also listened to a story from the Paiute people of Utah sharing why the North Star stands still. The students have greatly enjoyed these enriching stories, which allow insights into these important cultures. They also begin this block’s reader Soft Rain: A Cherokee Story of the Trail of Tears. 

Announcements and Reminders for Fourth & Fifth Grade:

  • Please make sure your child brings in a pair of indoor shoes that will stay at school. These shoes need to be hard-soled. 

  • Students should come to school with two full water bottles and bug spray every day. 

  • Sunscreen and hats are beneficial as we will be outside for snack, recess, and creekcess every day. 

With Gratitude,

Paulyna

Third Grade: May 13 - 17, 2024

Dear Third Grade Families,

How quickly this year has flown by. In but a blink of an eye, the Third Grade students went from dreamy children just waking up to the world around them to children standing firmly on two feet, eyes open, and feeling more confident in their roles and capacities. The students also created goals, dreamed dreams for the future, and learned that although they are still young and growing, their contributions can be significant, and their role in the world valuable.

Through our Waldorf-inspired curriculum, the class learned how to take care of the farm and the animals living there. In the classroom, students were responsible for daily chores such as watering plants and taking out trash, as well as keeping the learning spaces clean. The students learned to weave, crochet, card wool, and how to take care of silkworms. They learned to voice their opinions and concerns, to work through disagreements, and to help each other out. 

I am grateful for their open-armed welcome of me into their school lives. From day one, we have all worked, laughed, dreamed, wished, cried, and grown together. We lost some farm friends along the way and said goodbye to other friends who moved on. While both were difficult at the time, the children all learned they are strong and able to make it through emotionally challenging times. We experienced the farm, the school, and the forest through the seasons. We challenged ourselves to work hard, to be creative, and to have fun.

In August, we will come back together as a combined class with Fifth Grade! We are all excited about this new adventure—having more students, new blocks, and new stories to read. The students already know each other and are looking forward to forming deeper friendships!

Thank you all for the lovely cards and gifts and for making the last week of school so memorable for us all!

Have a fun, restful, and relaxing summer. Safe travels and I look forward to seeing many of you  again in August!

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Students’ End-of-Year Reports will be posted by mid-June. You will receive an email in a few weeks with information on how to access these reports.


Upcoming Events for 2024 - 2025:

  • 8/1-8/2 Teacher In-Service (No School)

  • 8/3 Community Work Day - 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

  • 8/5-8/6 Kindergarten & Grades Meet & Greet

  • 8/7 First Day of School for Grades - HALF DAY

  • 8/7 First Day of School Assembly/Rose Ceremony (all welcome) - 9:30 am

  • 8/8 First Day of School for Kindergarten

  • 8/9 Joyful Beginnings Meet & Greet - 10am

  • 8/12 First Day of School for Joyful Beginnings


With Gratitude,

Paulyna

Third Grade: May 6 - 10, 2024

Dear Third Grade Families,

Last week, faculty and staff were treated to a wonderful week full of delicious food, beautiful notes, and lovely plants. Thank you so very much to all of you who were a part of this generous and loving gesture. It was so nice to feel so loved and appreciated and taken care of by our Garden School community!

This past week, the class spent time cleaning out their supply boxes, organizing their crayons, and tidying up their desks. Their crayon rolls were washed, desks wiped down, and chairs stored. The students took a trip to the beginning of the year, opening up their first Main Lesson book and looking in astonishment at how much they had grown and changed through the year. There were many surprised exclamations, from “I can’t read my handwriting!” to “My drawings have gotten so much better!” They experienced first-hand the progress that they have made in this monumental year of change. They were given the picture that was taken back in September for our class principles poster. The students were delighted to see, with their own eyes, how much they had grown! They worked on finishing up any lessons missed, reading journal entries, and refreshing their understanding of math equations. It was a bittersweet moment for us all as we took a trip down memory lane and looked back at how much was learned and how much they had grown.

This week is our final week of school. The goal is for the students to have their work and chores finished so they can spend this week having fun! The class will sing songs and play games they learned throughout the year. We will have two students each day teach us how to draw something they like. They will listen to stories and enjoy the forest for the last time before we all take a rest for the summer. On Wednesday, we will have our annual Field Day. The class is so looking forward to water fun. We will end the year with a small class party on Thursday, and Friday will be a day of playing and having fun. Several friends will be leaving us this year. We wish those of you we won’t see at school all the best of luck and hope you keep in touch! 

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Please send your child ready for full creekcess on Fridays with a change of clothes, hard-bottomed, closed-toed shoes, and a towel. 

  • Please send two full water bottles to school daily; students feel the warmer temperatures and drink a lot of water!

Upcoming Events:

  • 5/15 Field Day / Half Day for Kindergarten

  • 5/17 Last Day of School - Full Day

With Gratitude,

Paulyna

Third Grade: April 29 - May 3, 2024

Dear Third Grade Families,

It is hard to believe we are rounding up to the last couple of weeks of Third Grade. This has been a year of great growth, change, and learning. The students have come so far in so many ways. We are all looking forward to a restful summer and coming together in the fall again!

Last week, the students continued learning about grains. They finished their paragraph and drawing depicting the growing cycle of wheat. They enjoyed learning new words and processes, such as threshing, reaping, and willowing. The next grain was corn. The students spent three days learning about corn, as it is a major crop here in North America. They learned that corn and corn byproducts are found in many things, from edibles such as chewing gum to household items such as glue. They learned that there are many different types of corn, different colors of corn, and different uses for the different types of corn. The class enjoyed freshly popped popcorn one day and made tortillas with maize flour the next day. Some students chose to make their tortillas into quesadillas by adding cheese. Finally, the students learned the difference between a working farm and the school’s farm. They also took time to think about the chores that they have partaken in this year on our school farm, why they are important and necessary, and how our farm has changed over the school year and seasons. The students spent time working on their Main Lesson books, depicting different chores on the farm and writing about them.

This week, the students are working on prepping the classroom for a rest this summer. Practical jobs such as cleaning desks, washing chairs, cleaning their crayons, cleaning out their boxes, and organizing our supplies were carried out with great gusto. Students also took time looking through their Main Lesson books for every block this year. They enjoyed reminiscing and looking at how their handwriting, drawing, and even the content of their writing has changed throughout the Third Grade year. Students also had time to finish up any drawings they had missed. They are looking forward to our last few days as Third Graders enjoying Field Day, Creekcess, and fun activities! 

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Please send your child ready for full creekcess on Fridays with a change of clothes, hard-bottomed, closed-toed shoes, and a towel. 

  • Please send two full water bottles to school daily; students feel the warmer temperatures and drink a lot of water!

Upcoming Events:

  • 5/11 Community Work Day  9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

  • 5/14 Sixth Grade Class Play 5:30 p.m.

  • 5/15 Field Day / Half Day for Kindergarten

  • 5/17 Last Day of School - Full Day


With Gratitude,

Paulyna

Third Grade: April 22 - 26, 2024

Dear Third Grade Families,

Thank you all so much for joining us for our annual play. The students did such a wonderful job and I received so much positive feedback and comments from other teachers, faculty, as well as students about how much they loved the play. This Third Grade class put truly incredible effort into memorizing lines and putting such life into the characters. We all agreed that it was a bittersweet moment when it was all over. The class is already talking about what the play will be like next year and is starting to brainstorm ideas (including writing their own play!)

The class began our last and final block as soon as the play was over. This next block, Farming and Grains, is an interactive block that gives the students experiences of doing and making, which helps them know their potential and builds self-esteem and confidence. For the first couple of days, our class was joined by the Fourth Grade class, as Fifth Grade was at the Pentathlon. This was a wonderful experience to learn together as a whole class, as they will become next year. 

The first grain the class learned about was rice. They learned about the importance of rice as a staple food all over the world, where it is grown, how it is harvested and processed, and finally how it ends up at their dinner table. They learned how rice is a central food product in some cultures, like Japan, and that there are many Shinto shrines that are dedicated to Inari, the god of rice. The class enjoyed rice bowls with toppings and it was a huge hit. 

The next day, we had a real treat. Kailey, Daniel's mom, came in to talk to us about wheat and how it is ground and processed to make flour. She generously brought her manual grain mill, and each student had a chance to mill wheat and rye grains to turn into flour. The students also took turns churning cream into butter, which they enjoyed with French bread for snack. Fourth Grade joined Third Grade in working on the Main Lesson books for the rice lesson, writing a summary, and creating beautiful pictures. Fourth Grade also joined Third Grade for one period of farming. It was a lot of fun!

This week, the class will learn about oats and corn, enjoying oatmeal and making corn tortillas by hand. They will then look at what a working farm is like, including all the different areas and components and the important job of the farmer and the animals. The last few days of school will be spent organizing, cleaning, and reviewing the school year through our Main Lesson books. 

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Please send your child ready for full creekcess on Fridays with a change of clothes, hard-bottomed, closed-toed shoes, and a towel. 

  • Please send two full water bottles to school daily; students feel the warmer temperatures and drink a lot of water!


Upcoming Events:

  • 4/30 First Grade class play 5:30 p.m.

  • 5/01 Second Grade class play 5:30 p.m.

  • 5/14 Field day

  • 5/17 Last day of school


With Gratitude,

Paulyna

Third Grade: April 15 - 19, 2024

Dear Third Grade Families,

Third Grade worked hard last week as they prepared for their play. Students worked diligently on memorizing their lines, projecting their voices, and using body language to tell the story. The two sets of narrators had a great deal of work to do as they had the most lines to memorize. Students who had memorized their lines stepped in and worked one-on-one with students who needed additional practice. The class played games that helped them to project voices and show emotions. By Friday, everyone was ready for the play to begin!

Monday was our last day for a full practice, and we were excited and a bit nervous as we prepared. Students helped by bringing in many props and helping with staging and setting up. It was wonderful to see everyone collaborating and working together.

Last week, taking breaks between rehearsals, the students helped clear paths from the Third Grade platform to the shed, the outhouse, and the main pathway. Everyone took turns raking and lining the path to make it safe and clear for us to use. Practical work continues to be an important part of our curriculum. As with a Community Workday, working together for the benefit of the school reaps rewards that benefit all who attend. We are all looking forward to the warmer weather and spending every day outside!

This week, we finally have our performance. Students are excited but will also have a sense of relief when it is over. We will move into our last block of the year - Farming and Grains. The class will be learning about working farms,  the layout of the farm, the influences of the weather, and the animals that live and work on them. They will also be learning about various grains and their importance in regard to nourishment. We will have several interactive activities as we make rice (rice bowls and arroz con leche), oatmeal, and bread (we will also churn butter.)

We are looking forward to seeing you at the annual fundraiser on Friday. The children are so excited for you to see their animals’ prints and the rug they worked so hard on creating for the Auction! 

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Dress for the weather with layers and send in full rain gear daily (raincoat, rain pants, and boots).

  • If your child is feeling under the weather, please keep them home to help keep our community healthy.


Upcoming Events:

  • 4/23 Third Grade class play

  • 4/23-4/25 Fifth Grade Pentathlon

  • 4/26 Annual Auction Fundraiser and Half-day Dismissal

  • 4/27 Community Work Day 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

  • 4/30 First Grade class play 5:30 p.m.

  • 5/01 Second Grade class play 5:30 p.m.


With Gratitude,

Paulyna

Third Grade: April 8 - 12, 2024

Dear Third Grade Families,

Third Grade was glad to be back at school last week. Everyone came back full of stories and adventures and ready to finish out our year. It is hard to believe that there are only about five more weeks left of school. This has been such a wonderful year, watching the students grow and blossom, change, and learn. We are all ready for this last stretch before the summer break and look forward to returning in the fall and greeting Fourth Grade!

Last week, Third Grade began their second to last block of the year, which is our Play Block.  Students have been slowly learning parts at home, and now we are working on it and running through all scenes at school. Students have really come out of their shells to memorize lines, work on acting, voice projecting, and supporting each other. We have also worked on games and activities to help them on stage. This block will culminate with our performance of Charlotte’s Web on Tuesday, April 23, at 5:30 p.m. The performance will be held down in the forest on the platform next to the Third Grade platform. We are asking families to bring camping chairs or blankets to sit on. A cast party will follow the performance on the picnic tables by the parking lot. 

During this block, we are also working on writing thank you notes to faculty and staff, working on weekly spelling words, and journaling about recent experiences. After our play, we will delve right into the last block of the year-Farming and Grains. There are several items that we need to make this an interactive block for our class. I have sent an email asking for different items (and abilities!) we are looking for. Please let me know if you can help!

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Dress for the weather with layers and send in full rain gear daily (raincoat, rain pants, and boots).

  • If your child is feeling under the weather, please keep them home to help keep our community healthy.

Upcoming Events:

  • 4/23 Third Grade class play at 5:30 p.m.

  • 4/23-4/25 Fifth Grade Pentathlon

  • 4/26 Annual Auction Fundraiser and Half-day

  • 4/27 Community Work Day 9 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

  • 4/30 First Grade class play

  • 5/01 Second Grade class play

With Gratitude,

Paulyna

Third Grade: March 25 - 29, 2024

Dear Third Grade Families,

I hope you all had a wonderful, safe, and restful spring break. The students were all very excited to come back to school, share their spring break adventures, and connect with their peers. We are entering our last two blocks of third grade. It is hard to believe how fast this year has flown by and how much the students have grown and blossomed. 

Before the break, the students worked on building their shelters. Due to the weather, we were forced to move our building project inside, but with everyone’s help, we moved all the materials, set up, and got to work! The students spent several main lesson periods, as well as extra main lesson periods, designing and constructing their shelters. They were all so proud of their hard work putting together beautiful structures and landscapes. At home, students worked on writing about their shelters and their experience building them. On Wednesday, the students presented their shelters to the school. The Grades classes came to view the shelters and ask questions. The Third Grade students were prepared and engaged, and they did a wonderful job presenting their shelters and the information to the various classes.

On Friday, our school hosted Grandfriends Day. Friends and family were invited to join students for a presentation and refreshments. Third Grade students were also able to show off their shelters as they were set up on our platform. Friends and family were impressed by their building of shelters and landscapes, as well as their knowledge of the shelter.

This week, our class is diligently working on our play. Students have been assigned their parts and have rehearsed at home. At school, we will be rehearsing, scene by scene, adding in our songs, and working on staging. The students are very enthusiastic about the play and their parts. I have sent out an email regarding costuming. Please let me know if you have any questions. Our play will be on Tuesday, April 23, at 5:30 PM. We will host the play OUTSIDE on the small stage/platform between the  Third Grade and Fourth/Fifth Grade class areas (next to the creek.) Please bring camping chairs to sit down as there will be very limited seating provided. The cast party will follow the performance at the picnic tables. Please be sure to sign up for that as well.

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Dress for the weather with layers and send in full rain gear daily (raincoat, rain pants, and boots).

  • If your child is feeling under the weather, please keep them home to help keep our community healthy.


Upcoming Events:

  • 4/12 Student picture make-up day

  • 4/23 Third Grade Class Play

  • 4/24 Second Grade Class Play

  • 4/23-4/25 5th Grade Pentathlon

  • 4/26 Annual Auction Fundraiser - Half Day

  • 4/27 Community Work Day 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

  • 4/30 First Grade Play


With Gratitude,

Paulyna

Third Grade: March 18 - 22, 2024

Dear Third Grade Families,

Last week, our class continued learning about shelters. We moved on to learning about primitive shelters found all over the world, from Gaulish farmhouses to Vietnamese houseboats to cliff dwellings. The students took the time to choose their shelter for the shelter-building project. All the students are very excited to use materials found in nature on campus to build their shelter and the environmental setting around it. They made great efforts to work creatively and independently on their shelter building.  This block has demonstrated to the students how nature provides, and humans then use their ingenuity and resourcefulness to create the shelters they need in order to survive and thrive. 

The class continued developing writing skills as they worked on shelter reports, journaling about recent events (class field trips, shelters), and writing summaries in their main lesson books on shelters we learned about in class. We continue to work on sight words and spelling, working on ten new words a week. 

Our next block focuses on our class play. The students have already received their scripts and are excited about practice. They ask daily if they can practice together as a class. We have used some extra main lesson times to practice our lines and acting skills. In the coming Play Block,  our main lessons focus on learning lines, pacing ourselves, and working on our acting skills. 

On Friday, we visited AB Farms with Ki Ieva. The students found it interesting to visit another farm, meet the animals that live there, and have an amazing opportunity to weave fabrics they made at school on a real loom at the farm. 

This week, students will continue working on building their shelters. They will present their shelters and reports on Wednesday to the entire class and have an opportunity to share what they learned about their shelters with our other grades classes. Thursday is picture day, and getting ready for Grandfriend’s Day. The Third Grade has been working diligently on songs and dances that they will be performing for this, and they are looking forward to seeing their friends and family!

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Dress for the weather with layers and send in full rain gear daily (raincoat, rain pants, and boots).

  • If your child is feeling under the weather, please keep them home to help keep our community healthy.


Upcoming Events:

  • 3/27-3/28: School Photos

  • 3/29: Grandfriends Day (Half Day All School Dismissal)

  • 4/1-4/5 Spring Break (No School)

  • 4/8: No School: Solar Eclipse

  • 4/22: Class Play 6:00 PM

  • 4/23-4/25 5th Grade Pentathlon

  • 4/26 Annual Auction Fundraiser - Half Day


With Gratitude,

Paulyna

Third Grade: March 11 - 15, 2024

Dear Third Grade Families,

Last week, the Third Grade class continued learning about shelters. We moved from the people of the Eastern Woodlands to the people of the far north, the Arctic Tundra. The students learned about the climate and terrain in this part of the world and how shelters are made using materials available - in this case, snow. We learned about the people that live there, particularly the Inuit, and what they eat, what they do for fun, how they construct igluvigaks, and how they survive the treacherous arctic weather. The students continue to work in the forest, building shelters and pretending they are living off the land. Next week, we will continue learning about shelters, this time moving to the people of the Pacific Coast. The students will also begin sketching out their ideas and plans for the shelter that they will build in class. We still have several items that we need for this project. Please view the Sign Up Genius link to help.

On Thursday, our class went on their first field trip. We drove north to Cartersville and visited the Etowah Mounds. The students were excited about this first trip. We spent time in class learning about who lived in the mounds and what they were used for before embarking on the trip. The students enjoyed a day of learning, hiking, and spending time with the Fourth grade class who joined us on this adventure.

Finally, we are now preparing for our class play.  The students began going over the scripts and lines for Charlotte’s Web. There was much enthusiasm and discussion regarding the parts, and the students took them very seriously. They will continue to practice at home and at school. 

On Friday of this week, we will be visiting AB Farms in Canton, Georgia with Ki Ieva. The students will learn about life on a working farm and will have the opportunity to see goats being sheared.

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Dress for the weather with layers and send in full rain gear daily (raincoat, rain pants, and boots).

  • If your child is feeling under the weather, please keep them home to help keep our community healthy.


Upcoming Events:

  • 3/22: Field trip to AB Farms

  • 3/27-3/28: School Photos

  • 3/29: Grandfriends Day (12:30 All School Dismissal)

  • 4/1-4/5 Spring Break (No School)

  • 4/22: Class Play 6:00 PM

  • 4/23-4/25 5th Grade Pentathlon

  • 4/26 Annual Auction Fundraiser - Half Day


With Gratitude,

Paulyna