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!

Snow Motion Week 5

We've wrapped up our season on the slopes at Cochran's Ski Area -- another amazing year! 

A BIG HUGE Thank You to all of the folks who help make it happen!

Lost & Found

The Lost & Found is overflowing!  

 

Please stop by and check it out to look for:

•  lonely mittens/gloves (38 ones looking for their partners, 13 pairs)
• hats/neckwarmers/balaclavas (23)
• snow pants (4)
• boots/shoes (3 pairs) 
• clothes (13 shirts/hoodies & 2 pairs of pants).  

Next Wednesday all the items will be on display outside the main entrance and anything not claimed will be disposed of or donated on Thursday.  Thank You!

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.

Rescheduled: Global School Play Day 2020 #gspd2020

Due to the Snow Day, we have reschedule GSPD to Wednesday, February 12th!

RES Third Graders will be participating in Global School Play Day all day on Friday, February 7, 2020.   We'll be spending our entire day engaged in "unstructured" play -- board games, card games, building, making, creating, outdoors...you name it!  We won't be on technology!

Here's a quick TedX video on the decline of play:



So, on February 7th...students may bring (clearly labeled) board games, card games, dolls, blocks, trucks, cars, racetracks, empty boxes for building/creating, puzzles, blankets (for fort building!), and more!  If it doesn't use technology (computers/screens/apps), and it is appropriate for school, bring it!

We'll spend the day immersed in play...we can't wait!

Snow Motion Week 2

We were back to Cochran's today for another week of Snow Motion.  While the weather was MUCH warmer than last week, the snow conditions were a wee bit icy.  Nevertheless, we persevered!

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!

Snow Motion -- Week #1

What a fantastic day to be on the mountain today...despite the cold temperatures!  We can't wait to return again next week! 

Just a reminder -- ski boots & helmets should come to school; ski & poles should be dropped off at Cochran's.  (It really does make it much faster for us to get off the bus and get onto the mountain!)

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!!

 

NEW MMUUSD Curriculum Website

Great news!  After much time coordinating with our curriculum coaches and coordinators, our district now has a website for families to explore.  Check it out!  https://www.mmuusd.org/family-curriculum

TRY Lesson 2: The Parts of Trees

Will, Ben and Finn from CHMS returned yesterday to teach our students about the parts of trees.  They even had the opportunity to create costumes and act out the life cycle of a tree!  You can read below to see more information about the lesson taught:

Lesson 2: What makes a tree, a tree? In our lesson today we learned what sets trees apart from other plants. Trees have three main parts: woody stem, crown and roots. We also discovered the life stages of trees. Ask your child what makes a tree a tree and have him or her show you their tree costume! Tree Challenge: Do you want to know what the tree in your backyard provides? Check out the tree benefits calculator to see the economic and ecological benefits of your tree. Visit www.treebenefits.com/calculator/ to learn 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.

A timely reminder...sick or not?

Here's a timely reminder about when to stay home from school when you're feeling under the weather!  Questions: check in with Nurse Hadley!

Snow Motion Kick-Off TONIGHT!

We are Thankful!

Scenes from October 2019

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!

Unicef Boxes

Unicef boxes will be coming home with your child on Wednesday.  These are something that families can opt to do over the next few weeks.  Please read the piece below to see how the money is used.

Trick or Treat for UNICEF

Remember the orange box? The tradition of penny-by-penny philanthropy remains strong in our community. Please join your friends and neighbors and continue the “Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF” tradition in your family this year.

The trademark orange UNICEF boxes will be sent home with Richmond Elementary School children on Tuesday, October 30. Please look for them in your child's backpack.

After collecting change in the box while they “trick-or-treat for UNICEF”, children can return the box to RES, where the change will be counted and sent on to UNICEF, the United Nation Children’s Fund.

Boxes should be returned to RES by Friday, November 8.

Since 2007, philanthropic RES scholars and community members have raised $300-800 each year to support UNICEF’s work to help children around the world. Penny by penny, that money so joyfully collected was enough to vaccinate hundreds of children against polio or buy warm blankets to give to children in emergencies.

As a teacher, community member, or parent, you can help by stocking up with coins along with your candy and welcoming our young fundraisers with an encouraging contribution. Many thanks to Richmond community members who dug deep into their coin jars to contribute over the years. Many local businesses have also generously agreed to host orange boxes: look for them at the cash registers!

By Trick-or-Treating for UNICEF, kids learn the importance of helping others in need and are empowered to make a real difference at a time when there are so many challenges in the world.

What difference can a few pennies make?

$5 = Five days of food for a malnourished child

$15 = A year’s worth of clean safe water for a child

$30 = Measles protection for 100 kids

$100 = Malaria protection for 100 kids

$400 = A pump to give an entire village clean water.

For more information, visit https://www.unicefusa.org/trick-or-treat or  https://www.unicefusa.org/trick-or-treat/educators.

For extra boxes or any other questions, contact Katherine Long @ 355-5830, klong@gmavt.net.

Thanks!

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!

Edutyping at Home

As we settle in to our school year, we are using more and more tools on our Chromebooks, many of which can be accessed at home. 

One such tool is Edutyping, which is a program that is teaching students to touch-type (and avoid hunting-and-pecking). There are lessons to teach proper finger placement (Home Row!) and games to reinforce the skills and help increase typing speed.  Students can access this program through our school website and continue their practice at home. 

To access Edutyping at home, click on the link from the RES web page under "Students."

Account ID: cesuschools

Username: firstname.lastname

Password: Ask your teacher for this!

Students are not required to do this at home, but may enjoy some extra practice.  Please encourage proper typing technique: sitting at a table, feet flat on the floor, fingers placed over the home row (pointer fingers on the F and J keys), thumbs on the space bar!

Also, the following is a website with various resources that your student could access to practice their typing:

Resources for Typing

Students will quickly learn that a little extra practice will be very helpful in life!

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! 

September in Photos

Phew! What a whirlwind the first month of school has been! We've been busy in our classrooms creating communities, connecting with old & new friends, and learning the ways of third grade! Here's a quick peek into all that we've been doing:

 

Open House!

It was wonderful to see so many families and smiling faces at our Open House last week! If you weren't able to make, feel free to connect with your student's teacher to find a time to visit...we love to share our learning!

 

RES Open House Next Week

September 25, 2019, 6-7 pm

Third Grade classrooms will be open to visit.  Stop in to see what students have been up to in Reading, Writing, Word Study, Science, Cursive!, and Math!  Mrs. Ayer & Mrs. Girouard will be available for quick questions, too.  We hope to see you all!

RES Cafe Dinner Served 4:45-6 pm (or the line ends)

Menu:  BBQ Pulled Pork, Mac & Cheese, Cole Slaw, Baked Beans, Maple Cornbread & Lemonade

By Donation

RES PTO Bake Sale

Yummy Treats by Donation

Scholastic Book Fair

In the RES Library on Wednesday & Thursday from 2:30-7:00 pm

Or online at www.scholastic.com/bf/richmondelementaryschool6

Save the Date: RES Big Truck Day

Day 1 in the Books!

We had a great day filled with smiles and stories, and lots of reviewing of expectations around RES!  We're settling in with our new friends, exploring our new materials (math books!) and even preparing our writers' notebooks for our first third grade entry in just a few days! 

Be sure to follow us on Twitter @RESGrade3 for even more photos (usually even as the events are happening!)  You don't have to have an account, in your browser, just visit twitter.com/resgrade3.

Move-Up Day 2019

Move-Up Day 2019

We certainly enjoyed seeing friendly smiles last week when our incoming third graders spent part of the afternoon with us!  Our current students shared their "Top Ten" things about third grade and we had some time to ask questions (and get answers), look around our classroom, and hang out with our new classmates.  

We also gave out a letter for families...2019 Move-Up Day Letter and a Summer Reading Challenge for students (no obligation, just enjoy reading good books this summer!).  

Look for another letter later this summer which will be mailed to your home address.  It will include information about supplies needed to start the school year on the right foot and what to expect our first week together.  There will also be an information page for caregivers to fill out to share with us even more about our upcoming class.

Have a wonderful summer, we look forward to seeing everyone on August 28, 2019.

Westward Expansion Focused Research!

This spring, third graders have been learning about the era of Westward Expansion, during the 1800s. Small groups of students researched topics of interest related to this era. Together, they took notes, synthesized the information, and planned for teaching others. These slides are a result of this hard work! Please enjoy!

First Tee Success!

Cedar Knoll Golf Trip Postponed

Our field trip to Cedar Knoll has been postponed until Thursday, June 13th due to the expected rainy weather.

On Thursday, students will need to come to school prepared with:

• sneakers
• layers of clothes suitable for movement
• lunch (or order one from the RES Cafe)
• water bottle
• bug spray and/or sunblock to be self-applied

We will be leaving RES at 10:30 am and returning by 2:00 pm.

2019 RES Field Day

We had so much fun at the Annual RES Field Day & Walk-a-Thon event.  Mr. G always puts on a fabulous event and today (with the fantastic weather) was no exception!  Thanks, Mr. G and all of the friends and families who came to help out and/or celebrate with us!

2019 RES Powder Run

Help! Golf Volunteers Still Needed

Image by Oberholster Venita from Pixabay

We are looking for a few more volunteers for our field trip to Cedar Knoll Country Club on Tuesday, June 11th.  You don't need any golf experience...just a willingness to supervise and encourage new golfers!

If you're able to volunteer, please let us know...we'd love to have you!

Help Wanted: Summer Library Checkouts

Summer Library Checkouts Coming Soon

Image From: http://www.clipartpanda.com/clipart_images/a-stack-of-books-clip-art-16355810

Mrs. Wood would LOVE a few extra pair of hands to help out during summer library checkouts between now and the end of the year.  If you've got a few minutes to spare, for third grade or ANY grade, please sign up on the Sign-Up Genius to help Mrs. Wood puts books in readers' hands for the summer!

A Blackhawk Helicopter Visits RES!

And...we were even on the news!

Andean Condors at Pittsburgh Aviary -- Live Cam!

Photo Source: (Lake Fong/Post-Gazette)

In Spanish classes this week, Senora Harris shared this LIVE NEST CAM with students showing Andean Condors nesting at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh.  Check it out if you get a chance!

Here's an article about the condors, too!

Watch our LIVE Chick Cams!

The chicks we've been watching grow for the past few weeks are getting ready to hatch...they may even hatch this weekend! You can always check in over the weekend with our live links to see the progress! Don't worry if you see one hatch early, they are born with enough food (from the yolk) to survive for quite awhile before being moved to the brooder. Once most of the chicks hatch, we'll move our camera over to the brooder to check in on them!

  Mrs. Girouard's Chick Cam

  Mrs. Ayer's Chick Cam

Cougar Chronicle: Issue 5/13/2019

Save the Date: Art Show & Concert

You are Cordially Invited to…. 

A Celebration of the Arts 

Our grades 2-4 concert this year is based on the theme of circus animals featuring songs from “The Greatest Showman” and including singing, and instrumental play. 

Who RES students: Grades 2 through 4 

When Wednesday, June 5, 2019 

Art Show Begins at 5:00 pm 

*Family Barbecue Begins at 5:30 

Concert Begins at 6:00 pm 

Where Art Show: Inside Richmond Elementary School 

Concert: On the Field between RES and CHMS 

CONCERT RAIN LOCATION: Camel’s Hump Middle School Gym 

*Please plan to bring a blanket or chair to sit on during the concert. 

Feel free to bring a picnic dinner as well.

* What The art show will feature a variety of work by all students. This will include an amazing array of weaving, clay, and even shoes! 

*Family Barbecue, prepared by Chef James Cost: Donation Menu: hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, coleslaw, chips, and brownies

Snow Motion Barn Dance

Food Drive Next Week

Notes went home today with your children.

Richmond Elementary School, in collaboration with the Williston Area Lions Club and Richmond Cub Scouts, is collecting items for the Richmond Community Food Shelf. 

Please bring in canned or boxed non-perishable food items between Monday, April 15 and Thursday, April 18.

World Culture Celebration

Thank you to everyone who was able to make it to our World Cultures Celebration! We loved sharing our learning with you and tasting the wonderful treats (even crickets!) from around the world! While we were able to share our essays, posters and games with you at the Breakfast, we weren't able to take you to the countries that we studied. BUT we did create Google Tours and hope you will travel with us virtually! Check out the link to our webpage and join us around the world! Third Grade World Cultures 2019

Our Community Cares Camp

Our Community Cares Camp has spots open for campers who will be entering grades 2-5 next school year!  

OCCC is a free day camp that runs from July 9- August 1 from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM.  The camp provides transportation and breakfast/lunch for all campers!  Activities at OCCC include music, art, sports, swimming, creative play, gardening and cooking.  

You can check out the camp webpage at http://www.ourcommunitycarescamp.org/.  

If you would like to register your child(ren) please contact Ms. Spaulding at RES (danielle.spaulding@cesuvt.org).

Postponed -- PTO Family Movie Night

Postponed due to Weather

Artist in Residence and A Chance for Parents to Help Support Students

RES students will be working with Miriam Block, a textile artist and designer, during art classes. They will learn about the way textile designers use texture, color, and pattern to plan and create woven fabrics. This three week residency will be an amazing opportunity for students in pre-k - 4 grades to discover the many ways fabric is used in our lives. During this residency, students will have an opportunity to design and weave a fabric for a specific end use. We are seeking volunteers, so please come and join us in the art room! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e084daea92cabfe3-artist

Breakfast Around the World

Thursday, March 14th8:30-9:15 AM in the RES Cafeteria

For the past eight weeks, students have been researching cultures around the world during Reading Workshop, and are using a variety of note taking strategies to gather and organize the information they've learned.  During Writing Workshop, students have been using this information to write articles about the cultures they've studied, working to find connecting ideas between two different cultures and writing to support their ideas with facts.  With all of this hard work under our belts, we're ready to celebrate!

If you're able, please volunteer to bring a breakfast (or snack) item from around the world on the Sign-Up Genius and join in celebrating all of the learning students have accomplished!

**Please DO NOT arrive prior to 8:30 as this causes congestion in the parking lot during morning drop-off for both RES & CHMS.**

Looking Ahead: Embryology in the Classroom!

WCAX's "Across the Fence" program just highlighted the UVM Extension's 4-H Embryology Program with Martha Manning. Third graders are proud participants in this program and it remains a highlight of the year for many.  Check it out:




We look forward to starting this program after we return from April vacation.

Thanks to WCAX and UVM Extension for providing the link to this video.

Coming Soon: 19th Annual RES Science Fair!

19th Annual RES SCIENCE FAIR

Thursday March 14th, 2019

Students in Grades K- 4 will be sharing their great science projects in the RES gym!  The Farm to School program will be offering a dinner during the event so that both participating families and those looking for a night out can grab a great meal!   Raffle prizes will be awarded to students who ask great science questions! Everyone is welcome!*

RES Farm to School Dinner

Time: 5-6 pm

Location: RES Cafeteria

RES Science Fair

Time: 5:45 – 6:45 pm

(participants may set up projects any time after 5:15pm)

Location: RES Gym

*NOTE: All families are welcome, whether you have created a science fair project or not! This is a great night to learn and have fun as a community!  

Hope to see you there!

Questions?  Contact Darcie Rankin, Enrichment Teacher at darcie.rankin@cesuvt.org