Roderick Review Week 21 (1/25/16-1/29/16)

Is Recess Important?

YES! Recess is important and students return from recess with a greater ability to pay attention, and focus on the task at hand.  In addition, students are learning how to resolve conflicts that may come up as a group tries to agree on the rules of the game or they need to negotiate changing the rules as differences arise.  A large part of students' ability to be successful in school and beyond is the ability to cooperate and collaborate with others.  Recess is one of the few times when students are able to apply the successful strategies they have learned independently.  The social, physical, and emotional benefits make this a brief, yet valuable part of the school day.

 

There is also great benefit in finding ways to infuse opportunities for movement throughout the day.  As students are moving around, they are providing more oxygen to their brain, thereby activating more brain cells.  Teachers may have students stand or move around as part of the learning happening in the classrooms (as pictured below) or teachers may take a brief 1-2 minute movement break using GoNoodle or other tools to get the blood pumping.  (GoNoodle is free...check it out.  It is just as useful for adults!)

Grade 5 Scientists at Work

Students pictured below are observing the differences between potential and kinetic energy through their roller coaster experiments.  They had to include at least two "hills" in their roller coaster, but you will see that some were also experimenting with loops as well.  Where do you think the potential energy was the greatest?

Fourth Grade Reading Groups...

 Before students are reading the next section in Stuart Little, they are gaining some background knowledge about some sailing terms such as tacking and jibing.






Others have found a comfortable spot to enjoy the next chapter.

 

Mrs. Farrell and this group of students are discussing irony in The Tale of Desperaux and are getting ready to record the examples of "light" and "dark" that symbolize the powers of "good" and "evil."

4th Annual 
Dancing with the Wrentham Stars   
Visit the Wrentham Community Events website to see all of our "Stars" and the causes they are dancing for!
Friday ~ April 1, 2016

Dancing with the Wrentham Stars 2016 April 1, 2016 7:00 p.m. to Midnight Lake Pearl Luciano's 299 Creek Street Wrentham, MA P: 508.384.3003 Ticket Sale Information Saturday, February 6th 10:00 till Noon The Gavel Public House Downtown Wrentham $50 per person

Roderick Review Week 20 (1/20/16-1/22/16)

January 19th

Grade 6 Teachers hard at work on the Professional Development Day to plan the unit on Informational Writing!

Building a Positive Community and Preventing Bullying

As you may have seen on Twitter, Ms. Kost and Ms. Paparo are finishing up the bullying prevention conversations with the fifth graders.  We started before the Winter break by going into each sixth grade class, then each fourth grade class, and now we are finishing up the conversations this week with fifth grade.  During these conversations, students have opportunities to share what they would do in different scenarios to stand up for one another.  Research shows that just a simple check in of, "Is everything okay?" can make someone feel supported and increase the sense of belonging and contribute to the overall community in positive ways.

Writers, Writers Everywhere!
 Mrs. Kane's fifth grade class and their buddies in Mrs. Sabatini's second grade class came together today to celebrate the narrative writing of the second grade buddies!

Fifth graders also commented on elements their buddies did exceptionally well such as supporting the writing with illustrations and including dialogue, powerful word choice, and including many details.  After the second graders' books were shared, the buddies enjoyed a special break together outside to celebrate their hard work.  Way to go, Writers!

Grade 4 - Tangram Challenges

                                   

Grade 6 National Geographic Geography Bee!

Today, nine sixth graders participated in a live final round of the National Geography Bee for our school!  Congratulations to all of our geography experts who made it to the final round today and to our school champion who will now take the online exam with a chance to join the state competition and eventually the national competition at a chance to win a $50,000 college scholarship and a trip sponsored by National Geographic!  I am very proud of the students in their efforts to extend their learning!

Roderick Review Week 19 (1/11/16-1/15/16)

NEWSFLASH: We are now on Twitter!  You can follow us!  @RoderickSchool

NIGHT OF THE ARTS:  Congratulations to the Roderick artists and musicians!  What a spectacular showcase on Wednesday evening!  Thank you to Ms. Lovely and Ms. Salazar for creating this incredible opportunity for our students!

Here are some highlights:

 

 

 

Save the Date

ALL DAY

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Read Across America Day

&

Literacy Night

With

Roderick Review Week 18 (1/4/16-1/8/16)

Happy New Year!  Welcome back to Roderick School everyone!

Night of the Arts!
We hope to see many of you at next week's Night of the Arts on Wednesday, January 13th in the Gibbons Gym!  The Art Show gallery will open at 5:30 p.m. followed by the Concert.  You will surely be in for a treat!  See you there!  Thank you to those who volunteered to deliver the art work to the proper classrooms at the end of the night as well!

LOST AND FOUND
Do any of the items below look familiar?  If so, please retrieve them from the Lost and Found by February 12th.  Items remaining after that date will be donated.  Thank you!

 

Winter Fun!
Sixth graders who are joining the Ski Club will begin their trips to the slopes!  (Parents of fourth and fifth graders, if you enjoy skiing, there are opportunities for discounts at neighboring mountains through the Snowsports Passport flyer, which can be found at skiNH.com/deals/snowsports-passport.  While it is not affiliated with the Wrentham program for 6th graders, families may appreciate the discounts at the various peaks.)