With or without snow we would like to remind you to send your children to school properly dressed.  We will be going out on most days and students need to be dressed for the conditions. 

Students who would like to play in the snow need to have snow pants and boots, as well as jackets, gloves and hats.  We ask that students bring snow pants because we do not want students to sit around throughout the afternoon in wet pants.  This allows them to focus on the academics for the afternoon.  Thank you for your assistance!

Reminder, poor weather days are ahead and we may have to delay or cancel school. A delay will always be a 2-hour delay.  Sometimes a delay may turn into a cancellation if the weather continues to get worse.  Continue to check the TV for information.  The school phone will have the message of a delay or a cancellation. 

Mr. Doiron

Our kindergarten friends have been working very hard this month. We have been learning about the Pilgrims and Indians and how they worked

together in the New Land. We celebrated their friendship by having an Indian parade through the school. How cute the children looked! Big thanks to Mrs. Dunn for her help with the costumes.

We have been busy learning to identify, write, and learn the letter sounds for D, L, and S. We are continuing our work with number recognition and counting with 1 to 1 correspondence.

We would like to remind you that the weather is getting colder and the children should have a hat and mittens in their bag at all times.

We try and go outside for recess whenever the weather will let us. The classroom supply of tissues is getting low; we would appreciate any donations you could send in.

November has been a busy month for first graders.  In literacy, we continue to learn new word keys and we have also learned words that have diagraphs (sh and ch).  The students are all working on becoming fluent readers.

In math, we continue working on building and combining numbers and we have also explored the hundreds chart. 

In science, we studied the life cycle of an owl and we also learned many facts about owls. 

In social studies, we learned about the voyage on the Mayflower and about the first Thanksgiving.  The students even got to make bread and butter and they had their very own Thanksgiving feast. A great time was had by all!

In writing, students worked on persuasive point of view. They wrote stories from the turkey’s point of view to defend them from being eaten on Thanksgiving Day.

In math we learned about probability. Students had to decide if a game was fair or not. Students then had to explain if the game was fair and write new rules to make it fair.

In reading, we will be starting poetry. We are working on comprehension and fluency skills.

We are also enjoying our community pen pals from Jefferson and Whitefield.

Third graders are working on place value in math.

We are beginning to talk about animal and plant adaptations in science.  We just finished a mini unit on Cranberries.  The unit ended with making cranberry muffins. 

We will begin a mini-unit called Christmas Around the World in social studies.  We continue to work on building comprehension skills in reading. 

November has been an exciting month in 4th grade.  Our Grandparent Tea was a great success.  We appreciate all the support from parents,

grandparents, and others who worked to make our day a success.  Delicious treats were donated and enjoyed.  Students and grandparents had a wonderful time! 

We now have our book report form available to students on line.  It is on the school website.  Just push the tab for classes on the left menu bar and hopefully you'll find it.  It will make things easier for our children who "forget" to bring home a form.

In math class we are working on multiplication facts and graphing.  We are beginning to multiply numbers such as 64 X 8.  Of course, word problems are always part of our program.  We have completed our nutrition unit in science and are starting to study the human body.

Another exciting season is beginning.  It is getting cold and we are reminding students to wear appropriate clothing.  Soon we will be needing boots and snow clothes for the playground. 

Look in the student planners for upcoming events.

In math we are continuing to review and will be studying decimals.

For Language Arts, we are finishing a unit on nouns and will be taking a test on "Hatchet”. Speeches are written on the spot and the students enjoy presenting. Spelling has been going well.

Students in sixth grade social studies are currently immersed in a unit on Ancient Egypt. The sixth graders are preparing to perform research in the computer lab in order to extend their learning of the geography, culture, and history of the Nile River Valley.

The sixth graders recently participated in “The Mystery of the X Fish,” an exciting inquiry-based science program offered by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. Mrs. Raymond organized the field trip, which was a huge success. Students ended the first trimester with a science test on “matter”.

The eighth grade social studies classes enjoyed a visit in early November from Matthew Dunlap, Maine’s Secretary of State.  His visit coincided with the students’ studying the Constitution and the process of how a bill becomes a law.  Mr. Dunlap was very informative and willing to also share his experiences as a legislator.

In eighth grade science, students just finished ecology.  They created an ecology brochure concerning Maine. 

The language arts classes are using technology available in their laptops to create websites. These websites will contain poetry students have been writing over the past few months.

Seventh graders continue their study of the geography of Maine.  They also have written to local towns to gather information for a project coming at the first of the year.  Most of the students have received information back from their towns!

In science, students have been learning about genetics and created some “adorable genetic offspring.” 

Students are reading the timeless novel A Christmas Carol, and they are researching the life and times of its author, Charles Dickens.  Students are using the laptops to create slideshow presentations on the information they gather.

This month is full of activities and special events…be sure to talk with your student for updates!

Second grade students have been enjoying the snow in art class.  Even though there is no snow outside they have been making some beautiful winter landscapes!

Kindergarten students have also been learning some printmaking techniques. Their printed snowmen are on display in the hallway for all to enjoy.

Congratulations to Asia DiBenedetti whose artwork has been chosen to be part of an exhibit at the Department of Education at the State House in Augusta later on in the spring!

Grade 4 students have been working with our Thai exchange teacher Mrs. Wanna.  She has taught them about a Thai festival called Loy Krathong, and the students made "krathongs" in art class.  A krathong is a small floating decoration made out of banana leaves. The Thai people decorate these with flowers, candles, and incense, and then float them on the river on the day of Loy Krathong (in November).  Students have also been learning a Thai dance, which accompanies this holiday. Some of the students will be performing this dance at the upcoming winter concert!

The students and I have been working hard on our up coming holiday concert.  Please note the concert has been changed to Wednesday, December 13th at 6:30pm.  The concert will include performances from grades K-5, the chorus and the band. The snow date will still be Thursday, December 14^th at 6:30pm.

I am currently teaching a unit on Garage Band with my 7^th and 8^th graders using their laptops.  Garage Band is a music creation software that allows you to record and create your own songs.  Garage Band also uses loops of prerecorded instruments and allows you to cut and paste them to create unique songs.  I am teaching the 7^th and 8^th graders to use the software and how to build songs from scratch.  I am very impressed with the creativity of some of my students.  No two songs have sounded alike. 

Later in the year I plan to work with the 7^th and 8^th grade teachers and have the students create Podcast’s using Garage Band. 

Grade7/8 Fitness for Life Fieldtrips- Thank you to Interstate Bowling Center for letting the 7^th and 8^th graders bowl.  They also learned other recreational sports like shuffleboard, frisbee horseshoes and frisbee golf.

The next field trip will be on December 20^th to Kennebec Ice Arena for free ice-skating.

Race Around Chelsea Contest

The winning classes were 7-A and 6-A P.E. classes who accumulated the most averaged laps.  Thank you to Togus VA for allowing us to use their pool for a free swim.  Congratulations to all the top runners!

Chelsea Fun Run

We had a good turn out of 54 participants this year.  Congratulations to Michael Jacques for 1^st place overall.  Also, to the bike raffle winners- Roseanna Tibbetts, Meghan Caswell and Emma Begin.

Thank you to our sponsors:  Chelsea PTA, Marshall Construction, Dick’s Used Trucks and Auclair’s Cycle & Ski.  Great job to all the participants!

Kindergarteners, First and Second Graders may check out one book every week from the school library and return it the following week. Students may wish to check out a book to help develop their own reading skills, or to enjoy at home with a parent or guardian. Your child is learning the importance of book care and responsibility. Some book care tips to help ensure proper care follow.

1. Keep books away from family pets and young   teething siblings. 

2. Keep books away from food and water

3. Never write in books or tear pages

4. Treat books carefully so that other students may also enjoy them

Third, Fourth and Fifth graders may check out more than one book depending on related class activities and research projects. Books may be renewed three times during a trimester. All books need to be returned or renewed by the last week of each trimester in order to minimize sending overdue notices home.

Library Days are as follows:

Monday: Mrs. Rush, Mrs. Beeckel

Tuesday: Mrs. Frailey, Mrs. Pelletier, Mrs. Acosta

Wednesday: Mrs. Delgallo

Thursday: Mrs. Galarneau, Mrs. Grant

Friday: Mrs. Biswell, Mrs. Johnson

Thank you for your help and support with leading your student into a world of respect for reading. Most important- ENJOY!

Help your child remember to bring back his/her library book so that they may participate in all library activities.