KES 2025 November Newsletter 🦃
Building a Community of Belonging
COMMUNITY READ: You Matter
You Matter by Christian Robinson is a beautifully illustrated picture book that delivers a powerful message: Everyone matters. No matter who you are, what you're feeling, or what’s happening around you — you matter. The book explores this idea from many perspectives — from people to animals, even to planets and microbes — reminding us that we all have value, and we’re all connected. In today’s busy world, both kids and adults sometimes need reminders that they are important and seen. This book offers that reminder in a simple, moving way that encourages:
Self-confidence and belonging
Compassion for others
Mindfulness and being present
Open conversations about emotions
This book will be coming home with your child for ONE NIGHT during the month.
We anticipate much colder weather in the coming weeks. Jackets, fleeces and sweatshirts (not shorts!) are recommended for days that hover in the 40’s.
Once winter weather arrives, we will ask for more substantial articles of clothing like boots, gloves, and hats. Recess will continue to take place in cold weather and will remain outdoors as long as temperatures do not feel lower than 20 degrees.
It is recommended that you write your child’s initials or their name on the tags of outerwear items that come into school. This will allow us to return your child’s jacket or fleece if it is misplaced and brought to the lost and found. Thank you for your continued support.
Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS, formerly RTI)
If your child meets KLSD eligibility criteria and qualifies for MTSS-I/RtI services, you will receive a communication from your child’s teacher and a formal RtI Entry Letter this month.
K-5 Curriculum Updates
Each month, we will be providing curriculum highlights from each grade level. Please know that these are snapshots and do not reflect all the curriculum and learning in the classroom.
Students in kindergarten will continue to move through our initial reading unit in which they will develop a sense of how books work and what independent and partner reading looks like, while familiarizing themselves with both fiction and nonfiction texts. In writing, students will continue to carefully illustrate their ideas while also drawing upon their growing knowledge of letter-sound correspondence to add letters and words to their writing pieces. In math, students will compare numbers to 5 and begin to explore numbers to 10 using manipulatives, games, and pencil and paper. In science, we will continue our unit on the needs of living things and work in the KES garden.
Students in first grade will become word detectives during our reading time. The word detectives will learn to carefully examine words from beginning to end and spot common word endings like -s and -ing. In Writing Workshop, students will explore mentor texts such as Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry and Night of the Veggie Monster by George McClements. Students will learn to "copy-cat" fun writing techniques like using sound words and bold text to make their writing pop. In math, we will continue our work on counting to 120. We will also focus on learning about doubles and using the counting-on strategy to help with addition. During social studies, we will focus on ways we can be kind, responsible, and helpful members of our school community. In science, students will build on their understanding of how animals and plants use specific structures to meet their survival needs.
Students in second grade will be writing informational chapter books, just like experts. To help support their efforts, they will be learning all about non-fiction conventions in reading workshop. We can’t wait to see their writing and reading skills evolve! In math, second graders are using hands-on tools to explore addition and subtraction. These concrete experiences help students build a strong foundation for developing mental strategies that will support their problem-solving for years to come (or for a lifetime!) . The second graders will also be spending November continuing their social studies unit on Communities. They will be traveling back in time to see how communities have changed over the decades, culminating in a fun 1950s event on the 50th day of school! As scientists, the 2nd graders will continue learning about properties of materials and what will make both a sticky AND strong glue! Our students will also learn the meaning and importance of Veteran’s Day. We’re so grateful for all that our Veterans have done for us. We’re happy to commemorate them as November 11th approaches.
Students in third grade are diving into exciting new learning across all subjects!
In reading, students are working in our unit Reading to Learn: Grasping Main Idea and Text Structures. They are learning how to determine the importance of information in expository (nonfiction) texts, identify main ideas and supporting details, and deepen their engagement by asking thoughtful questions. As readers, they are synthesizing and growing their ideas as they learn from informational texts. In math, students are focusing on two topics. Topic 5: Fluently Multiply and Divide within 100 emphasizes selecting and using efficient strategies to build fluency and recall of all products of two one-digit numbers. In Topic 6: Connect Area to Multiplication and Division, students will develop a strong understanding of area and see how it connects to the operations of multiplication and division. In social studies, our unit Settling in the United States explores how and why people came to the United States and became part of our country. Students will also study the diversity that makes up our nation, learning about the many groups of people who contribute to our shared culture. It’s a month full of meaningful learning and discovery in third grade!
Students in fourth grade will embark upon a cross-curricular study, learning about Indigenous groups in New York State and beyond, and studying informational texts to gather information. They are continuing their study of sentence types and grammatical rules as they dive deeper into grammar studies. In Science, we are concluding our first unit, looking at how fossils form and learning about how the landscape can change over time, forming rocks, fossils, and different environments. In math, students are learning new strategies for multidigit multiplication, and beginning to understand strategies for division.
Students in fifth grade will be honing their writing skills as they create vivid personal narratives. They will continue to read fiction and work on writing well thought out responses to a text with evidence to back up their thinking. In math, fifth graders will explore multiplying and dividing decimals and whole numbers. In science, we are finishing our first unit, Patterns of Earth and Sky. In social studies, we are learning about the early people of the Western Hemisphere. Throughout the month, students will be using KES library data bases to research topics from American history and create multimedia presentations and 3D floats in preparation for a "Day Before Thanksgiving Day" Parade on Wednesday, November 26. Fifth grade parents will be welcome to attend. More details to follow!
November is full of curiosity and creativity in the KES Library!
Kindergarten students are immersing themselves in leaf-themed books—both fiction and nonfiction—and using their questioning skills to explore all things leafy. They’ll also create their own colorful leaf bookmarks to celebrate fall reading fun.
First and second graders are continuing to build their coding skills. First graders are using KaiBots to navigate a Thanksgiving-themed maze, while second graders are being introduced to block-style coding using Dash robots and the Blockly app.
Third and fourth graders are diving into nonfiction for KNOW-vember, exploring fascinating informational texts and topics. Third graders are formulating questions and conducting guided research, while fourth graders are identifying and investigating aspects of a broad topic that spark their curiosity.
Fifth graders are also participating in KNOW-vember as they research U.S. history topics for their Day Before Thanksgiving Day Parade project.
Across all grades, students will enjoy stories centered on gratitude and thankfulness, reminding us of the importance of kindness and appreciation during this season of giving.
Art
This past month in the art room, artists were busy with fall icons- some traditional and some modern and unconventional.
Kindergarten artists were inspired by Yayoi Kusama’s iconic polka dot pumpkins and are in the process of creating their own huge, vibrant, wildly colorful polka dot pumpkin paintings.
First graders closely observed real pumpkins and gourds (from Mrs. Eckler’s garden) and drew representational ones with gorgeous blends of a new medium: chalk pastels.
Kindergarten
This month, our youngest musicians are exploring music through dramatic play and movement. Students are learning to use proper vocal tone while engaging with short rhythm patterns through speech, body percussion, and unpitched instruments. They are also being introduced to proper mallet technique. In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, students are enjoying songs and dances that honor Native American cultures.
First Grade
First graders are strengthening their musical foundation by keeping a steady beat while singing and playing unpitched instruments. They’re developing pitch-matching skills and learning to read and perform basic rhythms, including quarter notes, quarter rests, and eighth notes. Students are also learning songs of gratitude and participating in Native American cultural music and dance activities.
Second Grade
In second grade, students are expanding their rhythmic and vocal skills. They are practicing quarter and eighth note rhythms, developing their head voice, and exploring the use of dynamics (loud/soft) in performance. As they prepare for Special Person’s Days, students are learning songs that celebrate kindness. Native American cultural songs and dances are also part of their November experience.
Third Grade
Third graders are working on musical independence by singing in rounds and partner songs. They are also applying their knowledge of dynamics to enhance musical expression. Additionally, students will continue to develop their skills for playing the Recorder, focusing on using the correct amount of air and playing songs in two-part harmony. In honor of Native American Heritage Month, students are participating in traditional songs and dances from Native American cultures.
Fourth Grade
In November, fourth graders are exploring two-part harmony through festive holiday songs. They’re also beginning an exciting journey into musical theater, including auditioning for their upcoming grade-level production. In recognition of Native American Heritage Month, students are learning and participating in traditional songs and dances that celebrate Native American cultures.
Fifth Grade
Fifth grade students are showcasing their musical growth by singing in two-part harmony and expressing music through singing, speaking, and movement. They are learning to conduct in ¾ time and applying dynamics to enhance performance. As with other grades, November includes an exploration of Native American songs and dances, deepening cultural understanding through music.
Physical Education
During the month of November, students will continue to build their physical fitness through a variety of warm up routines such as AMRAPs, ladder workouts and Alphabet Fitness. The students will also be participating in a variety of cooperative games where they learn the importance of teamwork, sportsmanship and communication. Towards the end of the month, we have some fun Thanksgiving themed activities planned as well!
Cristy Harris, Principal and KES Dignity Act Coordinator 763-7700 or charris@klschools.org
Kweon Stambaugh, Assistant Principal (designee) 763-7705 or kstambaugh@klschools.org
Jessica Fulton, Social Worker (designee) 763-7669 or jfulton@klschools.org.