March Family Newsletter

Want to keep up with school events and things happening in classrooms?

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What's new from the district? Check out Peachjar for flyers and community information!

PreK has been working on SEL and self help skills! We are all excited for spring weather!

Kindergarten has been hard at work! We will be finishing up exploring reading and spelling CVC words with short vowels. We are really focusing on reading words so look for additional learning activities in their folders this month.

We are finishing up our last unit in Module 3 and writing books about the favorite tree we learned about. We will then learn about all the different ways we can appreciate the trees around us and in our community.

In math we are beginning Unit 7. Students will identify, describe, analyze, compare, and compose two- and three- dimensional shapes. Counting, addition, and subtraction are revisited as well.

Also be on the look out for information about our upcoming trip to the Firestation on March 13.

First grade is excited for springtime, which is right around the corner! We are beginning our last unit in Module 3. During this unit, students will be researching a specific bird and learning how it uses its special body parts to survive in its habitat. Students will explore how features such as beaks, wings, feathers, and feet help birds find food, stay safe, and build homes. We can’t wait to become bird experts!

We have also been working hard on our reading and writing skills, especially learning about vowel teams. Students are practicing vowel patterns such as ai, ay, ee, ea, oa, and ow to help them become stronger readers and writers.

In math, students are using their place value understanding and properties of operations to add within 100. Next, students will measure length and count up to 120 using length units. They will also solve addition and subtraction story problems with unknowns in all positions.

Second grade is very excited that all of our hard work will show on our IREAD test this month! We are thankful for our Acceleration tutors, Mrs. Jongkind, and our para and instructional assistants who have helped the kids practice their IREAD skills all year! We are having a good time with our plants/pollinators learning in Module 3. We look forward to Spring when we can see them in action outside! We are learning Geometry and Measurement in Math. Pretty soon we will be able to read an analog clock. Our second grade CREW is paddling together toward grade 3!

Third grade has been busy and exciting! We have been taking our IREAD3 test, and our students have been working so hard to prepare. We are excited to see all of their hard work payoff.

We are also preparing for our Checkpoint 3 Assessments in both Math and Reading. In math, we have been learning how to compare and find equivalent fractions, calculate elapsed time, read charts and graphs, find area and perimeter, and continue building strong multiplication fluency. In reading, we have been focusing on fact and opinion, text features, comprehension, as well as strengthening our writing conventions such as punctuation, capitalization, and spelling.

We recently finished reading Peter Pan and celebrated by watching the original Peter Pan movie together! It was a fun way to wrap up our unit. We would also like to send a big THANK YOU to the Michigan City High School cheerleaders for visiting Lake Hills to cheer on our second and third graders as we prepare for IREAD3. Their encouragement meant so much to our students!

In 4th grade, we’ve been working hard and staying focused as we prepare for upcoming iLearn Checkpoint assessments! Students are building confidence by practicing important reading and thinking skills that will help them show what they know.

We are also wrapping up our EL Education unit on suffrage, where students have learned about fairness, equality, and the powerful impact of standing up for rights—connecting history to the world around them today.

In math, we are digging deep into fractions, strengthening our understanding through models, number lines, and real-world problem solving. I’m proud of the effort students are showing as they grow their skills and perseverance during this busy time of learning!

Fifth grade had the best time with Potato Olympics! Now they will use the data to learn mean, median, mode and frequency.

In reading and math we will begin working on Checkpoint 3 standards. Here are some of the math skills we will work on: multiplying and dividing fractions, finding the area of various polygons, and mean, median, and mode.

In reading we will be working on: relationships with multiple meaning words, figurative language, language arts conventions, and more Greek and Latin root words.

Students have been learning about symmetry in the art room and doing various projects that use different types of symmetry. Ms. Jongkind will be sorting through all of the year's projects over the next few weeks, choosing art work for the upcoming elementary art show at the Lubeznik center. As much as I would like to choose one from every student, there simply isn't enough space. Be on the lookout for a flyer that will be sent home if one of your students’ projects are chosen. After choices are made, Ms. Jongkind will begin sending home the rest of the projects.

The gym stays alive with activity as we “march” through the year! K-1 has been working on balance and and the importance of looking before you run. 2-4th has been consistently playing soccer, but we took a break to learn some Olympics themed games like hockey and curling. 5-6th were unfortunately missed quite a few times this month, but when we did meet, we tried to learn a new game each time, which has been a challenge, but we will keep working!

Kinder-2nd have been doing a great job of keeping a steady beat, playing various percussion instruments with proper technique, and being good sports when playing musical games!

3rd and 4th have done a great job of showing good sportsmanship during a game called “Ye Toop Doram”. This song and game originates from Iran and roughly translates to “I have the ball”. Students in 3rd and 4th have been wonderful at demonstrating respect when learning a song from another culture and have gotten comfortable singing in Farsi!

Last but certainly not least, 5th and 6th graders have worked hard these past few weeks of February on researching a genre of music that originated in the United States! Their posters will be on display until the end of the year!

As we head into our final quarter, it is very important that students get exposure to different instruments. This year in grades 3-6th, we are focusing on ukulele. If your student is in 3rd-6th grade, please have them bring in a signed copy of the instrument letter that was sent out in January! Each class needs to have 80% of students turn in the form in order to start ukuleles! Families do NOT need to pay prior to using a school issued instrument!

Spring Lunch Menu

March is a month of growth, new beginnings, and learning how to handle big feelings in healthy ways! As we move toward spring, we are focusing on building strong friendships, emotional regulation, and problem-solving skills.

March is Reading Month!

Reading builds empathy! Stories help children understand different perspectives and feelings. Consider reading books together that focus on:

Kindness

Perseverance

Diversity

Problem-solving

Safe harbor is excited to kick off our STEM week full of new and exciting STEM projects everyday, the last week of March! We are also continuing our curriculum in SEL and Project Wild. The students have also been hard at work practicing for our upcoming Marble competition against Coolspring Safe Harbor. Interested in Safe Harbor Summer Camp? Info to come soon!

Parent Group is working on Family Fun Fair!! Many hands make light work!

Sign up on ClassDojo or contact Mrs. Rowley in the office.

3/9 Coolspring @Lake Hills

• School starts at 8:45.
• Dismissal at 3:00. All early dismissal requests must be made before 2:30 to ensure we have enough time to notify staff.
• Elementary School Dress Code - No slides or sandals are allowed for safety reasons.

Lake Hills Elementary School

Principal: Mrs. Tara Stachowiak

Main Office: Mrs. Aldora Rowley

Website: https://lakehills.educatemc.net/
Location: 201 Ferguson Rd. Michigcan City, IN 46360
Phone: (219) 873-2105
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakeHillsElementary