Nursing Notes by Kerry Mihalcik

This month on Wellness Wednesday broadcasts, the fourth graders and I will give facts about nutrition for National Nutrition Month. We celebrate “Go For The Greens” on March 17^th with items such as green salad, peas, green beans and pears.

Data entry continues in Skyward for all medical information and in anticipation of completion of the BMI segment and mail merging for parent informational letters in May. Kindergarten paperwork registration continues this month. Obtaining medical records  continues throughout the school year. Also I attended a conference on March 4^th on Life- Threatening Pediatric Emergencies. It was extremely informative.

Reading Notes by Marilyn Nepps

During the week of March 2^nd we celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday and Read Across America Day by having guest readers come in to read to the students.

I attended the Literacy Fest Conference, sponsored by the Tri-County Reading Association and the Delaware Valley Reading Association, on March 7^th. I participated in a roundtable discussion entitled Response to Intervention: The Successes and Struggles along with Spring-Ford colleagues Johnna Weller, Carol Vogt, and Wendy Taylor. On March 12^th, I attended a Response to Intervention workshop sponsored by the American Reading Company in King of Prussia. The featured speaker was Dr. Richard Allington, the author of What Really Matters in Response to Intervention and many other books. Dr. Allington’s message was that in order to close the achievement gap for struggling readers schools need to a) provide a minimum of 30 minutes of daily intervention in addition to the core reading program; b) have expert teachers deliver the intervention; c) provide core instruction using books written at the students’ instructional levels; d) provide students with daily independent reading time using self-selected texts at their independent reading levels.

Media Center by Jean Novis

During library classes in the month of March, Brooke’s primary classes were exposed to literature and author appreciation through books and lessons centered on favorite and famous authors such as Eric Carle, Rosemary Wells, the Grimm Brothers and Gertrude Chandler Warner. They will focus on the background and lives of these authors as well as how they develop their ideas and produce award-winning books. The primary classes worked on the important basic parts of a book and the information found on a book’s title page. The intermediate classes completed work on their animal and state research reports. These research reports will be on display in the Media Center.

In the Music Room by Karen Schodle

Riverdance is March’s Musicians of the Month. The show uses Irish high stepping tap steps with dramatic lighting, eye-catching costumes, a great stage design, and a live orchestra. Students will be learning the history of Irish music and its dancing. March is Music In Our Schools’ Month. This year’s theme is ‘Music! Just Imagine’; It is celebrated all across America. The theme signifies how teaching music touches the lives of many children that carry on through adulthood and just imagine…”Around the World”.

Students in Grades 1 and 2 are learning about St. Patrick’s Day, its traditions, and singing Irish folk music. Students continue singing songs that integrate rhyming words with clapping their syllables. Third Grade students are beginning playing notes B & A on their colored recorders. Grade 4 students are excited preparing for the Spring Concert on Wednesday, May 20, 2009. The concert’s title is: “Music’s Got The Beat!” Selections are: There’s No Business Like Show Business, (I’ve Got Spurs That) Jingle, Jangle, Jingle, You Can’t Stop the Beat!, The Stars and Stripes, and We Go Together.

In the Art Room by Susan DiGuiseppe

Students in kindergarten are working on a drawing of their families. Students in first grade are learning about how artists create art from objects around them, known as a still life. Students will create a still life of a vase and flowers. Students in second grade are working on a cut paper project. They were asked to think about a special chair in their home. Students thought about this as they read the book A Chair for My Mother. Students in third grade are working on a landscape project made from tissue paper. Students sketched an idea from looking at several different landscapes and seascapes. That idea will be turned into their landscape made from layers of tissue paper. Students in fourth grade are working on a colorful snowflakes project. Students painted a background by thinking about color on the color wheel. A cut paper technique was used to create snowflakes and some layering of the two ties it all together.

From the Counselor’s Office by Sue Pronchik

This month we’ve continued weaving friendship bracelets/bookmarks for Kenya –we have 130 completed! Each one is a symbol of friendship and social connection. Along with Swahili we’ve also learned about their culture and the similarities and differences in life that we each face.

I have also started a group for fourth grade girls on healing the fall out of relational aggression. My other groups for changing families and managing emotions continue. Spring Ford counseling is going to assist with completing 2 of my groups for 3 weeks, due to other duties.  Along with managing the child study process, completing paperwork for the MDE process and testing –life is always an adventure in room 7.

This week and next I’ll provide supportive services to teachers/students who are taking the PSSA’s and Terra Nova test.

Lastly, I’ve sent out request for Career day –April 2^nd. I’ve had a wonderful response and I designed a questionnaire for the presenters to help correlate skills learned here at school with future professions. The presenters have returned them with positive comments. This will be a great learning experience for our 3^rd and 4^th grade students.

There’s still one more big event after Career day –stay tuned!

From the Gym by Joelle Bieber

The entire school enjoyed a staff-student basketball game to celebrate how well our Jump Rope for Heart event went at Brooke.  The top 11 students who fundraised the most money got to play in a basketball game against various staff members, including Dr. Mackel.  Three high school girl basketball players came to help officiate and coach the student team.  The student team beat the faculty team by 2 points in an exciting game. Students in grades 2 through 4 are finishing their volleyball unit in the next week.  Students in these grades will then begin fitness testing for the Presidential Physical Fitness Awards.  The students have been working on these events throughout the school year.  Students in grades K-1 are finished their ball skills unit and the first grade students will also beginning fitness testing in the next few weeks.  Students in kindergarten will be doing a short unit on dance once their ball skills unit is finished.