Dear, Parents and Guardians,
As the winter break is upon us, we would like to thank the music department for their performances over the past month. Music is alive at Chesterbrook thanks to our choral, strings, and band teachers. They bring out the best in our student performers and teach them to appreciate music throughout their lives. We also would like to thank the PTA and parent volunteers on behalf of our staff for providing a delicious breakfast on December 13th. The beautiful snowman cookies and the Starbucks gift certificates were greatly appreciated and the food was amazing. In addition, a "BIG" thank you to all of the parents that assisted in organizing the classroom parties, taking the time to be room parents, and parents who volunteer weekly to work with our students during REACH. You make it possible for us to create a learning community beyond the walls of our school.
One area of concern we would like to share with you is students bringing food to school in glass containers? These are usually square, heavy, leak proof and freezer-to-microwave glass containers. One would think that because they are so heavy they are hard to break, but they are no match for our cement floors or for lunchboxes that fall hard onto tables. There have been several occurrences this school year where containers have shattered. The containers break mostly into big pieces, but there also are small shards that are hard to see and clean up thoroughly, making them unsafe for school use. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Each New Year brings an opportunity to reflect, hope, and dream. It is time to reflect on the past year’s successes and disappointments and to make new resolutions for the coming year. We would like to encourage our Chesterbrook students to find some time in January to commit to some goals for the coming year. It could be making a stronger commitment to reading, better organizing materials, improving behaviors, providing additional time to study a specific subject, etc. It might be increasing the time that each member in the family spends time reading together. It could also be a promise that at some point each day parents and children etch out a time to communicate and share their thoughts and experiences with one another. Whatever the goal may be, it should be realistic and attainable. What is important is that children take the time to reflect on their past successes and shortcomings and make adjustments with support from adults to grow and learn.
We hope you all have time during the winter break to enjoy your family and friends. If you are traveling, please do so safely. We are looking forward to seeing everybody at the start of the New Year.
We would also like to share a special New Year message in hopes that everyone has a fruitful and rewarding New Year.
The New Year
I am the New Year. I am unused, unspotted, without blemish. I stretch before you three hundred and sixty-five days long. I will present each day in its turn, a new leaf in the Book of Life, for you to place upon it your imprint.
It remains for you to make of it what you will; if you write with firm, steady stroke, my pages will be a joy to look upon when the next New Year comes. If the pen falters, if uncertainty or doubt should mar the page, it will become a day to remember with pain.
I am the New Year. Each hour of the three hundred and sixty-five days, I will give you sixty minutes that have never known the use of humanity. White and pure, I present them; it remains for you to fill them with the sixty jeweled seconds of love, hope, endeavor, and patience.
I am the New Year. I am here – but once past, I can never be recalled. Make me your best.
Augie Frattali Connie Britt
"We must teach our children to dream with their eyes open." ̃Harry Edwards
 DECEMBER FITNESS FOCUS
Chesterbrook Physical Education
Dear Parents,
Winter is here! Don’t let the
cold weather put your family’s physical activities on ice - let outdoor
exercise cure the winter blues! To ensure successful adventures, dress
appropriately. Here are some helpful hints:
1. Protect yourself by layering up.
Try wearing a thin pair of gloves under a pair of heavier gloves or mittens
lined with wool or fleece. Buy exercise shoes a half-size larger than usual to
allow for thick thermal socks or an extra pair of regular socks. Don't forget a
hat — 30 to 40 percent of your body heat is lost through your head.
2. Choose appropriate gear. If it's
dark, wear reflective clothing. To stay steady on your feet, choose footwear
with enough traction to prevent falls. Wear a helmet for skiing, snowboarding
and snowmobiling.
3. Remember sunscreen (that blocks
both UVA and UVB rays, and 15 SPF or higher). It's as easy to get sunburned in
winter as in summer. Use a lip balm that contains sunscreen, and protect your
eyes from snow and ice glare with dark glasses or goggles.
4. Drink plenty of water before,
during and after your workout — even if you're not thirsty. You can become just
as dehydrated in the cold as in the heat.
Staying active through play
and exercise is a great way to boost your immune system. People who exercise
consistently through the winter weather are 25% less likely to get a cold
compared to those who are not physically active. Even if you can’t get out for a run, walking
in a winter wonderland awaits!
Don’t
forget to check the PTA website to sign up for Fitness Warriors!
Yours in Health,
Mr. Levesque and Mrs. Sink
Units
for the 2nd Quarter:
Basketball (Dribbling), Fitness and Nutrition,
& Gymnastic
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1st grade: We
are now learning “I love my family”. 我爱我的家(wǒ ài wǒ de jiā). Students learn how
to say Dad爸爸(bà ba) ,Mom 妈妈(mā ma) , Older brother哥哥(gē ge),
Older sister姐姐(jiě jie), younger brother弟弟(dì dì) , younger sister 妹妹(mèi mei), grandfather爷爷(yé
ye), grandmother奶奶(nǎi nai), me myself我自己(wǒ zì jǐ). Please visit blackboard to read the story
and song.
2nd grade: We reviewed
ten colors students previously learned with various songs, activities, and
games. Students also learned to say additional colors in Chinese that they
wanted to know. Using the words related to colors, students now are able to
use simple sentences to describe the colors in everyday objects.
3rd grade: We are learning about “Ladybugs in the
garden”. Students learned to read and write the Chinese words for “ladybug” (瓢虫| piáo chóng) and “garden” (花园| huā yuán). We
also learned about human body parts in Chinese and compared those with the
body parts of a ladybug. Students learned to sing a body part song in
Chinese.
4th grade: We learned about the four
seasons. Students will be able to write which season they like and do not
like and why. We did a rhyme and it was called Seasons are Fun <四季真有趣>
Please check out the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX75s6aAFC8
We also played “Season Roll & Read” game, students can download
the game board in the blackboard to play at home too.
5th grade: We continue learning about different
buildings in our communities. We also learn to use the word 也
(ye) which mean “also” for connecting the adjectives: very tall很高hěn
gāo , very short很矮hěn ǎi, very wide很宽hěn
kuān and very narrow很窄hěn zhǎi.
6th grade:
We are now learning the solar system (tài yáng xì) 太阳系.Students can say the eight
planets in Chinese and put them in the ordinal order. They will also choose a
favorite planet and explain why they like it. Check out the blackboard to
review the topic!
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How to
practice Chinese on Blackboard
(Log in to Blackboard 24/7 -> 035-schoolinfo-1718-YR:
CES School Information -> LTC Chinese)
Blackboard
is a great learning tool for children to review what they learn in class. On
blackboard, each grade levels have their own folders. Children can click on the
folder to find the topic that they are learning right now. Besides, there are many learning resources
links, songs, videos and games. Please check out the LTC-Chinese on blackboard!
Check out the Christmas Shark Family song圣诞鲨鱼一家on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWUY8pixGRQ
If you have any question or concerns,
please feel free to contact us!
谢(xiè) 谢(xiè)! Thank
you for supporting the Chinese
program!
Pik
Kei (Peggy) Leung (1st, 4th, 5th
& 6th grades)
Yina
Chang (2nd & 3rd
grades)
ANNOUCEMENT:
PLEASE CHECK BLACKBOAD REGULARLY FOR PRACTICE REQUIREMENTS AND CLASS MATERIALS.
Also check our Twiter (@ChesterGenMusic) for updates and pictures from class.
6th
grade
After
a fabulous concert, the Sixth grade has started to work on a winter project. They were given a poem that they will turn
into a song using their own rhythms and melodies! They will even be able to
play them on their recorders!
5th
grade
The
Fifth graders are working on a holiday song on recorder called “Good King
Wenceslas”. Some classes will play this
in an ensemble. Some classes completed a project picking music to go with a
film.
Remember: if your child is playing recorder, they may
have practice records due. If you would
like to keep up to date with music assignments, there is a music assignment
notebook on Blackboard!
4th
grade
The
Fourth grade had a fantastic concert and now we are playing the recorder
full-time! We are connecting with our
social studies unit by learning about the important winter Colonial holiday of
Twelfth Night. We will be celebrating
this in January.
Remember: if your child is playing recorder, they may
have practice records due. If you would
like to keep up to date with music assignments, there is a music assignment
notebook on Blackboard!
3rd grade
We are gearing up for
recorder. We are remembering how to name
the lines and spaces of the staff using xylophones and a bunch of fun
games. Recorders will be handed out
after winter break!
If you did not purchase a
supply package from the PTA, your child may need a recorder. Your music teacher has contacted you with
instructions. If you have a question or
if you did not get the email, please don’t hesitate to contact your music
teacher.
2nd grade
In Second Grade, we just
finished our compositions and performed them.
These compositions are sophisticated for second grade—They wrote a short
composition (~4 measures) for multiple instruments. They wrote in score format, the same format you
would see in band or orchestra music when different instruments are playing
different things at the same time. For
the holidays we will do a partner dance for some holiday movement!
1st
Grade
In
First Grade, we are learning about the holiday of Hanukkah: The history behind the holiday, how it is
celebrated, and some music and dances for the holiday. We even created our own menorah using our
friends as “candles”. There is a picture
of the menorah on our Twitter feed:
ChesterGenMusic.
Kindergarten
The
Kindergarteners are learning about one of the big musical works for the holiday
season: “The Nutcracker”. We read a book that told the story of “The
Nutcracker”, listened to some of Tchaikovsky’s music and watched scenes from
the ballet!
5th
and 6th chorus
In both 5th and 6th grade
choirs, we are preparing for the Pyramid concert. The Pyramid concert is a concert held at
McLean High School on January 18th. Please keep this day free.
Please have students practice at home using the recordings on blackboard. We
need to have our music memorized after break!
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