Thank You All Nature Walk Volunteers!!!

Throughout the month of October, parent volunteers led groups of children from 13 classrooms (K - 3) on nature walks through the Sprague schoolyard.  A great big thank you to all the parents who contributed their time to scientific exploration with our children.  This program could not take place without you!  See you in the spring.

Still Looking for a Few Good Nature Walk Volunteers

Thank you to all the volunteers who have signed up to lead nature walks!

There are still a few classrooms who need additional volunteers.  Please consider volunteering to lead a small group of students in a 30 - 45 minute exploration of their schoolyard. The only required training is online and can be completed at your leisure prior to the nature walk.  

To sign up, please click here:  October Nature Walk Sign Ups

Contact Melissa Martin at rootmartin@yahoo.com with any questions.

Volunteer for the Fall Nature Walks

It's that time of year!  The fall nature walks for grades K - 3 will take place during the month of October. 

Please consider volunteering to lead a small group of students in a 30 - 45 minute exploration of their schoolyard. The only required training is online and can be completed at your leisure prior to the nature walk.  

To sign up, please click here:  October Nature Walk Sign Ups

If you signed up on Back to School Night, please check the online sign up to make sure that we captured your information.  Thanks for volunteering!

Contact Melissa Martin at rootmartin@yahoo.com with any questions.

Creative Arts and Sciences News

Some Spring Highlights:

First graders worked with LINX theater director Todd Morse to learn, rehearse and perform the Ghanaian folk tale Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock. 

The members of Eine Kleine Konsort presented their Recorder Goes to School program to third graders studying the recorder. Students were invited to play along with the ensemble.

Joe and Vida Galeota shared a typical day in the life of a Ghanaian student with first graders studying Ghana.

Poet and children's author Lyn Littlefield Hoopes conducted poetry workshops in the fifth grade classrooms focusing on the Terra Cotta Warriors of the Qin Dynasty. Lyn worked with students to develop ideas and write from the perspective of the archeologist who discovered the Terra Cotta Warrior or the artist who created the figure.

These programs are sponsored by the Sprague PTO. Thank you for your generous contributions!

A special thank you to the members of the Sprague Creative Arts and Sciences Committee who worked with the teachers, staff  and numerous artists, musicians, authors, scientists and storytellers to coordinate over 25 enrichment programs for Sprague students this year:  Judy Boettger, Michele Frost, Angie Gakidis, and Melissa Martin. 

Thank you!
Elise Rodino and Kirsten Stevenson
Creative Arts and Sciences Committee Co-Chairs
 

Creative Arts and Sciences News at Sprague

On February 4th, a science educator from Bugworks visited third grade classrooms to lead a hands-on, interactive program featuring live insects and other arthropods.

Also on Feb. 4th, teacher naturalist and Sprague school parent Alli Fronzaglia from the Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary visited kindergarten classrooms to lead kindergarten scientists in an experiment to learn how pollution affects water in nature. Students attempted to clean various types of pollution from water using a variety of tools. Kindergarten scientists determined that cleaning up pollution was very difficult and that preventing it might be the best course of action. They then discussed ways to keep our waterways clean and healthy. (Thank you Alli!)

On February 5th, second grade students Explored the Ocean World with marine biologist Ellen Goethel. Ellen's marine science program includes artifacts from the sea and features a water table filled with live creatures borrowed from the sea.

These program support the science curriculum. They are sponsored by the Sprague PTO/

Creative Arts and Sciences. 

Creative Arts and Sciences News

Ask your third grader about...Moscow Nights and Golden Gates. This week the talented musicians, singers and dancers of Moscow Nights/Golden Gates performed for third graders studying Russia. This lively performance introduced students to Russian music, folklore and tradition. The group of singers and dancers that joined the Moscow Nights musicians this year were on their first U.S. tour!  

Ask your kindergartener about the MWRA water program. This week a science educator from the MWRA visited kindergarten classrooms and led a program pertaining to the water delivery system and water use. This program supports the kindergarten science curriculum.

These programs are supported by the PTO/Creative Arts and Sciences

Thank you Sprague - from Environmental Sciences and Remember Me Books

Fall Nature Walks - Thank you!

A great big thank you to all of the parents who led groups of students on the fall nature walks.  Without your help, this program would not be able to take place!

And a special thank you to the grade level coordinators for K - 2 who did a great job organizing the walks:  Annalisa Weigel, Heather Kirkpatrick, and Todd Lehmann.

Come join us for the nature program in the spring!
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Remember Me! Books

Thank you to the following Sprague familes for their amazing support and generosity this fall - Green, Gordon, Aufranc, Foley, Dehn, Cahaly, Leone, McKay, Rosenbaum, Tong, O'Neill, Charney.

We already have 112 books donated so far this year. We're well on our way towards the goal of 180 books!

For information on how to support the Sprague library through the Remember Me! program, click here.

Idea #2 - Helpful tips for your child's artwork

Original Works Idea #2 - order by Friday, November 2
      Your child's artwork reproduced on a variety of products

Still thinking on what your child can do?  Have you considered other art mediums?  Sure crayons and markers are great and easy, but paint and paper cutouts are fun to use and can add another dimension to your artwork.

• Washing the whole background with water colors or paint would ensure the whole piece has some color.  Skies and grounds are hard for kids to color all in, so why not help make it easier? Then they can go crazy with their detail work!
• If you have extra wallpaper or gift wrap at home, a great way to add color!  Your child only has to cut out shapes he/she likes and put it together in a collage.  Try making different things by putting the paper together in different ways.
• Think about using multiple media together, paint and paper cutouts, crayons and paint, etc.
• Recreate the Class Project they enjoyed!

        

Click on the following Pinterest Page for ideas and inspiration - Original Works, Ms. Stabnick's page
Don't forget to put the child's name somewhere in the art if they like. Artists do sign their work.
Contact Yolanda Tong bytong@verizon.net for more info.

Idea #1 - Helpful tips for your child's artwork

Original Works - order by Fri., Nov 2nd
     Your child's artwork reproduced on a variety of products

Order packets came home and your child is questioning what they should draw?  We have a few ideas discussed in our student meetings.

• Outline your child's name with big letters and then they can decorate the inside of the letters with different shapes or colors. Talk about personalizing!
• Draw your favorite shape and repeat all over the paper.  Different colors or patterns can be colored in each one.  OR just make the shape big and put little shapes inside.
• Draw your favorite object (or person or animal or place...) and make it large on the paper.  That's really showing everyone what your favorite things are!
• Recreate a project they've done and enjoyed in Art Class!

   

Click on the following Pinterest Page for ideas and inspiration:
Original Works, Ms. Stabnick's page

Don't forget to put the child's name somewhere in the art if they like.  Artists do sign their work.  Contact Yolanda Tong bytong@verizon.net for more info.