Specials Spectator

Our new Balanced Wellness special is off to a great start!

In Ms. Sterbenz’s class we start each class focusing on positive affirmations. Positive affirmations boost self-esteem, build resilience, promote a growth mindset and improve academic performance and coping skills! Positive thoughts help students counter negative thoughts and help build optimism and self confidence.

Ms. Fritz is so happy to be joining the Specials Team this year and loves being a Riverwood Rascal Wednesday-Friday. Students in her Wellness classes have been learning to prepare themselves for learning by stretching, walking, practicing yoga, balance poses, breathing techniques, and mindfulness. Learning how to be our best is what Balanced Wellness is all about.

We have both been focusing on healthy habits, mindfulness, active listening and recess games since school began. Teaching recess games improves social skills like negotiation and teamwork while also improving physical health by increasing activity and cardiovascular health. Recess games are an opportunity to work on teamwork, sportsmanship and conflict resolution inside of friendships and on the playground.

In late October we scheduled a few state mandated subjects. We will look into Abduction Prevention, Drug Prevention and avoiding Traffic Injury. Don’t forget to participate in our Balanced Wellness family calendars.

September Wellness Family Calendar

5th grade is working on learning music for their October concert, as well as Veteran's Day, with ukuleles to come soon!

4th grade is reviewing note names on the treble clef in fun activity centers around the music room as they prepare to play recorders, which we should receive next week.

3rd grade is also working on music for their December concert - note to be sent home soon!

2nd grade is getting better and better at playing and singing songs with Do, Re, Mi, So, and La - including a few songs from around the world!

1st grade is learning simple rhythms, playing them on instruments, and we are really working hard on how to get along and singing together with lots of songs that have games to play.

Kindergarten has been working on moving, listening, singing, playing instruments, and keeping a steady beat! Whew! Are they busy!

From Mrs. LoBianco’s Art Room

This year, we have 2 Art teachers at Riverwood Mrs. Zorc and myself, Mrs. LoBianco. I teach the following classes: Carbine/Tovar, Gregory, Bashonski/Biddle, Pawlak/Vidal, Erber, DeBlok, Mesnard, Chase/Svejcar, Hodge, Smeenge, Burr, Morrow, Weston, DeGeorge, Retzinger/Lopez RED team, Mierzejewski, Kessell, Powell, Faciana/Hart RED team, Manczko, Hofvander, Evanger/Espitia RED team.

In August, ALL of my classes were welcomed back to the Art room and learned routines and rules for Art class. All grade levels decorated a hand for a collaborative art project to promote creativity and teamwork.

In September, grades 1-5 are working on different types of self-portraits. 5th graders are doing profiles with a hatched/cross-hatched background. 4th graders are creating theirs in the style of Artist Chuck Close. 3rd graders are making self-portraits that are half realistic and half abstract. 2nd graders are drawing half of a self-portrait with a background that has organic shapes and uses the secondary colors. 1st graders are turning themselves into Lego people for their self-portraits. Kindergartners are doing their beginning of the year assessment surveys to show what their starting fine motor abilities and perceptions are. These include writing their name, self-portraits, whole figures, line types, and shapes. They will do this same assessment at the end of the year to compare their growth.

From Ms. Zorc:

Hello Riverwood I am so excited to be joining our specials team. My name is Riley Zorc and I am a first year art teacher but have experience in the Learning and Innovations Center at Landmark Elementary as well as the STEM classroom. I am excited to be sharing the art room and have eight sections here at Riverwood!

What are we focusing on right now? All of my students are working on different aspects of color theory and self portraits! Students will be bringing their projects home as we finish them, and I will be selecting pieces to save for the art show that will be saved for the day then returned to their artist!

Kindergarten (Henning, Espitia/Evanger): Mixing colors and learning our primary and secondary colors. We just finished our "Color Mouse" project and will be moving into some self portrait work.

1st Grade (Fricke, Hart/Faciana): Mixing colors and working on our skills with watercolors as we finish our "Icecream Color Wheel" project, next we will be discussing types of lines.

2nd Grade (Chapman, Retinger/Lopez): We have utilized the color wheel for a multi-step project that we are very excited to be finishing up! Our "Hot Air Balloon" project is being assembled next week and we will be moving onto a project focusing on Pointillism.

4th Grade (Halterman): We did an artist study following the work of Pablo Picasso and mixed two types of his work: the Blue Era, and his abstract portraits. We created our own abstract self portraits and then paired monochromatic colors, picking one color that reflected our emotions. We will then be moving into complementary color understanding and practicing weaving textiles.

5th Grade (Falster): We have just finished up our first project called "Color Wheel City" where we reviewed color theory while also talking about one point perspective. My students will be moving into optical illusions as our next project.

We’ve had an exciting and active start to the school year in Physical Education! I’m thrilled to share some of the fun and fitness progress your children have made so far.

Grades 3–5: Mile Run Completed!

Students in third through fifth grade recently completed their mile run, one of the state-mandated fitness assessments required each year. I’m proud of the effort and determination all students showed during this challenging activity!

The mile run is part of the state physical fitness testing program, which also includes:

• Curl-Ups

• Push-Ups

• Sit and Reach (Flexibility Test)

• PACER Test (Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run)

We’ll be completing the rest of the assessments in the spring, so students can continue to build strength and endurance throughout the year.

What’s Next? Football Unit (Grades 3–5)

Up next for grades 3–5 is our football unit! We’ll focus on skills like throwing, catching, and teamwork, all while learning the basic concepts of the game in a safe and fun environment. This is a non-contact unit, and activities will be adapted for all ability levels.

K–2: Locomotor Skills + Tag Games!

Our younger students in kindergarten through second grade have been practicing their locomotor skills—such as skipping, galloping, hopping, and jumping—through fun and engaging games. These movements help build coordination, balance, and body control.

Next up: tag games that reinforce classroom rules and procedures while keeping things playful and energetic. These games also help students learn spatial awareness and how to follow directions—all while having a great time!

Reminders:

• Athletic shoes for safety during P.E. Please avoid sandals, boots, or slip-on shoes.

Questions or Concerns?

If you ever have any questions about your child’s participation or the P.E. curriculum, feel free to contact us.

Email: Mr. Thome - bthome@d15.org Mr. Nicholls - jnicholls@d15.org

Thank you for supporting your child’s physical development and helping us keep P.E. a safe and positive experience for everyone!

Ben Thome & Jeff Nicholls
Physical Education Teachers