Once Again it is time for the

PRESIDENTIAL FITNESS TEST

This assess fitness level by seeing how many Push-ups, Sit and -ups that can be done in 1 minute along with timed shuttle runs and miles runs with a flexibility test in the sit and reach box.

We will be testing for 3 weeks at both schools. Please make sure that you bring you gym shoes, and a water bottle.

ACES - All Children Exercise Simultaneously

May 5, 2010

Each May, millions of school children all over the globe will exercise simultaneously in a symbolic gesture of fitness and unity. This non-competitive program has proven to be educational, motivational and fun. Starting its 21st year worldwide, ACES has reached millions of children, parents, and teachers including participants from more than 50 countries.

2010 marks the 12th year for ACES Day in Michigan with the continued support of Farm Bureau Insurance. Sponsorship from Farm Bureau Insurance has allowed the Michigan Fitness Foundation to provide an educational newsletter and sticker for each ACES participant.

Take a look at the entire school exercising at the same time. We exercised to Latin music and had a moment of silence observe Cinco De Mayo and National day of Prayer.

PE in the 2nd trimester of school

In the Gym or Classroom

In the gym at the Ellen Thompson Campus we have been jumping rope for cardiovascular health and playing exciting games of floor hockey. The winners of our Jump Rope Contest were:

Village Winners

K and 1- Lighthouse

Salaya Martin

2 and 3- Ujima

Alexus Roberts

4 and 5 - Amani

Nina Williams

In the classroom we are still focusing on the 5 components of fitness, but this time we put them into a workout video. We all learned the proper ways to follow an exercise video and how to get a "total body" workout.

~ Coach Marbry

1,000 Paper Cranes

ATTENTION TO PARENTS AND TEACHERS!

In the coming weeks your 4th and 5th graders are going to be starting a very ambitious project. As an Art Teacher I try to involve my students in cultural awareness within and outside of the realm of their own cultures. In the past 24 weeks we have talked about Native Americans, from Pre-Historic Inuit tribes to Meso-American Mayan civilization. Now the Dream Builders Village is learning about Japanese folklore. This is not entirely new to them as Ms. Ginger and Mrs. Melkonian have introduced songs from Japanese culture.

The aspect that my 3-D Art students are going to focus on is the tale of Sadako and The Thousand Paper Cranes. The story tells of a girl who suffered from terminal radiation as a result of the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. Long ago it was believed that if any person folded 1,000 paper cranes they would then be granted one wish but in modern times the folding of 1,000 paper cranes is viewed as an image of Peace. It is my goal to have the 4th and 5th grade Village complete this project, but here is the catch, we are doing it with 100% recycled materials. What this means is I will set up a box in the main office for paper donations. These donations can be anything from old magazines, flyers from the mail, sheets of paper that you no longer need, newspapers, advertisements etc. It can be anything that you were planning on throwing away. This project teaches the students about the importance of recycling and it also shows them how many things can be done with an old newspaper.

The box will be labeled as CRANE DONATION STATION. It is not mandatory to donate but anything will help!

Here is a link that shows you how to make your own Paper Cranes and the Wikipedia link to help fill in the rest of the story. Your kids would love it if you joined in! Thanks for your help!

http://homepages.tig.com.au/~masonda/UNESCOpack/sadako/sadako.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadako_Sasaki

Paper Sculptures

Hello Bloggers! Your students have been working with 3 dimensional shape development in 3-D Art with me, Ms. O. The assignment was for each student to create their own shape out of a small piece of paper, starting with a basic shape like a square or rectangle, and then adapting it to take it from a flat piece of paper to a dimensional shape. After they found their shape they recreated it dozens of times to create a final product.

Here are some examples from Mr. Bruner's 4th grade class. I hope you enjoy them!

Steven Anderson



Joshua Chapman



Felicity Moore



Kiara Gibson



Lauryn Brown



Corey Rich

Metal Masks by Mrs. Martins 5th grade class

Ryan Sparks

Timothy Hatley

Andrew Blackmon

Amari Flowers

Daniel Dixon

Nina Williams

Music Field Trips

Our young musicians were fortunate enough to experience some field trips in the last week. Please check out the music blogs for more details! Our links are on the sidebar to your right.

Mrs. Melkonian

ATTENTION PARENTS!

The art room is collecting things for art projects again; if you have any of the fallowing, please bring them to the school!

-Paper towel/ toilet paper rolls

-Metal or plastic bottle caps

-Tissue boxes

-Wrapping paper tubes

-Caps off of milk or juice containers

-Newspapers

-Egg cartons

-Newspapers

If you have anything that could help, please bring to UPA or have your child give to Ms. Seikaly.

Thank you,

Ms. Seikaly

Hello all

In the word of Physical Education...

Ellen Thompson Campus- PE 1

We have played football, badminton, and starting floor hockey. We have also been working on learning body organs, developing cardiovascular endurance with running laps and aerobics, and starting our jump rope unit. Ask your Kindergarteners and first graders to show you a greatvine.

Check out Mr. Wetherbee's class in their badminton unit.

Mark Murray Campus- PE 2

We have been slowly covering the 5 components of fitness. Which are:

1. Cardiovascular Endurance

2. Muscular Strength

3. Muscular Endurance

4. Flexibility

5. Body Composition - I have substituted agility as the fifth to line up with our fitness testing through the Presidential Fitness Council.

This past 6 weeks our focus has been flexibility. Watch Mrs. Pearsall's class show you some dynamic examples of what that looks like.

Remember that bring gym shoes to class is the first step for being prepared for movement and exercise.

Coach Marbry

Music and Martin Luther King, Jr.

As we get ready to celebrate the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mrs. Melkonian's music classes have been preparing songs in his honor. Our students already know so much about the life and impact of Dr. King, but can now make connections to some important music of his time. Whether we are singing the simple words of Martin and his focus on love, caring and peace or the grown-up hymn "Lift Every Voice", our students are tying music to the Civil Rights Movement. Can you sing this song at home?

Woke up This Mornin'

Woke up this mornin' with my mind

Stayed on freedom

Woke up this mornin' with my heart

Stayed on freedom

Woke up this mornin' with my soul

Stayed on freedom

Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelu-jah!

I'm gonna walk, talk, sing, shout

Hallelu, I got my mind on freedom!

Walk, talk, sing, shout

Clap my hands and keep my mind on freedom!

Walk, Talk! Sing, Shout!

Clap my hands!

Mrs. Melkonian

Music in the New Year

Hello Everyone!

The new year will bring us new music. Second through fifth graders have begun a new unit on Ludwig van Beethoven- a German composer who is remembered today for his magnificent musical compositions. Head over to the Music Blog to hear Beethoven for yourself!

We are also getting ready for AMPP Exhibition #2 which will take place Wednesday, January 20 at both elementary schools. We are excited to share our songs with our village.

And it's never to early to mention! Our spring concert will be given this year by kindergarten, second and fourth graders- stay tuned for dates and times.

Keep up the music!

Ms. Ginger