Grade News / Specials
Leaving Native cultures from around the world, students have begun drawing portraits with European influences.
In recognition of the Olympics being held in London this summer, kindergarteners and first graders will draw athletes and visitors to the games. Both second and fourth grades are designing Greco/Roman inspired portraits in celebration of the first Olympians.
Abstract faces based on the style of Pablo Picasso will be executed by third graders, while students in the fifth grade will elongate facial features as created by Amadeo Modigliani.
The Parsippany Library on Halsey Road is currently hosting a colorful art display of paintings and drawings
created by our students. This exhibit will be there through May.
My name is Donna Martino and I teach Basic Skills Math to students in Grades 1-5 here at Lake Parsippany. The students in this program will review and practice math skills they have learned in their regular math class. The intent is to evoke stronger math skills while boosting confidence along the way. There are times when you can find our groups working diligently in a small group setting in Room 210 or you may find us in the whole class working inclusively. At Lake Parsippany, we all strive for students in this program to receive extra help with basic math skills in a nurturing environment.
At home, parents can help their child by checking homework and reviewing skills with practice regularly. There are also board games and puzzles that encourage the mathematical thinkers in all of us! Most importantly, try looking for math in your everyday lives and "talk math" with your child whenever you can. While you are shopping at the store or buying movie tickets, you can discuss prices and times. At home you can practice measurement while baking your favorite brownie mix. Look for numbers while you go for long ride in the car. This all "adds" meaning and relevancy to the numbers in your child's world. Math is truly everywhere!
You can also check out some websites that are interactive and fun. Here are just a few:
Harcourt eProducts is where some grades can access their math textbook.
There are math games available on this site too.
If there is anything you need to discuss or would like information about, please contact me by email at, Dmartino@pthsd.k12.nj.us or just call the school!
Lake Par Guidance just completed its first round of guidance classes and is now busy working on a quilt project with the fifth and fourth graders. The second round of classes will be scheduled for November. Meanwhile the fifth graders are continuing their conflict resolution training every Friday of the week this month and will be completed in early January.
In Miss Gosden's class, first grade is practicing adding and subtracting in math. We will soon be moving on to tables and graphs. Second grade is working on expository writing. We are also enjoying all of the new and exciting stories in our new reading series! In math, second grade is working on adding double digit numbers with and without regrouping. Fourth grade has just finished reading Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume. It was an excelling novel. We are doing our final project and then will be moving onto our next novel!
In grade three, Mr. T's Math class is working hard on subtraction concepts. Grade five just completed a mini project on collecting data. In Language Arts, grade three is starting a new theme entitled "Community Ties." Grade five is currently reading the novel From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiller.
The instrumental music program is for fourth and fifth grade students who want to play an instrument in the band. Students can choose an instrument in fourth grade and join the Beginner Band. We have small group lessons and a combined band rehearsal each week where students learn to read music, count rhythms, and work together as an ensemble. Fifth grade students expand on their skills in the Advanced Band by working on more difficult music. The jazz band is a small ensemble that begins in January and prepares some selections for the Spring Concert. We hope to see you at our Winter Concert, which is on December 14th, and our Spring Concert, which is on May 23rd!
Vocal Music (grades 2-5) - Ms. Farina
Vocal Music is a great place for students to sing, play instruments, and make music! While it is called vocal music, we do much more than sing in class. We play many classroom instruments including bells, xylophones, tambourines, drums, triangles, and guiros while also learning to read and notate music. Music is a great way for all students from kindergarten to fifth grade to express their creativity and be part of an ensemble.
The English as a Second Language program at Lake Par provides extra practice in English skills for students who speak another language at home. Our goal is to provide a sympathetic, non-threatening environment in which these children can develop their ability to use English to communicate in social settings; to use English to achieve academically; and to use English in culturally appropriate ways.
During these beginning months of the school year ESL students are learning calendar skills, discussing and writing about the autumn season, and reading about our presidential election. We especially look forward to November and the special holiday it brings--Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving reminds all of us that once upon a time, we, too, were newcomers to this wonderful land.
4th and 5th Grade Chorus is a unique opportunity for students to join together once a week and share in music making. Besides rehearsing vocal selections for the winter and spring concerts, students learn how to develop healthy vocal tone, breath control, sing on pitch, and maintain melodic integrity when harmonies are present. Chorus gives students the understanding of the importance of working collaboratively with others, as well as fostering individual success, as they are expected to practice and memorize music for concerts. The Lake Parsippany Winter Concert is on December 14th, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at Brooklawn Middle School. We would love to see you there!
Lake Parsippany teachers have the ability to incorporate technology into their lesson plans through the use of Lake Parsippany School's computer lab that is equipped with 29 iMac computers or our mobile computer lab that is equipped with 25 macbook laptops. Whether researching on the internet, editing Word documents or creating Power Point presentations, students are excited whenever they have the privelege of using technology.
Lake Parsippany is recycling used Laser and Inkjet Cartridges and old Cell Phones through the Funding Factory. It would be wonderful to get your place of business involved. If they would like to get involved, they can do it directly through the Funding Factory web site www.fundingfactory.com or give the cartridges to you to bring to school. We have been doing great! Many thanks to all of you!
This year we have a brand new reading series for grades K-2 called Reading Streets and an intervention program called My Sidewalks. The poem ABC's of Reading To and With Your Child can be a fun way to encourage and instill a love for reading.
Reading Connection is a monthly newsletter for you and your children in grades K-5 to get great ideas for reading and writing.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or if I may be of more help. The best gift you can give your children is to READ READ READ with them everyday.
