April 2011
Happy Spring! Moving ahead into April, there are many events that are occurring at Cedar Hill. Congratulations to Cedar Hill’s Battle of Books team for placing 3rd in the district’s Battle of the Books! The students that participated were Katie Becker, Caroline Kelly, Alexandra Vagias, Christine Marks, Madelyn So, Regan Henderson, and Kimberly Nichols. They worked very hard with Mrs. Cohen and we are extremely proud of them! Author Dan Gutman will be visiting our school on Thursday April 7th. Please remember that school is in session on April 18th and 19th. These are our make-up snow days. Also, kindergarten screening will take place during the week of April 11th. We welcome our new kindergarteners and their families! Also, on April 30th, will be our TREP$ Marketplace. Come and visit Cedar Hill’s 4th and 5th graders to see what they have developed and are selling! They are working extremely hard! Please note the letter that went out about parking in the inner circle during dismissal. These procedures need to be followed immediately. As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to call 973.331.7130 or e-mail .
In the Spotlight!
This month’s spotlight will be shining on our Kindergarten and First Graders!
In the Lovie Kindergarten, we are linguists, writers,historians, scientists, mathematicians and artists this month. We are studying Dr. Seuss and evenhad a visit from Cat In The Hat who wanted to know what our favorite Seuss book is? We also had a visit from Mrs. Lincoln, dear Abe's wife andthe Lovies introduced her to the modern world. She had no idea what electricity is and the students informed her. The children are also studying Penguins and as a home project they created their very own penguins. We are presently researching information about Penguins and their habitats and even creating our own rookeries. We love doing word problems with our Penguin friends. Read, read all day long is our motto. Echo and friends teach us every day about letters and words and we hoot with delight. Echo is an owl, just in case you didn't know. Check outside our classroom and you will find spring murals painted by, of course, the artists in Lovieland. You will also find an integrated art and language arts project. We painted scenes with Mrs. Stephens and then created stories about the scenes by using graphic organizers to turn our thoughts into stories.The studentsalso created bridges so that they may walkacross the bridge to their favorite place.Most important however, the children show respect and love for each other every day in their home away from home.
Hughes Honeys are began a unit on manners. The children brainstormed good manners today. After reading Time to say “Please”, the children made signs for please and thank you. We also read and wrote about school manners, playground manners, and table manners. We practiced setting a table and using our manners as we share a small snack. For telephone manners, the children made a phone using two cups and a string.
Haskins Helpers are studying the various habitats, and physical attributes of mammals, reptiles, birds, and fish. They will be going on a field trip to the Turtle Back zoo on Friday April 29th. We will also be studying weather patterns, fairy tales, and how to help keep our earth clean in honor of earth day.
In first grade, we are blooming! On the 100th Day of School, we came to school dressed in a t-shirt ornamented with 100 items. We also decorated crowns, learned how to skip count by 2s, 5s and 10s up to 100 using a hundreds chart and 100 items brought from home (i.e. cheerios, paper clips, etc.). We even wrote about what we would do if we had $100. It’s amazing, in this economy, what children think $100 dollars can buy! Also, we made a list and wrote about what we learned after 100 days in school – the list was long!!!
On March 9th, first graders had a great time on a field trip to see “Charlotte’s Web.” Before the play, we had a cold but exciting time at the Montville Playground. Then, we watched the play at the Montclair State University’s Memorial Auditorium. It was delightful and funny - everyone really seemed to enjoy. Prior to seeing the play, we had enjoyed the story in class. Afterwards, we compared and contrasted the book to the play. Thanks so much to all our class moms for chaperoning and taking such good care of our children.
During the month of March and April, we will be studying fairy tales and learning about characteristics unique to fairy tales. The students will be writing a report on a fairy tale of their choice. Then, the entire first grade will host a Fairy Tale Ball on April 28th for their parents. During this event, each student will read his or her report to the audience dressed in a handmade costume reflecting the fairy tale character chosen for the report.
Student Council
Healing hearts was a huge success! The students painted over 300 hearts! Thank you to the Cedar Hill students and families! We truly appreciate you! This was our 3rd year and it was just as successful!
On Friday, April 15th, the Student Council will be hosting another Movie Night. This will benefit 2 Relay for Life Teams and a family. There will be 8 different movies playing. Please support the Student Council and this wonderful fundraiser! Forms are due back by April 8th. Please send them to Mr. DiLascio.
Finally, our dance competition has been moved! We are now competing on April 19th at 9am in the gym. The students are working very hard and this will an entertaining event! If you have any questions, please contact Ms. D’Ambola at cd’
5th Grade Character Education
Both Family Fun Night and The Pajama Party were a huge success! Thank you to everyone who came and supported our Character Education Program.
In the Media Center
In Kindergartenand 1st grade we'll be reading about spring and the seasonal awakening.The studentswill be making a spring mural. K &1 will also make flowers, animals,grass, trees, flowers, birds and butterflies.
In Grades 2 & 3 will be learning about graphic novels and make their own non-fiction graphic novel.
Grades 4 & 5 will participate in The Great Marshmallow Challenge. This activity involves teamwork, understanding the basics of building, and examinesfalse assumptions. In the following weeks, Mrs. Cohenhopes to use this activity to help the students work together to build kites.
Upcoming Events…
Ø April 8th: Tools For Schools Junk Jamboree
Ø April 11: Kindergarten Screening
Ø April 13th: Home and School Meeting 7:30pm
Ø April 15th: Movie Night Part 2
Ø April 19th: So You Think You Can Dance Competition
Ø April 20th-24th: Spring Recess
Ø April 28th: 1st Grade Fairy Tale Ball
Ø April 29th: Kindergarten Field Trip to Turtle Back Zoo
Ø April 30th: TREP$ Marketplace 4pm-6pm