Message from our Principal
Our first Bobcat Pride Breakfast this morning was a wonderful success. We hope that all families in attendance enjoyed time together and with others in our strong Indian Lane community. We also hope the students know that we recognize their efforts to follow the Bobcat Pledge each and every day. We are proud of all our
Bobcats. Students will receive a memento from this morning’s event very soon, so be on the lookout.
If anyone has not signed up for a Bobcat Pride Breakfast, there are still spaces available. Sign up as soon as possible to reserve your space before they all fill up.

Next week is American Education Week. We hope that you can join us for Parent Visitation. The schedule and other important information is available on our website. Please read it carefully. The Scholastic Book
Fair is also taking place all next week and during conferences. Please stop by to support our school. The profits from our book fair will go directly back to our students in the form of books for classroom libraries and the IL Library. Thanks for your continued and amazing support.
From our Classrooms
Kindergarten
In Reading Workshop we have been looking at pictures in books to help us reread parts when we get stuck. We have been practicing our reading voices to sound like the author when we read. We have been reading the exact words in a story and have been using the dialogue of the characters when we read. We learned about quotation marks and how they can help us understand which character is talking.
During The Wheel we have been learning to write lowercase letters, segment words, and write stories to make them interesting.
We met Mr. B this week and have come up with a list of over 50 words that begin with the Bb sound. We ended the week using the laptops from the computer cart to practice reading and phonics skills.
First Grade
We started our first big science unit – Balancing and Weighing. The children have had lots of fun with all the hands-on experiences this unit brings. (Of course, with all that fun comes learning!) We added the following words to our science vocabulary this week:
★ Beam
★ Fulcrum
★ Balance
★ Counterbalance
★ Stability

The first graders completed a butterfly balancing activity by balancing a cardstock butterfly on the eraser end of a pencil. They challenged themselves by keeping the butterflies balanced while standing on one foot! They learned to balance a beam by either adding cubes or by moving their fulcrum. Finally, the first graders worked in partners to build a mobile out of paperclips, straws, and stars. The evidence of their hard work is hanging in the first grade classrooms.
Second Grade
In Writing Workshop, we are publishing our small moments! Through daily mini-lessons, the children experienced and practiced various writing techniques, which they were then able to apply to their own writing. After selecting the piece they wanted to publish, the children revised their work to make it as strong as possible. Next, the children edited for mechanics. This took the form of identifying the words they thought were spelled wrong. They attempted to do their best spelling using all of their word study skills. Next, the children were encouraged to check for needed capitalization and punctuation.
In Reading Workshop, we decided if we needed more information on our topic. If so, we visited the library to obtain more informational texts. After making sure we have completely and correctly answered our focus questions, we began to decide on a way to present our newly learned information to our classmates.
In Math, we began Topic 3: ​ ​ children will be adding two-digit numbers, using place value strategies.
Our new vocabulary words include tens, ones, open number line, mental math, break apart and compensation.
Third Grade

This week, third graders finished Topic 3 in math. Students learned the Associative Property and how to make generalizations about math facts. Next week, third grade begins Topic 4.
In Reading Workshop, third graders wrapped up our character study.
Third graders learned how to compare and contrast characters across and between a series. Students also learned how a character’s behaviors are there to teach us a lesson. Next week, third grade will begin the nonfiction unit of reading.
In Writing Workshop, third graders continued to write their informational pieces. Students spent time studying mentor texts to elaborate, writing transitions between chapters, and balancing facts and ideas. Next week, students will spend time researching to check their facts.
Third graders wrapped up the science unit on electricity. Students finished experimenting with conductors and insulators. Students also were able to experiment lighting a light bulb with two batteries.
Finally, students tested their hypotheses to see what would happen when another light bulb was added to their circuits. Next week, third graders begin their next Social Studies unit on immigration.
Fourth Grade
This week students in fourth grade focused on nonfiction reading strategies by “REV”ing their minds before reading, revising their thinking during reading and organizing their learning into “Box and
Bullets” or main idea and details. One of the key points is for students to stop and ask themselves, “What is this section all about?” or “The author wants to teach me that…...” Instead of coming up with a phrase, they need to push themselves to a summary statement/sentence.
Students are also focusing on not being a “Fact Vacuum or Fact
Gatherer”, rather a thinker about nonfiction topics!

Fifth Grade
Fifth grade had a great field trip to Chadd’s Ford Historical Society and learned lots of great information to use in their Colonial research essays. We are looking forward to Parent Visitation on November 20.
Book fair is coming up next week.
We are continuing with non-fiction in both Reading and Writing workshops. Students are in the process of writing final drafts of their research papers.
From our Specialists:
Art
This week our art classes are all about color.
First graders ​
Second graders ​
Third graders ​
Fourth graders ​
Fifth graders ​
Gym
All grades are playing Thanksgiving-themed games, such as “Turkey
Hunter” and “Set the Table,” in gym class.
Library
The Scholastic “Monster” Book Fair starts on Monday, November 16th through the 23rd. The book fair will be open during conferences until
8 p.m. on Nov. 23rd and until 6 p.m. on Nov. 24th. Clifford, the Big Red
Dog, visits the book fair on Tuesday, Nov. 17th, at 8 a.m. Please note that Miss Parkinson’s class time was moved to Tuesday, Nov. 17th at
2:40, and Mrs. Haskell’s class time was moved to Monday, Nov. 16th at
10:00. Click here for all the details, schedule, and special events.

Here are a few book fair reminders:
● We do have to charge tax on purchases at the book fair, so please add 6% to prices.
● Students may bring in cash or checks made payable to ​ .
Parents may use credit cards.
● We can give change if cost is less than the amount on the check.
● Parents ​ (helping all kids, checking out, etc.) must have clearances.
● All parents may come to shop with their child during the scheduled class time.
● Younger siblings may accompany parents to shop at the book fair.
● The online book fair extension is available until November 30th.
If you would like to volunteer in the library, please visit Mrs. Hatton’s website or click here to sign up. Thank you!
Music
This week, all grades began practicing their songs for the Indian Lane
“Songs of the Season” concert on Friday, December 18 ​ at 2:00PM in the gym. Mark your calendars. It’s a great way to get in the holiday spirit!
From our PTG:
Our annual Holiday Extravaganza ​ Saturday, December
5th ​ breakfast, shopping, decorating pre-ordered gingerbread houses, and more holiday fun. Please sign up to donate items or volunteer through the links on the website.
To view this week’s PTG Newsletter, click here ​
The next PTG meeting is November 17th. Hope to see you there!
Upcoming Events and Reminders:

● TONIGHT: Friday, 11/13 - Movie Night, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., gym
● Monday, 11/16 through Tuesday, 11/24 - Scholastic “Monster”
Book Fair (Open during conferences)
● Monday, 11/16 ​ ​ ​ (AM is 9:45 to
10:30; PM is 1:15 to 2:00) and ​ (9:30 to 10:15)
● Tuesday, 11/17 - Clifford the Big Red Dog visits the book fair,
8:00 a.m., library
● Tuesday, 11/17 - ​ ​ ​ , 1:15 to 2:00 p.m.
● Tuesday, 11/17 - PTG meeting, 7:00 p.m.
● Wednesday, 11/18 - ​ ​ ​ , 9:15 to
10:00 a.m.
● Wednesday, 11/18 - IL Night at MFL, 6:00 p.m.
● Thursday, 11/19 - ​ ​ ​ , 9:15 to
10:00 a.m.
● Thursday, 11/19 - School board meeting, 7:30 p.m.
● Friday, 11/20 - ​ ​ ​ , 11:45 a.m. to
12:30 p.m.