Monday, May 13, 2013

Wiffle Ball Tournament

Register Now

The Third Annual Jacob M. Boudreau Wiffle Ball Tournament will be held July 20th at the Coolidge School field.  The tournament raises funds to award college scholarships to SHS seniors in memory of Jake (a Coolidge kid), who at 12 years old lost his long and courageous battle with cancer. Round up your family, friends, and neighbors and register a team for the tournament. It's always a great time! Pre-registration is open now:
http://www.jacobmboudreaumemorialfund.com. 

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Project Based Learning Comes to Grade Three

Project Based Learning(PBL) Is Here!

Project based learning is an instructional approach built upon authentic learning activities that engage student interest and motivation. The Shrewsbury School Committee set a district goal for all grade levels throughout the system to encourage student participation in PBL next year. Always ahead of the trend, the third grade team has modified our end of year home based math activity to fit the parameters of a PBL task. The purpose for this is two fold: (1) students can use the additional home study for mastery of their basic math facts, and (2) guided exploration will introduce the PBL model to the students in a familiar environment with teachers and classmates they are comfortable with and work with cooperatively.

The task will be to create a math game to strengthen and review one of the concepts learned this year. The students will decide on the concept they will review and the type of game they will create. Cooperative work and delineation of tasks will be necessary to meet agreed upon goals and deadlines. Authentic evaluation will be demonstrated when the students play and assess each others games.

The students and staff look forward to out first PBL challenge.

Poetry Projects Fantastic

We Have Poets and We Know It!

The poetry projects were fantastic! The students enjoy our weekly poetry reading, analysis, and writing. It showed in the variety of the poems they shared, the quality of their individual analysis, and in their original compositions. We had a poetry slam May 1st where all third graders shared their original poems with an audience. They had the opportunity to answer questions and accept compliments from their classmates. The spectacular posters from all four third grades are on display in the third floor hallway. Stop up and take a look!

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Math MCAS May 7th and 8th

Strategies for Success

The students are well prepared for the Math MCAS this week. They have learned numerous strategies for success, not just for this high stake test but as lifelong skills for any assessment.

* Read the question carefully.
   Underline key words.
   Circle the action you are asked to take.
   Tell yourself what you are being asked to do as a way of understanding the question.

* Show your thinking.
   Write the problem out. Don't calculate just in your head.
   Leave a trail about your thinking that someone else could follow.
   Solve two different ways and compare your answer.
   Add back.
   Draw pictures.
   Always include an answer statement for open response questions.
   Don't forget to label.

* You aren't done until . . .
   You have checked your work twice.
   You have actually solved the problems two times and gotten the same answer.
   You have answered ALL parts of the question.
   Your answer circles are filled in neatly, darkly, and completely, with no stray marks.
   An answer circle is filled in for each numbered question.
   Your work is neat, complete, and legible.

Homework this week is . . .

Go to bed early.
Get plenty of rest.
Eat a good breakfast.
Pack two healthy snacks and a water bottle.
Bring a CAN DO attitude!

Calling All Comic Book Lovers

Free Comic Book From Newbury Comics

Stop by Newbury Comics Saturday May 4th and receive a free comic book in honor of National Comic Book Day. You may bring your new book to school to enjoy for D.E.A.R. during dismissal.

Shrewsbury Schools Art Festival

Student Art on Display

The Annual Shrewsbury Schools Art Festival will be held Saturday May 4th at the Senior Center from 10-2. Artwork by students of all ages from throughout the district will be on display. Stop in to see the amazing talent we have here in Shrewsbury. The Hurley's are well represented with multiple student pieces on display. Congratulations to Beatriz, Desiree, Stephanie, and Tony!

Lunch Lady Day

Coolidge Lunch Ladies Receive Thanks
 
Children's author and Worcester native Jarrett J. Krosoczka is the man responsible for the beloved Lunch Lady series. The characters are based on the lunch ladies in his elementary school cafeteria in Worcester where he grew up. To acknowledge the hard work of these unsung heroes Krosoczka encouraged participation in National Lunch Lady Day May 3rd. Our wonderful lunch ladies were swamped with cards, hugs, and thanks Friday in appreciation for all they do to keep us happy, healthy, and well feed.