Clinton Township Newsletter

1 3 J u n e 2 0 1 5 I N O U R S C H O O L S : Su R Scho Bristlebots at SRS: Thank you to the Clinton Township Foundation for Educational Excellence for the generous grant that has funded the Spruce Run School Bristlebots in Art and Writing project. The project was implemented beginning in January when first grade students built the Bristlebots, followed by each student creating a 3D habitat for the Bristlebot using recycled materials and found objects. The students are completing this project by writing and sharing a story. In March, the kindergarten students uses the assembled Bristlebots to create abstract art by pushing and pulling various art media after using blocks to solve the problem of containing the Bristlebot on paper. Students will then write about the art. In June, the students will display their art and stories as part of the annual Arts Fest at Spruce Run School. We are very excited at Spruce Run School about this project! Thank you again to the Foundation. Paick McGah• Scho Second Grade Students Embark on Nature Study! Recently all second grade students participated in a class trip to Merrill Creek Reservoir. This trip was planned to support the grade level unit on meadow ecosystems. During the trip students participated in a variety of activities including a scavenger hunt, nature hike and turtle study. Parent chaperones also participated in this fun experience. Third Grade Students preparing for Water Study: In June, all third grade students will be going on a class trip to study rivers and streams. To prepare students for the trip, teachers and naturalists present lessons in the classroom. Students learn about the types of organisms they may find while exploring the stream. When students arrive at their destination they use scientific equipment to gather and classify invertebrates. We always hope for warm weather since participants are usually knee deep in water during the majority of the experience. P M G S t u d e n t s P u b l i s h Research Books! Each student in the school became an expert on a specific insect (grade 2) or mammal (grade 3). After going through a n e x t e n s i v e research process students drafted, revised and published a book. Many classes invited parents in to celebrate this accomplishment. Students are very proud of their books and love to share their knowledge! Photo: Cover Illustration above by third grade student Selina. Duckling Update: As a followup to last month's news about our second grade duckling project, we would like to share a photo of our first duckling to hatch: Round Valley Scho Staff Appreciation Week: We would like to take this opportunity to say a big "Thank You" to our amazing staff! They put an incredible amount of time and effort into their craft. We truly appreciate their dedication to our students. We would also like to thank the PTA for making this a great week for our teachers! They are a special group of people who always put our students first! Reading Olympics: Round Valley students participated in the Reading Olympics competition at Holland School! There were 28 teams and approximately 330 students participating from the Hunterdon County area. Round Valley Scho• ct•ued... Round Valley had six teams participating this year and once again, we had an impressive showing! The competition ended with students receiving five first-place ribbons and one second-place ribbon. Our second place team was only 2 points away from a first place. Our students wowed the moderators, timekeepers and organizers of the event. (Thank you RV teachers who volunteered their time to help chaperone and judge) The students answered in RACE (Restate, Answer, Cite, Explain/Edit) format. Competitors faced the judges impressing other teams, parents and teachers. Their respectful behavior was noticed by all! Round Valley Reading Olympic Team Names Grade 6: The Great Reading Gummy Bears The Page Masters The Ferociously Reading Fireballs Grade 5: The Chapter Chasing Cheetahs The Bookmark Breakers The Mysterious Musketeers 4th Grade Presents.... their Wax Museum! Was that Jane Goodall? Did I see Abraham Lincoln? Was Michelle Obama scheduled for a visit? Our fourth grade classrooms were bursting with celebrities! Round Valley's fourth grade hosted its Annual Wax Museum – one of our favorite activities! The fourth grade students did an amazing job researching and planning presentations for this event. We were first impressed by the amount of research the students completed in getting to know the character they had selected. Next, we were wowed by the costumes, and finally we were so proud of how they brought it all together and presented their character at the Wax Museum. Our students had memorized and rehearsed until they had their presentations perfected. Parents, grandparents and staff were treated to a wonderful day! Thank you for this special event that will remain in all of our memories! ••t To hip Midd- Scho The Annual Hunterdon Film Festival and Competition will be held at CTMS on June 4. We have young filmmakers competing with their original documentaries from five area schools! At the time of submission, students from Clinton Township, Clinton Public, Lebanon Township-Woodglen, Bethlehem Township and Califon had confirmed participation. Winners will be announced in next month's Newsletter! On May 4, John Halligan visited Round Valley and Clinton Township Middle School and met with the students in grades six, seven and eight to share "Ryan's Story". During the 90 minute long student assembly John talked about the death of his teenage son Ryan. He spoke to students about the "Power of Words", the unexpected effects of bullying and cyberbullying. John Halligan also provided a parent presentation on Bullying, Cyberbullying and Teen Depression at CTMS in the evening, which raised awareness of teen suicide and provided recommendations for parents. John urged parents to "become involved in your child's cyberspace." We'd like to thank the Clinton Township Foundation for Educational Excellence for funding this grant opportunity For more info visit: www.ryanpatrickhalligan.org/documents/TipsforParentsRev13. pdf. The CTMS auditorium has been ringing to the sound of music! On May 5 we had a highly successful choral concert that featured soloists Marilena Parker, Michelle Gladdis, Rebecca Beswick, Kaylyn Feeley, Justin Lopez, Sam Weiss, Michael Pierce and a duet by Ryan Apgar and Justin Rush, pianist Katherine Toms, cellist Sean Lee and drummer Tommy Gassaway. On May 12 we rocked the house with the CTMS band concert. Arrangements varied from the traditional to a jazz band and rock band. Katherine Toms and Richard Chen performed piano solos. We're very proud of our immensely talented students! We'd like to thank the PTA for their support during Teacher Appreciation Week! so cute!

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