Encore News Reel

STEM

As the school year begins, our students are enthusiastically exploring all the different materials and projects in the STEM room. We're constantly rotating our projects and groups, so if your child mentions they haven't gotten to a particular activity yet, rest assured that their turn is on the way!

Fifth Grade Robotics Update

Our fifth graders have been diving into robotics with our VEX kits. They've been exploring the many roles robots play in our daily lives and various careers.

Currently, students are building a chassis robot to re-enact the crucial role that robots played at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant after an earthquake and tsunami impacted it. The students are almost finished with their builds and are preparing to navigate their robots through an obstacle course!

Fourth Grade Flip A Clip

Using the frame-by-frame animation process, students are creating their own short cartoons and stories. Here's what they are learning along the way:

Storytelling: By planning out their animation and adding audio, students are crafting engaging narratives from scratch.
Sequencing and Logic: They are gaining a better understanding of how a story or a concept unfolds over time as they organize and build each individual frame.
Digital Skills: The class is becoming more comfortable with digital tools and platforms, developing skills that are crucial in today's world.
Patience and Persistence: Animation is a project that requires attention to detail and patience, teaching students the value of persevering to see their ideas come to life.

Third Grade Spike Essential Kits

This month, our third graders have been diving into hands-on, creative problem-solving with the new LEGO Spike Essential kits. These colorful kits are more than just building blocks; they are a cross-curricular tool that blends STEAM concepts—science, technology, engineering, art, and math—into an engaging, narrative-based learning experience. Using drag-and-drop programming, students have brought their LEGO models to life with motors, sensors, and lights. These projects encourage them to collaborate, communicate their ideas, and develop their computational thinking skills as they test and refine their creations. It's been inspiring to see their joy and excitement as they discover that learning can be both educational and incredibly fun!

Art-Quarter 3

There are a couple of updates in the art room.

We are still using our Artsonia portfolios to take photos of our artworks. If parents are not connected through their child's code please email me. There is an opportunity to purchase artwork on mugs, t-shirts, and a variety of items.

A quick reminder that students always have the option to wear paint shirts during art class. My goal is to make art fun and stress-free with messy projects.

5th grade

Fifth graders are preparing for a big project where they are creating masks. They will research different masks from around the world as they design and create their own. Students are encouraged to bring any extra supplies they want for their mask. These items could include fake flowers, gems, glitter, or any supplies they will want to use on it.

Art-Quarter 2

In art class, students continue to explore different countries and cultures through creative projects inspired by places around the world. This past quarter, every class worked with clay, learning new techniques while creating meaningful artwork connected to our global studies.

Grade 3

Poppy Flower

Students stayed in the United States for this project by learning about Veterans Day and the importance of the poppy flower. They learned how the poppy became a symbol of remembrance and honor for veterans, inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields.” Using tissue paper, students created poppy flowers to represent respect, gratitude, and remembrance for those who have served.

Grade 4

Henna Hands

Students explored the art of henna, by learning about its cultural significance and traditional designs. They researched common patterns and symbols used in henna art and then created their own designs using rainbow scratch art. This project encouraged students to blend traditional motifs with their own creativity while focusing on detailed patterns and thoughtful design.

Grade 5

Clay Gnomes

Students learned about Germany through a clay project inspired by the origins of garden gnomes. They explored how gnomes originated in the 1800s, symbolized good luck, protection, and hard work, and were believed to guard treasure and nature. Using this inspiration, students created their own clay gnomes while learning the score-and-slip method to attach clay pieces securely.

Art-Quarter 1

There are so many great things happening in the art room! We started off the year making some art passport books as we plan to travel the world though art. Each student designed a cover and added a self portrait. Below are some projects we just finished up!

Grade 3

Artwork by Evie L.

Students learned about Brazil and the Amazon rainforest, focusing on sloths—did you know they can sleep up to 20 hours a day? We blended oil pastels to create bark textures, added plants and vines for our backgrounds, and used texture and pattern to bring our sloths and hammocks to life.

Grade 4

Artwork by Harper M.

Students learned about Peru and how alpacas are treasured in the mountains. We added texture to our alpacas with pom-poms and tissue flowers inspired by Peruvian festivals and used watercolor techniques to create different values with varying amounts of water.

Grade 5

Artwork by John L.

Students learned about toucans from Brazil’s Amazon rainforest—colorful, loud birds with large beaks. We practiced observational drawing, mixed tints and shades, and explored a dry brush painting technique.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION - Quarter 2

In the first third of the 2nd grading period students continued practicing their throwing and catching skills, but we transitioned from practicing those skills with foam "dodgeballs" to doing so with footballs. PE time was filled with different challenges that tested students ability to throw for distance and accuracy, as well as catching from various distances. We then finished our focus on catching and throwing with and exploration of lacrosse. For most students, it was the first time holding a lacrosse stick, so in a lot of ways, students from 3rd to 5th grade were on the same level. I think it well enough that it's something I want to carry on into the next several years, which will give me a great opportunity to see skill growth between the grade levels.

In the middle third of quarter marked the conclusion of Jim Tressel Fitness Challenge, so we spent two weeks in the gym learning about exercising to improve Cardio Endurance, Muscle Strength and Muscle Endurance. And in the final week of school before winter break, students played a school-wide favorite: Capture the Flag, cap off the end of 2025 in the best way possible.

Upon returning from Winter Break, we started another favorite for a lot of students: stilt walking! It seems like a daunting task for many students, and it certainly can be challenging for a lot of students! But it's a great way to level the playing field for students of all differnet skill levels. We discuss how new things can be difficult and that it is ok to fail as you are learning, especially at something that is brand new! It is a great way for me to evaluate students' determination, work ethic, and persistence.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION - Quarter 1

While the weather is still warm and dry, we try to have our PE classes outside as much as possible!

Students started the year playing Capture the Flag, an action-packed game that is a fun way to start the year, and a great way to practice cooperative skills and teamwork as students get to know their new classmates.

From there, we moved into a soccer unit in which students got to practice dribbling, passing and shooting skills. They also experienced game play in a large 12v12 game as well as multiple 5v5 or 6v6 games.

As fall weather rolls in and we transition from the 1st to 2nd grading period, we begin to focus on throwing and catching skills. We start using smaller foam "dodgeballs" in our skill practices and games, and we'll look to move on to using footballs in the next few weeks.

If weather permits, we may even get a chance to take a brief break from regular scheduled activities, and instead use our 9-hole disc golf course to practice disc or "frisbee" throwing.

Library--Quarter 2

Gr 3

3rd grade is working on literacy skills as we continue to read a different books so they can hear and see how the English language is used in a variety of ways in a narrative structure.

Gr 4

4th graders are honing in on their digital design skills using Canva to create a variety of projects to highlight some of their personal interests. These projects allow students to learn and practice with the different tools that are available with the program so that they can use Canva for other projects outside of their library class.

Gr 5

5th graders are learning about the importance of databases for educational pursuits. They are using databases to find information on certain topics each visit. The information they compile allows them to complete class activities that they submit through Google Classroom. They are also using Canva to create projects that outline their goals for the remainder of the school year.

MUSIC Q1

3rd Graders are learning about connecting Fall word sounds to different parts of rhythm, such as quarter note, half note, a pair of eighth notes, and whole note. They've been clapping and performing on instruments to hear different sounds that can be used for writing music rhythm.

4th Graders learned about Treble Clef note placement and how to read the notes for playing their recorders. They received their recorders, folders, and music toward the end of October and are making amazing progress.

5th Graders learned how to keep track of every part of the beat, or subdivide, and count rhythm. They will continue to practice counting more difficult rhythms to prepare for bucket drumming and xylophone instrument note reading.

1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and...

MUSIC Q2

3rd Graders have been practicing their rhythm and steady beat skills on different instruments, such as Boomwhackers. These are colorful, different sized tubes that are pitched similar to piano keys. Performing with Boomwhackers helps to provide students with an extension of their bodies, while experimenting with different genres of songs that are well known, and discovering new songs.

4th Graders have been plugging along on those recorders! We are currently working on our last 5 songs within the Second Packet. After practicing and assessing these songs, students will be given actual sheet music! They will begin collaborating within their classes in preparation for their upcoming Spring Program across the entire grade level! The Spring Program is April 30th, 2026. More info coming soon!

5th Grade has steadily been preparing for their upcoming March 19th, 2026 Music Program by experimenting with and playing Xylophones and Bucket Drums. Just before Winter Break Mrs. Schubert's class and Mrs. Kahoe's class each had an opportunity to play a fun game, "Silent Night." The objective of the game was to pass sleigh bells around their circle without making a sound from themselves, or through the instruments. Students enjoyed some friendly competition during this game!

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