Due to the weather the Parent Association Meeting (and your introduction to the Fifth Grade Play) that was scheduled for this evening, February 20th has
been rescheduled for March 3, we are going forward with our plan to give you the classroom
preview.
News From Ms. Hector- Click to Open and Read!
News From Ms. Hector- Click to Open and Read!
Here is the overall grand preview of what putting on the play looks like from the classroom perspective. We thought you would appreciate the big picture. This blog post will be repeated several times in April, but please read it all now. Please feel free to ask us questions; it is a fun, finely-tuned, but potentially confusing, process!
Ready: Prep week in the classroom
Monday, March 31- Friday, April 4
The week back from spring
break is a critical one devoted to introducing the students to classroom work
they will do independently and in small groups when they are not called down to
play rehearsals. The learning curve is steep, but it leads to a sense of
calmness and competence once rehearsals begin. (We'll dip into reading books
designed to help students hone their comprehension skills and get ready for
ERB’s, review math facts and large-number computation, work our way through
math problems designed to get ready for ERB's, read and discuss social studies
chapters about the Bill of Rights, and continue work on geography concepts and
skills).
Set: Play rehearsal weeks at HC
Monday, April 7-Thursday, April 17
First thing in the morning (starting
right at 8:30) students will hand in homework, go over the classroom, drama,
and music schedules for the day, and receive new work for that day. It is
difficult for students to catch up when they are late or come in right at the
bell. Having students to school no later than 8:20 is very helpful.
Students go to regular
specials unless they are called to drama and music. Students go to drama and
music throughout the day for rehearsals. The schedule of who is called to
rehearsals varies from day to day.
When students are not in
drama rehearsals, music rehearsals, or specials, they are in our fifth grade
room working on independent and small group work. Beth Daniel will be evaluating work,
working with individuals and small groups, and helping kids remember where to
go when!
Students will be keeping
all of their class work in a red folder. We'll store binders in cubbies for the
duration of the play. A daily assignment sheet will substitute for their usual
homework planner notebook. Students will need their red folder and play script
each day. We recommend each student have a labeled, hard-sided water
bottle.
During these two weeks,
homework will consist of work not completed in the classroom, and
reading. We will simplify homework as needed if students are out of the
classroom most of the day for rehearsals. It’s going to vary a lot from night to night,
depending on how much rehearsal time a student has on any given day. They
should still be reading for homework. We do classroom work and homework while
we are at HC. Once we move to Hopkins, classroom work and homework temporarily
ends (with the exception of plenty of reading).
What You Can Do:
This is a time to check
your child’s homework each night. If your child is grumpy about this, then
so be it. Make sure they get a good breakfast and enough
sleep. Make sure your child has all of their homework and their script
each and every day.
Go! Final rehearsal week at BC
Friday, April 18-Friday, April 25
Friday, April 18 will be our first day traveling to the MPAC,
located at the Blake Campus in Hopkins. This will be our home away from home
until we put on our play. We'll rehearse in the mornings, go to recess and
lunch, and rehearse in the afternoons. Students will either be on stage, in the
orchestra pit, or reading in the audience seats.
The bus leaves HC each day
at 8:40 and returns to HC around 3:20.
We will return to HC
earlier on the day of the play, Friday, April 25. (We’ll send more
information about that later).
You have the option of
dropping your child off at BC in the mornings. Students will wait
in the Lower School Office or MPAC lobby, supervised by Ms. Senum. Our bus from
HC will pull up around 9:00.
You have the option of
picking up your child at BC at the end of the day. You may do so at 3:00.
Students will be waiting in the MPAC lobby with Ms. Senum. They are not allowed
to wait in the Middle School.
Please be crystal clear
with your child if you are planning to pick them up from the
MPAC at the end of the day. (We will assume you are meeting us at BC if
your child is not on the HC bus by 8:40 and no notification is
needed). Kids get easily confused and stressed about end-of-day
transportation during this week, so just telling them about changes is not
enough and "change of plans" e-mails to us during the day may not be
read. An e-mail at the start of the day or a hand-written note keeps things
clear. Students may not make alternate plans with friends during the day, and
parents may not take home other children without your consent (communicated
directly to us). When in doubt, students will accompany us back to HC at
3:00.
Students should bring a
book to read (e-reader or standard editions), script, pencil, water bottle,
small clip-on book light (if they do not have a backlit e-reader), and a jacket
every single day. It is often quite chilly at recess! They should bring
everything in a backpack or bag that has a closed top.
Students do not bring any
kind of food or money. E-readers are acceptable but are only to be used for
reading (not games). If your child must carry a cellphone, they must be turned
off and stored during the day. You can always call the BC office in an
emergency. They’ll get a message to us in the MPAC.
What you can do: be crystal clear about transportation plans with your student and with us. Make sure they have a warm jacket for recess. Make sure they have their script and a book in a backpack/bag. Good breakfast and good sleep helps everyone a lot! Be alert for the day costumes are due. This is a stressor for students who come unprepared. Also, have your plans ready for Play Night and communicate them to your child. They get anxious if they don't know who is coming when.
Thank you for being partners in this great adventure! The play is
a lot of fun and an enormous learning opportunity on so many levels. The fifth
grade team is thrilled to be part of it! (Look for us in the pit orchestra!)
