Horizon Elementary News
On the Path to Possibilities - May Parent Newsletter
Finishing Strong Horizon!
The finish line is officially in sight! With only 11 days left of school, the excitement at Horizon is absolutely electric. We are so incredibly proud of the hard work our students have put in this year, and we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our families; your unwavering support and partnership are what make this community so special. We are sprinting toward summer with some amazing celebrations, but please keep a close eye on the calendar below so you don't miss a moment of the magic! Monday, May 11th kicks off open enrollment for our returning students, followed by a jam-packed week of fun: Wednesday, May 13th is Field Day for K-4, our Kindergarten Celebration takes place May 14th at the PAC at 4:30 PM, and Friday, May 15th is a double-header with the PTO Foam Party and our 3rd-6th Grade MAP Lunch BBQ! The fun continues Monday, May 18th with the 5th-6th Grade Field Day. Our final day together will be Friday, May 22nd, with an early release at 1:15 PM, and grade cards will be emailed home that afternoon. Let’s make these final days unforgettable!
✍️ MAP Testing & Final Assessments
We are almost through our testing season! After wrapping up ELA last week and tackling Math this week, our 5th graders will complete the final stretch with the MAP Science assessment next Monday and Wednesday (May 11th and 13th).
Because these assessments take place first thing in the morning, we kindly ask that you continue to reschedule all morning appointments through May 13th. Having your child present and ready to go ensures they can "show what they know" without the added stress of make-up sessions. Thank you for helping us provide a calm and focused environment for our students during these final evaluations!
Take Care,
Mrs. Kristi Mellon
Horizon Elementary Principal
mellonk@smithville.k12.mo.us
Early Childhood:
We have had an amazing year of learning, fun and growth! We will finish the year with our vets and pets unit. We will transform our classroom into a veterinarian's office, learn about different animals, and have an “adoption” day for our stuffed animal pets.
We are counting down the days of the year with a special letter and fun activity each day. Please refer to the weekly newsletter for more information.
Please join us on Thursday, May 21st for our end of the year luau celebration. Morning class will celebrate from 11:00 - 11:45 and our afternoon class will celebrate from 2:45 - 3:30. More detailed information is in the weekly classroom newsletter.
Warrior Preschool:
This year, our preschoolers have grown in so many wonderful ways! They have developed important skills in communication, problem-solving, and independence while building strong friendships and confidence in the classroom. From learning routines to exploring new concepts, it has been exciting to watch their curiosity and love of learning flourish. A big focus has also been on foundational skills, including recognizing and naming letters of the alphabet, counting and identifying numbers, and exploring shapes and colors through hands-on activities, games, and everyday classroom experiences.
As we head into our final units, we will be exploring camping and bugs. Students will engage in hands-on activities like setting up a pretend campsite, learning about outdoor safety, and discovering different types of insects. Through stories, exploration, and play, children will learn about bug habitats, characteristics, and the important role they play in nature. This unit encourages curiosity, observation, and a deeper appreciation for the world around them.
Kindergarten:
ELA: Our CKLA skills unit we are reading decodable stories in our “Sam” book. We also learned about double consonant spellings and more tricky words. Please keep practicing all of the tricky words at home. In our CKLA Knowledge unit we finished our Weather and Seasons unit and started our Art and the World Around Us unit.
Math: We have been reviewing a lot of our math concepts throughout the year such as counting to 100, 2-D and 3-D shapes, teen numbers and place value.
Science/SS: We learned about maps and globes for social studies. In our science unit we are learning about parts of a plant, the life cycle of a plant, and even planted our own seeds. We are also recording our observations in a plant journal.
SEL: We have been reviewing all of social emotional skills from the year: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
First Grade:
ELA: In our last CKLA unit we are focusing on different spellings for the /ae/ and the /oe/sounds. We also continue to practice reading in our decodable books. In our Knowledge unit, we are learning about people that had great adventures and how they persevered through challenges and obstacles.
Math: We are finishing up the year focusing on measurement, shapes, and telling time. We are also learning the names of coins and what they are worth.
Science/SS: We are focusing on economic concepts like needs vs. wants.
SEL: The last few lessons focus on what to do when we have a problem. We learn to try to problem solve on our own by using our words to communicate feelings.
Second Grade:
It has been a joy to watch our second graders grow and flourish this year. Their hard work and progress have been truly inspiring, and as we head into these final weeks, we couldn't be prouder of the strong finish they are making!
ELA: In our final unit, 2nd graders are becoming master writers! We’re diving into advanced spelling patterns, mastering adverbs, and learning to fix tricky run-on sentences. Students are also transitioning from stories to "report writing" to sharpen their informational skills. We’ll wrap up the year with a cumulative assessment to ensure everyone is ready to hit the ground running in 3rd Grade!
Math: Get ready to measure up! This month, students are diving into the world of measurement. From exploring length and height to understanding weight and capacity, we’ll be using hands-on tools to discover how math helps us describe the world around us.
Science/SS: We are learning about plant and animal relationships.
SEL: Students are growing their leadership skills by learning how to be problem solvers.
Third Grade:
Fourth Grade:
As we head into May, our classrooms will continue to stay busy as we wrap up a wonderful school year. Students will be completing their iReady benchmark assessments, giving us a chance to celebrate all the growth they’ve made. Be sure to check out our weekly newsletters for important updates and reminders as we finish the year strong!
ELA: Fourth graders have been working hard on the MAP test and have completed the ELA portion this week. After we finish our novel study, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, we will begin our last unit: Crafting Stories--A World of Tales. In this unit, students deepen their understanding of the elements of fictional narratives, including dialogue, narration, theme, characters, and plot structure. They summarize texts, explain the impact of figurative language, and compare and contrast themes. Students also study how authors use ambiguity and build suspense to engage their readers. Similarly, they explore and practice a variety of oral storytelling techniques used to captivate audiences.
Math: We are set to finish the year strong as we take our math MAP test next week! Fourth graders have been hard at work the past few weeks as we’ve wrapped up our last lessons on decimals and reviewed all of the concepts we’ve learned this year! In the last few weeks of school, we will take our iReady diagnostic and finish with a couple of fun projects!
Science/SS: We will wrap up with Science! I am so excited for our last unit! We will continue to explore new, fun ideas as we work through MAP and iReady Testing!
SEL: Our Second Steps Units are all wrapped up! We were able to have the opportunity to tie it directly to our Social Studies unit over Government! Seeing the STEP when solving problems play out is great to hear!
Fifth Grade:
May is busy, busy, busy. Fifth Grade has more MAP Testing than any other grade level in the elementary school. We have 7 separate mornings of testing. It's super important that students are here on time, well rested, have a charged chromebook, and ready to rock and roll to show what they have learned all year long! What’s nice is after a busy start to May, we end with lots of busy FUN! Fifth Grade has Water Day for 5th/6th Grade Incentive Party on the Horizon Soccer Field, 5th/6th Grade Field Day at the HS Track/Football Field, Horizon PTO FOAM party and much more time to relax and enjoy ourselves with classmates and teachers. May is busy but it's also rewarding. We’ve got this!
ELA: As we head into the final stretch of the school year, much of our time in ELA will be focused on important assessments. Students will complete MAP testing in reading, along with the iReady diagnostic and fluency assessments. When we are not testing, we will be finishing our fourth quarter book projects and continuing to build strong reading skills as we wrap up the year.
Math: May has arrived!! May Mathematics here in fifth grade is usually a hodgepodge of decimal computations…plus lots of MAP testing! We will finish up our school year discussing multiplying and dividing decimals. Generally, what we discover is that we already understand these decimal operations (especially if we have a firm understanding of fraction/mixed number multiplication). The year has flown by and I can’t be more pleased with these fine fifth grade mathematicians! What growth we have made…in so many ways.
SS: In Social Studies, we will be balancing our schedule with MAP testing while also bringing our immigration unit to a close. Students will participate in an exciting, hands-on Ellis Island simulation that brings their learning to life. It’s a busy time, but a meaningful way to wrap up our studies for the year!
SEL: As we continue through this busy time of year, we are focusing on the importance of persevering. Students are learning that challenges—whether in testing, projects, or daily tasks—are opportunities to grow. We are encouraging them to keep trying, stay positive, and not give up when things feel difficult. Building perseverance helps students develop confidence and resilience that will carry them beyond the classroom.
Sixth Grade:
ELA: As we show all we have learned this year as readers and writers on the MAP, we will also wrap up our novel study of the book, Summer of the Mariposas by Guadalupe Garcia McCall which follows the journey of the Garza sisters into Mexico and back. It also navigates the personal journey that the girls take to find themselves, one another, and their family.
Using the hero’s journey structure, Guadalupe Garcia McCall creates a world in which Mexican folklore and Aztec legend are woven into the more realistic experiences of Odilia and her sisters. Some of the ideas that students will return to throughout their reading will be the characterization of the sisters, the stages of the hero’s journey, and the themes of family and identity. As part of this work, students will consider how characters change and develop.
Math: For the month of May, we will be focusing on MAP testing and end of year iReady Diagnostic Testing. There are several important dates this month!
1st - Middle School Musical at PAC (12:30-2:00ish)
4th-8th - Teacher Appreciation Week
5th - MAP TESTING - Math Session 1
6th - MAP TESTING - Math Session 2
8th - MAP TESTING - Math Session 3
11th-12th - iReady ELA Diagnostic Testing
13th-15th - iReady Math Diagnostic Testing
12th - Quest Field Trip
15th - PTO Foam Party (bring change of clothes/shoes)
18th - 5th & 6th Grade Field Day
19th - Sixth Grade Step Up Day - Middle School Visit
20th - School Board Meeting
21st - Sixth Grade Celebration Day - families are invited to join us at HES at 2:30pm!
22nd - Last Day of School - Dismissal at 1:15pm
22nd - Frozen Friday
Science/SS: Earth’s climate has warmed by about 0.8°C since 1880, leading to major changes like melting ice. In our Climate unit, students act as climatologists investigating the causes of climate change using simulations, data, models, and texts. They learn that increased greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane trap energy in Earth’s system, creating an energy imbalance that raises global temperatures. Students also explore how human activities contribute to this change, examine its effects, and consider possible solutions.
SEL: This month we will be focusing on the Unit: Recognizing Bullying & Harassment. Students learn how to recognize bullying and harassment, stand up safely to bullying, and respond appropriately to harassment. This unit’s content helps students develop empathy, understand the impact of bullying and harassment on individuals and their communities, and examine social and environmental factors that contribute to negative behaviors as well as identify solutions for preventing those behaviors.
The goals of this unit include students being able to:
Recognize common types of bullying
Understand the potential negative impacts of bullying by taking the perspective of targets and bystanders
Assess the risks and benefits of using different upstander strategies to respond to bullying under various circumstances
Be an upstander by making a responsible decision in bullying situations
Technology & Innovation:
As we wrap up an incredible year in the Technology & Innovation Lab, students across all grade levels are finishing strong with creativity, problem‑solving, and lots of hands‑on learning.
Kindergarten & 1st Grade
Our youngest innovators are diving into early coding using Ozobot Aris and Sphero Indis. Students are exploring sequencing, color codes, and basic programming concepts as they guide their robots through mazes and challenges.
2nd Grade
Second graders are sharpening their digital literacy skills with a focus on typing, letter recognition, and accuracy. They’re building strong foundations that will support all future tech work.
3rd Grade
Third graders are putting the final touches on their Skate Park Engineering Challenge. Their cardboard builds now include ramps, rails, and simple machines that show off both creativity and thoughtful design.
4th Grade
Fourth graders are deep into the engineering process as they build armor and attachments for their robots in preparation for our annual Battle Bot Tournament. Teamwork, strategy, and sportsmanship are front and center.
5th Grade
Fifth graders are wrapping up their choice‑based tech projects, showcasing everything from graphic design to coding to engineering builds. They’ll finish the year with one final project that lets them apply their skills with even more independence.
It’s been a year full of curiosity, collaboration, and big ideas. I’m so proud of the growth our students have shown and can’t wait to see what they create next.
May: Social Media Savvy - Confidence comes from clarity and kindness.
Talk about being the same person online and offline — growing identity is powerful.
When problems arise, help your child say: “Next time I’ll…” instead of “I messed up.”
Help them choose kindness over comparison — “You’re growing your own voice, not someone else’s.”
Encourage digital reflection: “What are you proud of sharing this year?”
Summer Digital Balance - Balance lets minds and bodies grow.
Try a “sun before screen” challenge — reward effort, not just outcomes.
Use boredom as a bridge to new hobbies — “What could you make today?”
Invite kids to help plan unplugged activities — let them lead.
Celebrate small efforts to step away from screens — growth takes one step at a time.
Digital Creativity - Kids aren’t just tech users — they’re inventors in the making.
Help them create a mini project — video, game, comic, art — and celebrate progress.
Try out tools like Scratch, Book Creator, or Canva — encourage experimenting without pressure.
Ask your child: “What problem can you solve with technology?”
Library:
It is crazy to think that May is already here. This year has flown by but we still have a lot going on in the library!
Important Dates to Remember:
Friday, May 8th: Last day to check out books.
Friday, May 15th: All books due to the library.
Monday, May 18th: Fines for missing books will be sent home.
Last week of School - Summer reading logs sent home with students.
I will be sending home reminder slips to any student who has a missing book so that you know what you are looking for. We will also be doing some activities in the library to sharpen our detective skills and make finding those missing books easier! Thank you to everyone who visited our Spring book fair! It was a great success. We were able to purchase 32 books for teachers’ classrooms with the proceeds from the Wheel of Prizes. All remaining “Sale” books were purchased to replenish the books for library rewards and incentives. 40 books were added to the library inventory for students to check out. The remaining profits from the fair will be put towards the purchase of books and incentives for next year’s reading events. Thank you for supporting our school and helping me grow young readers.
Physical Education:
Hello! As we wrap up the school year, here is what we have been doing and will be doing this final month:
K-2nd grade has just finished their tee-ball unit. We used cones for tees (it actually works very well) and that allows 7 students to hit at a time. Students were grouped into 3’s so there was always one hitter and two fielders, and a quick rotation so they could get a lot of reps! The next class they played an actual game and we did our best to wait our turn and field our positions! Next we will be getting out the parachute and practicing relays for the upcoming field day!
3rd-6th graders have all finished up their spring fitness assessments, and every class had their ‘average score’ from the fall assessments rise this spring, which is a great thing! Now we are on to pickleball, where we will be playing in doubles, singles, unique skill competitions, and king of the court. 6th graders will also be playing some volleyball and rotating in with pickleball because there are not quite enough racquets for the students in their classes.
Upcoming Field Day dates:
K-4th grade Field Day is scheduled for May 13th, with K-2nd being in the AM and 3rd-4th being in the afternoon.
5th-6th grade Field Day is scheduled for May 18 at the High School, and will be all day.
More info will be coming out very soon, as well as volunteer sign-ups. Note, some select 6th grade students will be helping with K-4th grade, so volunteer demand is low, but all are invited!
Music:
Hello Horizon families! As our school year comes to an end, here’s a little bit about what will be happening in the music room in May:
Kindergarten: Kindergarten will be moving through the Carnival of the Animals, as we practice all of the musical opposites that we learned about this school year! We will also work on a few songs that we will be performing at our Kindergarten celebration to show friends and family all of the amazing things we have done this year in the music room!
1st Grade: 1st grade will continue to expand their knowledge of rhythm, while also adding in new concepts of pitch. This is my favorite time to teach students the song Do Re Mi from the Sound of Music! This will occur while we begin learning about music street (otherwise known as solfege).
2nd Grade: Students are continuing to practice everything they know about rhythm. They are also learning about more families that live on music street, a magical street that lives on our music staff! While learning about our new family, the do family, students will learn the song Rocky Mountain. In this process we will learn a fun dance to accompany the song and about the history behind this folk song.
3rd Grade: Students will be building their knowledge of musical instruments as we work through our instrument unit. We will learn about the different instrument families and build our knowledge of instruments! We will also continue to build our rhythmic and pitch skills that we worked so hard on first semester.
4th Grade: Our 4th graders are working on their end of year project in music class. In this project students will work with a group to create a company and a product that they are trying to sell. As part of this project students will also use their composition skills to create a commercial jingle to help them sell this product.
5th Grade: Our 5th graders are wrapping up 5th grade music with music board games. In this unit they will practice and review musical concepts they have learned throughout their elementary music journey!
6th Grade: In our 6th grade Intro to instruments class, students are refreshing their knowledge of pitch. They will be reviewing how to identify pitch and transfer this skill to barred instruments. After this unit students will be learning about chords and applying this to playing the ukulele and the piano.
Art:
In other art room news, we are working hard to finish up our final projects before the end of the year. As students complete and turn in projects, I will be working to get them returned for students to take home as quickly as possible. These last few weeks of school will be so much fun and I know we’ll make some lasting memories in the art room! Thanks for supporting the arts and your students’ creative endeavors!
Mrs. Way
Counselor:
May, oh my!
As the season changes, we welcome warmer weather, blooming flowers, and the sound of birds chirping. However, for many children (and adults!), spring also brings an increase in turbulent weather—from booming thunderstorms to dark, windy afternoons. If your child feels nervous, covers their ears at the first rumble, or constantly asks to check the weather radar, please know they are not alone.
Storm anxiety is very common in elementary-aged children. The loud noises, unpredictability, and changes in atmospheric pressure can feel overwhelming. As your school counselor, I wanted to share a few gentle strategies to help you support your child when the skies turn gray.
1. Be a “Weather Container” (Co-Regulation)
Children look to us to determine if a situation is safe. If we appear highly anxious or dismissive, their anxiety can spike. Instead, aim for "calm and curious."
Validate the feeling: "I know that thunder was really loud and startled you. I’m right here with you."
Lend them your calm: Use a soft, neutral tone. You don't need to stop the storm; you just need to be a steady presence in it.
2. Turn "What If?" into "What Is"
Anxiety thrives on the unknown. Demystify the weather by making it a science lesson rather than a scary mystery.
Track it together: Look at a child-friendly weather radar app. Watching the green and yellow blobs move can help kids see the storm has a beginning, middle, and end.
Count the seconds: Teach them to count between the lightning flash and the thunder clap. Explain, "The bigger the number, the further away the storm is. It’s moving away from us!"
3. Create a Sensory "Safe Storm" Kit
The loud auditory input of thunder can trigger a fight-or-flight response. Dulling that sensory input can provide immediate relief.
Soundproofing: Have noise-canceling headphones, earplugs, or simply play their favorite audiobook or music on a speaker.
Weight and warmth: A weighted blanket or a heavy stuffed animal can feel like a protective hug.
Low light: Turn on soft lamps instead of bright overhead lights, which can flicker during lightning.
4. Build a "Cozy Cave" (Not a Hiding Spot)
There’s a difference between anxiously hiding and intentionally creating comfort. Before a storm hits, help them build a fort in the safest-feeling part of the house (an interior room, if possible). Fill it with pillows, sleeping bags, and board games. When the storm comes, this isn't an "escape"—it’s a planned indoor camping trip that happens to coincide with a rain show.
5. Emphasize Safety and Preparation
Sometimes, children worry about worst-case scenarios. Reassure them by focusing on the safety structures in place, without making false promises.
Reframe the sound: "That booming sound isn’t the sky breaking; it’s just the clouds bumping together high up, like a big bowling alley in the sky."
Celebrate the helpers: Point out that meteorologists are watching the skies to keep everyone safe, and your home is built strong.
6. Breathe with the Wind
When the wind howls or the rain pounds hard, practice "wind breathing" to mimic the weather and release tension:
Breathe in slowly (like a gentle breeze).
Breathe out with a loud, whooshing howl (like the wind).
Making the sound themselves can take the "scary power" away from the noise outside.
A Final Note on Resilience:
Our goal is not to promise that storms won't be loud, but to show our children that they can do hard things—and they don’t have to do them alone. If your child’s anxiety about weather begins to affect their daily functioning (refusing to go to school if clouds are present, frequent panic attacks), it might be time to check in with their pediatrician. I am happy to help provide guidance and support as well.
Wishing you a season of safety, growth, and cozy rainy days.
