Friday
April 20
Spirit/Pizza Day
Monday - Friday
April 23-27
ERB Testing
Grades 1-5
Friday
April 27
Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast
After Drop-Off
Wednesday
May 2
Town Meeting
6:30pm
Thursday
May 3
Alumni BBQ
5pm
Friday
May 4
Assembly 9:30am
Spirit/Pizza Day
May 7-11
Teacher Appreciation Week!
Monday
May 7
3rd to Pioneer Farm
April 19, 2007
Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast - Friday, April 27
Save the Date - Town Meeting, May 2nd
The Writing Process in Kindergarten
Sign Up Today and Win!
Instruments in Music
No Pets!
Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast for Parents!
Friday,
April 27,
After Drop-Off
Check your parent folders for an invite to our 2nd Annual Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast. Enjoy custom-made coffee drinks and a very tasty breakfast, cooked by chef William at Bakery Nouveau. Every parent is invited, and we – the teachers, staff, Board and WPO - appreciate every minute you volunteer! Without your participation, we would be not be the amazing school we are today. Thank you for all your help, and we hope to see you there!
Save the Date
Town Meeting
Wednesday, May 2nd, 6:30pm
Join the Board for a Town Meeting on Wednesday, May 2nd. Get to know the Board, find out what they do, and answer the question, “As the school grows, what about Westside School do we love and want to keep?”
Hope to see you all there!
The Writing Process
By Marsha Lovely, Kindergarten Teacher
Learning how to write in kindergarten is a very interesting process that has many different stages and moves at a lightning quick pace, considering the complexity of writing. Generally, children do not come to kindergarten knowing how to read or write. Teaching children how to write involves all areas of a child’s’ brain. When we teach children the letters of the alphabet we access as many areas of the brain as possible; the more areas of the brain we put the information, the easier it is to retrieve it later, so children write the letter in the air, say the sound, create the letter with blocks or cubes, discover where their tongue is as they say the sound, create lists of objects that begin with the letter, and so on. When it comes time to write, children must travel through developmental stages. Many begin with scribbles, some use random letters, and some are beginning to form words phonetically. Experimental spelling helps children gain a better understanding of letter-sound relationships. The powerful act of writing letters to match sounds in words helps children understand the connection between sounds and letters. In the beginning it is more important to teach children to get their thoughts down on paper through brainstorming activities and other strategies and make sure they understand the process of writing. The samples below show students using this method.
My name is CAEL. My age is 5. My favorite color is Blow. My favorite food is crab. My favorite place is MY Bed Room. At Westside School I like to PLAY NiSe. I am really good at PLAY BASKIT Boal. I also like to Put MY MiND Movy on. If I could go anywhere in the whole wide world, I would go to Yooto (Utah). Someday I would like to meet a presabit (president). As soon as I am old enough, I want to PLAY A isRMit A foote (play an instrument, a flute).
My name is Blake. My age is 6. My favorite color is BlaKC. My favorite food is MAC U ROONI ANbEES (macarooni & cheese). My favorite place is HOOWIIEE. At Westside School I like to PLAY. I am really good at Math. I also like to PLAY WITH my BRUTHR. If I could go anywhere in the whole wide world, I would go to YouTo, I WUb Rib THE 4 WiLRs (Utah, I would ride the four wheelers). Someday I would like to meet MLEEKC SUoM DAY AGENN (Malik someday again). As soon as I am old enough, I want to GET MY DRIVR LIISIN.
My name is Flora. My age is 5. My favorite color is White. My favorite food is kak. My favorite place is Hwiee & Skool. At Westside School I like to Ort (art). I am really good at Reeteen (reading). I also like to Go Shopeen. If I could go anywhere in the whole wide world, I would go to Lagoland. Someday I would like to meet the Prusutit (the President). As soon as I am old enough, I want to Teeching.
Sign Up Today and Win!
The school year will soon be over, so the WPO officers are busy planning the upcoming 2007-2008 school year’s schedule of events and fundraisers. We’d like to encourage all parents to take a look at the sign- up sheet located in the hallway outside the office and consider one of the many volunteer opportunities available for next year. It’s a fun way to meet fellow Westside parents, and become involved in our community. There is something for everyone (moms and dads) so please think about how you can help!
And if you sign up now, your name will be entered in a drawing to win a great prize that will be announced at the Volunteer Breakfast scheduled for next Friday, April 27. So, don’t delay! The drawing is just a week away.
Instruments in Music
By Cathy Chutich, Music Teacher
Experimenting with the Orff instruments has been the order of the day during the past few months. Everyone from the first grade up has been using the Orff barred instruments as well as percussion instruments. We now have enough instruments so that everyone can play at the same time, whether they’re on a glockenspiel, metallophone or xylophone (ask your child to explain the difference).
In the lower classes we’re learning and continually reviewing mallet technique (how to hold the mallets) as well as where and how to tap the bars. We’re also learning musical terms, and most important, we’re developing ensemble awareness. That means we’re getting a sense of how to play together and sound good. All the classes are becoming more comfortable with the instrumentarium, and you’ll be hearing a sample at the Spring Fling.
We had an amusing incident one day. I was telling a story, illustrated with instruments and song, about a naughty little boy named Mortimer who disturbs his whole family after being put to bed. One of the classes helped me to admonish Mortimer by shouting “Mortimer, be quiet!” Linda poked her head in the door and asked if her class had been too loud. She didn’t realize that Mortimer, and not her class, was being scolded.
I recently came across a pamphlet about practice by Sidney Lawrence, which I wanted to share with you since so many of our students are studying instruments privately. Here is just a short summary of Lawrence’s most important ideas:
- It is a rare child who always practices willingly and enthusiastically.
- The important thing is to allow your child to grow naturally. Lawrence explains: “Nothing in a child’s development moves in a straight or even direction. Musical progression is the same – it moves a few steps forward, a few steps backs, coasts on some hills and sometimes comes to a dead halt. Yet life goes on, whether the points are high or low. When we find it necessary to spur the child on, we must guide him, teach him—not police him—within nature’s limits!”
- Each child learns in a different way, progresses at his own special pace. Children need to learn the skills of how to practice through guidance, trial and error, spurts and regressions.
- It takes about six – six! – years of training to acquire basic music making skills (this is an average time—some may take as long as eight years, some as little as four). Music training is a long term program, like schooling. The quality (not quantity) of practicing is what counts.
- There are stages along the way, beginning with the initial enthusiasm and the “I want to quit” stage. Once you get past that point, which can be anywhere from age 12-14, it all becomes easier.
No Pets!
Some students have severe allergies to pet dander, so please don’t bring pets into the building.
Thanks!