Rees Block S'more May 2026

Physical Education Rees Stars Newsletter

Kindergarten – 4th Grade

As we wrap up another exciting year in Physical Education, I want to celebrate the wonderful growth our students have shown—physically, socially, and as teammates! It has been a joy watching students learn how to work together, support one another, and stay active while having fun.

Teamwork & Cooperation in PE

This year, our PE classes focused heavily on teamwork and cooperation through games and movement activities. Students practiced listening, sharing, encouraging each other, and solving problems together.

Some of our favorite teamwork activities included:

• Snowball, Kickball – learning fair play and cheering for teammates
• Bowling & Target Games – taking turns, helping others succeed
• Parachute Games – working as a team to make the parachute move safely together
• Locomotor Movement Games – running, hopping, skipping, sliding, and galloping through teamwork challenges
• Manipulative Skills – using balls, beanbags, scarves, and other equipment to practice control, cooperation, and responsibility

These activities helped students understand that working together makes games more fun and successful!

👟 Important Skill Practice at Home

Please continue supporting your child with these important life skills:

• Practicing how to tie shoelaces – This helps students become more independent and keeps them safe during activity
• Wearing proper footwear for play – Sneakers with tied or secure laces help prevent injuries

💪 Staying Active & Healthy

To support healthy growth, families are encouraged to help children:

• Be physically active for at least 60 minutes every day
• Choose fun activities like biking, playing outside, swimming, walking, or playing sports with friends
• Stay hydrated, especially when playing outdoors—drinking water often is very important!

Regular physical activity helps build strong bodies, improves focus, and supports overall well‑being.

☀️ Summer Safety Tips for Kids

As summer approaches, please remember these safety reminders:

• 🌞 Wear sunscreen and protective clothing when outside
• 🧢 Wear a hat and take breaks in the shade
• 💧 Drink plenty of water throughout the day
• 🚲 Wear helmets when biking, skating, or riding scooters
• 🏊‍♂️ Always have adult supervision near water
• 👟 Wear proper shoes when playing outdoors to protect feet

🎉 Thank You!

Thank you for supporting Physical Education and helping your child stay active and healthy. I am so proud of everything our students have accomplished this year and wish you a safe, active, and fun summer!

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing everyone next school year!

Thank you,

Mrs. Fonseca

We made it to May!

I have really enjoyed sharing music with all of our Rees Stars. They are so talented and creative. Our last month of school will be spent reviewing songs, games, and dances. Fun, fun, fun!

• Kindergarten and 1st Grade will be learning circle games, dramatic play, and using more props and manipulatives. Our songs will be about animals, Spring, and Summer!

• 2nd Graders are going to be learning partner games and dances. They will be doing some review games in Quaver Music and with Kahoot!

• 3rd and 4th graders are continuing to read note names on the music staff so they can finish up our Recorder Karate Unit. Students are enjoying the unit so much they have been coming in before school and practicing. They are displaying their belts on their personal instruments so make sure to congratulate them!

• 3rd graders will also start a unit on stick dances and tinikling!

• 4th graders will be working towards taking the Alief Music Memory Olympics test at the beginning of May. Fifteen students will qualify to be on the Rees Alief Music Memory Olympics team. The team will learn to aurally identify ten pieces from throughout the year, and take a listening test. They will be invited to participate in the virtual Alief Music Memory event on May 20th at 1:30 p.m.

3rd and 4th Grade Choir News: We have been working very hard to prepare for our Spring Extravaganza! The Choir, Rees Theater Company, “Shooting Stars” Dance Team, Art Club, Coding and Lego Clubs have coordinated to present our “STEAMHEAT” musical. The event will be May 14th from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Rees Cafeteria. Don’t miss it!

Once again thank you for allowing your children the opportunity to make beautiful music with me!

Jennifer Wilkins

Music Teacher

jennifer.wilkins@aliefisd.net

Follow me on X: @reesmusic1

• MAY you enjoy Theatre Games!!! Yes, you MAY!

  We have lots of fun planned for the last month of school. We are playing Theatre games that help students work together, build confidence, make bold choices and problem solve. Students of all ages will love these games.

  Some games are:

  o Zip Zap Zop: Players pass energy around a circle with fast-paced verbal and physical cues, focusing on quick thinking..

  • Focus & Concentration:
  • Mirror Game: Partners mimic each other’s movements exactly, promoting physical awareness and slow, controlled movement.
  • Sneaky Statues/Museum: A variation of Red Light, Green Light where students move when the teacher isn't looking.
  • Improvisation & Storytelling:
  • One Word Story: A story is told one word at a time around the circle.
  • Character Charades: Acting out specific character traits from stories or nursery rhymes.
  • Magic Box: A mime game where students pass an imaginary box and act out items found inside.
  • Soundscape: Creating a collaborative, sensory environment (e.g., "jungle" or "space") using only voices and bodies.
  • Movement & Acting:
  • Freeze Frame: Students create still images (tableaux) based on prompts to develop storytelling.
  • Acting to Music: Students move around the room, changing their physical movements to match the tempo and mood of music.

  Rees Theatre Company presents STEAM HEAT! You don’t want to miss this original musical that has over 100 participants. It is family friendly fun held at Rees PVAA on May 14th at 5:30pm. We will see you there!

Our Rees Stars have been working hard and making exciting progress across all grade levels! Kindergarten and 1st grade students are currently exploring the foundations of jazz dance, with a focus on developing coordination through leaps, jumps, and fun, high-energy movements. This unit introduces them to new challenges while incorporating engaging “tricks” that build confidence and excitement in their routines.

Our 2nd and 3rd grade dancers are preparing for upcoming dance tryouts by learning and refining a short jazz routine. Throughout this process, students are focusing on strengthening their technique, improving performance quality, and making creative choices by selecting their own leaps and ending poses. In addition, they are diving into a musical theatre piece, where they are encouraged to express character and emotion, helping them grow as well-rounded performers.

Meanwhile, 4th grade students have been exploring both hip hop and musical theatre styles, expanding their versatility and performance skills. As they wrap up the year, they are beginning an exciting group choreography project. In this collaborative experience, students work together to create their own original dance routines. This project allows them to showcase their creativity, practice teamwork, and take ownership of their artistic expression in a meaningful and memorable way.

We are so proud of the effort, creativity, and enthusiasm your students bring to dance class each day!

Juliana Sebek |

Dance Teacher

juliana.sebek@aliefisd.net

We are having lots of fun in technology class! We are beginning to learn about coding and computers. Here are some things your child is learning:

⭐ What We Are Learning

🧠 Fixing Mistakes
Students learn how to find and fix mistakes in their work.
They also learn that an algorithm is a list of steps to follow.

💡 Making Computer Programs
Students use simple coding tools to make programs.
They practice putting steps in order, repeating steps, and making choices like if/then.
They also learn about variables, which help computers remember information.

🌐 Staying Safe Online
We talk about how to be safe and kind on the internet.
Students learn why strong passwords are important and why they should log out.
We also review our school’s technology rules.

⌨️ Keyboard Skills
Students practice typing the correct way.
They learn where to put their hands and how to sit up straight.
They also learn helpful keyboard keys and shortcuts.

💾 Using Digital Files
Students learn how to name and save their work.
They practice keeping files organized.
They use apps to create digital projects.

🛠️ Solving Technology Problems
Students learn easy ways to fix problems, like restarting an app or device.

👩‍💻 Thank you for supporting your child’s learning!