SJE Specials - Monthly Highlights

SUZUKI VIOLIN - Lindsay Crofts

The new Suzuki Violinists are at the very beginning of a long, musical journey. The road ahead will be bumpy (and maybe a little squeaky too!), but the violin has been no match for these allstar students. They are taking each challenge step by step, paying attention to detail, and repeating skills in order to master the mission ahead.

The first leg of their journey starts in the land of “Pre-Twinkle” where colorful box violins are held beautifully with no hands! And dowel rod bows are balanced perfectly with round, curvy fingers. Silly songs, like “Up Like a Rocket” are sung with beautiful voices, all while carefully keeping the bow tip up straight!

Next, they are launched into a musical environment, listening daily to gorgeous melodies, and quickly train their brain and body to master rhythms that were once foreign beats. The 5 rhythms they must master are a hurdle, but these students work hard to overcome the barrier. Pretty soon they are all named “Rhythm Masters” and are ready to put the bow on the string.

Some days, practicing can feel impossible and the students may want to give up. But they know working hard will make the real violin appear, so they press onward.

Their teacher will tell them soon that they are ready for the real violin and intimidation may sink in. This instrument is so beautiful, fragile, and complex! Will they be good enough to play it? The students will feel nervous, in an excited way, because they know deep in their hearts that their journey so far has brought them to this moment - playing the real violin!

Come celebrate the New Suzuki Violinists as they present their “Pre Twinkle Graduation” at the Nov. 18th Suzuki Violin Solo Recitals at SJE!

New Suzuki students will demonstrate their PreTwinkle skills at the 5:30pm and 6:30pm recitals.

In addition, experienced Suzuki students will perform at 5:30, 6:30, and 7:30 p.m. that evening.

MUSIC - Amy Tullos

Music Notes

First grade is busy learning about the so, mi, and la families on Music Street! First graders have learned the hand signs and how to read so, mi, and la notes on the music staff. In first grade, we also play games. Lucy Locket lost her pocket, and we helped Lucy Locket find it with our soft and loud voices. Jonny also took a trip to the pumpkin patch and we go to create our own pumpkin statues while singing a song with so, mi, and la (shhh… it will be a mystery song later that first graders will get to read from the music staff).

Students have also learned about dynamics with Piano Elf and Forte Giant. Piano Elf has a soft voice, and Forte Giant has a loud voice.

Our adventure with Mr. Conductor has also continued with vocal exploration and instrument exploration, including directional changes on the xylophones.

Honor Choir

Honor Choir will be performing for the Veterans Day Program on November 11 in the cafe. Our Winter Choir Concert will be Tuesday, December 8 at 6pm in the cafe.

Recorders

4th grade are playing recorder. Orders were due on September 25th. If you missed the opportunity to order or would like to purchase and additional recorder for home to practice we use the Yamaha SRS-24B model for the classroom.

Performances

November 11- Veterans Day Program- 5th Grade choir singing

November 17 @ 6:00pm - 2nd Grade Performance- Thankful Turkeys

December 8 - Choir concert @6pm in Johnson Cafe

STEAM - Elizabeth Benno

♻️ Second Grade STEAM: Trash to Treasure!

Our second graders are thinking like engineers and discovering that a little creativity can turn ordinary objects into extraordinary inventions! This nine weeks, students are taking the Engineering Design Process to the next level by working more independently to imagine, plan, build, test, and improve their creations.

Inspired by the book Not a Stick, students are transforming everyday recyclable materials into something new and useful. Working in teams, they are learning to create detailed designs, solve problems, and collaborate with others. They will even become digital authors by using Book Creator to showcase their inventions in a class book titled “Not a _____!”

Along the way, students are learning about recycling, responsible technology use, and the importance of caring for our planet. In STEAM, we believe that yesterday’s trash just might become tomorrow’s treasure!

🏡 Keep the Creativity Going at Home! Challenge your child to find an everyday item that might normally be thrown away and imagine a new purpose for it! Ask, “What else could this become?” You might be surprised by the creative ideas your little engineer dreams up! A little imagination can make a BIG difference!

Free Brain Breaks That Make Real-World Impact

🌟 Get Moving, Have Fun, and Make a Difference!

Did you know that kids can make a difference in the world just by getting active? Kid Power is a FREE, interactive website that combines movement, music, and meaningful learning! Students can enjoy exciting videos featuring dancing, exercise, yoga, and fun brain breaks while learning about kindness, teamwork, and helping others.

What makes Kid Power extra special? As children participate in activities, they help unlock support for children and communities in need around the world. It's a wonderful way to encourage healthy habits while showing students that even small actions can make a BIG difference!

We love using Kid Power in STEAM, especially with our younger students! It's a fantastic way to incorporate movement, fun, and a little extra energy into our day. The best part? You can join the fun at home, too! When families watch the videos using our classroom link, those activities also contribute to our STEAM classroom's points!

I've included a link to a short introductory video so you can learn more about Kid Power and how it works. Just watching the video through our link helps our classroom earn points!

⭐ Important Note: Please do not have your child log in or create an account. Our Kid Power participation is set up through my teacher account, so families can simply enjoy the videos using the links I share.

Families, join the fun! Get moving, share some smiles, and help us make a difference—one video at a time! Together, we can show our students that even the smallest actions can have a BIG impact! 💙

ART - Kathee Born

3rd Grade Claude Monet Waterlillies

Inspired by Claude Monet’s famous water lily masterpieces, our 3rd grade artists discovered how the artist captured the atmosphere of his garden pond through color, brushwork, and reflections.

Using paper plates and paint, students created their own Monet-inspired ponds. They experimented with varied color shades, used brushstrokes to represent water and light reflections, and added water lilies to complete their unique artwork. Each student made creative choices to capture the peaceful beauty of Monet’s beloved garden.

PE - Coach Groff and Coach Sandy

This last month we wrapped up our month of Squatober. Students pursued perfect squat technique by following the cues from the 5 point squat drill. Each time we saw great squat technique, we rewarded students with a pumpkin to tape onto our Squatober wall. It’s great to see their hard work and success paying off this month. We hope that we gave them the tools needed to have a foundation for strength and conditioning either in their sport or for everyday life. We believe that our students deserve the knowledge to live a healthy life!

P.E. also celebrated another month of V.I.P winners. The V.I.P. program is our way of rewarding students that consistently go over and beyond with their character and hard work in the gym. When they earn a V.I.P. ticket, they put the ticket in a container and it remains there the rest of the school year. Each month we draw names and reward 14 students extra gym time at the end of the month. These winners come into the gym in the morning from 7:40 to 8:00 and are able to use whatever equipment they choose from the equipment room. We are proud of all of our winners this month!