Physical Education 10/27/2023

Hello, parents, and students! It's been another fantastic week in our PE class as we continued to embrace the Halloween spirit and grooved to the iconic "Thriller" dance moves. Let's dive right into the spooky and active fun we had this week.

Thriller Dance Practice for Grades 5-8: Our older students, grades 5-8, have been hard at work practicing the legendary "Thriller" dance. It's been a challenging but thrilling journey, and we couldn't be prouder of their dedication. If you haven't already, check out the dance moves in this link, and keep encouraging them to participate and practice!

Spooky Game of Graveyard Tag: For K-8 students, we played a thrilling game of "Graveyard Tag." Students dashed around while trying to avoid being tagged by the "ghosts" or "zombies." The game not only got our hearts racing but also added an extra dose of excitement to our Halloween-themed activities.

Witches and Wizards Game: On Wednesday, we got into the magical spirit with a game of "Witches and Wizards." It was a fun twist on tag, with some students being the witches and wizards trying to tag the others with their imaginary wands. It's amazing to see how creative and imaginative our students can be!

Pictures from the Week: Here are some snapshots from our Halloween-themed PE adventures this week:

What's Coming Up: As we gear up for more Halloween fun, we'll continue perfecting our "Thriller" dance moves next week. Plus, we'll have exciting games and activities to keep our students active, engaged, and entertained. Stay tuned for more updates and surprises!

Thank you for your support and encouragement in keeping our students active and enthusiastic during PE class. We're looking forward to another thrilling week ahead, full of more dance, games, and fun fitness!

Have a spook-tacular weekend, and see you all next week!

Art 10/27/2023

Navigators 10/27/2023

  Navigator's 5th and 6th grade!!!  

Important Dates:

October 27th- Trunk or Treat

October 31st – ½ day staff and students

November 3rd – Half Day

November 10th- Writhing Celebration

November 15th- Classroom Harvest Party

November 16th- Half Day

November 16th-17th- Conferences

November 22-24th- No School

December 8th- Half Day

December 22nd- Winter Holiday Party

December 25th- January 5th- Winter Break, No School

Ms. Noura's Math and Science Class -  

This week:   We continued to concentrate on getting to know each other this week, and GoMath assessments have begun. Each student took their time and did their best to answer these questions and their results will not be counted towards them. In addition, our regular routine began this week with electives. Please keep in mind that the students are enjoying a special day every day, so don't forget your water bottles! 

Next Week:  NWEA testing begins next week!! Please remember to bring your planner, notebook,  folder, and pencil pouches to class every day. As a reminder, picture day is on Monday, August 28th; please bring your best smile!! Next week, the students and I will continue to practice specific rules.  Electives will resume next week, and science will begin! 

Ms. Sarah's ELA and Social Studies Class-

This week:  This week we continued working on our chapters. We will have our celebration on November 10th.

Next Week: We will begin our informative unit next week.   

Important memos:

• Ms. Sarah's class communication system will be though Class Dojo. Pictures and pieces of our week will be put up. Please go through this link to access it: https://home.classdojo.com/#/classInvite/?c=CXEFSND&attribution=class_link
• Our classroom is in need of fidgets if you would like to donate some that would be amazing.

• The Spirit of Alexandra, who also helped us with the in house field trip, they often have scholarships to support these camps. Here is their website:
• https://www.spiritofalexandria.org/
• I could use clear glue, glitter, contact solution, plastic spoons, and disposable bowls to make slim with both classes. If you could help, please let me know. Thank you.

Innovators 10/27/2023

Welcome back from break Innovators!

In ELA we began our first class novel of the year, "Brown Girl Dreaming" by Jacqueline Woodson.  After a few days of background information, we began reading.  Much to my delight, the general consensus is it is an enjoyable read!

Miss Amber K, full time aide at BLS, has bravely taken on the Math & Science work in Miss Monica's room.  Miss Monica is out on family medical leave until Oct. 31. 

A note on student cell phones--

Our Family Handbook states: Students may not use cell phones, personal tablets, or gaming devices at school. Cell phones must be turned into the classroom teacher for the day. During the school day, phones are available for student use, with permission of a staff member. Parents wishing to communicate with their child during the school day may do so through the front office. 

Many students like to work with headphones.  We only provide headphones for testing accommodations.  Students may bring their own headphones from home as long as they are wired (no airpod styles).

Sign up for THIS YEAR'S Remind code.

Ms Jenni: text 81010 with the message @e26k4f

Please contact us with any questions about your student or their day:

Jenni Renaud

jenni@branchlineschool.org

248-910-3051

Monica Gurnani

monicag@branchlineschool.org

 2489823642

Investigators 10/27/2023

This week in ELA we started a new spelling unit which we will complete next week. We got back into the swing of reading groups and worked on added details to our writing in our journals. Next week we will meet with Ms. Jamie one on one for an end of trimester reading check. After this check, reading groups will be adjusted as needed. 

This week in science we started the final earth science unit on weather and climate. We reviewed the water cycle and learned about how to predict weather just based on clouds in the sky. Ask me what the different names of the clouds are! 

-Ms Jamie

Reminders:

• 10/27 - TRUNK OR TREAT!!! 

• 10/31 - Half day of school, dismissal at 11.25 a.m.

• 11/03 - Half day of school, dismissal at 11.25 a.m.

• 11/03 - Texas Roadhouse Card and Carbs Due Date

In Math our 3rd graders are finishing up our 2nd chapter in the book about how we Represent and Interpret Data; with the 4th graders we are continuing learning about more complex multiplications and multiplication comparisons.

In Social Studies we are learning about Economics in Michigan in more detail: we were trying to figure out what is the difference between fines, taxes and fees.

I’m so grateful to all the parents' for donating necessary supplies and helping the students  decorate the pumpkins. Here are the pictures of our “class” pumpkin, Pete the Cat:

~Ms. Noemi

Explorers 10/27/2023

 Happy Friday! 

The Explorers have been hard at work. We are blending cvc words, learning about long vowel teams, and writing sentences. We are working hard at starting every sentence with a capital letter and ending with punctuation. In science we are exploring engineering. We built haunted houses and investigated what column shape is the strongest. Have a great weekend!

Junior Explorers 10/27/2023

November conferences are happening on the 16th and 17th.  Thursday school is a half day and in-person conferences in the afternoon.  Friday morning are virtual conferences.  We'll go over report cards, testing results, and talk bout how your child is progressing in class.  If you are unable to find a slot that works for you, let me know and we will plan for something else.  

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F4BA9AC2FA5F58-45676133-november

This week we did a lot of creepy science in preparation for Halloween.  We talked about why people find bugs so creepy.  We looked at the skull and figured out why it is so important to have as part of our body.  In official science news, we are starting a new unit on animals.  Looking at what they need and how they make shelters.  

Our nursery rhyme and fable unit has ended officially this week and we'll be moving on to our author study.   This will take quite a bit of time and into the new year.  We'll start off with Dr. Seuss because it is a fun transition while using his infamous rhyming words.  We'll be looking at the parts of a book and what authors really do. 

Our social studies unit has also ended and you hopefully got a collection of their work.  Moving forward will be the concept of history.  What was life like long ago?  How did a kindergartner spend their day 100 years ago?  There are a lot of transitions in content over this week and next, but we're ready for it!

Things to talk about from the week:

• Portion (portioning out cake)
• Wild animals in costumes
• Ms. Sarah's skeleton hands!
• Melting crayons on a pumpkin

Physical Education 10/13/2023

Spooky Fun and Thriller Grooves

Monday: "Thriller Dance" for 5th-8th Graders:

Our older students from grades 5 to 8 were treated to an electrifying session as they continue Michael Jackson's "Thriller." They've been grooving to the iconic moves, and we're proud of their enthusiasm and dedication. Please continue to encourage them to practice and participate in the dance. It's a great way to boost coordination, fitness, and have a ton of fun! The link to the video is in the title!

K-4th Graders Played "Ghost Busters":

Our younger students, grades K-4, had a spook-tacular time playing a Halloween game called "Ghost Busters." It was a team-building and active experience that encouraged laughter and fun while being physically active. Kudos to our little ghost busters for their great teamwork!

What's Next:

As we return from the break, we'll dive right back into our "Thriller" dance practice. For parents and guardians, please encourage your kids to continue working on their dance moves.

Remember, participation in our PE class activities is essential for a well-rounded and healthy lifestyle. We can't wait to see our students continue to shine and improve their dance routine.

Thanks for your continued support, and we're looking forward to an active and thrilling return to school. Enjoy your break, and we'll see you soon!

Innovators 10/13/2023

Hello Innovator Families,

Next week is our week-long fall break.  Please use this time to rest, enjoy and return ready to rock until Christmas!

Thank you to all our Innovators and chaperones for a great trip to 3 Cedars.  

Special shoutout to our bonus BLS Class of '15 alumna, Audrey Renaud, who stepped in to chaperone. 

Miss Amber K, full time aide at BLS, has bravely taken on the Math & Science work in Miss Monica's room.  Miss Monica is out on family medical leave until Oct. 31. 

Many of our new students and new to the Innovator room are still adjusting to the higher level of behavior, maturity and work expectations. Please encourage your student by reminding them they are "professional students." Things like joking to tease, foul language, name calling, interpersonal drama, computer misuse etc. are things that by this stage we should have learned are below the expectations of 7th & 8th graders.  We are gently reminding them of our commitment to being Kind, Safe and Respectful but your support is always appreciated. 

A note on student cell phones--

Our Family Handbook states: Students may not use cell phones, personal tablets, or gaming devices at school. Cell phones must be turned into the classroom teacher for the day. During the school day, phones are available for student use, with permission of a staff member. Parents wishing to communicate with their child during the school day may do so through the front office. 

Many students like to work with headphones.  We only provide headphones for testing accommodations.  Students may bring their own headphones from home as long as they are wired (no airpod styles).

Sign up for THIS YEAR'S Remind code.

Ms Jenni: @e26k4f

Please contact us with any questions about your student or their day:

Jenni Renaud

jenni@branchlineschool.org

248-910-3051

Monica Gurnani

monicag@branchlineschool.org

 2489823642

Navigators 10/13/2023

  Navigator's 5th and 6th grade!!!  

Important Dates:

October 14 th – Fall Break Begins

October 15 th – BLS at Kalahari

October 23 rd – School Resumes

October 27th- Trunk or Treat

Ms. Noura's Math and Science Class -  

This week:   We continued to concentrate on getting to know each other this week, and GoMath assessments have begun. Each student took their time and did their best to answer these questions and their results will not be counted towards them. In addition, our regular routine began this week with electives. Please keep in mind that the students are enjoying a special day every day, so don't forget your water bottles! 

Next Week:  NWEA testing begins next week!! Please remember to bring your planner, notebook,  folder, and pencil pouches to class every day. As a reminder, picture day is on Monday, August 28th; please bring your best smile!! Next week, the students and I will continue to practice specific rules.  Electives will resume next week, and science will begin! 

Ms. Sarah's ELA and Social Studies Class-

This week:  This week we continued working on our chapters. We also finished up our State Projects. We are finishing the week with making sculls. 

Next Week: No School! Have a fun week off!

Important memos:

• Ms. Sarah's class communication system will be though Class Dojo. Pictures and pieces of our week will be put up. Please go through this link to access it: https://home.classdojo.com/#/classInvite/?c=CXEFSND&attribution=class_link
• Our classroom is in need of fidgets if you would like to donate some that would be amazing.

• The Spirit of Alexandra, who also helped us with the in house field trip, they often have scholarships to support these camps. Here is their website:
• https://www.spiritofalexandria.org/

Art 10/13/2023

Junior Explorers 10/13/2023

This week we continued our fables by discussing the Fox and the Crow, as well as the Grasshopper and the Ant.  After reading, we all agreed that being sneaky and greedy isn't very nice and can sometimes backfire.  It's a lot better to make friends, be kind, and share.

Thank you again to all those who helped with the field trip, and those who wish they could come.  Chaperones make it a lot more fun for everybody.  We had a blast!  If you didn't see our Branch Line Facebook post, there were more pictures shared there.

This week and next week we are going to finish up our ideas on being good citizens.  Look for the unit collection soon, as their work is collected and reflected on before it comes home.

If you've got extra time during the week off, check to see if your child knows how to put on coats, gloves, and a hat all by themselves.  Winter is coming!  I've noticed some children come right up to a teacher expecting us to put their coats on for them.  We are working on independent strategies because when snow pants and boots are needed it might take us a half hour to get outside!

Enjoy the pictures from the field trip and have a wonderful fall break!

Investigators 10/13/2023

 Reminders:

• 10/15 - Kalahari

• 10/16 - 10/20 (Monday - Friday) Fall Brain Break 

• 10/23 - Texas Roadhouse Carbs & Cards Begins (Ends 11/6)

• Spirit Week

10/23 - PJ day

10/24 - Pink Out Day

10/25 - Pumpkin vs Skeleton

10/26 - Sports Day

10/27 - Tie-Dye Day

• 10/27 - TRUNK OR TREAT!!! 

• 10/31 - Half day of school, dismissal at 11.25 a.m.

As we are getting into our regular routines, we have our assigned Classroom Jobs - we rotate assignments every week! Our kids seem to enjoy the responsibility that comes with the Leader of the week.

In Math our 3rd graders started learning about how we represent and Interpret Data, with the 4th graders  we continue  learning about multiplication and multiplication comparisons.

In Social Studies we are learning more about Economics in Michigan. We listened to the story called “Pancakes, Pancakes”, they learned about how an easy product like pancake needs to be made, and they learned all the items we depend on, the  story was a good example to demonstrates how Jack was dependent upon or needed all the resources for his pancakes.

~Ms. Noemi

This week in ELA we met with the teacher to look at our reading portfolios. We looked at where we are in reading right now and set some goals for the year. We will check-in with these portfolios several times throughout the year. We also continued to work on retelling text using the most important details only. We will start a new spelling unit after break.

In science this week we completed our unit on fossils. Students were able to see how scientists can learn what an animal looked like, ate, and how they behaved just by looking at their fossils. 

I hope everyone had a great fall break! Enjoy!

--Ms.Jamie