Thetford Elementary School News

Calling All Scientists!

Do you like to solve mysteries? Have you ever wondered how something works? Are you curious about the natural world? Do you love animals and want to learn more about them? Are you an inventor?...

If the answer to any of these questions is an enthusiastic “YES!” then the Science Fair coming to TES, Wednesday, March 18th is just for you! This event gives every student a chance to investigate and explore a topic of interest, share their findings with the TES community and have fun with science!

Who can participate? All TES students (Kindergarten – 6th grade)

When and where will the Science Fair be? Wednesday, March 18th in the TES Gym (open 1:00-2:30 pm for TES classrooms; open to the public 5:00-6:30 pm) Snow date: March 19th.

How can I participate? You can participate in the Science Fair by creating and displaying one of the following types of projects:

• An experiment using the Scientific Method

• An invention using the Engineering Design Process, or

• A research project about science-related questions

Fill out the Project Sign-Up Form by February 11, 2026 to sign up. (Paper and digital versions available)

How can I get more information? Students interested in participating will receive a paper copy of the Science Fair Student Information Packet. This packet is full of helpful information about choosing, completing and displaying Science Fair projects. If you have any further questions or comments, contact:

• Laura Sharpless: laura.sharpless@oesu.org

• Sarah Atherton: sarah.atherton@oesu.org

How can I help? There are plenty of volunteer opportunities available to make the Science Fair happen. Use this link to sign up now! Contact Nicole Jaskiewicz: nicole.jaskiewicz@gmail.com

Thank you for your support of this great event!

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TES students have been working hard in their library classes. In every library class students choose “Just Right” library books, complete library assignments, independently navigate the library to find books and resources, and responsibly handle library books and materials. Most importantly, students create a fun library experience for all by being safe, kind, and responsible.

After each library class, our Library “Smile Chart” records whether or not students in each class followed our library rules. All the classes, K-6th, have been working very hard towards earning 22 stickers for their classroom by May. Classroom rewards for successful classrooms will be announced in May!

Image source: https://www.weareteachers.com/reward-tags

TES Technology Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) Review:

At the start of each school year, TES issues one Chromebook to each student in 1st-6th grade and iPads to students in Kindergarten. All the students are reminded that our school is very fortunate to have a community that values education and supports technology use in every classroom. Last week we took a few minutes of our library class to review the AUP Policy students and families signed back in August.

Image Source:mohnschnecke

What does it mean to sign our TES AUP Policy?

What part(s) of the AUP policy do you understand?

What part(s) of the AUP do you have questions about?

TES PBIS Tech Matrix

Coding Book Covers

3rd-6th grade students are using block coding at code.org to code a digital book cover of their choice. First, they examine existing book covers and discuss what graphic design choices were made. Next, they look at digital book cover examples before designing a book cover of their own. Students learn to select sprites to represent the characters in a book and to use events to make the characters speak.

Hello T.E.S. Families,

Happy New Year! I hope that you all had a wonderful Holiday Break with your families. The first week back to school was full of energy and excitement. Each class spent some time at the beginning of music reviewing classroom expectations. This is always important when we return to school after a long break.

Before we left for our Holiday Break, all classes were playing the boomwhackers. These pitched percussion instruments are plastic tubes of different sizes and colors. Students hold their boomwhacker in one hand and gently tap it on the ground to produce sound. We use these instruments to talk about the musical scale. We also play along with color coded songs on youtube. Boomwhackers are great for helping to reinforce concepts of music literacy. Although we are not using standard notation, students are reading “notes” and matching them to their instruments. We will continue with the boomwhackers for a couple more weeks, and then we will transition to our next focus.

Also in music class, we have spent quite a bit of time practicing rhythm. We have used rhythm sticks or clapped our hands to play along with a variety of rhythm practices. With each rhythm practice, we identify the different types of notes and how to count them. Students also enjoy playing along with “Poison Rhythm” videos. At the beginning of the video, a “poison rhythm” is shown. Students are told to play all rhythms except for the “poison rhythm".

We often do movement breaks in music class. These can vary depending on the age group. The older students enjoy “Musical 4 Corners” and “Just Dance”. The younger students often do a variation of “Going on a Bear Hunt”, “Musical 4 Corners”, or a seasonal body percussion activity. Movement breaks are fun to do, and they help to build relationships within a class. They also provide a smooth transition from one activity to the next.

Below are some videos taken during music class to give you all a better idea of what it looks like and sounds like. Please note that all videos that I post to Youtube are “Unlisted”, which means that they can only be found if you have the link.

Ms. Audrey’s Class Plays “In the Hall of the Mountain King” on Boomwhackers

Ms. Atherton’s Class Plays along with a Snowman “Poison Rhythm”

Ms. Anmari's Class Clapping Along to a Snow Day Rhythm Practice

Ms. Oliver’s Class Plays “Itsy Bitsy Spider” on Boomwhackers

Ms. Tremblay’s Class Dances to “Waka Waka” Just Dance

Ms. Despin’s Class Plays “Butter” on Boomwhackers

In the primary wing we have been reviewing underhand throwing with a focus on distance and accuracy.

In the upper wing we have started puff polo. What a fun game! We have been talking a lot about shielding and what that looks like.

Please remember sneakers for PE class. It leads to the best experience. Thank you!

Passport to Winter Fun

Great news! Your school has chosen to participate in the Upper Valley Trails Alliance's Passport to Winter Fun program this winter.

Here's how it works: Each student has received a passport booklet and fills in one box for each day they're active for at least one hour (recess outside counts!) This can be anything—sledding, hiking, skiing, skating, snowshoeing, you name it. At 10, 20, and 30 days, they can claim prizes from local partner businesses like ski areas, ice rinks, pools, etc.

Bonus: Every Front Flap submitted is entered into a raffle to win two Killington lift vouchers (valid this winter)!

How to Register

Passports are coming home soon. Before you start, and to register your child, complete the Front Flap and:

• Turn it in to school, OR

• Mail it to: Upper Valley Trails Alliance, P.O. Box 1215, Norwich, VT 05055, OR

• Scan the QR code in the booklet to complete it online

Deadline to start the program: Friday, February 13th, 2026

Want weekly updates and deadline reminders? Subscribe to the Winter Fun Weekly by emailing passport@uvtrails.org.

Let's get outside and stay active this winter!

—Upper Valley Trails Alliance

Dear T.E.S. Families:

Happy New Year! In the week since the kids have been back at school, we’ve spent class time reviewing expectations about how to be kind, safe, and responsible in the art room. As part of this activity, upper wing students all helped tidy and organize the art supplies, offering valuable assistance with tasks such as untangling yarn, sharpening hundreds of pencils, refilling glue bottles, and washing the tables. The kids kept amazingly positive attitudes throughout this process, (even managing to have some fun!), and I was impressed by how much they were able to accomplish in just one class period per group.

Meanwhile, in the primary wing, everyone is starting new projects. Kindergarteners just began a unit on weaving, and in the coming weeks, they will look at a variety of different examples of weaving as we discuss its history and purpose. In addition, we will explore cultural connections by reading the books Spider Weaver and Rainbow Weaver. The former retells the Ghanaian/ Ashanti legend of kente cloth, which was inspired by a spider’s web, and the latter tells the story of a young Mayan girl who invents a way to use weaving to simultaneously raise money for school and to help clean up her village.

First and second graders have just started a unit on drawing from observation. For this project, students were asked to apply their knowledge of letters, numbers, and shapes to help them understand various animal forms. We began this process by reviewing the difference between shapes that are flat and shapes that are three-dimensional, and everyone practiced drawing 3D shapes as they worked on their animal drawings. Students then finished their drawings with background details to show whether their animals were “real,” or beloved stuffies in their home habitats.

Last but not least, if you’re looking for a way to keep your child engaged indoors, winter is a great time to enroll in after-school art classes! T.E.S. Art Club and clay class are both currently full, but there are other offerings available in the wider community, including during the upcoming February break. Craft Studies in White River Junction and the AVA Gallery and Art Center both host a range of traditional fine art classes and camps, and if your child is interested in animation and video, Junction Arts and Media will be offering classes and clubs for older kids in the spring.

Also, it has come to my attention that some families would prefer that I email them directly in addition to posting in this newsletter about upcoming art program opportunities. If you’d like your information to be added to an arts mailing list, please click here. Thanks to everyone for supporting our young artists!

Best,

Alexandra Mathis

T.E.S. Art Teacher

alexandra.mathis@oesu.org