We are already so far into this school year, and we have learned so much in music class! Our 2nd and 3rd grade classes did such a wonderful job performing at the Hispanic Heritage concert in October. Congratulations! Here is a look at what we will be learning through the month of December.

Kindergarten and 1st Grade will be studying the ballet. We will learn about our characters in the story The Nutcracker and view a performance of The Nutcracker. We will learn about different instruments that we hear, and we will learn some ballet dance moves too! At the very end of December we will perform our own version of The Nutcracker in class!

2nd and 3rd Grade students are in the middle of a unit on learning their instrument families. We will study the percussion, string, woodwind, brass, and keyboard families. Throughout this unit students will get to hold instruments, sort and classify which instruments go in which family, and be able to identify different instruments based on sound alone!

Our 4th and 5th Grade students are working very hard for our winter Program scheduled for December 14th! There will be singing, acting, dancing, and maybe even a few visitors from up north!!! Singing is the main focus with special attention to excellent posture, quality singing voice, and focus.

Greetings Wildcat Parents!

Our goal in physical education is for everyone to learn to make healthy choices and feel successful when participating in a variety of activities. This enables students to develop a positive attitude toward physical activity and to develop healthy habits, which will hopefully continue throughout their lives.

Students will be encouraged to have fun and enjoy P.E. They will also be encouraged to participate to the best of their ability in a wide variety of activities. At the elementary level, certain skills are taught so that students will be able to pursue competitive sports as well as lifetime sports.

In Physical Education students will learn to:

· demonstrate competency in motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of activities

· demonstrate understanding of movement concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics as you apply them to the learning and performance of physical activities

· to participate regularly in physical activity

· achieve and maintain a health enhancing level of physical fitness

· exhibit responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others in physical activity settings

· value physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and/or social interaction

· comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health

· analyze influence of family, peers, culture, media, technology, and other factors on health behaviors

· demonstrate the ability to access valid information and products and services to enhance health

· demonstrate the ability to use interpersonal communication skills to enhance health and avoid or reduce health risks

· demonstrate the ability to use decision-making skills to enhance health

· demonstrate the ability to use goal-setting skills to enhance health

· demonstrate the ability to practice health-enhancing behaviors and avoid or reduce health risks

· students will demonstrate the ability to advocate for personal, family, and community health

Should questions or concerns arise at any point during the school year, please do not hesitate to contact us at the school. We would love to talk to you!

We look forward to having a fun-filled year!

Sincerely,

Coach Skarzinski and Coach Paden