The Woodland Weekly

Friday is a half day! We know that half days can be a big adjustment for families, and we want to share what our teachers are doing during these important collaboration afternoons. These sessions provide valuable time for teachers to work together on improving instruction and supporting student learning.

During collaboration days, teachers review student data, plan lessons aligned with grade-level standards, and share strategies to help all students grow academically, socially, and emotionally. They also use this time to strengthen interventions, plan enrichment activities, and align our teaching practices across grade levels. This year, in addition to looking at grade level practices, we are examining building practices as well, in hopes of providing a seamless transition from one building to the next. Book reads, utilizing AI, PBIS strategies and many other activities help the teachers stay on top of what's happening in education.

This dedicated time helps ensure that every student receives consistent, high-quality instruction throughout the school district. Thank you for your understanding and support as our teachers continue learning and growing...just like our students!

Warmly,

Emma and Kayla

erood@stgrsd.org

kbrady@stgrsd.org

413-569-6598

https://www.stgrsd.org/community/calendars/s_t_g_r_s_d_calendar_of_events

October 31: 1/2 Day Staff Collab., 12:00 Dismissal, No PM Preschool

November 5: 2nd Grade (E105, E110) Field Trip

November 7: 2nd Grade (E107, E109, E112) Field Trip

November 10: Staff Professional Development, NO SCHOOL

November 11: Veterans' Day, NO SCHOOL

November 12: Grade 1 Field Trip (All Classes)

November 12: Picture Retakes

November 13: PTO 5:30 @PMS

November 19: The NED Show

November 20: Turkey Trot (Rain Date Nov. 21)

November 25: Grades Close

November 26: Half Day, 12:00 Dismissal, No PM Preschool

November 27 & 28: Thanksgiving, NO SCHOOL

If you plan on sending in a treat for your child’s birthday or a classroom celebration, please make sure that it is store-bought and remains in its original packaging with a visible ingredient label.

This helps us keep all students safe by allowing us to check for potential allergens in the classroom.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!

Our preschoolers will continue learning about their five senses. This month, we will explore the senses of touch, smell, and taste through fun and engaging activities.

The children will keep participating in daily Heggerty lessons, where they practice identifying rhyming words, blending and segmenting syllables, and isolating beginning and ending sounds in words.

In math, we will be introduced to the numbers 7, 8, 9, and 10, while reviewing numbers 1–6. Children will also practice showing numbers 1–10 on their rekenreks.

In writing, preschoolers will continue practicing the proper way to hold crayons, tracing letters, and writing or tracing their names.

We are also enjoying plenty of playtime! The children continue to build friendships and strengthen social skills as they engage in play during centers and recess.

ELA:

Over the next month, kindergarten students will learn about what makes a community. We will read books about the people and places in a community, and the ways in which we all work together to make a community strong. Children will write letters to teach others about our community, practice identifying and producing rhyming words, identify story elements such as character, setting, and topic/main idea. In small reading groups they will engage in foundational reading skills such as blending and segmenting sounds, sound spelling, and apply those skills into word reading.

Math:

Students will continue to work in Unit 2 of our math curriculum. This unit will have students answer “How Many” questions, count out, and compare groups of objects within 10. Students will also learn to write a number to represent a quantity. For example, a student will learn to write the numeral 4 next to a group of four objects.

Science and Social Studies:

We begin our next Unit of Animals and Habitats. In the first portion of the unit, the students will engage in play and exploration activities that allow them to learn and study aquatic habitats. Students will learn about the life cycles of frogs and fish, as well as create their own representations of aquatic life and habitats in Blocks center and Dramatic Play. At the discovery table kindergarteners will investigate how fish move in water. Later, students will learn about owls and wolves.

Students in Grade 1 are working hard!

In ELA, we are working on blending and decoding short vowel words with digraphs (two letters that make one sound) sh, wh, th, and ch. We have just started a new reading module all about animals. Both our reading and science texts will relate to the essential question of “how do animals' bodies help them to grow and survive”.

In writing, the students will write an informational booklet about an animal that they are interested in. Then, we will share and teach others all about it!

In math, we continue to read, discuss, and solve number stories. Students are showing their thinking through drawings and equations, both in addition and subtraction. First graders are learning to solve for the unknown part in a story, as well as show their thinking in stories that compare numbers.

In social studies, we are exploring fairness and justice within our family and school communities. Students continue to follow and expand their understanding of Woodland CARES. This month we are practicing teamwork and sportsmanship, and we will go to a Springfield Thunderbirds game to watch it in action!

Second graders are enjoying the autumn season and continuing to progress in their learning! The current module in reading is Module 3: Meet in the Middle. During this module, students are learning about working out conflicts and disagreeing with others in a respectful way. They have read about compromise and explored ways to settle differences. In writing, students are wrapping up an imaginative story and will work on a personal essay next.

In math, students are working on Unit 2: Adding and Subtracting within 100. In this unit, students add and subtract within 100 using strategies based on place value,

properties of operations, and the relationship between addition and subtraction. They then use what they know to solve story problems.

Second graders are currently wrapping up a science unit on properties of materials. This unit corresponds to the engineering standards for grade 2. Over the last few weeks, students have used the engineering process in a variety of hands-on activities that required them to use what they know about properties of materials to select the best materials for an intended purpose. For example, they were tasked with designing and building model sails for sailboats, and roofs for chicken coops!

At the completion of this science unit, students will delve into geography in the next social studies unit.

In other news, second graders are looking forward to their field trip to Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary on November 5 (rooms E105 and E110) and November 7 (rooms E107, E109, and E112).

NED's Resiliency Ride, is a character education program that centers around three important messages that have lifelong relevance: Never give up, Encourage others and Do your best. During the assembly, students will learn about the importance of these three life skills while also enjoying storytelling, magic, humor and yo-yo tricks. All Woodland students will attend on Wednesday, November 19th, from 9:30-10:15.

Though these little critters look cute and cuddly, they are causing chaos with our kids. They are falling off, getting thrown, going missing, getting traded (and then wanted back) and causing distractions in class. They are essentially toys, and like all toys, we would appreciate if they could stay at home. Thank you in advance for your help in this.

STGRSD is excited to be introducing "World Food Wednesday" as a way to highlight different countries and cultures through their food traditions. Our first WFW on 11/19 features a Salvadoran-inspired meal of a bean & cheese pupusa with curtido and salsa, served with sweet plantains and fruit sprinkled with Tajin.

As the fall weather is upon us -- we know the holidays will be here before we know it! For many years, our community has come together to support families in need during this time.

If your family is experiencing some hardships right now, our Holiday Giving Tree community is here for you.

Here's how the Giving Tree works:

• Families in need, please reach out to Maryanne Margiotta at mmargiotta@stgrsd.org.

• Create a wish list for each child (infant to age 18), providing:

  1. Gender and age of child or children

  2. Sizes for clothing items, shoes, and boots. Clothing items to consider are coats, snow pants, hats and gloves, shirts, pants, pajamas, socks and underwear.

  3. Specific toys, games, and arts and crafts selections. What does your child really want? Please do not ask for computer electronics, phones, video games, gaming systems, or gift cards, as we will be unable to honor your request.

If you are interested in helping others in our community, we can greatly use your help! If you would like to help us fulfill our wish list requests, please email me at mmargiotta@stgrsd.org and I will be sure to send you a link to the online Sign Up Genius we will be creating, where you can sign up for any items you'd like to donate. We greatly appreciate any help at all you are able to give us!

Many of our generous supporters will be ordering online and like to take advantage of sales, particularly around Thanksgiving. Coordinating this support takes time and a lot of communication, so we ask you to please respond promptly if you need some help this holiday season.

***If your family needs our support, we are glad to assist -- but we will need time to fulfill your request. For this reason, the deadline to submit your wish list to us is no later than WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12***

Please know that family information is kept confidential and that there is no judgment in asking for help. We all struggle from time to time and have to overcome many challenges. Leaning on each other helps to get through those tough times. We are a strong community -- and we are here for you! Best of wishes to you and your family!

The Pathways Program at SRS is doing a community service project working with the Community Food Pantry in Southwick. They will be collecting specific items each month according to the pantry's needs. This month they are looking for all kinds of canned soups and hygiene products but will gladly accept any donations you provide. The donation bin will be located in the lobby of the main office. Thank you!