May 14-18th, 2018

Dear Parents,

 

Since last week our calendar has been updated to reflect that there is No School on Wednesday, May 16th. This impacted our spring MAP testing dates. See the new schedule below. Thanks for your flexibility.

 

Also, we are looking for additional mentors for June 5th/6th. Please see information below and let us know if you have any contacts or if you, yourself are interested.

 

Key Dates

• 5th Grade Mission 6 Zearn Calendar
• May 14 – May 22: MAP Testing
  • May 14: MAP Reading Test for 5th grade
  • May 15: MAP Reading Test for 4th grade
• May 16: *NEW* School closed. Please see message from Ellie for details.
  • May 17: MAP Math Test for 5th grade
  • May 22: MAP Math Test for 4th grade
  • May 22 and 23: MAP Make Up Test
• May 24: Science EOG (5th grade ONLY)
• May 25th: No School – Teacher Workday
• May 25th: Final Scholastic Book Order
• May 30:  Reading EOG (4th & 5th)
• May 31: Math EOG (4th & 5th)
• May 31: Parents – Due today: THIS Google form about Portfolio Conferences
• June 5th-6th: Techstars Event (Information Below)
• June 7th, June 8th- Students may bring yearbooks to school for signing  
• June 8:  Last Day of School (½ Day – Dismissal at 12:15)
  • Community Circle, Expressions Day, and 5th Grade Bubble Walk (Approx. 8:30 – 9:45)
  • Portfolio Conferences (Approx. 10:00 -11:00)*More details  below
  • Picnic Lunch (Approx. 11:00 – 12:00)
  • NO AFTER-SCHOOL CARE ON THIS DAY: Dismissal for ALL students from 12:15-12:40 PM.

 

4th Grade Updates

ELA:  This week students will work on writing their paragraphs with structured topic sentences for their informative writing assignment.   They are close reading a nonfiction article with a text structure of cause and effect then answering comprehension questions. Students are reviewing root words and working on a paragraph editing.

We will continue to read aloud The Wild Robot. Students are welcome to bring their own copy, but it is not required.

 

Math:  This week, we are continuing our work on measurement using the metric system.  We are measuring length, capacity, and mass. Students need to complete their Spiral Review by Thursday (6 questions).  There are two new TenMarks lessons this week.

 

5th Grade Updates

 

Due this Friday:

• Mission 6: Lessons 14, 15, 24
• Daily Language Review (Assigned Tuesday, Due Friday)
• Scholastic- Wardrobe Wars Issue (8 Words of the Week, No Handout)

 

Class Pets

 

• Lenny the Guinea-Pig sign-up (Sonja’s & Annah’s Crews ONLY) –  Sign Up to Take Lenny Home
• Blizzard the Hedgehog sign-up (Leah’s & Koren’s Crews ONLY) – SIGN UP TO TAKE BLIZZARD HOME HERE!

 

Global Arts Schedule:

	Monday D Day	Tuesday A Day	Wednesday NO SCHOOL	Thursday B Day
Annah’s Crew	Art	Music		Movement
Koren’s Crew	Music	Movement		Rachel time
Leah’s Crew	Movement	Rachel time		Art
Sonja’s Crew	Rachel time	Art		Music

 

 

Helpful Tips for MAP Testing and EOGs:

• Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep and is well-rested.
• Feed them a good breakfast!
• NO smart watches or cell phones are allowed in the testing room.  If your child has a smart watch or watch with an alarm, or cell phone please leave them at home!
• Encourage your student to use their strategies to try hard and do their best!

 

Techstars

On June 5th and 6th we will partner with Techstars, a worldwide network that helps entrepreneurs succeed, to facilitate a Techstars Startup Weekend Schools edition. This event is designed to educate, empower, and inspire children on the topics of business and entrepreneurship. Annah’s sister, Jen, is the Techstars Regional Manager for Startup Programs in the Eastern US and Canada. Jen will come facilitate this event at Exploris in collaboration with community partners and leaders. We are excited to end our current expedition in a unique way. Students will create business models that build their understanding of entrepreneurship and sustainable practices! If you are interested in being a mentor or know someone please let us know!

 

Portfolio Conferences

Friday, June 8th from 10:00 – 10:45ish

(Alternate Date: June 7th from 3:30 – 4:15ish)  

Portfolio conferences will be held “en masse” picnic style (on the floor) on Friday, June 8th from approximately 10:00 – 10:45/11:00. This is a student-led portfolio conference. The ⅘ teaching team will be on hand to help, but will not participate in individual conferences. We realize this is the same morning as the 8th grade graduation. We understand that parents and many of the ⅘ siblings of graduates will attend the graduation ceremony instead of portfolio conferences. However, students who are able to hold a portfolio conference Friday, June 8th may invite his/her parents or other adult guest.  

 

If you and your student are not able to attend the portfolio conference on Friday morning, an alternative date and time is Thursday, June 7th from 3:30 – 4:15 p.m.

 

To help us better gauge who will attend conferences on each day, please complete THIS Google form BY Thursday, May 31st. Update: Only 7%  (6/84) of families have responded.

8th Grade Project Needs Help

Dear Exploris Parents,

As you may know, our school prides itself in solving problems across the street and around the world. Early in the year, eighth grade was studying water and our water impact on the ocean. One of the many problems we have found is that all of the stormwater runoff is going into local streams and eventually to the ocean. Though this may seem like a small issue, due to all of the impermeable concrete we have in the city, most pollution gets washed into these streams.

One of our Design For Change groups recognized this issue and set out on a mission to solve it. After a lot of planning and hard work, a service learning group has taken on the task of starting a rain garden on the elementary school campus. Rain gardens help absorb and purify extra runoff coming off the streets and buildings. Though this rain garden is a great idea, we need your help to make it a reality.

Currently, we are working to buy the necessary plants and materials to create this rain garden. Any donations would be appreciated. If you would like to donate plants or money toward plants, please sign up on this Sign-Up Genius:

Rain Garden Help

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090945a8a92da6f85-help

Thank you for your support,

The Eighth Grade Gardening Group

Vivian, Quinn, Mattie, Hastings, Zach, Daniel, Jason, Zander, Cameron, Aiden, Savannah, Ben, and Isabella

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May 7th, 2018 Newsletter

Dear Parents,

Students are sharing that they are excited about the end of the school year while being nervous about some of the “big” things happening before the end of the school year. Please be sure to read the newsletters each week to help your students come prepared for each days events! Thank you in advance for all your assistance to make the end of year events possible!

Key Dates

• 5th Grade Mission 6 Zearn Calendar
• May 12th:  Schoolwide Let’s Go for a Hike (Information Below)
• May 14 – May 22: MAP Testing
  • May 14: MAP Reading Test for 5th grade
  • May 15: MAP Reading Test for 4th grade
• May 16: *NEW* School closed. Please see message from Ellie for details.
  • May 17: MAP Math Test for 5th grade
  • May 22: MAP Math Test for 4th grade
  • May 22 and 23: MAP Make Up Test
• May 24: Science EOG (5th grade ONLY)
• May 25th: No School – Teacher Workday
• May 25th: Final Scholastic Book Order
• May 30:  Reading EOG (4th & 5th)
• May 31: Math EOG (4th & 5th)
• June 5th-6th: Techstars Event (Information Below)
• June 8:  Last Day of School (½ Day – Dismissal at 12:15)
  • Community Circle, Expressions Day, & 5th Grade Bubble Walk (Approx. 8:30 – 9:45)
  • Portfolio Conferences (Approx. 10:00 -11:00)*More details  below
  • Picnic Lunch (Approx. 11:00 – 12:00)

 

4th Grade Updates

ELA:  Students are beginning to work on organizing their facts for their informational writing about the problem with plastic pollution.  They have a new root word: scribe and are beginning a new paragraph editing page.

We will continue to read aloud The Wild Robot. Students are welcome to bring their own copy, but it is not required.

Math:  We had a check-in on decimals today.  Students need to complete their Spiral Review by Thursday (6 questions).  There are three new TenMarks lessons. Weekly Spiral Review and TenMarks this week will help to review previously covered math concepts.  Students should complete all lessons by Sunday of this week. This week we are beginning to work on one of our final concepts: measurement.

 

5th Grade Updates

Weather assessments will be sent home in Tuesday folders this week. Please review the material with students and return them to school.

EOG Gridded Response Practice – All students will practice how to fill in Gridded Response in class, but you may also consider reviewing this at home with your student prior to the 5th Grade Math EOG. A review packet is being sent home in this week’s Tuesday folder.

 

Due this Friday:

• Mission 6: Lessons 19-23
• Daily Language Review (Assigned Tuesday, Due Friday)
• Scholastic- No Scholastic This Week

 

Global Arts Schedule:

	Monday D Day	Tuesday A Day	Wednesday B Day	Thursday C Day
Annah’s Crew	Art	Music	Movement	Rachel time
Koren’s Crew	Music	Movement	Rachel time	Art
Leah’s Crew	Movement	Rachel time	Art	Music
Sonja’s Crew	Rachel time	Art	Music	Movement

 

Proctor Training Dates:

If you signed up to volunteer for the EOGs please attend one of the proctor training dates:

Thursday May 10th 3:30 at the Middle School

Click here to sign up for a training meeting.

 

Helpful Tips for MAP Testing and EOGs:

• Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep and is well-rested.
• Feed them a good breakfast!
• NO smart watches or cell phones are allowed in the testing room.  If your child has a smart watch or watch with an alarm, or cell phone please leave them at home!

 

Techstars

On June 5th and 6th we will partner with Techstars, a worldwide network that helps entrepreneurs succeed, to facilitate a Techstars Startup Weekend Schools edition. This event is designed to educate, empower, and inspire children on the topics of business and entrepreneurship. Annah’s sister, Jen, is the Techstars Regional Manager for Startup Programs in the Eastern US and Canada. Jen will come facilitate this event at Exploris in collaboration with community partners and leaders. We are excited to end our current expedition in a unique way. Students will create business models that build their understanding of entrepreneurship and sustainable practices! If you are interested in being a mentor or know someone please let us know!

 

Portfolio Conferences

Friday, June 8th from 10:00 – 10:45ish

(Alternate Date: June 7th from 3:30 – 4:15ish)  

Portfolio conferences will be held “en masse” picnic style (on the floor) on Friday, June 8th from approximately 10:00 – 10:45/11:00. This is a student-led portfolio conference. The ⅘ teaching team will be on hand to help, but will not participate in individual conferences. We realize this is the same morning as the 8th grade graduation. We understand that parents and many of the ⅘ siblings of graduates will attend the graduation ceremony instead of portfolio conferences. However, students who are able to hold a portfolio conference Friday, June 8th may invite his/her parents or other adult guest.  

If you and your student are not able to attend the portfolio conference on Friday morning, an alternative date and time is Thursday, June 7th from 3:30 – 4:15 p.m.

To help us better gauge who will attend conferences on each day, please complete THIS Google form BY Thursday, May 31st.

8th Grade Project Needs Help

Dear Exploris Parents,

As you may know, our school prides itself in solving problems across the street and around the world. Early in the year, eighth grade was studying water and our water impact on the ocean. One of the many problems we have found is that all of the stormwater runoff is going into local streams and eventually to the ocean. Though this may seem like a small issue, due to all of the impermeable concrete we have in the city, most pollution gets washed into these streams.

One of our Design For Change groups recognized this issue and set out on a mission to solve it. After a lot of planning and hard work, a service learning group has taken on the task of starting a rain garden on the elementary school campus. Rain gardens help absorb and purify extra runoff coming off the streets and buildings. Though this rain garden is a great idea, we need your help to make it a reality.

Currently, we are working to buy the necessary plants and materials to create this rain garden. Any donations would be appreciated. If you would like to donate plants or money toward plants, please sign up on this Sign-Up Genius:

Rain Garden Help

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090945a8a92da6f85-help

Thank you for your support,

The Eighth Grade Gardening Group

Vivian, Quinn, Mattie, Hastings, Zach, Daniel, Jason, Zander, Cameron, Aiden, Savannah, Ben, and Isabella

 

Class Pets

• Lenny the Guinea-Pig sign-up (Sonja’s & Annah’s Crews ONLY) –  Sign Up to Take Lenny Home
• Blizzard the Hedgehog sign-up (Leah’s & Koren’s Crews ONLY) – SIGN UP TO TAKE BLIZZARD HOME HERE!

 

Let’s Go For a Hike!

The next “Let’s Go For a Hike” will be held on Saturday, May 12th at Bond Park in Cary, NC we will meet in the parking lot by the boat house at 10:00 AM and walk around the lake. It is a 2-mile partially shaded hike through the woods. Much of the trail is unpaved. After our walk we if you would like to stay to go boating at Bond Lake there are boat rentals starting at 10 AM! I will be staying for this and hoping to enjoy a picnic lunch in the shade by the boat house!

Boating Details

Trail Map (Lake Trail)

I look forward to “bonding” with you all at the next Let’s Go For a Hike event!

 

Other events around town:

The NC Museum of Art’s “You Are Here: Light, Color, and Sound Experiences” Exhibition is said to be a perfect exhibition to take the kids to! The exhibition runs through July 22.  Details are at this web address – http://ncartmuseum.org/exhibition/you_are_here_light_color_and_sound_experiences

April 30, 2018

Dear Parents,

We have made it to the month of May! The weather forecast shows temperatures in the 80’s for the rest of the week. Please help your student to have a refillable water bottle at school every day. The afternoon of Friday, May 4, The Poe Center for Health Education will be coming to Exploris to conduct puberty classes for 4th and 5th graders respectively.   Please read the class descriptions (below).

 

Table Talk Questions:

• What facts did you find and fact check about plastics this week?

• What are you learning with Rachel and the science boxes?

• Tell me about how we can make at change at home to decrease our plastic usage.

 

Key Dates

• 5th Grade Mission 6 Zearn Calendar

• May 4:  Poe Health Education Classes – More information below

• May 4: 5th Grade Only – Target Time Weather Assessment

• May 12th:  Schoolwide Let’s Go for a Hike (Information Below)

• May 14 – 17: MAP Testing (Exact schedule TBD)

• May 24: Science EOG (5th grade ONLY)

• May 25th: No School – Teacher Workday

• May 30:  Reading EOG (4th & 5th)

• May 31: Math EOG (4th & 5th)

• June 5th-6th: Techstars Event (Information Below)

• June 8:  Last Day of School (½ Day – Dismissal at 12:15)

  • Community Circle, Expressions Day, & 5th Grade Buble Walk (Approx. 8:30 – 9:45)

  • Portfolio Conferences (Approx. 10:00 -11:00)

  • Picnic Lunch (Approx. 11:00 – 12:00)

 

4th Grade Updates

ELA:  Students are beginning to gather research to write an informational (research) paper on plastic pollution.  This week students will be close reading an article on plastic pollution.

They also have some paragraph editing practice, and are working with the root word dict (to say).

We will continue to read aloud The Wild Robot. Students are welcome to bring their own copy but it is not required.

 

Math:  Students need to complete their Spiral Review by Thursday (6 questions).  There are two new TenMarks lessons. Students should complete both lessons by Sunday of this week.

This week our focus is on turning fractions of tenths and hundredths into a decimal.

 

5th Grade Updates

Weather assessment this Friday. Please study at least twice this week. We suggest using Quizlet to study at home. Students will receive the Quizlet link in their school emails following our in class review.

 

We are wrapping up our unit on poetry. Students have learned a poetry analysis process called “FEELS” which includes strategically reading a poem three times to deepen understanding.

 

We have begun graphing! Mission 6 is, gulp, preparing students for middle school. (We are really going to miss them next year. Don’t mind us, just some dust in our eyes.)

Due this Friday:

• Mission 6: Lessons 7,8, 9, 10, and 18 (SKIP lessons 11-13,16 & 17)

  • Note: We are skipping 14 & 15 until later. Lesson 18 will be “unlocked” by Sonja & Annah)

• Daily Language Review (Assigned Tuesday, Due Friday)

• Scholastic- Refugee Issue (Handout, Questions, Words of the Week)

 

Global Arts Schedule:

	Monday D Day	Tuesday A Day	Wednesday B Day	Thursday C Day
Annah’s Crew	Art	Music	Movement	Rachel time
Koren’s Crew	Music	Movement	Rachel time	Art
Leah’s Crew	Movement	Rachel time	Art	Music
Sonja’s Crew	Rachel time	Art	Music	Movement

 

* Volunteers Needed for EOGs *

Thank you to everyone who has headed the call to proctor for EOGs!  We still need some more help, specifically at the middle school on May 30th and at both campuses on May 31st. Those are the days when most 3rd-8th graders will test. Please click here to sign up to proctor!   If you did sign up, the state requires that you be trained each year before you can proctor.  Please plan to attend one of the following training meetings. Meeting should not last more than 30 minutes.

Proctor Training Dates:

Tuesday May 8th 8:30 at the Elementary School

Thursday May 10th 3:30 at the Middle School

Click here to sign up for a training meeting.

Helpful Tips for EOGs:

• Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep and is well-rested.

• Feed them a good breakfast!

• NO smart watches are allowed in the testing room.  If your child has a smart watch or watch with an alarm, please leave them at home!

Class Pets

 

• Lenny the Guinea-Pig sign-up (Sonja’s & Annah’s Crews ONLY) –  Sign Up to Take Lenny Home

• Blizzard the Hedgehog sign-up (Leah’s & Koren’s Crews ONLY) – SIGN UP TO TAKE BLIZZARD HOME HERE!

Poe Center Puberty Courses

4th grade – Puberty Detectives – Start the conversation about puberty and entering adolescence. Students step into the role of a detective as they learn to respect the differences of others, find the clues to determine the qualities of healthy and unhealthy relationships and investigate the physical, emotional and social changes related to puberty. Several interactive activities enhance the experience of the participant’s “training” before becoming an official Poe Center Puberty Detective.

 

5th grade – Puzzled by Puberty – Engage in an honest conversation regarding the physical, emotional and social changes that occur during puberty. Discuss the structure and function of the male and female reproductive systems, the menstrual cycle and fertilization. Interactive activities and an age appropriate movie reinforce important messages covered during the program.

 

Events around town:

 

The NC Museum of Art’s “You Are Here: Light, Color, and Sound Experiences” Exhibition is said to be a perfect exhibition to take the kids to! The exhibition runs through July 22.  Details are at this web address – http://ncartmuseum.org/exhibition/you_are_here_light_color_and_sound_experiences

 

Check out Love, Mama Day on Saturday, May 5 from 1 to 5 PM at Pullen Park Community Center. One of our own Exploris moms is helping to organize this event designed for moms to take back the meaning of Mother’s Day for themselves and their kids. Get details and tickets at this web address – https://www.facebook.com/events/101361790700399/

 

Techstars

 

On June 5th and 6th we will partner with Techstars, a worldwide network that helps entrepreneurs succeed, to facilitate a Techstars Startup Weekend Schools edition. This event is designed to educate, empower, and inspire children on the topics of business and entrepreneurship. Annah’s sister, Jen, is the Techstars Regional Manager for Startup Programs in the Eastern US and Canada. Jen will come facilitate this event at Exploris in collaboration with community partners and leaders. We are excited to end our current expedition in a unique way. Students will create business models that build their understanding of entrepreneurship and sustainable practices! If you are interested in being a mentor or know someone please let us know!

 

Let’s Go For a Hike!

 

The next “Let’s Go For a Hike” will be held on Saturday, May 12th at Bond Park in Cary, NC we will meet in the parking lot by the boat house at 10:00 AM and walk around the lake. It is a 2-mile partially shaded hike through the woods. Much of the trail is unpaved. After our walk we if you would like to stay to go boating at Bond Lake there are boat rentals starting at 10 AM! I will be staying for this and hoping to enjoy a picnic lunch in the shade by the boat house!

 

Boating Details

Trail Map (Lake Trail)

 

I look forward to “bonding” with you all at the next Let’s Go For a Hike event!

 

April 23, 2018

HAPPY SHAD WEEK!!! You are now grandparents 😉 We were thrilled to welcome more than 2,000 shad eggs to Exploris this morning. The students lined the decking to hold up welcome signs, cheer, and clap to make sure our baby-shad-to-be felt welcome. This leads us to some shad related items for this week…

• It will be cooler than usual in our classrooms, from now through Thursday morning. Please help your student to bring layers to school for use indoors and out. Our little shad eggs need cool temperatures to stay healthy and hatch into baby shad fry.

SHAD RELEASE is THURSDAY, APRIL 26 FROM 9:15 to 11:45 AM.

• JOIN US to release the baby shad! If you are available to be a driver, please sign up. We currently need seats for 14 more students. SHAD DRIVERS SIGN-UP HERE
• We will be “in the river” up to our ankles. Students and parent volunteers will need to wear footwear that can be worn in the river and on a hike. We suggest rainboots, water shoes, or old tennis shoes.  
• Bring another pair of shoes and socks to change into once we are back at school.
• Bring a water bottle.
• Sunscreen and bug spray must be applied AT HOME, before coming to school.
• Please have a conversation with your child about how to be courteous to their parent volunteer driver and their vehicle.
• Reiterate to your child that no one will be wet past their ankles. This is not a wading or swimming experience. 😉

 

Key Dates

• April 24: 5th Grade – Math Assessment – Mission 5
• April 26: Shad Release *See driver sign up above*
• April 27th:  4th Grade Only Trip to Hemlock Bluff 11:30-2:30
• May 4:  Poe Health Education Classes – More information below
• May 12th:  Schoolwide Let’s Go for a Hike (location TBD)
• May 14 – 17: MAP Testing (Exact schedule TBD)
• May 24: Science EOG (5th grade ONLY)
• May 25th: No School – Teacher Workday
• May 30:  Reading EOG (4th & 5th)
• May 31: Math EOG (4th & 5th)
• June 8:  Last Day of School (½ Day)

5th Grade Mission 5 Zearn Calendar

5th Grade Mission 6 Zearn Calendar

 

4th Grade Updates

ELA:  Students began sharing their Two Voice Poems for Esperanza Rising today. We will continue to share throughout the week. This week, students will read the Celebrate Earth article.  They are to annotate with questions and thoughtful connections and answer questions  (due Thursday). Students reviewed suffixes today to prepare for a suffix check-in on Wednesday.  They were also given paragraph editing practice to complete this week. We will begin a new writing unit on expository/informational writing.

 

Last week, we began our new read aloud book, a science fiction novel by Peter Brown titled The Wild Robot. Students are welcome to bring their own copy but it is not required.

 

Math:  Students need to complete their Spiral Review by Thursday (5 questions).  There are two new TenMarks lessons. Students should complete both lessons by Sunday of this week.  

This week our focus is multiplying fractions by a whole number using a number line as a visual!

 

Hemlock Bluffs Field Experience:

We are excited to go to Hemlock Bluffs on Friday!  Thank you to our parent volunteers – please look for an email from me today, Tuesday.  

We will leave at 12pm and return in time for dismissal.  It may rain – please make sure your child has a poncho! We will go and hike the trails rain or shine!  Please make sure they are prepared for some rain or some shine.

The water fountain at the bluffs is out of order, it is important ALL children have a water bottle.

 

5th Grade Updates

Last week 22 out of 41 students completed their independent work (Zearn, Scholastic, and DLR). This is improvement from last week with 11 more students meeting all work deadlines! We thank you for all that you are doing at home to support your student!

Due this Friday:

• Mission 6: Lessons 1-6 (no lesson 4)
• Daily Language Review (Assigned Tuesday, Due Friday)
• Scholastic- Sugary Breakfast Issue (Handout, Questions, Words of the Week)

 

Global Arts Schedule:

	Monday A Day	Tuesday B Day	Wednesday C Day	Thursday D Day
Annah’s Crew	Music	Movement	Rachel time	Art
Koren’s Crew	Movement	Rachel time	Art	Music
Leah’s Crew	Rachel time	Art	Music	Movement
Sonja’s Crew	Art	Music	Movement	Rachel time

 

* Volunteers Needed for EOGs *

Thank you to everyone who has signed up to proctor for our Revised Testing dates.  We still need more proctors.  Right now, our highest needs are on May 30 for the Reading EOG at the Middle School and on May 31st for the Math EOG at BOTH campuses. Those are the days on which we have the most students 3-8 testing!

You are welcome to share with grandmas and grandpas as well!

Thank you again for your help!

 

Please Complete This Survey

From The Exploris School’s April Newsletter: “In 2015, the Exploris Board of Directors adopted the goal that by 2021 the school would reflect the socioeconomic and racial demographics of Wake County. This year, the board formed a Diversity and Equity Committee to recommend steps to help the school achieve this goal. To inform this process, the committee would value your input as key stakeholders in the Exploris community. To that end, we would greatly appreciate your responses to the following questions. As the committee gains perspective from this survey, we will consider additional opportunities to gather feedback and share information. This survey is anonymous unless you choose to identify yourself.”

Parents, if you have not yet responded to the school’s Parent Survey on Equity and Diversity, please take a few moments to do so now. Exploris is working to better support diversity at the school, and parent input is important to this process. Thank you!

 

Class Pets

 

• Lenny the Guinea-Pig sign-up (Sonja’s & Annah’s Crews ONLY) –  Sign Up to Take Lenny Home
• Blizzard the Hedgehog sign-up (Leah’s & Koren’s Crews ONLY) – SIGN UP TO TAKE BLIZZARD HOME HERE!

 

The afternoon of Friday, May 4, The Poe Center for Health Education will be coming to Exploris to conduct the classes described below for 4th and 5th graders respectively.

 

4th grade – Puberty Detectives – Start the conversation about puberty and entering adolescence. Students step into the role of a detective as they learn to respect the differences of others, find the clues to determine the qualities of healthy and unhealthy relationships and investigate the physical, emotional and social changes related to puberty. Several interactive activities enhance the experience of the participant’s “training” before becoming an official Poe Center Puberty Detective.

 

5th grade – Puzzled by Puberty – Engage in an honest conversation regarding the physical, emotional and social changes that occur during puberty. Discuss the structure and function of the male and female reproductive systems, the menstrual cycle and fertilization. Interactive activities and an age appropriate movie reinforce important messages covered during the program.

 

Events around town:

 

Quail Ridge Books is hosting a signing event for Kwame Alexander to sign his new book Rebound. It is Thursday, April 26 at 5:00 PM. Details are at this web address – http://www.quailridgebooks.com/event/kwamealexander

 

The NC Museum of Art’s “You Are Here: Light, Color, and Sound Experiences” Exhibition is said to be a perfect exhibition to take the kids to! The exhibition runs through July 22.  Details are at this web address – http://ncartmuseum.org/exhibition/you_are_here_light_color_and_sound_experiences

 

Check out Love, Mama Day on Saturday, May 5 from 1 to 5 PM at Pullen Park Community Center. One of our own Exploris moms is helping to organize this event designed for moms to take back the meaning of Mother’s Day for themselves and their kids. Get details and tickets at this web address – https://www.facebook.com/events/101361790700399/

 

April 16th, 2018

Dear Parents,

We are requesting that all parents have a conversation with their students about being respectful and meeting classroom norms. There has been a significant increase in disruptive behavior since returning from spring break with talking back and calling out. We are asking all families to utilize weekly reflection logs as a tool at home to increase communication and conversations around behavior. We want to continue celebrating our successes, but we also have to address our areas for growth together. We can do this with your support at home! Thank you!

For SHAD we are looking for 3 more 2-Liter bottles, please send  in EMPTY bottles with cap if you have them in your home! Thank you!

Warmly,

4th and 5th Teachers

Key Dates

5th Grade Mission 5 Zearn Calendar

• April 16 – 20: Exploris Green Week
• April 16: Religion Expedition Group Presents at Staff Meeting 4:00 – 4:15

  (Presenters: Mariam, Simon, Sara, Kinsey, Blake)  

• April 20: Scholastic Book Order
• April 23 – 26: Shad Week
• April 26: Shad Release *See driver sign up below*
• April 27th:  4th Grade Only Trip to Hemlock Bluff 11:30 AM  *See driver sign up below*
• May 4:  Poe Health Education Classes – More information soon
• May 12th:  Schoolwide Let’s Go for a Hike (location TBD)
• May 14 – 17: MAP Testing (Exact schedule TBD)
• May 24: Science EOG (5th grade ONLY)
• May 25th: No School – Teacher Workday
• May 30:  Reading EOGs (4th & 5th)
• May 31: Math EOGs (4th & 5th)
• June 8:  Last Day of School (½ Day)

 

4th Grade Updates

ELA:  Complete Too Much Trash article.  Students are to annotate with questions and thoughtful connections and answer questions at the end (due Thursday).  Vocabulary: introduced additional suffixes (due Thursday). Students are also completing their Two Voice Poems for Esperanza Rising this week!

We will begin reading a science fiction novel by Peter Brown titled The Wild Robot.  This will be a read aloud in class.  Students are welcome to bring their own copy but it is not required.

Math:  Students need to complete their Spiral Review by Thursday (6 questions).  TenMarks is three (3) lessons of 5 questions each. Students should complete both lessons by Sunday of this week.  

We are adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators this week.  

Hemlock Bluffs Field Experience: WE NEED DRIVERS AND CHAPERONES!  IT WILL BE A VERY ENJOYABLE AFTERNOON 🙂

On Friday, April 27th, all 4th grade will be taking a field experience to beautiful Hemlock Bluffs nature Preserve in Cary.  We need parent drivers and chaperones! Students will be walking on nature trails and working on identifying plants in nature.  This field experience is free and correlates to our study of plants in Nature Journaling. Please check out their website: Hemlock Bluffs .  

Please sign up to drive and come enjoy nature with us!  We need to transport 42 students and will break them into smaller groups to explore once we are at the nature preserve.  Sign UP!!

 

5th Grade Updates

Last week 11 out of 41 students completed their independent work (Zearn, Scholastic, and DLR). This is the lowest number since we started sending Friday emails. Please check in with your student about their work, make sure they have things in their backpacks before leaving school in the afternoon. They should be prepared to turn in their assignments on Friday! Of course, we understand that things come up. Please communicate with us as they do, so that we can work together to support the students in meeting their weekly deadlines!

Due this Friday:

• Mission 5: Lessons 17-21
• Daily Language Review (Assigned Tuesday, Due Friday)
• Scholastic- Trash Issue (Handout, Questions, Words of the Week)

Global Arts Schedule:

	Monday A Day	Tuesday B Day	Wednesday C Day	Thursday D Day
Annah’s Crew	Music	Movement	Rachel time	Art
Koren’s Crew	Movement	Rachel time	Art	Music
Leah’s Crew	Rachel time	Art	Music	Movement
Sonja’s Crew	Art	Music	Movement	Rachel time

 

Shad Week

During the week of April 23rd – 26th our ⅘ students will partner with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences to raise and release shad fish from eggs to fry.  It is an exciting process and a lot of work in a short period of time.  

Donations needed! Please send in the following:

Plastic 2-liter bottles – with lids!

Newspapers

Clear plastic cups (recyclable if possible)

We also need drivers to take us and our shad to the Milburnie Dam on Thursday morning April 26th. This is where we release our nurtured shad and remaining eggs into the river.  We will leave school at 9:00 and return to school at 11:30.

SHAD DRIVERS SIGN-UP HERE

* Volunteers Needed for EOGs *

Thank you to everyone who has signed up to proctor for our Revised Testing dates.  We still need more proctors.  Right now, our highest needs are on May 30 for the Reading EOG at the Middle School and on May 31st for the Math EOG at BOTH campuses. Those are the days on which we have the most students 3-8 testing!

You are welcome to share with grandmas and grandpas as well!

Thank you again for your help!

-Jill

Please Complete This Survey

From The Exploris School’s April Newsletter: “In 2015, the Exploris Board of Directors adopted the goal that by 2021 the school would reflect the socioeconomic and racial demographics of Wake County. This year, the board formed a Diversity and Equity Committee to recommend steps to help the school achieve this goal. To inform this process, the committee would value your input as key stakeholders in the Exploris community. To that end, we would greatly appreciate your responses to the following questions. As the committee gains perspective from this survey, we will consider additional opportunities to gather feedback and share information. This survey is anonymous unless you choose to identify yourself.”

Parents, if you have not yet responded to the school’s Parent Survey on Equity and Diversity, please take a few moments to do so now. Exploris is working to better support diversity at the school, and parent input is important to this process. Thank you!

Class Pets

• Lenny the Guinea-Pig sign-up (Sonja’s & Annah’s Crews ONLY) –  Sign Up to Take Lenny Home

Blizzard the Hedgehog sign-up (Leah’s & Koren’s Crews ONLY) – SIGN UP TO TAKE BLIZZARD HOME HERE!

April 9th, 2018 Newsletter

Dear Parents,

Welcome back to school! We hope you had a restful and restorative break.  We hope that all families were able to enjoy time together. If you traveled we are glad to have you back safe and sound! We are hitting the ground running this week! Please see updates below, noting key dates, and grade level updates!

Thank you for your continued support!

The 4/5 Team

 

Key Dates

5th Grade Mission 5 Zearn Calendar

• April 9: Expedition Launch – Let’s Talk Trash
• April 11th: 5th Only – Return City of Raleigh Photo Release Form
• April 12: 5th Only –  9:00-11:30 Field work with the City of Raleigh

        *See volunteer info. Below and email from Annah sent on 3/9*

• April 13: New Explorations Classes Begin
• April 16 – 20: Exploris Green Week
• April 16: Religion Expedition Group Presents at Staff Meeting 4:00 – 4:15

  (Presenters: Mariam, Simon, Sara, Kinsey, Blake)  

• April 20: Scholastic Book Order
• April 23 – 26: Shad Week
• April 26: Shad Release *See driver sign up below*
• April 27th:  4th Grade Only Trip to Hemlock Bluff 11:30 AM  *See driver sign up below*
• May 4:  Poe Health Education Classes – More information soon
• May 12th:  Schoolwide Let’s Go for a Hike (location TBD)
• May 14 – 17: MAP Testing (Exact schedule TBD)
• May 24: Science EOG (5th grade ONLY)
• May 25th: No School – Teacher Workday
• May 30:  Reading EOGs (4th & 5th)
• May 31: Math EOGs (4th & 5th)
• June 8:  Last Day of School (½ Day)

 

Expedition Update

Today we are launching our new Expedition “Let’s Talk Trash”. We will focus our learning around our school’s core value of Connections to Nature. Specifically, 4/5 will be analyzing trash, recycling, and single use plastics.

 

Shad Week

During the week of April 23rd – 26th our ⅘ students will partner with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences to raise and release shad fish from eggs to fry.  It is an exciting process and a lot of work in a short period of time.  

Donations needed! Please send in the following:

Plastic 2-liter bottles – with lids!

Newspapers

Clear plastic cups (recyclable if possible)

We also need drivers to take us and our shad to the Milburnie Dam on Thursday morning April 26th. This is where we release our nurtured shad and remaining eggs into the river.  We will leave school at 9:00 and return to school at 11:30.

SHAD DRIVERS SIGN-UP HERE

 

* Volunteers Needed for EOGs *

As you may have read in the April School Newsletter, due to an oversight at DPI, we need to change our End of Year Testing dates.  We will need over 100 volunteers and this is one way to get in your volunteer hours! It’s preferred that you sign up for a grade other than your child’s, because you cannot proctor in a room with your own child. K-1 parents are also welcomed and appreciated!  Training dates will be sent out after Spring Break.

Thank you to everyone who had signed up to help out on the original dates.

Please check the new dates and sign up again. http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0d44aaa72ca2ff2-revised

 

Please Complete This Survey

From The Exploris School’s April Newsletter: “In 2015, the Exploris Board of Directors adopted the goal that by 2021 the school would reflect the socioeconomic and racial demographics of Wake County. This year, the board formed a Diversity and Equity Committee to recommend steps to help the school achieve this goal. To inform this process, the committee would value your input as key stakeholders in the Exploris community. To that end, we would greatly appreciate your responses to the following questions. As the committee gains perspective from this survey, we will consider additional opportunities to gather feedback and share information. This survey is anonymous unless you choose to identify yourself.”

Parents, if you have not yet responded to the school’s Parent Survey on Equity and Diversity, please take a few moments to do so now. Exploris is working to better support diversity at the school, and parent input is important to this process. Thank you!

 

4th Grade Updates

ELA:  Complete A Ton of Trash article.  Students are to annotate with questions and thoughtful connections and answer questions at the end (due Thursday).  Vocabulary introduced additional suffixes (due Thursday).

Math:  Students need to complete their Spiral Review by Thursday (6 questions).  TenMarks is one review lesson on equivalent fractions and one lesson on comparing fractions.  Students should complete both lessons by Sunday of this week.

Hemlock Bluffs Field Experience: On Friday, April 27th, all 4th grade will be taking a field experience to beautiful Hemlock Bluffs nature Preserve in Cary.  We need parent drivers and chaperones! Students will be walking on nature trails and working on identifying plants in nature. This field experience is free and correlates to our study of plants in Nature Journaling.  Please check out their website: Hemlock Bluffs .  

Please sign up to drive and come enjoy nature with us!  We need to transport 42 students and will break them into smaller groups to explore once we are at the nature preserve.  Sign UP!!

 

5th Grade Updates

Thursday, April 12th – Rain or Shine!

9:00 – 11:30

Fifth grade has the opportunity to pilot The Capital Games an interactive, tablet based scavenger hunt surrounding historic Fayetteville Street. Beginning at the City of Raleigh museum, participants will be split into small groups. Along the way, the groups will draw comparisons to determine what the theme of their tour is and will conclude the importance of the theme to the development of Raleigh.

We need volunteers!  See email from Annah sent on Monday 3/9.

 

Due ASAP (by Wednesday):

Photo permission slip for the City of Raleigh Museum (link here)

Due this Friday:

• Mission 5: Lessons 12-16
• Daily Language Review (Assigned Tuesday, Due Friday)
• Scholastic- Drone Issue (Handout, Questions, Words of the Week)

 

Global Arts

We are returning to our A,B,C, and D day schedule. Students will rotate between classes as a crew.  Also, our fourth global arts class will be led by our ⅘ teaching partner, Rachel. Rachel’s classes are  working with the Museum in the Schools boxes from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

 

Global Arts Schedule:

	Monday A Day	Tuesday B Day	Wednesday C Day	Thursday D Day
Annah’s Crew	Music	Movement	Rachel time	Art
Koren’s Crew	Movement	Rachel time	Art	Music
Leah’s Crew	Rachel time	Art	Music	Movement
Sonja’s Crew	Art	Music	Movement	Rachel time

 

Scholastic Book Orders

The next order will be placed on Friday, April 20th.

Scholastic Reading Club is a wonderful place to look for great books at affordable prices. Plus your order will help our classrooms earn FREE books and resources!

• To order online, sign in or register at: scholastic.com/readingclub
• For first-time orders, enter the Class Activation Code: HNMM7

 
Don’t forget about our animal friends! Lenny and Blizzard are looking for weekend travel destinations!

• Lenny the Guinea-Pig sign-up (Sonja’s & Annah’s Crews ONLY) –  Sign Up to Take Lenny Home
• Blizzard the Hedgehog sign-up (Leah’s & Koren’s Crews ONLY) – SIGN UP TO TAKE BLIZZARD HOME HERE!

March 26, 2018

Dear Parents,

 

This week is short and sweet!  Please everyone have a wonderful Spring Break.  For those who are traveling, travel safe. For those who are staying close to home, gets lots of rest and (hopefully) sunshine.  Homework for Spring Break: READ, SLEEP, LAUGH, and PLAY OUTSIDE A LOT!!!

 

warmly,

The 4/5 Team

 

Key Dates

• March 28th – Culminating Event for Expedition 2, 2:10-3:10 PM
• March 29th – April 8th Spring Break
• April 9th  – Return to school

 

Upcoming field experiences where we need parent chaperones and drivers!

 

• Shad Release at Milburnie Dam!!!  All Students. Thursday, April 26th

• Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve – 4th grade ONLY!!!  Friday, April 27th

 

If you can participate, please mark your calendar!  Driving paperwork must be turned in to the school prior to the trip.  We will send out Sign-Ups the Monday we return from Spring Break. Please mark your calendar now and sign up when you receive it in our next newsletter!  We need you 🙂

 

4th Grade Updates

Math:  

• Fractions, Fractions, Fractions!
• TenMarks: No TenMarks this week!
• Ask your child about their Spiral Review – due Wednesday!

ELA:

• Reading: Non-Fiction reading passage this week: Pythons!  Skill: answer with evidence from text and close reading with annotations.
• Vocabulary: Suffixes, 2nd week.

 

5th Grade Updates

Due this Friday:

• Mission 5, Lessons 7, 10, 11
• Scholastic- None this week!

 

Global Arts

Schedule is all focused on preparing for our Expedition Culminating Event!  Hope to see many of you on Wednesday from 2:10-3:10pm.

Global Arts Schedule:

 

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday
Gender	All	All	Event
Race/Poverty	All	All	Event
Religion	All	All	Event

 

EOG Proctor Sign Up

It’s that time of year where we are starting to plan for administering EOGs this spring.  If you are Exploris Veterans, you’ve heard this all before. If you are a newbie, now’s the time in which we tell you that we rely heavily on volunteers to serve as proctors during EOGs.  As a proctor, YOU ARE NOT responsible for administering the tests. The state requires two adults to be in the room during the test and as a proctor, you will be that second person. Many parents take off work to help out, so we like to give you as much notice as possible. If you are willing and able to help at either the middle or elementary campuses, please click on the sign up genius to sign up!  You may sign up to help at any grade. In fact, it’s probably better if you sign up for a grade in which you do not have a child, as you will not be assigned to a room in which your child is testing.  K-2 parents, you can help too, even though your children don’t take EOGs yet, they will some day! 🙂 There will be a short training in May (date/time TBA) in which you’ll learn all you need to know once we get closer to the testing window! Thank you in advance for your help.  The support of our families is one of the things that makes Exploris so amazing!