Free Entrance to National Parks!

The National Park Service turns 100 years old in 2016 and we want everyone to join the party! For a free pass for all 4th Graders click here!

Additionally, on 16 days in '16, all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. 

Mark your calendar for these entrance fee–free dates in 2016:

• January 18: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• April 16 through 24: National Park Week
• August 25 through 28: National Park Service Birthday
• September 24: National Public Lands Day
• November 11: Veterans Day

National parks are America’s Best Idea, and there are more than 400 parks available to everyone, every day. The fee-free days provide a great opportunity to visit a new place or an old favorite, especially one of the 127 national parks that normally charge an entrance fee. The others are free all of the time. Plan your visit and enjoy our country’s history and nature.

The fee waiver includes entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

Fee-free days make parks accessible to more people. However, national parks are always economical, with entrance fees that range from $3 to $30. In addition, any fourth grade student can get a free annual pass through the Every Kid in a Park program, and active duty military and citizens with a permanent disability can also get free passes. For more information about the variety of discounted passes available, please visit the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass page.

Ask the Animal Presentation

Please join us in celebrating the completion of our Naturalist Google Slides Presentations!

Come to Shatekon to learn about NYS animals like:

¨ Moose, hawk, coyote, bullfrog, white tailed deer, raccoon, red fox, humpback whale, gray squirrel, bobcat, bald eagle and mink

¨ When:  Wednesday, April 20th, 2016 12:30-1:15 pm

¨ Where:  Computer lab

Please let us know the names of everyone attending by 4.18.16. You must be on the visitors list to be allowed into school.

April Newsletter

ELA

**The NYS testing dates for ELA are the 5^th-7^th. These tests are untimed and have fewer questions. We will start each day at 8:15. Our specials have been moved to 10:15 or 10:45. If your student is still testing at 10:15 they will be moved to another location to finish the test.

**The following week we will revisit our animal study and complete an online research project titled “Ask the Animal”. Students will use our iPads to do research and create a presentation all about a NYS animal. Mrs. Chakmakas and Mrs. Rao will join us as well to help with the project. Stay tuned for an invite to our electronic NYS animal zoo!

Ø  Our regular classroom schedule will resume the 3^rd week of April (18^th-22^nd). That is when we will go back to normal homework and classwork.

Math

Concepts:

o   Continue review of content covered in 4^th grade

o   Prepare for NYS math exam

o   Begin chapter 9 - Decimals

o   Place Value of decimals

o   Equating decimals, money and fractions

o   Comparing decimals

o   After the NYS tests we still have chapters 9 and 12 to finish in our text book.

o   When the book is finished we will begin lessons called “Getting Ready for 5^th Grade”

o   These lessons will incorporate what we have learned this year and stretch students thinking.

http://gregtangmath.com/

https://www.reflexmath.com/

Social Studies

This week we will begin an inquiry unit about the American Revolution! Students will read use our text book, primary sources, videos and on-line research. They will get to choose to either write a persuasive essay to join the revolution or not or create a skit! We will take a few weeks to research and create before we present for each other. We have so many creative students; it’s sure to be great!

Reminders

ü 4.5.16 – 4.7.16 NYS ELA testing

ü 4.8.16 Quarter 3 closes

ü 4.12.16 Scotia Glenville Traveling Museum - Measuring

ü 4.13.16 to 4.15.16 – NYS Math test

ü 4.13.16 – PTA meeting in library

ü 4.18.16 – Report cards sent home

4.25.16 – 4.29.16 – Spring Break

Greg Tang Math

I have recently learned about a wonderful math site that has been helping students with their math fluency and basic understanding. It's called Greg Tang Math. I've created a link on the side of the page. We have started playing some of the games in class and there are wonderful, printable resources for families. Have fun exploring!

Bus Drill

On March 23, 2016 at 10:00AM the Transportation Department will hold an emergency preparedness drill.  This drill will include members from the Clifton Park Fire Department and the Saratoga County Sheriff Department as well as the transportation staff.  At 10:00am our fire alarm will sound and emergency personnel will be dispatched to the garage.  An actual simulation of a bus fire will occur.  This is a drill only.  It is anticipated that this drill will be approximately one hour.  Phones will be unavailable during this time.   Kindergarten runs will run as normally scheduled.

Mindset

This week we are learning about Mindsets. The main idea is people can approach school, friendships, occupations, or sports with two mindsets. One is a fixed mindset. People with a fixed mindset often feel they can't succeed when there are challenges and those that do succeed are either more capable or born with natural ability. The other mindset is growth. People with a growth mindset often feel challenges make them stronger and smarter. They will keep trying when the going gets tough, ask for help and try new ways of succeeding. We have challenged ourselves to flip our thinking, if needed, as we can grow as people, learners and citizens. Below you will find some links that we have found useful in our discussion. Make sure to watch Ormie the Pig! He's hilarious and gives a great message.

Intro Video - quick Mindset explanation

Ormie the Pig - He never gives up!

**Our faculty is reading this book to study the affects of Mindsets and achievement/growth. It's a great read for anyone!

13 Colonies

13 Colonies

Here is a great link that we used to explore what the 13 Colonies were and how things have changed.