“As we watch the children’s interest in letters and writing grow, we look for ways to encourage and support that interest in an organic and meaningful way. When the children turned our imaginary play area into a coffee shop, we encouraged them to create a menu. A group of children drew pictures to represent the menu items while another group wrote the words. The menu is now hanging in the coffee shop area and “read” by all of the children when they order.”

Mrs. Binder and Ms. Thompson
Preschool Rm. 3

Last Friday, Mrs. Long’s fifth graders held a Read-In: an entire day devoted to the love of reading. The day began with a poem by Wallace Stevens: “The House was Quiet and the World was Calm,” an ode to the stillness of reading. Students then spread out around the room to read books of their choice. During the day, the class discussed their most recent class novel, The Sign of the Beaver, watched a film of the book, and compared the two versions. Finally, the group began a new class novel, Kate DiCamillo’s The Magician’s Elephant. The Read-In supports the primary goal of the reader’s workshop: to help students develop as critical and enthusiastic readers.

Ms. Blake introduced her second graders to writing in India ink with real quill “pens” this week. Students practiced writing letters in their normal style and then graduated to copying fancy script letters off a modeling sheet. The exploration of antique penmanship flowed from a piece of literature Ms. Blake had shared with the class.

Today Gillispie’s two kindergarten classrooms celebrated Australia Day to highlight their study of the country that’s also a continent (and island!). Students presented songs of Australia during the morning K-2 assembly while also sharing their growing knowledge of the continent through an A-Z book about the country; in the afternoon they enjoyed activities (such as the mapping experience, below). As part of their their social studies lessons, each elementary classroom studies one of the seven continents, ensuring that children have “traveled the globe” by the time they graduate as sixth graders.

Grade 1 students enjoy their time in the spotlight as they parade around campus during the annual Chinese New Year Parade. All early childhood and elementary students came outside on this beautiful day to enjoy the spectacle.

During yesterday’s Grades 3-6 assembly on how students can take back the power from those who would use bullying behaviors, PlayItSafe instructor Hank Jennat demonstrates how to use “confident defense hands” when speaking with an aggressor.

Activists in Mrs. Shieh’s Grade 4 classroom respectfully asked the head of school for the return of cheddar bunnies as a morning snack item:

“Dear Ms. Fleming,
We appreciate the snack that we get, but we would really appreciate it if you would bring back cheddar bunnies.”

Their heartfelt request was granted.

Grade 2 student Ames K. reads to Book Buddy Alec D. during a recent visit by Preschool Room 4 students to Ms. Blake’s second grade classroom. Older students love the chance to “be the big kid” while the younger students relish the opportunity to visit the upper campus. Programs like Book Buddies help make Gillispie a nurturing community of learners.

Students in Mrs. Shemanski’s Grade 1 classroom achieved a reading milestone today by reading independently, quietly, and without interruption for 20 minutes. Students have been exploring the concept of stamina–by comparing the stamina needed for running and swimming to that needed for reading and writing–since the beginning of the year. The children are reading from their individualized book bags, which were stocked according to the results of their one-on-one Fountas and Pinnell assessments to ensure “just right” learning.

Sixth graders recently worked with partners to create an ancient scroll highlighting Hebrew leaders as they reviewed the major religions of ancient Egypt (all part of their History Alive! social studies curriculum).

The rubric for the project included (among other requirements) the following challenges: 
–Include a visual that illustrates an important action taken by an individual (e.g., Moses parting the Red Sea) 
–Include a paragraph of original writing that explains how the figures contributed to the development of Judaism.

And this from our Room 6 prekindergarten teachers Mrs. Epperson and Mrs. Goedman: “Math is everywhere! During snack today the prekindergarten students noticed that the girls were at one table and the boys were at another table. This led to them counting the number of girls and boys and noting that we had more boys today than girls! Then they began to compare the snack trays at each table with comments such as, ‘The girls have more cheddar bunnies than the boys’ and ‘We have a little bit of strawberries but the boys have a lot’ and ‘There is only one gingerbread cookie for each of us.’ Four and five year old mathematical minds are a wonderful thing!”

Room 2 was visited by a local firefighter this week who taught fire safety and told stories about his life as a firefighter. Lessons included fire safety at home (crawl out as fast as you can) and at school (report to your teacher anyone you see with matches or a lighter). Students also practiced the “stop, drop, and roll” method.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the La Jolla Christmas Parade last Sunday and to the anonymous donors who arranged for our double decker bus ride. Students and parents riding on the bus were delighted to see parade watchers sit straight up in their chairs as our “float” came rolling down the street. We applaud art teacher Mrs. Walters for the cheerful, colorful murals that decorated the bus and music teacher Mrs. Jacobs for leading our choir through a warm-hearted mix of holiday songs.

Chloe G.and Annie Z. use their lunchtime recess during 5th and 6th Grade Open Art with Mrs. Walters to sponge terra cotta pots with silver and gold stars. Once painted, the pots were filled with 10-inch rosemary trees and donated to the La Jolla Riford Center. On December 6, the Gillispie Choir will spread cheer as they sing to the senior citizens at the Riford Center’s holiday luncheon.

Sammie S. and Ryan N. showed their yo-yo prowess to last Friday’s early childhood assembly. This was a wonderful opportunity for older students to share with our younger students the importance of consistent practice. Here, Ryan shows his skills with the Eiffel Tower; the preschoolers were also very impressed with Sammie’s Around the World and his Walking the Dog.

Mr. Wagner, one of Gillispie’s long-time facilities managers, was recently tidying campus with an ultra-quiet leaf blower (powered with a rechargable battery). Some students, including Erika P., showed great interest and enjoyed getting a chance to gather fall leaves with green technology.

Elsewhere on campus, Mrs. Shemanski’s Grade 1 students gathered leaves for the school compost pile to provide a carbon influx toward balancing the nitrogen from composted fruits and veggies.

Preschool Room 3 students Blaze C., Beth C., and Zachary Z. enjoy pinching, pulling, and rolling dough into lines and curves to form letters. This multi-sensory activity not only encourages letter recognition but also prepares the children for writing by strengthening their hand muscles and improving finger dexterity.

Brin J. shows her enthusiasm for a correct answer on her first ST Math module while Nicholas A. navigates through a question of his own. As part of Gillispie’s 1-1 laptop program, all Grades 3-6 students are issued MacBooks to use throughout the year. ST Math, an online resource that Gillispie is using to complement Everyday Math, will be implemented across multiple grade levels during the balance of the year.