McLaughlin Middle School with the Manchester Police Department conducted our first emergency drill of the school year on Tuesday.  We practiced a lockdown drill.  On Monday we reviewed what we needed to do in a lockdown: be quiet no matter what and hide. We also showed the kids where to hide in each classroom on team.  I would ask all of you to please talk to your children about the importance of all of the drills.

We will be going to the library on Thursday next week.  Please remind the kids to have their books with them.  

• In language arts this week we read a short story "Happy Birthday Lee!"  Some of the skills this story focused on were recalling story details; sequencing story events; and writing a simple sentence.  Mr. Wood did an excellent lessons on plot structure using some short cartoon clips!

• In math we completed our iReady Math Diagnostic.  Then by solving addition with single digit numbers, addition double digit numbers, and multiplication problems we made a fall math quilt!  I will be hanging it on my door. 

• In social studies learned about our first Native American tribe, The Inuit of the Arctic..  Next week we will be learning about the Tlingit of the Northwest.  

• In science we released our butterflies. Please check out the slideshow below that has pictures and video.  The kids seemed to really enjoy the butterflies! We did a Mystery Science Investigation "How did a tree travel halfway around the world?".  Students investigated the mystery of the koa tree, a type of tree that grows in only two places—islands halfway across the world from one another.  They observe how structure affects the seed’s function in dispersing away from the tree. Then, they use these observations to evaluate whether koa seeds are likely dispersed by wind, water, or animals. 

We will be going to the library for the first time on Thursday to check out some books.  

• In language arts we completed our first phonics unit working with the vowel sound short a..  We are also practicing neat printing of our letters.  Next week we will be doing our iReady Reading Diagnostic. 

• In math we finished our first math unit on counting, reading, writing, and comparing whole numbers to 1,000.  We also did some iReady math lessons as a group on the smartboard.  

• In social studies we will be finishing up our map skills unit and we will hopefully start learning about Native Americans next week.  

• In science we are still learning about butterflies.  Our caterpillars arrived and we have been observing them daily.  Please check out the pictures below.  

Upcoming Important Dates:

September 18th from 6:00pm - 8:00pm: Open House (adults only please)

• 6:00-6:30 On Team (Green 7) to Meet your child's core teachers

• 6:40-7:10 In the Gym to receive whole school information presentation

• 7:20-7:50 In the Cafeteria to meet your child's unified art teachers

September 19th: No School- Teacher Workshop Day