|
Welcome from the Family Liaison
The autumn went by like a whirlwind! It’s been a very strange year thus far but our students, both in-person or remote, are still actively engaged in learning and the community is still working together. Our dedicated teachers are working day and night to create great opportunities despite the roadblocks. I hope that you have had a caregiver/teacher conference in the last week or so….if not, please contact your child’s teacher ASAP!
Although I’m not in the building most of the time, I’m still here to help! Please reach out if you need assistance accessing resources in the community or within the school department. We also know that this is a difficult time for many families. If you are struggling to provide food, winter clothes or other necessities, or to pay rent or bills, please reach out to me at [email protected] or 857.529.0346. I will do whatever I can to assist you or point you in the right direction.
ABAR
 This school year, we are excited to start the implementation of an anti-bias/anti-racist curriculum at the Kennedy Longfellow School. Helping children develop confidence and pride in who they are is an integral part of their education. Children should see themselves mirrored in the curriculum, story books, celebrations, and everyday life of a school. When we create active conversations about identity, we are providing children with the language to speak their truths, tell their stories, and celebrate the things that make them unique. We are helping to build confidence, sense of self, trust, and community. Incorporating language, traditions, celebrations, and other parts of a student’s identity into our everyday teaching practice is one way we can truly achieve educational freedom for all learners. This fall, students and staff will be working on the identity unit. The lessons are also designed to include families whenever possible if whatever manner allows for our collective learning and growth. We are so proud of our community and look forward to partnering with each of you in this work. All grades are still working on the “Identity” unit.
The curriculum will focus on four goals as outlined by Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves (naeyc).
- Goal 1, Identity: Children will demonstrate self-awareness, confidence, family pride, and positive social identities.
- Goal 2, Diversity: Children will express comfort and joy with human diversity, use accurate language to human differences
- Goal 3, Justice: Children will recognize unfairness (injustice) and have the language to describe unfairness and understand that unfairness hurts.
- Goal 4, Social justice: Children will develop the confidence and skills to work with other to build inclusive, fairer ways of being in a community.
 Community Helper
Students in room 109 (in-person Sheltered English Immersion Kindergarten) are learning about Community Helpers!
This study of jobs in the community is a great way to learn more vocabulary.
 News from 201
The in-person third graders in room 201 are now election experts! We spent the two weeks leading up to the election learning all about qualifications for voting and holding office, voting procedures, the electoral college, voting rights history, and many more topics. These intrepid future voters interviewed over 30 adults in their school and home communities about their voting plans (mail-in, early, or Election Day). In the days following the election, we tracked the results, crunched some numbers, and discussed the history-making identities of the next Vice President.
 Also, this year every in-person class welcomed a "new student” and 201 got a little carried away. Meet Scrubby Doobydoo, the much-loved HEPA air filter. Scrubby's job is to clean the air and help keep us safe, but he has also scrubbed his way into our hearts, even if he's a little loud. With the addition of some dollar-store googly eyes, Scrubby
"came to life" and is involved in some daily routines. Students voted on his first name, last name, and pronouns. Scrubby himself cast the tie-breaking vote for his own last name by using his air vent to send the name of his choice, written on a slip of paper, the farthest!
Finally, these third graders did a self-portrait project unique to this school year called, “Who is under that mask?”. The portraits fold down to see the face underneath. They are really cute!
   
5th Grade Poetry & Literature
The Tuesday before Thanksgiving break, both fifth-grade classrooms participated in a Poetry Slam! Before the event, each student created an anthology of five original poems that focused on their identity (each poem had to include two different poetic devices). Students then created a visual or artwork to complement one poem and record themselves using Screencastify. On the date of the Poetry Slam each student either recited their original poem while displaying their visual, or presented their video recording. It was a great way to wrap up our poetry unit, and many students shared they enjoyed poetry a little more now.
Fifth-grade also finished reading our first class novel, The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau, and watched the movie. As we read, students were quite engaged with events in the story, and many chapters ended in cliffhangers. The genre is considered science fiction and filled with mystery and adventure. Students discussed life in a dystopia and had thoughtful discussions and assignments regarding themes, characters, setting, and real-world connections. Later, we discussed the differences between the book and the movie. Eight students have requested to read the sequel, The People of Sparks, on their own.
Sibling Search
Does your child have younger siblings who are eligible to be registered for either Junior Kindergarten or Kindergarten for the Fall of 2021? The process is mainly online this year - but I want to make sure I get all of our KLO younger siblings registered.
Junior Kindergarten age eligible children are born between September 1, 2016 – March 31, 2017
Kindergarten age eligible children are born between September 1, 2015 – August 31, 2016
If you have a younger child who falls into that age range - please take a moment to fill out this form >>
From our Math Coach
Check out this article shared with us from our Math Coach, Karla Anderson!
View Math Anxiety & ST Math Article >>
Food Services
The December menu for in-person and remote learning are now available!
In-person Learning Menu >>
Remote Learning Menu >>
The Amigos meal pick up site is now reopen! We closed temporarily for a few days, but we are back up and running!
Starting on Monday, December 7th, the Fresh Pond Apartments meal pick up site spot will MOVE from the parking area to the backdoor of the 364 Rindge Community Room. This is the same door as the food pantry!
Find out site information at the Cambridge school meals map >>
The CPS Nutrition team will be recognized as 2020 Cambridge Food Heroes! To watch the virtual ceremony, click here!
 Healthy Snack of the Week
Here's Cambridge in Motion's Healthy Snack of the Week!
Carrot Sticks with Hummus & Pumpkin Seeds: Try walnuts, sunflower seeds or almonds as well!
|