October is a busy month full of pumpkins, Bobcat Power, pictures, parades and of course, learning!
Ms. McNamee and the music department are happy to report that the fifth grade orchestra, band, and chorus are busy preparing for the upcoming Winter Concert at Woodland Middle School on December 12th at 7:00PM! They are working hard and excited to perform for you all.
The Kindergarteners have had an exciting month so far, with so much more to come. They enjoyed Fire Prevention Week and were so excited to get up close to the fire trucks. They also learned a lot at the Fire Prevention Assembly from the expert fire fighters at the East Meadow Fire Department. Mrs. Kirichenko, our technology teacher, has been teaching the students all about their Chromebooks and how to care for them. At our Character Education Assembly, put together by the Character Education Committee, our Kindergarteners learned all about Bobcat Power and how they have the power to make good choices. Also, this month, students wore orange and kindness t-shirts in honor of Unity Day and Bully Prevention Month. They have been reading about autumn, using their five senses to explore everything around them, making fall crafts, and talking about all things pumpkin. Kindergarten is looking forward to picking a pumpkin from the beautifully arranged pumpkin patch from the PTA and are eagerly awaiting the Halloween parade and parties on October 31st.
Fall is in full swing, and the first-grade children are filled with excitement! October has been a month full of learning and fun. In ELA, they are wrapping up their study of The Human Body. Throughout this unit, the children learned about the five major body systems—skeletal, muscular, digestive, circulatory, and nervous—along with their key parts and functions. In the second half of the unit, the focus shifted to how to take care of their bodies, including preventing the spread of germs and understanding the five keys to good health: eating well, exercising, sleeping, staying clean, and having regular check-ups. In math, our first-grade mathematicians have been immersed in Shapes and Patterns. The children have been exploring both flat and solid shapes, using them to create pictures and build models. They are also identifying shapes in their everyday surroundings and using these shapes to create and recognize patterns, which strengthens their understanding of geometry and design. One of the highlights this month was the Character Education Assembly, where the children learned about demonstrating Bobcat Power by making great choices and showing kindness to others. Fire Safety Week was another exciting event, with a visit from the East Meadow Fire Department. The children learned important lessons about fire safety and prevention and had a fantastic time exploring the fire trucks up close, and even getting a tour of the inside of an ambulance. Looking ahead, the children cannot wait to pick a pumpkin at the Pumpkin Patch and are looking forward to the Spooky Walk and in-classroom celebrations on Halloween.
Second grade is studying ancient Asian civilizations in their CKLA Reading Unit. They have reviewed addition without regrouping and began adding with regrouping. They are looking forward to the pumpkin patch sponsored by the PTA and Barnum’s Spooky Halloween Stroll!
The third graders were extremely excited to see Corey the Dribbler this year! His positive message that echoes the Barnum Bobcat Pledge is an annual treat for our students! Teachers were able to have meaningful discussions with the kids about respecting each other, setting goals, and having perseverance.
The fourth-grade teachers would like to thank the Barnum Woods PTA for supporting the students with the recent Journeys in-school field trip and the Corey the Dribbler assembly. These experiences have not only been incredibly fun, but also have been enriching for their classroom communities. They are eagerly working on their first official writing piece, a personal narrative, and the excitement in the room is contagious! They are truly putting their hearts into their stories, and the teachers are thrilled with their enthusiasm and creativity. The Journeys assemblies sparked great interest among the students, especially as they prepare to dive into our upcoming Native American unit in social studies. They are already asking thoughtful questions, showing curiosity, and making connections that will enhance their understanding as they begin this important topic. The fourth graders are also looking forward to picking out pumpkins in the Barnum Woods Pumpkin Patch!
Grade five students will be treated to two sessions with the Teaching Artists from Tilles Center with the Music and Art Partnership Program which begins soon. The students are looking forward to their upcoming field trip to see STOMP, a live performance at the Tilles Center for the performing Arts.
Thank you again to the Barnum Woods PTA for their continued support and providing such positive and enriching experiences for the entire school community. On behalf of all the classroom teachers, thank you to the PTA for bringing Corey the Dribbler back to Barnum again this year. The children were amazed by his incredible dribbling skills and learned the value of perseverance in a fun and engaging way! Also, thank you to the PTA for arranging picture day which ran smoothly, and our students were all smiles, looking quite fabulous in their picture day outfits! A pre-emptive thank you goes out to our PTA as well for the individual pumpkins the students will be receiving from the Pumpkin Patch. Your continued support truly makes a difference in their educational journey!