The Friday Note - Randolph School Friday Note January 14, 2011 ... Anabelle Arginsky. Let it snow, ... We will resume visits to Common Ground Farm in February

The Friday Note January 14, 2011

The Randolph School, 2467 Route 9D, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 tel: 845-297-5600 email: [email protected] fax: 845-297-5617 web: www.randolphschool.org

Events Calendar

January 2011 Monday, January 17th Martin Luther King, Jr. Day No School Wednesday, January 19th Downstairs to the Farm Friday, January 21st Ski @ Catamount Tuesday, January 25th Limits & Boundaries Workshop 6-8pm in the Carriage House

Yes, It Snowed!!

DOWNSTAIRS 3s and 4s

Ta-Da! This week in our Morning Circle we introduced our castle figures. First we showed a variety of books about castles, talked about the function of castles, and when and where they could be found. We noticed the horse drawn wagons and the different clothing being worn. Then we revealed the all important red-sparkly-cloth. Many guesses were made about what could possibly be hidden underneath and then with some magical rigmarole [insert music here] the Ta-Da! The unveiling was followed by a few gasps, smiles, and then we were off! The discussions that followed were centered around: what we know about these castle figures that arrived on our favorite brown truck, how we might use them, safety issues, their fragile nature, which ones were girls, and what about those beautiful horses draped with coat of arms blankets. This joint circle time was designed to spark some of the thinking and planning that will enhance our study of castles. The real magic is that a variety of topics to study were captured from the children's interests. The rest of the morning was spent placing figures around the castle walls, positioning a paper-made catapult (thank you, Evan) and what about the moat? Documentation began with one child's favorite castle room, the garderobe or bathroom. Here's a list of this week's new words: portcullis, fleur de lis, drawbridge, family crest, shield, and what about those crenellations? Many of these words were copied onto cardboard signs and taped to the castle walls. There's much work to be done caring for a castle and our knights, Castilians, atilliators, squires, watchmen, and of course kings and queens are ready for this exciting time in history.

This was a week of many successes and celebrations. You may have noticed that your child is beginning to or has mastered the winter clothing extravaganza. Yes, the six-step process is well under way and many of our group have also proudly joined the Zipper Club. Not only did your child grow taller (some inches!), but many came back with a new ease around separation issues, mastery of bath rooming 101 (and 2) and a real excitement about being back at school. There were the consistent reminders about walking indoors, sitting for eating, and yes- I think you do remember how to open that lunch container. We're back and thrilled to be on the hill sledding, tending a toasty fireplace, trekking across our mini-mountain, sliding on any icy spot we can find, and celebrating our winter wonderland with our Upstairs friends, complete with pancakes on the slope, and of course, marshmallows and hot cocoa. Stop by for a run on a sled or a slide with our bottom-runners! One Request: Our daily six-step-winter-dress-o-rama would move just a little quicker if all the children had their names on their snow pants, coats, mittens (mittens are soooo much easier), hats, and boots. We have many pink and black snow pants! Please make sure all these items arrive EVERY DAY with names inside. Thank You! The Knights and Queens Attendants

Events Calendar


Next week’s Fruit Cafe Provider

Anabelle Arginsky

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. May I cut a snowflake for the window? How many words can you rhyme with snow? low, know show, no, blow, hoe, grow, oh, slow, and don't forget, crow How fast can you sled down the hill? I'll race you...let's make a train...hey, I'm flying! How many words can describe snow? white, swirling, cold, wet, soft, hard, icy What can you do in the snow? stay in and snuggle, drink hot chocolate, make snow angels, sled, skate, ski, snow board, laugh Snow play on Monday. Sledding during Fitness Time on Tuesday. A snow day on Wednesday. Sledding Day at school on Thursday with pancakes and hot chocolate. Today is the first of the Upstairs ski trips to Catamount. January is full of snow, and learning about snow is fun and easy. This month we are also learning about Martin Luther King, Jr., and that is difficult. This week we read Martin's Big Words and You are as Good as Anyone. We discussed and wrote about these sad times, important ideas, and brave people. Our children are puzzled by a world that excludes someone because of their skin color. They understand that life is better when we treat each other with love and kindness. They speak compassionately about others and express big ideas: I have a dream; I love my mommy; A big word is caring; I take care of my friend and she takes care of me; I dream that I can go in a rocket ship; I work in a team; and, We work together. These are some of the words of 5, 6 and 7 year old children as they read and write and talk about Martin Luther King Jr. We committed to study justice and equality this January after the Parent Group's successful “equal exchange” fundraiser. How do we bring abstract and challenging ideas to young children? We decided that a biographical study of Martin Luther King, Jr. would be timely, topical, and focusing. Most children can easily understand the events in another child's life. We are reading biographies of individuals involved in the Civil Rights Movement to build concepts, teach history, and reinforce our community. Looking ahead: No school on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 17. With so many snow and ski days, we have decided to stay here at Randolph and explore our own garden and woods in Winter. We will resume visits to Common Ground Farm in February. Please continue to send your child with snow pants, boots, mittens, hats, and of course warm coats.

UPSTAIRS The Authors

Events Calendar


Next Week’s Snack Provider

Tues. 1/18 Parker Moss Next Week’s

Snack Provider Thurs. 1/20

Brandon Cooke

UPSTAIRS Emperor Penguins

Events Calendar


The Emperor Penguins have launched into their next study of Native American history and culture study. We began by examining the climate in different parts of the United States. We looked at temperatures and precipitation in Alaska, Maine, Virginia, Minnesota, Arizona and North Dakota. Using data from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration we looked at average monthly statistics for the years 1970-2006. For each location, we looked at the temperature and the precipitation to determine whether it rained or snowed more in each place. We discussed how the climate might affect the type of shelter people would have built in each of the locations. Students also looked at the website for the National Museum of the American Indian to select a tribe they would investigate. We also spent some time considering our own culture as if we were from another culture. What do we eat? Wear? What is our government like? What about our houses? Before we can truly begin to understand other cultures, we need to see that many of the things we do are a product of our culture and that there are many other ways to eat, dress, organize ourselves etc. Although this is a key element in the study of history, it is challenging even for educated adults to get outside their own culture. In addition, Debbie has been reading us Coyote Tales and students have been working with their families to do some reading from the book, Do All Indians Live in Tipis? We have a lot more exciting things to follow. Parents will be invited to a curriculum night shortly where we will look at the map of this new study.

Last week we scouted out Catamount Ski area and it looks as though we will be having a great experience at our new location. Have a nice weekend.

High School

Avery & Cody

Events Calendar


The High School has been a blur of activity. We, Debbie and I, have been enjoying our time with Cody and Avery. These past two weeks they have been at Randolph full time because their classes at DCC don't start until next Tuesday. We have been studying George Orwell's classic, 1984, and have seen just how accurately he was predicting the future. We have begun some studies of the Nazis, the USSR and Communist China. On Thursday we watched the movie of 1984 with Richard Burton appearing in his final role. Not a cheery tale... While we have been depressing ourselves with 1984, we have also started studies of European geog-raphy, world history, preparatory classes for Cody and Avery's English Composition course at DCC, and internship classes with the rest of the Upstairs. Cody now has two computer classes with the Pen-guins and he will be joining Dan for Philosophy class on Fridays. Also we are working on a secret project for the Upstairs students-- shhhh.... One of our primary projects that we will be beginning soon is that they are each going to make a Theremin, one of the first electronic instruments. In fact, it is one of the few instruments that you play without touching it (Can you think of another?). They are going to learn how to solder and then we will be composing music like you have never heard before. You have heard the sounds before, actually-- think 1960's monster movies--Oowweewwooooo--That was a Theremin. Jimmy Page played one and many rockers have used it in their performances.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2 3 Teacher Work Day No School

4 Winter music lessons begin!

5 6 7 8 Admissions Open House 10am

9 10 11 12 13 Maple Fest Meeting 7pm 31 N. Walnut Beacon

14 Ski @ Catamount

15

16 17 Martin Luther King Jr. Day No School

18

19

20 21 Ski @ Catamount

22

23 24 25 Limits & Boundaries Workshop 6-8pm Carriage House

26 Downstairs to the Farm

27 28 29

30 31

January 2011 Events Calendar

(Key: All School, Downstairs, Authors, Emperor Penguins, Cody&Avery)

Parents, if you would like to receive a text message to your cell phone alerting you to school closings due to inclement weather, please go to www.whud.com, click on the WHUD STORM CENTER box, then click the big red box that says, “Click here to sign up for text alerts.” Follow the directions, it’s really easy!!!

School/Community Announcements

3-bedroom home for rent in Cold Spring. Includes water, sewer, garbage, wireless internet access, washer/dryer, off-street parking and other amenities. Contact Anita 845-265-3545.

Randolph Twitters!! Come follow our Tweet.

If you write them, they will follow….your children’s quotes

that is. And we’re not only writing them down, we are

tweeting them on Twitter! Come “follow us”

@RandolphSpeaks…. …….on Twitter!

WKIP 1450 AM WPKF 96.1 FM WRNQ 92.1 FM

WBWZ 93.3 FM WRWD 107.3/99.3 FM WCTW 98.5 FM WELG 1370 AM WHUC 1230 AM

Snow Days and Delays Delays and school closing due to snow or inclement weather will be available in three ways. We will record a message on the school’s answering machine at 297-5600. Keep trying if you do not get the message the first time (it is not available on our second roll-over line).

You can also check Randolph School’s website for up-to-the-minute school closing information. Go to the school’s website and follow the links to “Snow Day Information” or go directly to www.randolphschool.org/snow.htm. Delays and closings will also be announced on the following radio stations:

WCZX 97.7 FM WPDH 101.5 FM WPDA/WPDH 106.1

WRRV/WRRB 96.9/92.7 FM The WOLF 94.3/97.3 FM

WHUD 100.7 FM WSPK 104.7 FM WBNR 1260 AM WLNA 1420 AM WXPK 107.1 FM WBPM 92.9 FM

The Randolph School posts wonderful photo albums on

Facebook at www.facebook.com/

randolphschool. You don’t need to have a Facebook

account to visit our page. Just visit the link and check us out! Parents, don’t forget to check the school

calendar on our website and click on Meal in a Bowl to find out who’s making it and what’s in

this week’s Something in a Bowl! http://www.randolphschool.org/events/calendar/

School/Community Announcements HEALTH ALERT

FLU is now in our area. If there is a case of FLU in your home or

you've visited extended family/friends with the flu, please know that

the incubation period is 3-4 days. If you notice any symptoms: fever,

excessive runny nose, aches, generally lethargic, or just not

themselves, keep them at home under your watchful eye and call to

let us know. If members of your family have the flu please keep

track of the incubation period and if there's a possibility of your

child is coming down with the flu on a school day again, please

keep them home under your watchful eye. Your child needs to be

fever free/no vomiting for at least 24 hours before they come back

to school and to be outdoors.

Thank You and keep healthy!

The Rivertown Kids Present

Martin Luther King Celebration for Social Justice

Monday, January 17, 2011

7:30 PM (Doors open at 7:00 PM)

Howland Cultural Center

477 Main Street, Beacon , NY

With

Ken Anderson*Alvin Bell* David Bernz *Jacob Bernz Karen

Brooks*Dan Einbender*Raphael FigueroaGoldee Greene*Spook

Handy*Travis Jeffrey

Roland Mousaa*Melissa Ortquist*The Rivertown KidsChris

Ruhe*Pete Seeger* Sarah Underhill Admission Free. A donation to

the Beacon Food Pantry is requested.

Sponsored by The Howland Cultural Center, The Coffee Shoppe

and Brian Murnane and Duval Culpepper

More info: contact the Howland Cultural Center at (845) 831-

4988 or [email protected]

Parents of Children of all Ages Please Join Us

Tuesday, January 25th

From 6-8pm

In the Carriage House For the first of a

Series of Parent Workshops

“Limits & Boundaries”

We will be looking at developmental stages and how limits and boundaries support our children’s growth.

(Childcare will be provided)

Something to say café

Featured performer

Cameron Stenger

The something to say café is a concert and open mike on one Saturday of every month. Our cafés are held at the Beacon Sloop Club at the

riverfront across from the Beacon train station. The next café will be…

January 22nd

7:30 to 9:30

Everyone gets 2 songs. All ages of audience welcome.

Refreshments served. For more information… Call Jacob at 845‐702‐8280. Leave a message.

Or visit www.folkmusiclives.com

Documents

The Friday Note - Randolph School Friday Note January 14, 2011 ... Anabelle Arginsky. Let it snow, ... We will resume visits to Common Ground Farm in February