Clinton Elementary has been buzzing with excitement throughout December as we've been indulging in a month-long festivity of thrilling theme days! Brace yourselves because, on the electrifying Grinch Day last week, we were graced by an extraordinary and surprise visitor that made the day even more magical!
After hearing the Gingerbread Man story, the students at Fairfield Primary in Mrs. Sweatt’s class went on a scavenger hunt around the building to find the gingerbread man. There were clues everywhere! They ended up finding them in their classrooms and got to decorate them before eating them up!
At Albion Elementary the school Christmas concert proved to be a heartwarming celebration, uniting our school community in the spirit of joy and festivity. With students showcasing their musical talents, the concert provided a platform for creativity and expression.
In other news, in a delightful blend of festive creativity and early technology exploration, the kindergarten computer class embarked on a charming project – crafting binary code wreath ornaments. These little learners, with their tiny hands and curiosity, eagerly engaged in the process of creating ornaments that added a unique touch to the holiday season.
At Lawrence High School students and staff from LEAP worked with Heather Drew-Clark, our Kitchen Manager, and hosted a community supper on Thursday, December 14th in the Jr. High Cafeteria. It was in collaboration with our Farm & Sea to School program we are involved with for this year in an effort to showcase locally grown foods.
The menu is pictured below. The food was fabulous! A special thanks to three of our students for helping to serve the meals last week: Ashley Rockwell, Alina Rodrigue-Butler, and Elijah Cormier. The service was as good as the meal! Heather Drew-Clark did a fabulous job preparing the meal, as well!
Also, last week, the High School and Jr. High Bands hosted their Holiday Concert on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, in the Williamson Performing Arts Center. It provided a bit of holiday cheer and music for all in attendance! The high school band also performed for the high school during our Community Homeroom held on the same day. Some pictures from the concert are below.
At Clinton Elementary, students are actively engaged in foundational literacy skills such as letter identification, letter sounds, and word knowledge, all while incorporating technology into their learning. This integration is crucial as it not only enhances traditional literacy development but also equips students with essential technological skills, preparing them for a well-rounded education in our digital age.
Fairfield Primary and Albion Elementary School are embracing the holiday magic. The elementary schools recently welcomed special and enchanting visitors – real reindeer! In a heartwarming celebration, students had the extraordinary opportunity to witness these majestic creatures up close, igniting a sense of wonder and joy. This hands-on experience not only added a sprinkle of holiday cheer but also created lasting memories, fostering a festive atmosphere and inspiring curiosity among our young learners.
Fifth-grade classes at Benton Elementary have committed to a year-long recycling initiative for their Service Learning Project. Students hope to collect used paper from all the upstairs classrooms for the remainder of the school year, with hopes this project will carry on for years to come. Casella Waste recently partnered with our school to provide an afternoon program of hands-on stations, designed to help our fifth graders learn all about the recycling process. Thank you Casella Waste! In addition, students have spent time creating posters to be displayed on the recycling bins and short presentations to inform other classes about their goals. The students are very invested in working together and taking a giant step towards a greener future at Benton Elementary!
Spirit Week is coming up at Lawrence Junior High School. Spirit week is essential because it fosters a sense of unity and community among students and staff. It promotes school pride, encourages creativity through themed dress-up days, and creates a positive and inclusive atmosphere that enhances the overall school experience, contributing to a vibrant and supportive learning environment. In other news,
8th grade LJHS student - Kristopher Finnemore won the State championship in karate.
At Lawrence High School Mrs. Grenier’s Geometry classes completed a coding Mini Golf activity in the library to celebrate Hour of Code; all the while practicing their math skills & perseverance. You can view their work in picture one. In other news, the National Honor Society members set aside some time Wednesday afternoon to wrap holiday presents and perform other tasks to help alleviate some of the workload at the North Pole. Their efforts will help to brighten the holiday season for many! (Their work area was a restricted area so there were no photos allowed.) In addition, the Band program hosted their Winter Concert on Wednesday evening. The concert featured the Lawrence Marching Band, the Junior High School Band, the High School Symphonic Band, and the Lawrence Jazz Band. The combined Jazz Band (7-12) is pictured.
The Choral Concert will be held on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 6:30 PM in the Williamson Performing Arts Center.
A reminder to all that Progress Reports will be posted on Infinite Campus on Friday, December 15, 2023. Students will have three weeks remaining in the quarter before Finals Week, the week of January 16, 2024.
Inspired by Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Benton Elementary third-grade students have been learning how to responsibly choose books that are "just right" for them. After learning the criteria for choosing books that will stretch them within their learning zone, they are applying the concept of using "just right" criteria for success in the engineering design process. This time, they are helping Goldilocks solve a problem: fixing her mistake of breaking the Three Bears' chair by building them a new chair. After defining the problem, students determined the criteria for successful chair design, brainstormed ideas, and collaborated to create prototypes of their chair designs.
At Clinton Elementary we captured moments from our 2nd Third Grade Writing Celebration! Students immersed themselves in crafting narrative stories under the guidance of Mrs. Lovley. In a collaborative spirit, pairs ventured between both classrooms, exchanging and providing feedback on each other's narratives. The importance of this shared experience goes beyond the celebration—it cultivates a supportive learning community, where students not only showcase their creativity but also engage in constructive dialogue for growth.
Fairfield Primary students are enjoying art this week. In Art class with Mrs. Bolduc, Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. Rackliff's preK students delved into the fascinating world of lines. This engaging exploration not only sparked their creativity but also played a crucial role in fostering early cognitive development and foundational skills. Learning about lines is an essential component of their growth, contributing to a well-rounded educational experience.
At Albion Elementary School Mrs. Quick's students demonstrated their comprehension of the book's main idea in a highly creative way by utilizing Lego bricks. This hands-on approach not only engaged them actively but also underscored the significance of tactile and visual learning experiences in fostering a deeper understanding of the material.
Meet Horton, The Junior high school's charismatic Guinea pig! Residing in the library, he spreads joy, teaches kindness and responsibility, and adds a touch of magic to our school. Check out his festive holiday hat!
The Lawrence Theatre Company will be presenting the play Once Upon a Mattress this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Times for the play are 7:00 PM on Thursday and Friday with a 3:00 PM matinee on Saturday. On Wednesday they gave a brief performance to the student body during our Community Homeroom. We hope you will make it out to one of the performances this week!
Our Lawrence EMPOWER club is practicing for their upcoming puppet shows for all Pre-K, K, 1,2, and 3rd graders later this month. The shows teach positive choices and are an evidence based program that is very popular with the elementary students. The high school students who participate in EMPOWER are students who advocate living life free of substance use/abuse and help to bring awareness of healthy choices and mentoring to their peers and the younger students across the district.
With the holidays upon us, we want to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season. I’d like to remind folks that are taking a planned vacation which will impact school attendance, we have Planned Absence Forms outside of the Main Office for your child to fill out and get signed and turned back into the Main Office before they leave on a trip. Parents sign off as well as your child’s teacher. This gives them a chance to provide work and/or plan for makeup when they return to school. A final reminder that Progress Reports for Q2, marking the midway point of the quarter, will be available for viewing on Friday, December 15, 2023.
Upcoming calendar events: December 13, 2023 the Jr. High and High School Band, Marching Band, and Jazz Band will be hosting their Holiday Concert in the Williamson Center. After the break the Jr. High and High School Choral Programs will host their Winter Holiday concert on Wednesday, January 10, 2023 starting at 6:30 PM in the Williamson Center. Please come out to support our students and enjoy the music they will share with you on those evenings!
At Lawrence Junior High School students are working hard in art and shop class. Artists/Students are working on their Tim Burton Inspired Characters, while they explore the new medium of Traditional Pen and Ink. In preparation for the Craft Carrier project, the students had a demonstration on how to cut round shapes on the bandsaw. After that initial demo, they moved on to a demonstration on how to use the spindle sanders required to finish sanding concave shapes. The photo shows the students watching as it is explained to them how to change spindles to accommodate different size curves.
On Wednesday, November 21, the Clinton Elementary 6th grade class celebrated
"Friendsgiving" with their classmates. The teachers and students brought in a little something to share for their own 6th-grade Thanksgiving Celebration.
At Albion Elementary, students engaged in reading across various environments. In the library, Mrs. Fletcher captivated first graders with a reading session of "The Very Last Castle," while in the third grade, Mrs. Cloutier enthralled students with a reading of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."
Last week leading up to Thanksgiving at Fairfield Primary,
students painted watercolor turkeys in Mrs. Oakes's Class.
Mrs. Leary's class and Mrs. Oakes' class combined for a group party and enjoyed some mini pies.
On a crisp November day, students from Emily Hachey and Annie Jewell’s second-grade classes enjoyed reading Benton Elementary’s newest Story Walk book: Spaghetti and Meatballs for All. This deliciously enticing book, written by math-extraordinaire Marilyn Burns, is a tale that’s sure to make your mouth water and your lips smile! Our Reading Recovery team - Carol Crothers, Sarah Rogers, and Lisa Roy - regularly selects, prepares, and swaps out Story Walk books for our children to enjoy as they walk around the playground. We encourage families to stop by on the weekend to enjoy this book, and others, throughout the school year!
