E-News on the Lane
Highlights from the week at Indian Lane
October 5-9, 2015
Message from our Principal
Congratulations to all our students for filling the Bobcat paw with
“Bobcat Brags” and earning Pajama Day. I think that everyone enjoyed
this mystery prize, and we’re already working on earning the next one.
Grandparents/Special Friends Day is coming up next Thursday,
October 15th. I know that this is a largely attended event at Indian
Lane, and I look forward to meeting many of our students’
grandparents and special friends. Please be sure to read over the
guidelines on our website so that the event runs smoothly for our
visitors.
The Bobcat Pride Breakfasts sign-up sheet is now available. In order
to ensure that every family can attend, we must close the sign-up
sheet at the end of October. Please take a few minutes to choose a
month for your family to attend and sign up each child for that month
by October 31st. If you have questions, please email Mrs. Hatton.
And lastly, we need your help in the car line at dismissal time. Please
be sure to move up as directed by Mr. Frank and Mr. Boyle and stay in
your car. This keeps the line moving more quickly and safely. Thank
you.
I’m looking forward to seeing many of you tonight at Bingo Night.
From our Classrooms
Kindergarten
Middletown firefighters visited our classrooms to talk about fire
safety.We then went outside to see the fire truck, learn about the
tools on the truck, and sit in the truck to feel like a firefighter. We
ended the week with fire prevention stations. We learned how to use
the Mac Books and then used them to practice fire safety on the
internet. To see some photos, visit our Happenings page.
First Grade
In Science last week, first graders learned some animals migrate to
warmer climates when the air get cooler and the days get shorter.
Well, the days are getting shorter and the air is getting cooler so we
spent time identifying more signs of fall’s arrival. We made cool
F-A-L-L flip-books. We traced stencils to spell the word ​
FALL​
, and
under each letter we wrote a sentence or two describing the sights,
sounds, smells and activities of the season. The students enjoyed
tracing, cutting and finally dyeing leaves with spray starch and
Kool-Aid. Check out our display of these two projects in our hallway.
Second Grade
In Reading Workshop, we are discovering how to be strong readers of
informational books. We are searching for text features and learning
how they can help us more fully understand the content we are reading.
In Writing Workshop, we are making our stories more powerful by
stretching our stories and by magnifying the most important parts. In
Math, we are using the strategy of making a ten first in both addition
and subtraction. In Social Studies, we formed four separate
communities and began the process of city planning. We are making
important decisions that will impact our completed communities.
Third Grade
This week, third graders have been working to memorize their
multiplication facts. Specifically, we have been learning our zero, one,
two, five, nine, and ten facts. In Word Study, students have begun
their first cycle with their words. Third grade readers have been
learning about good reading partner behaviors, retelling, and
recommending books to our peers. In writing, we have continued
revising our personal narratives, learning how to balance details and
how to correctly punctuate dialogue. In Social Studies, third graders
wrapped up our unit on measuring distance on a map with a scaled ruler.
Fourth Grade
Classes are working to complete their first personal narrative.
Students are learning about “show, not tell”, developing good leads and
endings, and the heart of the story. Students are being challenged
with the writing process, especially revising and doing more than one
draft. Most students have completed their first assessment in Word
Study focusing on various patterns within words.
Fifth Grade
In Reader’s Workshop, we are working to develop all that we know into
predictions and theories about characters. We will continue to work on
writing meaningful and thoughtful sticky notes that reflect student
thinking.
In Writer’s Workshop, we are working to develop personal narratives
with catchy leads, meaningful endings, character thoughts, actions,
dialogue and setting descriptions. Students will continue to work on
revising and editing writing partners to bring out the hearts of their
stories.
In Envisions Math, students are working to add and subtract decimals.
We are using models to demonstrate how to add and subtract. In AMP,
students are beginning Chapter 2 on multiplication and division of
fractions.
We have switched classes for social studies, science and seminar.
Students are working on the transitions from one class to another.
From our Specialists:
Art
First graders are exploring painting with watercolors. Second grade is
identifying positive shapes and negative space. Third graders are
creating line drawings on textured paper. Fourth graders are using
acrylic paint to add color to their clay. Fifth graders are using plastic
straws to add volume to their wire sculptures.
Gym
● First and Second grades continue their tag game unit.
● Third and Fourth grades continue soccer skills and small game
activities.
● Fifth Grade continues football skills and small game activities.
Library
This year’s first “Indian Lane Night at Middletown Free Library” is
coming up on Tuesday, October 20th. Mrs. Hatton and Mr. Jason hope
you can join us to share stories around the “campfire.” Parents and
kids are encouraged to come with stories to share. And, what campfire
would be complete without S’mores? Younger siblings are welcome.
If you would like to volunteer in the library, please visit Mrs. Hatton’s
website or click here to sign up. Thank you!
Music
th​
Both 5​
grade music enrichment groups (Fifth Dimension & Bobcat
Ensemble) started this week with a room full of enthusiastic students.
th​
Each group will only have 8 more rehearsals until the Dec. 18​
concert.
Please make every effort to remember rehearsals days and arrive to
the music room by 8:00AM. The dates are listed on my web page
calendar. If your child is absent from school on a rehearsal day, an
email by 8:00 would be greatly appreciated. We’re off to a great start!
From our PTG:
To view this week’s PTG Newsletter,​
click here​
​
, or visit the website.
Thanks to everyone who made it to the PTG meeting this past Tuesday,
Oct. 6th. The next PTG meeting is November 17th. Hope to see you
there!
Upcoming Events and Reminders:
● Monday, 10/12 - No school for students
● Thursday, 10/15 - Grandparents Day, 9:15-10:00 a.m.
● Friday, 10/16 - October Bobcat Pride Breakfast, 8:15 a.m.,
cafeteria
● Sunday, 10/18 - Arasapha Farms Indian Lane Day
● Tuesday, 10/20 - Indian Lane Night at Middletown Free Library,
6 p.m.
● Thursday, 10/22 - Featured Artist Breakfast, 8:30 a.m.
● Friday, 10/23 - Philadelphia Zoo Assembly