Golf Field Trip

 

Earlier this month, we were able to take our golf skills from PE to the greens at Cedar Knoll Country Club in Hinesburg.  We had so much fun practicing our driving, pitching, chipping & putting on a real course.  We even got to "play" the 18th hole!

Many thanks to Mr. G for the skills practice, Mrs. Ayer & the Cedar Knoll family for letting us use the course, and all of the parent volunteers for helping to make it possible.

Direct Link to slideshow of Images

Coming Soon: Parents Night Out

 

Upcoming Author Visit!

 Hello RES Community!

I’m excited to announce that we will be hosting Christina Soontornvat for a virtual author visit on December 8!  Students will meet in grade clusters to hear from Christina on what it is like to be a real author and learn about her very amazing books.  I have read almost all of her books and have loved every single one of them!  She is an amazing storyteller.  

Christina Soontornvat is the award-winning author of over a dozen books for children of all ages. Her picture books include The Ramble Shamble Children, illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Lauren Castillo, and To Change a Planet, illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell. She is the author of the beloved Diary of an Ice Princess chapter book series. Her recent works include the middle grade fantasy, A Wish in the Dark, which was named a 2021 Newbery Honor Book, All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team, which was also named a 2021 Newbery Honor Book. Her latest novel, The Last Mapmaker, published April 2022 from Candlewick Press.

Christina Soontornvat grew up behind the counter of her parents’ Thai restaurant in a small Texas town with her nose stuck in a book. She is very proud of both her Thai and her Texan roots, and makes regular trips to both Weatherford and Bangkok to see her beloved family members (and eat lots and lots of Thai food!). In addition to being an author, Christina holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s degree in Science Education. She spent a decade working in the science museum field, where she designed programs and exhibits to get kids excited about science. She is passionate about STEM (science, technology engineering, and math), and loves learning new things. She lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, two young children, and one old cat.

Christina’s books will be for sale from November 28- Dec 16th at RES.  Please use the order form that will be sent home with kids to pick out your next great read with your kiddos! This is a fundraiser, so money raised goes to help the school provide amazing opportunities such as this author visit. We THANK YOU for your support!

Sincerely,

Emily Wood

RES School Librarian

Happy Summer, RES!

Third Graders...er...um, Fourth Graders!  From all of us at RES, we wish you the best summer ever!

RES School Parade Video

THANK YOU all for coming out to see us last week.  Your smiles, waves & signs were definitely the highlight for each of us!  We miss you terribly!

Distance Learning Family Adventures

Thanks from the USNS Comfort!

Image from:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USNS_Comfort_(T-AH-20)

Third and fourth graders were given an opportunity to write to nurses serving on the USNS Comfort in New York's Harbor during this pandemic to thank them for their service.  Lt. Margaret Taylor is the cousin of one of our RES third graders.  She says,

 I wanted to also thank you for sending my mailing address to Robert’s classmates & friends in Vermont. We love all the artwork & fun cards. They have brought joy to our ward. We look forward to mail call during the week to see if there are any new letters with fun jokes, cartoon stories, or drawings. We have posted them around the nurses station. The patients are able to appreciate them too as they walk around. I hope to be able to write some of them back as soon... 

Attached is a picture of some of my coworkers showing their appreciation. Just know that we are smiling under our masks. I hope you and the family are doing well, keeping safe and sane. 

Much love,

Cousin Margaret 

Lt. Margaret Taylor with pictures & letters from 3rd & 4th Graders

Nurses serving on the USNS Comfort.

Happy Pet Day!

We Miss You, Too!

School Wide Celebration FRIDAY (4/10) -- Pet Day!

Mrs. T reminds us of our schoolwide expectations and how we can continue to follow them at home. And tells us about the next school wide celebration -- check it out!
 

Coming Soon: Family STEAM Night

RES Family S.T.E.A.M. Night

Friday, March 6th, 6-7:30 pm

The Enrichment Program invites families to come learn together at our annual STEAM night. Families will participate in science, technology, engineering, art & math related activities and workshops. The PTO will be providing a snack table. This event is free, but donations to the Enrichment Program will be graciously accepted.

Here are some of the activities that will be available for families to do together:

• Family Garden Planning with a local horticulturist, Hattie White from Apis Garden Coaching
• Robotics with parent and STEM educator, Darcie Rankin
• Make a kinetic sculpture mobile with a local artist, Keri Hess of Wabi Sabi Art Studio 
• Stop motion animation - make a short film with Librarian, Emily Wood
• Guided stargazing and telescope demo with the Vermont Astronomical Society
• Outdoor Education with Vermont Audubon 
• Cardboard Engineering Challenge with the Society of Women Engineers
• Sustainable Energy & Electricity with Vermont Energy Education Program
• Coding & math games - learn about & play logic and computer programing games.

Please email Enrichment Teacher, Harmony Roll at harmony.roll@mmuusd.org if you would like to help out with this event. Thank you in Advance!

TRY Lesson 6 -- Tree Jeopardy!

This week, we wrapped up our lessons with Ben, Finn & Will with the TRY program.

ClipArt From: http://clipart-library.com/clipart/ki8okpXbT.htm

We reviewed all of the things we learned about: how valuable trees are, how to identify them, and ways to protect them.  Ask your child what was one thing new they learned in this class.

Tree Challenge:  Can you and your family plant a tree in your yard or community?  Learn more about how to choose a tree and where to plant it at vtcommunityforestry.org.

TRY Lesson 4: Vermont Trees

Today we learned the basics on how to identify trees. We learned how to identify 5 Vermont tree species, based on leaf identification.

Ask your child what tree species they learned and how they can tell them apart.

Image from: http://clipart-library.com/clipart/leaf-clip-art-9.htm

Tree Challenge: Try to identity the trees in your yard or neighborhood! Use the Arbor Day Foundation’s “What Tree is That” online tool found at www.arborday.org.

TRY #3: What do trees need?

Image From: https://www.clipart.email

Lesson 3: What do trees need?

Ben, Finn & Will are back this week (Tuessday with Mrs. Girouard and Friday with Mrs. Ayer) to teach another lesson about trees.  This week's focus is all about what trees need:


This week, we learned what trees need to survive! Trees need space, water, nutrients, sunlight
and air.

At home, you could try a family Tree Craft: Search for tree crafts and create some tree art for your
home!

Photos from November & December

Just catching up from the end of the decade! Photos included in this slideshow include the following events at RES:

• Financial Literacy with Community Bank
• Author Visit with Diana Dunn
• MMUUSD Literacy Coaching with 3rd Grade Teachers
• SNOW!!
• Mystery Oreos -- What is that mystery flavor?
• Ice Skating (Thanks Mr. G!!)
• Small Moment & Graphic Novel writing celebration
• Mrs. Ayer's class leading the RES All School Meeting
• Dance Party PBIS Celebration
• Perimeter Exploration
• Pillow Polo Tournament in PE
• RES All School Holiday Sing-Along
• And so much more!!

 

Awesome Opportunity

Starting today, we have Ben, Will and Finn from CHMS teaching a science lesson to our class about trees and forests.  They are participating in the TRY (Teens Reaching Youth for the Environment) Program, through UVM Extension and 4-H.  They will be in every week through February break to teach a lesson to our students.  We are so excited to see former RES students take on this leadership role and to help support them grow as leaders.  Below you will find the overview of today's lesson so that you can connect with your child at home:

Finn, Ben & Will

Lesson 1: Why are trees important? 

Today we had our first lesson in the TRY for the Environment—Forests and Trees Program. TRY stands for Teens Reaching Youth and it is an environmental leadership program where teens teach younger youth about environmental responsibility. There are 6 lessons in this program and each one will help your child become a better environmental steward for our forest and trees.

This first lesson focused on how we value forests and trees for their aesthetic, cultural, ecological, economic, educational and recreational benefits.

Fact: Trees improve air quality, mitigate stormwater, provide shade and enhance aesthetic beauty, provide wildlife habitat, and increase property value. Visit www.vtcommunityforestry.org to learn more about tree benefits.

Snow Motion Kick-Off TONIGHT!

Writing Celebration

Image Courtesy: https://www.clipartwiki.com/iclip/hbTRb_writing-clipart-for-teachers-writing-a-book-clipart/

Let's CELEBRATE our third grade writers!

After the RES Thanksgiving Dinner (around 1:15 pm on Thursday, November 14th), families and friends are invited to third grade classrooms to read & revel in the small moment narrative & graphic novel stories that students have published this year!

We can't wait to share with you!

The Gift of Words!

Today, we were the lucky recipients of our very own dictionaries, courtesy of a service project by the folks of Beacon Light Grange (#557).   Students were thrilled to learn that they can now figure out how to spell the world's longest word (it takes up an entire page!), learn more about each of our country's presidents, and even find the multiplication tables in their dictionaries!  Students have the choice of bringing their dictionary home or leaving it at school...but certainly ASK about something cool they found in it today!

Thank you members of Beacon Light Grange!

Help Wanted: Tie Dye T-Shirt Celebration

Volunteers Needed!!

Mr. Pajala and Mrs. Touchette are looking for volunteers to help with our school wide tie dye t-shirt project. If you are unable to come in and help out in the Art classes during the day, we are also seeking volunteers to help dye and wash t-shirts in your washing machine at home. We are using the same dying process this year as last year, and it involves dying the t-shirts in the washing machine. 

To volunteer, you may sign-up here 
RES Tie Dye Tshirt Volunteers Sign Up!

Any help is very much appreciated! 
Thank you!