Raymond C. LaPerche Elementary School

Each year the fifth grade gives the school a special gift. Today the fifth grade invited a chainsaw artist to visit LaPerche. He created art in front of the students. At the end of the day, the class gift was unveiled. It was a beautiful bench with two leopards guarding it. The artist, Mr. Randy, carved “LaPerche Playground…where friendships are made” into the bench. The students were amazed at what Randy was able to create and can’t wait to see it on the new playground.

Our fifth grade rocket launch lifted off without a hitch today thanks to Mr. Connell, Mr. Barnett and Mr. Cadoret. They worked tirelessly to ensure that every rocket created by a fifth grader launched!! The kids tried to chase them down after each launch and many were retrieved. The trees grabbed some and others are lost in the woods. If you find one in your backyard, give us a call at school and we will come and get it. Another successful event!!

2020-2021 Art Show Dear Families and Friends of LaPerche Elementary, As the year comes to a close I would like to invite you to our annual art show! Although this year’s show is virtual it still provides a platform for all the students at LaPerche to share their creativity with friends and family! When students finished their projects this year I took a photo and added it to a slide. They were then able to look back at a digital portfolio of what they created this year. We discussed their growth as an artist as well as their personal style. I then asked each student to pick their three favorite works of art to be put in their virtual gallery. The students designed their virtual galleries by choosing frames and decor. If you click on each teacher's name it will bring you to the gallery for that class. I hope you enjoy the show! Feel free to send any feedback to me at cmiller@smithfield-ps.org. Please click this link to explore the virtual galleries! https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1WxzGY3TSPNswYHOUKqyCS2Wd4BHCCEXm0dXA7HADYPI/edit?usp=sharing Miss Miller LaPerche Art Teacher

During reading intervention today with Mrs. Hegarty, the students were learning the -ub word family (cub, sub, tub, club, etc...)The leader gave clues and the students had to find the correct word. Then the leader went around to check each student giving a thumbs up if they had it correct. Kindergarten friends understand that once you learn one word, you can read and spell so many others!!

At LaPerche, we are so thankful for our large outdoor space. Students love having lunch outside where they can sit near anyone they want, take off their masks and enjoy the fresh air. Don’t forget to bring your towel to school each day for picnic lunch!!

LaPerche teachers had the opportunity to attend professional development focused on the what, why and how of literacy instruction. So many LaPerche teachers signed up to attend that we were short substitute teachers. Mrs. Dorsey made a call to administration and Dr. Paolucci and Dr. Monaco came to the rescue. Dr. Paolucci took over fourth grade and Dr. Monaco third grade. Shout out to both of these fabulous administrators who are always willing to fill any role!

In fourth grade today, students were practicing how to use a protractor to create and measure angles. Mr. Mederios was teaching students and they were learning for each other as well. When asked, students shared they need to know how to measure angles correctly for a variety of real life jobs such as an architect who is designing a bridge or a construction worker who is installing a new door.

Today in kindergarten the leader read the morning message to the class. She called volunteers to the chart to find sight words, words kids need to know automatically without sounding them out. Students at their seats counted the days of school using ones, tens and hundreds and discovered we have been in school 159 days! That is a lot of learning.

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) guidelines have allowed students to move from rows into small group. Students were so excited to see a friendly face rather than the back of someone’s head. Each classroom worked together to find the right set up for them. Anything that helps us return to pre-covid routines at school is embraced at LaPerche!

In kindergarten today, students practiced writing sight words in sand. Sight words are the words students must be able to recognize and read quickly and accurately. Sight words make up about 55-75% of all words your children will encounter when reading. Using a multi-sensory approach (using different senses at the same time) helps students retain what they are learning. Students were using their word wall list as a guide. Kindergarten friends are learning how to read and to write!

In Mrs. Hayward’s class, the students are studying the four oceans. The students learned that the Arctic Ocean is the smallest, it is located near the north pole and it is covered by a layer of ice. Each week, the students will study a new ocean and add it to their globe using a different texture. Mrs. Hayward traced the continents and the students painted them. The students learned that the water surrounds the land. Today the students added the Arctic ocean. Sand, paint and tissue paper will be used in the weeks to come. Hands on learning helps student stay engaged and remember what they learning!

The LaPerche fifth grade student council for April chose "Dress Like an Employee Day" as their spirit day. Each month the student council switches to allow all fifth graders the opportunity to serve and each group can choose a spirit day to celebrate with all students. Friday, April 30, was Dress Like an Employee day! The kids were so excited to share who they were and why they chose that job or profession! We had museum directors, human services employees, teachers, athletes, servers, artists, musicians, lawyers, doctors, nurses, vets and employees from every store and occupation you can imagine. What a fun and creative day! Why did your child choose their employer or profession? Let us know in the comments below! If you have pictures from home, please add them to the album below! https://photos.app.goo.gl/WtBDWwEGeCGVph5d6

A group of LaPerche students joined Mrs. Dorsey for an Earth Day clean up today! They met on Stillwater Road and worked together to pick up all of the trash! Together, Jillian, Mikey, Enni, Zadi, Sienna, and Khilola filled 9 trash bags and 2 recycling bags. They also found a mattress and a mop! A large group of LaPerche fifth graders cleaned up Deerfield park at the same time! (More details and pictures to come!) Thank you, Melissa Chaput, and the Smithfield Department of Public Works and Smithfield Conservation Commission for sponsoring the event. I#RIMillionPieces #DoBeautifulThings #GreenBlackstone

In third grade today, students were making real life connections to the story they were reading. They found powerful phrases and determined their meaning by reading the words and sentences around them. Then they related their personal experiences and feelings to the characters in the story. Students shared times they were “all shaky inside” just like the characters with partners!

In second grade today, students were reading a story on Freckle, an online platform we utilize to differentiate instruction in reading and math. After a student takes the STAR benchmark assessment, the teacher has access to a variety of data including areas of strength and need for each student. Miss Day used Freckle to assign reading practice for a specific skill. The Adaptive feature on Freckle allows students to begin at their own level. The passages continue to increase with difficulty as the student masters the skill. Way to go second graders!

In fourth grade today, students were learning about area and perimeter. The area is the space inside a figure and the perimeter is the distance around. Student are given the length and width or the area in order to determine both. After the direct instruction, students worked at their own pace or with a partner during practice. Flexible seating is alive in fourth grade!

On April 8 and 9, LaPerche students joined Mrs. Dorsey and Mr. Cogswell, former LaPerche parent, outside in the garden. Each class planted a variety of vegetables in their raised bed. The kids worked hard carrying the bags of new soil, turning over the old soil and planting broccoli, spinach, peas, carrots and beets. Check out some pictures here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/fW1KAoDZvyb7XZgN8 Do you think the plants survived the crazy weather we had since planting day? Stop by and check out what is growing!!

Pickleball practice is in full swing in PE for students in grades three, four and five. During practice, Mr. Connell assesses each students skill level and then creates partner sets. Students work to improve their own skills as well as those of their partner. The partners will complete in a double elimination tournament. Who will be named pickleball champions for each class? The suspense is real...

In fourth grade, the kids were trying to determine the area of a rectangle drawn by the teacher. One student shared that you have to measure the perimeter in order to determine the area. He directed the teacher to measure the sides and then add. The kids were jumping out of their seats to share the missed step. The student grappled with it and then partners all talked to each other to determine the difference between area and perimeter. They determined that they needed to multiple the length times width to find area! Wow, Math is exciting in fourth grade!

Reading Week continued with Camping Out with a Good Book on Thursday at LaPerche. Camp fires were crackling, bull frogs were calling, crickets were chirping and students were reading. The building felt magical as stories were read by flashlight. Great idea to continue on a rainy vacation day! Check out all of the photos here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/nUz5fg8swF7vi5Mz9