1

The Dragon’s Tale

Weekly School Newsletter February 6, 2018 Volume 4, Issue 26

Science Fair February 22nd

We hope you will be able to join us for the Science Fair on Thursday, February 22nd. The fair begins at 1:15 PM and concludes at 2:15 PM. Students are already getting set for the big event.

A Night of Pure

Imagination The third and fourth grade theater arts students will present several one-act productions Thursday, February 15th. The doors open at 5:30 PM and the performances begin at 6:00 PM.

Sign Up Today! Help us reach our goal of

$18,000

Tutus? Wigs? Mustaches? Make up?

What do all of these have in common? If 200 or more students sign up for the 5K walk/run by February 14th the staff at da Vinci will be wearing them on February 16th! Can’t wait to see Mr. Dennis in a tutu with a wig and makeup? How about Mrs. Griffin with a mustache and a tutu? Students should sign up soon to reach the goal!

Vote for Food on NutriSlice Students and other patrons of school lunch can provide feedback on the menus. Patrons are able to rate food from one star to five stars and leave comments. The information gathered is shared with the school lunch menu planners. To provide feedback please go to www.gbaps.nutrislice.com. Voting directions are included with today’s handouts.

Help the Homeless Drive A team of 7th and 8th grade students is planning a drive to help the homeless. The goal is to collect toiletries for the homeless. The main needs are: toilet paper, diapers, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, garbage bags, soaps, and paper towels. They will be collecting these items from February 14th to March 7th, 2018. At the end of the collection, the base team with the most points will win a prize. Good Luck!

2

Our Mission: Educating world leaders… one child at a time.

Our Vision: Leonardo da Vinci School for Gifted Learners provides the appropriate level of challenge for academically gifted students in a rigorous, student-centered and diverse learning environment that prepares them to be world leaders. We are learners. We are leaders.

February 6 PopcornDeliveryDay 2:40BattleoftheBooks 2:40BasketballPractice(Girls) 2:40SeaPerch 4:15BasketballGameatdaVinci(Boys)7 2:40TheaterArts3-48 2:40Forensics 2:40BasketballPractice(Boys) 4:15BasketballGameatdaVinci(Girls)9 11:40–2:107thand8thGradeFieldTripto St.VincentHospital10 TestDayforPotentialNewStudents12 2:40TheaterArts3-413 2:40BattleoftheBooks 2:40BasketballPractice(Girls) 2:40SeaPerch 2:40TheaterArts 4:15BasketballGameatSullivan(Boys)14 2:40TheaterArts3-415 2:40Forensics 2:40BasketballPractice(Boys) 4:15BasketballGameatWilder(Girls) 6:00ANightofPureImagination16 12:35EarlyDismissal 12:35–3:00MusicalTryouts5-817 DICompetition SeaPerchCompetition

Calendar Notes

LEARNERS Excel—We excel academically. Altruistic—We are altruistic; we give back to our community. Determined—We are determined to accomplish our goals. Engaged—We are engaged in all that we do. Respectful—We are respectful of our learning, our school community and ourselves. Safe—We put safety first.

2018 Pi Day 5K Walk/Run Saturday, March 10th

8:00 AM Leonardo da Vinci students work with Mrs. Hockers, our Physical Education teacher, to organize a walk/run. This is an important leadership opportunity for our fifth grade planning team, but an ALTRUISTIC opportunity for our entire school community. In the past three years our school community has raised over $44,000 for Habitat for Humanity. We hope you can be a part of this year’s walk/run. Grab your warm gear and join us on the 10th! https://raceroster.com/events/2018/14689/pi-day-5k-2018

Conference Sign Up Begins February 14th

Conference time is just around the corner. The sign up window opens at 12:00 AM on February 14th. K-5 conferences will be held with base team teachers only. Parents/guardians of 6-8 students can set up a conference with any teacher except base team. Directions for conference sign-up are included with today’s handouts. Conference dates/times are as follows: Tuesday, February 27th 3:00 – 6:45 PM Thursday, March 8th 3:00 – 6:45 PM Friday, March 9th 12:00 – 3:00 PM

Transition Questions on Web Page

A new tab has been added to the Leonardo da Vinci web page. The tab provides answers to questions that we have been asked by parents in the last few weeks. As new questions are brought to our attention, we will forward them to the appropriate people, get the answers and update that part of our web page.

3

PARENT411–LITERACYLEARNINGTARGETSFROMLASTWEEK

DAVISTERK-1• Use a web to organize facts about a topic • Complete a nonfiction text scavenger hunt to find text features • Group related details and cross out details that do not fit with a chosen topic • Compare text features of two texts on the same topic to identify which is nonfiction • Write a hook and a thesis statement to begin a writing piece • List reasons why an author would use different text features in a nonfiction book • Expand sentences and use transitions in writing • Use text features in electronic texts to learn more about a topic • Use different ending techniques to wrap up a writing piece • Add different endings to change a word

JOHNSON1-2• Understand the difference between “thick” and “thin” questions• Choose a group of details about an animal and write them in

parapraph form using a thesis statement and supporting details• Write questions that are generated before, during and after

reading• Understand how to find answers when reading a non-fiction

book• Embed a definition in a piece of writing• Using strategies to determine the meaning of an unknown word• Add an ending to the informational writing piece and check the

piece for writing targets

HANSON1-2• Explain the term “point of view” • Identify who is telling the story from the words that are used • Explain what rhyme and repitition mean in relation to poetry • Identify rhyming words and repetitive parts in poems • Write paragraphs with a thesis and supporting details • Write an introductory paragraph with a hook and thesis • Understand alliteration and find examples in poetry • Use alliteration in a piece of writing • Understand hyperboles and write sentences using them • Write a conclusion for an informational piece of writing

KORTH2-3• Review and edit informational writing piece • Preview and make predictions before reading a chapter book • Research for informational piece • Read and discuss the first section of My America: Our Strange

New Land • Complete informational post writing assessment • Complete a vocabulary web to explore and understand

changing words in text

FRELICH2-3• Reserch for informational post assessment writing piece• Review the Change Generalizations project expectations• Complete research for project• Complete informational post writing assessment• Organize writing binder• Connect project with five generalizations of change

CARLSEN3-4

• Use the Classlink launchpad to gather resources for writing • Define and identify idioms • Clump information into appropriate headings • Sort idioms based on their meanings • Write thesis statements • Review all parts of an expository writing piece • Learn about legends • Draft an expository writing piece • Complete a concept matrix for “Vision Quest”

BECKER3-4• Compare and contrast two stories by the same author• Read “The Power of Light” and take a literature pre-

assessment• Discuss the concept of change• Generate examples and nonexamples of change• Listen to “Star of Fear, Star of Hope” and complete a

character change map• Identify text features and explain their purpose in an

informational piece• Create an informational book and take it to the published

stage• Research and plan informational book• List and clump details for book• Draft introduction and body paragraphs

4

PARENT411LITERACYLEARNINGTARGETSFROMLASTWEEK

DURANT4-5• Continue research and select three or four main topic ideas • Analyze a quotations and complete a vocabular web • Compose body paragraphs of writing piece making sure to add

strong verbs, specificity and details • Review body paragraphs to add transitions, sentence variation

and length • Work with peers to begin work on fourth grade book • Record images, thoughts and feelings when using mindful

meditation • Write an introduction that includes a hook, background

information and thesis for expository piece • Publish poems

MAYENSCHEIN4-5• Reserch an expository topic of choice • Discuss chapters 6-8 of The Phantom Tollbooth • Work with department team to create timeline for class book • Plan an expository writing piece keeping the audience for the

piece in mind • Create a timeline of the important events in The Phantom

Tollbooth • Plan personal narrative for the grade level book • Discuss The Eleventh Hour: A Curious Mystery with peers

and complete a story slide model • Draft expository writing piece

GRIFFIN5-6• Prepare and research for post informational writing piece • Complete post assessment writing piece • Listen to novel presentations • Work on contribution to 5th grade novel project • Present favorite memory to class

WATSON5-6• Share expository writing piece• Read “Ghost Cat” and complete a literature web• Complete informational writing post-assessment piece• Listen to novel project presentations• Create a timeline for autobiography• Brainstorm an “expert list” for procedural writing piece• Develop analytical and interpretive skills in literature

GUSSERT“COURAGE,CONNECTIONSANDREFLECTION”• Study biography essay and identify key elements • Use notes to construct an outline or graphic organizer for an

essay • Study a variety of introductions and identify the one that best fits

chosen person • Understand and utilize narrative transitions while composing

and editing writing

OLDENBURG“PERSUASION”• Identify logos, ethos, and pathos in an essay• Infer an author’s meaning from the details present in his/her

argument• Compare arguments and evaluate the strongest evidence• Create an advertisement that appeals to logos, ethos and

pathos

GUSSERT“THEPURSUITOFJUSTICE”• Listen to other presentations and present presentation on

completing a specific task • Develop background knowledge for the novel To Kill a

Mockingbird • Define persuasion and analyze persuasive speech in order to

identify key points • Participate in novel study discussion

OLDENBURG“1940S–ADECADEOFCHANGE”• Share what was learned about nuclear power. Understand

the events surrounding the end of WWII• Create a comparison chart to document the changes that

occurred during the 1940s in American society, culture and lifestyle

• Consider the role of music in modern-day culture and question the role it played in the 1940s

• Investigate the role of music in 1940s culture and draw conclusions from historical data on the subject

• Understand how to write an annotated bibliographyGUSSERT“UTOPIA”

• Generate a definition for persuasion • Develop an agrument for a given topic and side • Watch and listen to a famous speech, identifying the key points

made without seeing text • Participate in a book discussion

OLDENBURG“THREADSOFCHANGEIN19THCENTURY”• Identify allusion and sarcasm in Kipling’s “The White Man’s

Burden”• Compare and contrast the point of view of Kipling and

Hughes poetry• Analyze visual elements to learn about the Gilded Age• Understand the moral dilemma in The Lorax and identify the

costs/benefits to each stakeholder in the story• Consider the role of rural/farm life in the American Dream

5

PARENT411–MATHLEARNINGTARGETSFROMLASTWEEK

MATH1DAVISTER• Organize, represent and interpret data• Organize, represent and interpret data with three categories• Ask a question to collect data about classmates• Solve compare problems

MATH1-2JOHNSON• Add 2-digit numbers • Solve a variety of real world problems • Review and prepare for unit 8 assessment • Complete unit 8 post-assessment

MATH2HANSON• Subtract 2-digit numbers from numbers with a zero in the tens

or ones place• Compare various solution methods for 2-digit addition• Solve word problems involving dollar bills, dimes and pennies• Skip count by 5’s and find the values of collections of dimes,

nickels and pennies• Dragon Dash

MATH3KORTH• Create a line plot and solve problems using a line plot• Analyze bar graphs and solve word problems using bar graphs• Complete unit 4 pre-assessment• Review unit 3 concepts• Dragon Dash

MATH3BECKER• Complete the unit 3 item analysis • Identify the value of a digit using place value • Solve word problems using place value • Round to the nearest 100

MATH3-4CARLSEN• Solve problems involving perimeter • Create a resource to help remember the properties of shapes • Identify the characteristics of shapes • Review multi-digit adding • Dragon Dash • Estimate using mental math

MATH4-5FRELICH• Connect decimals and fractions • Write decimals in multiple forms • Compare decimals • Add and subtract decimal numbers • Review properties for adding and subtracting decimals• Dragon Dash

MATH4-5DURANT• Solve real-world problems • Complete the unit review and prepare for the post assessment • Complete unit assessment

MATH5MAYENSCHEIN• Review and analyze unit 4 assessment results • Complete unit 5 pre-assessment • Divide multi-digit numbers by single digit numbers • Solve division problems having two-digit divisors

MATH5WATSON• Reflect on unit 4 assessment results and make any necessary

corrections • Complete the unit 5 pre-assessment • Divide multi-digit numbers by single digit divisors • Solve division problems having two-digit divisors • Express and interpret remainders

MATH5-6FELDHAUSEN• Set up multi-step problems with fractions and mixed numbers • Multiply and divide multi-digit numbers and decimals • Solve multi-step word problems that involve multiplication and

division of fractions and decimals • Review module 4 and 5 for unit assessment • Complete unit assessment

MATH6NOVAK• Complete module 8 quiz • Complete unit 3 District Common Assessment

6

PARENT411–MATHLEARNINGTARGETSFROMLASTWEEK

MATH6-7VANSTRATEN• Reflect on unit 4 performance and prepare for unit 5 • Write equations and determine whether a number is a

solution of an equation • Solve equations that contain addition and subtraction • Solve equations that contain multiplication or division • Write and solve one step equations

ACCEL7FELDHAUSEN• Use scale drawings to solve problems • Draw shapes that satisfy given conditions • Describe the cross sections of 3D figures • Use angle relationships to solve problems • Complete module 8 quiz • Find and use the circumference of a circle

MATH8OLDENBURG• Review and prepare for district common assessment • Understand the concepts of orientation and congruence • Compare the properties of a reflectionn to a translation • Review concepts as needed

ADVALGEBRAFELDHAUSEN• Identify and use arithmetic sequences • Identify and use geometric sequences • Identify and use the recursive and explicit rules of sequences • Review sequences • Write exponential functions • Complete module quiz

ADVALGEBRAIIFICK• Graph logarithmic functions • List the domain and range of logarithmic functions • Evaluate logarithmic expressions without a calculator • Use properties of logs • Solve logs using properties • Change the base to solve logs • Solve logarithmic and exponential equations with and without

calculators • Use logs to solve exponential growth, exponential decay and

logistical growth problems • Solve real world problems using logs and exponential

properties

GEOMETRYKAROLIUSSEN• Use AA, SSS and SAS similarity postulates/theorems to prove

triangles are similar • Complete unit quiz • Apply knowledge of similar triangles to solve for unknown

angles or sides • Learn and apply triangle proportionality theorem and its

converse • Learn and apply triangle midsegment theorem and prove similar

triangles

PRE-CALCULUSFICK• Perform vector operations • Find the dot product of two vectors and use the properites of

the dot product • Determine if two vectors are orthogonal • Write the sum of two vector components • Use vectors to find work done by force • Plot points in three dimensional space • Find the distance between points in three dimensions • Find midpoints • Find the components forms of vectors in space • Find the magnitude and the dot product of vectors in space