December From Our Teachers
Leawood Elementary School
MAP READING IN 4th GRADE
Fourth graders had the opportunity to travel across time. Students have been learning the importance of reading maps. Students understand that analyzing the impact of physical geography allows us to identify the unique differences in the lives of people who live in different regions. This unit allows students to think like geographers and investigate how physical geography impacts people. Students were able to answer questions about Colorado’s regions using maps and other geographic tools. In using geographic tools, we discovered how places in Colorado have changed and developed over time (1800’s - 2000’s) due to human activity. We discussed and described how the physical environment provided opportunities for and placed constraints on human activities. Students had to explain how physical environments influenced and limited immigration into the state. Lastly, we analyzed how people use geographic factors in creating settlements and have adapted to and modified the local physical environment. Please see pictures below from our time traveling.
Instrumental Music News:
Thank you again to the Leawood community for your amazing support, and for being a fantastic audience at our fall concert performance. Our most recent music lessons have involved reflection on our job as performers and audience members, and the students have done a great job of celebrating their success and delivering constructive criticism to improve our next performance.
Our next concert is coming up incredibly quick after the holiday break.
January 22nd 2019 – Columbine High School Gym
Orchestra arrive at 5:00pm – perform at 5:30
Band arrive at 6:30pm – perform at 7:00
Students should wear their columbine area music t shirt, black pants or skirt, and black shoes.
This concert will be a fantastic opportunity to hear the progression of musical skills throughout your child’s entire education. In addition to our elementary ensembles the Ken Caryl Middle School and Columbine High School groups will be performing as well.
Please contact me with any questions you may have.
Eric Whaylen
Instrumental Music TeacherColumbine Area Elementary SchoolsEric.whaylen@jeffco.k12.co.usMusic Happenings
On Tuesday, December 4th we will be having “informances” (informal/informational performances) in Mr. Lupo’s 6th grade music class and Mrs. De Herrera-Schnering’s 5th grade music class of our small group ukelele projects. Family members and school staff are welcome to join as audience! Performances will be videotaped and available for viewing for those who can’t make it during the school day. These will take place in the music classroom during our regularly scheduled 6th grade AMP time (9:15-10:00) and 5th grade AMP time (10:05-10:50) respectively. Take a look at the videos from Mr. Lomba’s 5th grade and Mrs. Story’s 6th grade “informances”!
Mark your calendars for the 2nd and 3rd grade Winter Concert on Thursday, December 13th at 7pm. We will be singing, moving, and performing songs using pitched and unpitched percussion in the gym on the Leawood Elementary stage.
On Tuesday, November 27th 4th graders had an excellent time on our field trip to the Colorado Symphony Orchestra for the “Drums Around the World” youth concert. Symphony percussionists blew us away with their xylophone and drum talents. They played an amazing John Cage piece for household living room objects like plates and boxes. We even got to hear what a cactus sounds like! We are very inspired moving forward with our own xylophone composition projects and continuing to learn what it means to have respectful audience behavior.
Mr. Zigman, Music Teacher
From the Library
Attention 4th, 5th and 6th grade parents: You may not want to buy your student a laptop for the Holidays this year!
The Columbine articulation area is going 1:1 Chromebooks in grades 5 and up beginning in the 2019/2020 school year. Students in grades 5 and above will be required to buy a District Chromebook for around $220, and this cost will be added to your student's school fees NEXT year. Please see this document for more information: Columbine Area 1:1 Chromebook Initiative
Mrs Pepper, Leawood Digital Teacher Librarian
From the Instructional Coach
As a parent, I feel like our family is running on all cylinders nearly 100% of the time. We are running to practices, play dates, back and forth to school, and it sometimes feels like we rarely have time to breath, let alone sit down for a family meal. I have to pause and remember that sitting down to a meal together is a very important part of parenting. It is easy to get swept way in the fast paced, electronic world we live in, but slowing down and eating together, even a few times a week, can have incredible benefits for everyone in your family. Read about some of these benefits below. Enjoy the holiday season!
Improves Healthy Eating
Families who eat meals at least three times a week benefit nutritionally compared to peers who do not share as many meals as a family. The American Academy of Pediatrics examined studies about the impact of family meals on obesity, eating habits and disordered eating. The results showed a 12 percent lower risk of being overweight, a 20 percent decrease in choosing unhealthy eating and a 35 percent lower risk of disordered eating. Eating together gives you a chance to teach your child about healthy, balanced meals. Preparing the meal together, your child can learn how to cook in a healthy manner.
Curbs Risky Behaviors
Teens face peer pressure to engage in risky behaviors, such as smoking, drinking and trying illegal drugs. Families who eat together aren't immune to teens' risky behaviors, but they can reduce the chance of their teens trying drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Teens who eat family meals at least five times weekly have a much lower risk of engaging in those behaviors compared to teens who eat two or fewer family meals, according to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. The teens who eat frequent family meals also tend to have fewer friends who use drugs.
Improves Academic Achievement
Family meals won't guarantee A's, but do give your child a better chance at performing well in school. Eating seven family meals together weekly increases the odds of seeing high grades on the report card by 40 percent, according to Columbia's National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. Younger children benefit academically by improving social skills, such as communication and taking turns. Discussing events at school and topics your child studies also supports learning and shows her that you have an interest in her learning.
Strengthens Family Relationships
Today, families spend many waking hours on the go, but meal time gives you a chance to slow down and be together. That togetherness is an effective way to bond with your kids, giving them a sense of unity and security, according to Kathleen T. Morgan of Rutgers University. Families practice communication skills by sharing stories during dinner. When you turn off the TV and focus on family conversations at the dinner table, your kids learn to confide in you.
Source: www.livestrong.com
Aimee Crispin, Instructional Coach
P.E./Leawood
P.E. is going very well as we move closer to mid year. Our kids did a great job in volley ball and are now in the beginning stages of floor hockey. We have had a great time in our after school team sports, as our kids have been so involved as we meet for various activities each week. We were doing our Detroit basketball this week as they have really been competitive and still worked together as a team. We will finish next week with a line floor hockey game. Line hockey keeps all students participating at once as we rotate from the floor to the sideline.
Permission slips will be coming home today to prepare for gymnastics this school year. We will start as soon as we return from holiday break for grades 1st-6th. I will be able to work with kindergarten during my lunch period the first 2 weeks, I will send home permission slips for them. Kindergarten will be by invitation only for safety purposes, and then in 1st grade they will all be able to participate. We usually have well over 150 participants, so we really want to make sure that they are safe and have enough individual time.
I will be looking for help on Saturday January 5, 2019 to move our spring floor and set up the equipment to prepare for this activity. There will be more information regarding gymnastics set up on the permission slip that will be sent home.
Thank You,
F.T. Gonzales/Leawood P.E.
3rd Grade is Having a Hot Cocoa Stand
Come enjoy some nice hot cocoa with your friends on Tuesday, Dec 4th and Wednesday, 5th after school. They will have their cocoa stand outside in front of the school and also outside the 4th-6th grade doors. They are putting their new skills to work and showing what they have learned on how to run a business. The hot cocoa will be priced at $1:00 per cup. All of the proceeds will be donated to the Humane Society. Please come support these hard workers and enjoy a cup of cocoa. We hope to see you there!