Hi Edison Families,

Here are a few topics to share for this week:

Thank you so much to Tim (Bailey’s dad) and Jenny (Sydney’s mom) for presenting the art of Mary Cassatt, from “Meeting the Masters” program. The students learned about art history of the Impressionists in France, and how Mary’s work was composed and accepted during this time. The students then made portraits topped with fashionable hats. Come see them in our hallways.

This week, all grades at Edison will be taking the Winter EZCBM tests in reading and math. Our testing will start on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Please make sure your child has a good night’s sleep and a nutritious breakfast and snack to take to class.

Language: We’re at the “rough draft” stage on our essay, “In 20 Years.” Students are writing about education, future jobs, families, hobbies and accomplishments. It’s great to see the variety of ideas.

This week we will discuss the contributions Martin Luther King, Jr. made in his very short life. Our spelling words this week deal with the civil rights movement and the concepts  that make this time period in America so important to study. MLK’s birthday is a federal holiday observed on Monday, Jan. 21st, next week.

Reading: Students will complete their Animal Unit, having read two or more books, and writing two summaries. We will start a new class novel called Castle in the Attic.

Math: We briefly studied about money: the value of coins, decimal use in money, and how to make change. This was difficult for some students but can be practiced in the real world when going to the stores, movies, restaurants, and places that use money. This week, we will start a unit on perimeter and area.

Science: Our next unit of study is called “Motion and Design.” Students will be in groups to work on projects designing vehicles, study how laws of motion work, and how to build successful vehicles that fits a particular need.

Music: Due to generous funds from the Parent Council, the students will be taking a music class on Mondays, from now to Spring Break. The class will be conducted on Wednesday, when there is no school on Monday.

We are sad to say goodbye to Yanrun Wang, our Chinese Intern. She has been so helpful in the class, assisting students, teaching Chinese and its culture. She will return to China to continue her studies in language.

Stay warm this week and bonne semaine y buenas semanas,

Debra, Cassidy, and Yanrun