March 8, 2015 - Brown School
BROWN SCHOOL ELETTER ~ MARCH 8, 2015 Read Across America ~ Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss by Cyndi Hoffman To honor Dr. Seuss and his role in promoting children’s literacy, Brown School is celebrating Read Across America. Dr. Seuss did not begin his career as a children’s author. Prior to writing his first children’s book, Dr. Seuss illustrated advertisements and drew cartoons for magazines, such as The Saturday Evening Post. During World War II, Dr. Seuss discovered the art of animation and created animated training films for the Army, featuring Private Snafu. Contrary to popular belief, The Cat in the Hat was not Dr. Seuss’ first book. He had written And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street twenty years earlier. In 1956, he was asked to write a children’s book using only the words on a list of 225 vocabulary words. He had a difficult time coming up with an idea for the book until he decided to use the first two rhyming words that he found on the list. Thus, Cat in the Hat became the main character. After World War II, writers realized that children’s literature had the potential to disseminate good and evil. Dr. Seuss wanted to nurture the good. He not only wanted to teach children to read but also to think. All of his books carry a message. This is particularly true of his books written after World War II, such as The Lorax and The Butter Battle Book. Dr. Seuss was born March 2, 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts, a mere two hour drive from Albany. Today, Springfield boasts a sculpture garden dedicated to Dr. Seuss. Larger-than-life sculptures of his characters adorn the park, which was dedicated in May of 2002. The art and poetry of Dr. Seuss’ books encourage us to think creatively, participate in society, and do what we can to make the world a better place. This week, Brown School students were encouraged to read nightly and return their completed reading logs to school on Monday, March 9. The classes reading the most minutes per student will earn a reward. The March Birthday Bulletin Board sports a Dr. Seuss theme and classroom doors throughout the school are decorated with the students’ favorite children’s books, some of which are pictured here. How many can you identify? 2 5 4 3 6 1 10 9 7 8 11 12 13 14 15 Page 2 Middle School Science Bowl This Saturday, March 7, ten students from the 7th and 8th grade represented Brown School in the New York State Capital District Regional Middle School Science Bowl, the regional competition of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl. Our students competed against other local schools in two competitions: A model car race and fast-paced questions in science and math. This year’s car race challenge was to propel a model car across a track powered only by the dropping of two kilograms of mass. Using the force of gravity alone, the students had to find a solution to not only move the vehicle along a track, but doing so faster than the opposing teams. During the question-based competition, students were given mere seconds to answer challenging questions from various fields of science and math. Results will be posted soon! Upcoming Dates Tuesday, March 10 • School Wide Photo Day - Wear Brown School Clothing OR maroon and white; 5th-8th graders bring sports jerseys Friday, March 13 • Faculty/Staff and Family Open Mic Night 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 20 • No School/PLUS Open - Professional Day for Faculty Wednesday, March 25 • Little Folks Musical (Grades N-4) 8:45-9:45 a.m. Friday, April 3 • No School/PLUS Open - Good Friday April 6-10 • No School/PLUS Open - Spring Recess The children in Mrs. Achtyl and Mrs. Smith's class are having fun making different puppets for their Nursery Rhyme Unit. Baa, Baa, Black Sheep, Monday , April 13 made out of a sock, is a favorite. Watch out for those singing Baa, Baas! • PALS Meeting - 6:30 p.m. Day of School Friday, April 17 • Upper School Social - 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 21 • No School/PLUS Open - Parent Teacher Conference Day Wednesday, April 29 • Fine Arts & Music Fair Please visit the Events page on our website for a full calendar of events. Report cards will be mailed out mid-March. Remember to bring good report cards to First New York Federal Credit Union to receive $5.00 in your student account. Note: the amount has changed from $10.00 to $5.00 due to budget cuts. Please bring report cards to the bank in a timely manner. There is a short window of opportunity for this. Join us for the Faculty/Staff and Family Open Mic night at the Art and Music Café, Friday, March 13 beginning at 6:30. To reserve stage time and seating please contact Mrs. Salvatore at [email protected] Suggested donation $3.00 Page 3 Continent Projects Second Graders created a piece of art to represent each area as they have studied the continents of the world. Kindergarteners have been busy celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday with a pajama day, stuffed animals and Oobleck. They also built incredible structures in the block room! The Three Little Pigs Recently there was an assembly in our gym. The show was called The Three Little Pigs. It was a very nice program with four actors and a musician. They used a scarecrow, bricks, books, straw, sticks, and wooden swords as props. Guess what? The show was an opera. An opera is a play that is sung. From the expressions of the audience, they were impressed. The performers only learned the play in three days! I thought that the show was enjoyable. By A.P. - Grade 4 Thank You, Mamma Mia! Honorary Committee Thank you to all the members of our Mamma Mia! Honorary Committee. We are so grateful for your support. •Anonymous •Felipe Paez and Patti de Paez •Martha and Edward Asselin •Lisa Perrone and Ray Lipani •Susan Bardack •Susan Youmans Place •Joan and Tom Brooks •Alec and Gretchen Platt •Roger and Phyllis Chericoni •Earl and Marna Redding •Jeff Corbin and Janette Schue •Drs. Jill and Joseph Salvo •Drs. David and Micheline Ford •Fardin Sanai and Michele Susko •Mary Frawley •Kelli and Mark Smachlo •Bob and Debbie Geer •Dan and Catherine Smitas •Krishna Govindarajan and Helen •Tom and Suzanne Smith •Michael and Carolyn Sterthous Hanson •Hugh Graham and Tina Sciocchetti •Hon. Paul D. Tonko •Pamela Hoeffner •The van der Veen Family •Gregory Jabaut •Hon. Vincent and Tina Chericoni •Prof. Bernhard Kuhn Versaci •Shane and Kristen Mahieu •Elizabeth Vinciquerra •William and Beth Massmann •Dr. & Mrs. Salvatore Vitale •Sue and James McClymonds Interested in joining the Honorary Committee? There is still time. Contact the Main Office to purchase your tickets or download this form. Regular ticket sales will begin mid-March. Look for the Mamma Mia! invitation to arrive in mailboxes in 2 weeks and return the reply card to purchase regular tickets. Read Across America Classroom Door Answers:1-ish by Peter H. Reynolds, 2-Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola, 3-Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss, 4-The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, 5-Eloise by Kay Thompson, 6-Matilda by Roald Dahl, 7-Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss, 8- Elephant and Piggie by Mo Willems, 9- Clifford by Norman Bridwell, 10-Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes, 11-Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss, 12-The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, 13- Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, 14-Yertle Turtle by Dr. Seuss, 15-Hickory Dickory Dock Page 4 Poetry Centers Students in 4th and 5th Grades have been working together to complete a series of Poetry Centers, where they have been learning about elements of poetry, visualizing poetry, and exploring and writing different types of poetry. Some of the poems they have been learning about include found poems, Kennings, shape poems and rhyming poems. Students have also participated in a literature discussion about the book Love that Dog by Sharon Creech. Students have been working on writing additional types of poetry within their own classrooms as well. We hope you enjoy our poetry collection! Kennings Poems A Kenning is a two word phrase describing an object often using a metaphor. A Kennings poem is a riddle made up of several lines of kennings to describe something or someone. loud roarer fierce scratcher fast runner predator approacher long tailer by Sallie no sound long neck eats leaves tall animal long legs by Chehyun hooting menace flying ace mice catcher nocturnal snatcher egg saver food craver midnight prowler animal chaser meat devourer master sniffer sheep tamer free runner meat hunter sharp hearer cliff leaper wolf packer running lover by Nathan brother harasser parent annoyer food stealer toy taker Nerf-gun shooter helpful player by Noah by Addison Book Spine Poetry Students use book titles to create a new poem Down, Down, Down Incredible Sea Creatures Sharks! by Owen Mistakes Were Made Catching Fire Beyond the Grave We Meet Again by Augie Dear Dumb Diary, Smile It’s Great to Be Eight by Sofia Visualizing Poems After reading a classic poem, students drew their interpretation of the meaning. Hope is a Feathered Thing by Megan Dusty Snow by Thomas Shape Poem Pencil by Will eraser eraser eraser metal metal wood wood wood wood wood wood wood wood wood wood wood wood wood wood lead lea d Found Poems Students used only interesting words that they had found in their environment to create a found poem. Scorpion The villainous scorpion The gigantic scorpion The happy scorpion Crawling towards a kinkajou by Gage Penguins and Koalas fun awesome koalas rejoice rejoice! slow walk penguins rejoice rejoice koalas and penguins rejoice rejoice! by Asa Page 5 Rhyme Poems After exploring the rhyme patterns of different poems, students tried writing their own rhyming poem using their favorite rhyme scheme. I saw a worm, It liked to squirm, He had awesome hair, With some flair. by Natalia Dog I see a dog walking, I see a dog barking. The dog caught a bone, And came back with a stone. by Arjun Monsters Eating Ice Cream Monsters eating ice cream, Can’t believe they fly. They are very chubby, And they’re very tubby. by Peter I always put my candy in a bowl, Unless I see a mole. I have no idea why I’m done with candy, Now I’m going to eat pie. by Devin Bear I am a bear, I’m so cool, yo. I live in a fair, I love fro-yo. by Amanda I was eating my candy in a bowl, then I saw a butterfly on the roll. It was so light, It looked like a moth for it was white. by David Flying swiftly all around, Lands gently on the ground, Spreads its wings and holds its head up high, I stare in awe as it flies toward the sky. by Eva Ice Cream Truck What’s that magical sound? It’s the ice cream truck. Everyone’s rushing all around. Mom says yes, just my luck. by Katie My friend had a ball, She threw it at me. I would rather be at the mall, But I need glasses to see. by Morgan Opposite Rhyme Poems After writing rhyme poems, students tried writing a 2 stanza poem about a pair of opposites using the same rhyme scheme for both stanzas. Up and Down When I go up I feel like I’m flying, I certainly don’t think I’m dying. When I go up I feel free, So won’t you go up with me? When I go down it’s such a bore, Let’s not do this anymore. Going down it’s not real fun, Just like going on a run. by Emilio Sweet Tooth Am I I like candy so much I could die I will eat it all my life If I'm ever told no I will fight Candy is so sweet I will eat all in my sight Candy, candy is so yucky It will rot all my teeth I will say no to candy Candy is so un-dandy by Isabel Up vs. Down Up high in the sky, it’s where the planes fly, The peaks of the mountains, the arcs of fountains. Where it likes to snow, instead of rain, Far above, our dusty lane. Down in the underwater caves, deep below the ocean waves. It’s cold down there, but we don’t care. Because the caves hold lots of wonders, thousands and thousands of really high numbers. by Charlie Ocean and Land Ocean, ocean big and bright, Ocean, ocean big and light. Ocean, ocean home to fish, Ocean, ocean swish, swish. Land, land long and flat, Land, land like a mat. Land, land home to peoples, Land, land home to steeples. by Olivia Bookworm? I am crazy as a little fly and my energy doesn't ever die I'll never sit and learn some words When I want to run and eat some nerds I will never sit down and read a book because what's the point, it won't change your look What's up with that little guy She just thinks she's as smart as a fly but I'll be the better one and read a book and that will be the better look because when mom walks in right through the door she'll look at me and I'll be the most adored by Mia Page 6 2014-2015 Annual Appeal Update We are very grateful to the following people for their donations. The total gifts and pledges to date to the 2014-2015 Brown School Annual Appeal are $34,230. When you support the Annual Appeal, you make an investment in the educational quality of the school, enriching the academic curriculum and enhancing student activities. The uniqueness of a Brown School education, with its tradition of academic excellence and musical and artistic richness, is only made possible by the equally strong tradition of giving by the Brown School community. Gifts to Brown School are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Platinum Level Donors: ($2,500 and above) Jose and Kirsten Almeida Silver Level Donors: ($500-$999) Dr. and Mrs. Michael Burke Jeffrey Corbin and Janette Schue GE Foundation Pamela and Doug Hoeffner Greg Jabaut Chris Kelly and Kris Lowney Sue and James McClymonds Principal Investments Jill Salvo Art and Joan Storey Maroon & White Level Donors: ($100-$249) Anonymous Anonymous Susan Arnold and Edward Muhl Gold Level Donors: Dr. James and Dr. Lynn Boler ($1,000-$2,499) Jim and Lucy Cesare Anonymous Scott and Linda Curtis Janet and Allen Barnett Myron Dytiuk and Areta Lara Turney and Frank Coon Pidwerbetsky David and Micheline Ford Marie and Michael Fariello Krishna Govindarajan and Mary Ann and Tim Frame Helen Hanson Anna and Jason Gabree Bronze Level Donors: Hugh Graham and Tina Thomas and Cynthia ($250-$499) Sciocchetti Goodman Anonymous Beth and Bill Massmann David and Sheila Griffin Tom and Joan Brooks Scott Powhida Sharon Kielty Carlo Cioffi Michele Susko and Fardin Jim and Emily Klotz Jim and Mary Frawley Sanai Erika Koutelis Robert Gach The Sandvik Family Teri and Carmen Lomonoco Robert and Debra Geer Kelli and Mark Smachlo Joan Mahieu Mohammed and Rae Haouaoui Tom and Suzanne Smith Denise Martin Dawn and Michael Przekurat Michael and Carolyn Sterthous Carla Mastriano Kevin Rosenberg and Natalie Vincent Versaci and Tina Rob and Betsy Messenger Lopasic Chericoni Versaci Donna Mitchell and Ronald Lotfi Sayahi Salvatore and Patti Vitale Tys William and Karen Smith James Noviczski and Jonina Arend van der Veen and Wilkins Christine Clark Lisa Perrone Maureen Vinciquerra Lauren Pine Bernstein Liz and Joe Vinciquerra Thomas and Evelyn Read Kathryn West and John Christine Richardson Ciovacco Nancy Sciocchetti Tom and Sandra Smith Wayne P. Smith Karen and John Spinelli Friend Level Donors: (Up to $99) Patricia Achtyl Cheryl Ackner Anonymous Jason and Nina Benway Pat and Jim Boler Teresa Burke Stephen and Elizabeth Girolami Evelyn and Steven Greenstein Jeffrey and Jessica Hladik Amanda Keil Michael and Maryellen Koutelis Melanie McGann Pamela and Timothy McLeron Doulla and Brian Mertik Linda and Gerald Mossey Karen Muhl Frank and Mary Salvatore United Way William and Nancy Winkler Katie Zerega Lei Zhang and Ye Ding Updated Mar. 4, 2015 Did you know you could make your Annual Appeal donation online? Save stamps, paper, and your time! 150 Corlaer Ave. Schenectady, NY 12304 518.370.0366 Website: brownschool.org Unsubscribe from e-letter mailing list Visit our secure online giving page to make a gift using your credit card, PayPal account, or bank account. All gifts are processed through PayPal.
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