Raymond C. LaPerche Elementary School

Third graders scrubbed in on Friday to perform text feature surgery! Third grade has been learning the importance of text features-specifically how authors use text features to help the reader better understand a topic. Surgeons had to identify which text feature a patient needed to be prescribed based on his or her symptoms, describe what the purpose of that text feature is, and what specifically was taught about the topic using that text feature. Just like any OR, emergencies happened periodically. Math was embedded into this hands on experience when students had to “race the clock” to solve a word problem to save their patient.

During Responsive Classroom morning meeting today, the fourth graders moved to theater seating for the message so they were all facing the tv. While reading the morning message, students practiced recognizing punctuation and added movements for each one. In kinesthetic learning, movement and action replace more passive ways of learning. Many students learn best by combining mind and body. These pictures show the movement for quotation marks, apostrophe, period and question mark. Can you tell which movement represents each?

It’s hockey time at LaPerche! Before traditional hockey begins, it training time via centers! At one center, second graders pass to a teammate and have opportunities to play goalie. At a second center, they work on accuracy while they shoot a beanbag and try to knock down a cardboard pillar. The pillar represents their teammates stick. If they hit the pillar it would be a good pass. At the third center, they are playing as a team against another team (cones stationed around the space). The kids work as a team to pass to each other without hitting the other team. At the fourth station, the team works to make three passes before shooting on goal. Traditional hockey for Kindergarten through fifth grade begins after training ends. We are so thankful to have an amazing PE teacher, Mr. Connell, who understands how to scaffold instruction!

Calling all LaPerche Families--Please come and join us for a delicious pasta dinner on Friday, January 24. The event will take place at Smithfield High School. That evening, the 5th-grade students from LaPerche will be your hosts, wait and bus staff and will be ready to take care of your every need! Tickets for the event are $7 for an adult, $5 for a child or $25 for a family. Thank you in advance for your support. You may send cash or a check (Made out to LaPerche PTA) to school or use this link to pay online. https://forms.gle/6rs2RocF71BhezpP9 You are invited to choose a dinner time that works for you; 6:00, 6:15 or 6:30. The menu will consist of pasta (plain, with butter or with red sauce), meatballs, salad, rolls, and dessert. We hope to see you there! All proceeds will benefit the 5th-grade class. You will receive an email confirming your dinner reservation time. Please sign up to attend using this link. https://forms.gle/6rs2RocF71BhezpP9

3rd, 4th and 5th graders will be taking the Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System (RICAS) tests again this spring in ELA (English Language Arts) and Math. This is the third year that RI students have taken RICAS. LaPerche students have done an amazing job on the tests, especially for ELA. At the November 5 PTA Meeting, Mrs. Dorsey shared information about our RICAS results. It is very helpful and important that families not schedule any vacations or appointments during the testing period. When that happens, your child has to take the tests at a different time and then they miss out on what is taking place in class. 5th grade only will participate in Science testing. Thank you for your help! RICAS ELA (Grades 3, 4, and 5) Wednesday, April 1 Thursday, April 2 RICAS Math (Grades 3, 4, and 5) Tuesday, May 12 Wednesday, May 13 Science Testing (Grades 5) Wednesday, May 20 Thursday, May 21

LaPerche students enjoyed a visit from Bwana Iguana today, an early present from Mr. Feinstein! Mr. Ray brought a variety of animals for the students to learn about. The highlight was touching the giant snake. Mr. Ray explained how none of the animals were taken from the wild. They were all born in captivity. Mr. Ray reminded the kids about always washing their hands after touching any animals! Mr. Ray shared that Mr. Feinstein has sent a message to all of the students to keep up their daily good deeds as they work together to make the world a better place. The students learned that snakes smell with their tongue. Snakes look wet and slimy but they are actually dry. They use their muscles, ribs and scales to slither so they don’t need legs! Ask your child what else he or she learned at the presentation.

Third grade started the day together with a whole group Responsive Classroom (RC) morning meeting which consists of a greeting, sharing, activity, and message. Third graders greeted each other by throwing the ball to each other and saying good morning. The kids loved that we had two balls going at once. For our activity, we played would you rather. Mrs. Calderone asked would you rather have Frosty or Rudolph for a best friend. Rudolph was the winner. Would you rather have to sing jingle bells loudly every time you entered a room or wear a Santa suit to school everyday? Santa suit was the winner. For the activity, we played the winter version of woosha warrior. The leader has their back to the crowd and strikes a pose; tree, reindeer or elf. If your pose matches the leader you sit down. The goal of RC Morning Meeting is building community and ensuring that every student knows they are are a valuable part of the classroom and school community!

LaPerche second graders were discussing the difference between a theme and a lesson during Reader’s Workshop. They understand the author is always trying to teach them something. The students have been reading a variety of books by the same author that contain the same characters. The students were analyzing the characters to see how they changed or stayed the same from story to story. When you read books with your child try and determine the theme and the lesson. Use the chart from second grade to help guide your discussions.

LaPerche fourth graders worked with a writing partner to find four pieces of evidence to use to answer the question asked. Students need to find the evidence in the text that supports their answer. Student create their own graphic organizers and highlight the evidence in the story as they find it. LaPerche students are amazing writers!!

The ride to a field trip is a great time to connect with kids while having fun playing silly games. New friendships are formed and others become stronger. LaPerche third graders students enjoyed their time on the ride to Smithfield High School for the holiday concert. Can you catch my hand before I pull it away?

LaPerche students were joined by the Smithfield High School baseball team on our Noah Strong parade float! Thank you, Mr. Connell, for building such an amazing float. Noah served as the Junior Grand Marshall of the parade. We love you, Noah, and were so happy to spend time with you! Thank you to all who braved the cold for the parade!

Melissa Chaput, Recycling Coordinator for Smithfield, visited LaPerche today to check how we are doing with recycling in the cafeteria. Mrs. Chaput was impressed with the student’s knowledge about what items are trash and what can be recycled. At LaPerche, we are trying to eliminate the use of single use water bottles. Think about giving a reusable water bottle as a Christmas gift!

Playing in the snow at school is so fun and creates great memories!! LaPerche students had a blast today climbing mountains, building tunnels, making snow angels and creating endless snow people taller than Mrs. Dorsey! The creativity and energy were on full display! Don’t forget to send your child to school with snow gear every day that we have snow! Wet snow gear is coming home today!

Second graders review all of their writing from first trimester to determine personal goals for second trimester. Each student thought carefully about what they need to improve on, what they are still working on and what they are most proud of. LaPerche students are getting ready to move from narrative writing to informational writing during second trimester. Personal goal setting is important for student growth.

LaPerche fourth graders prepare for two amazing performance opportunities. LaPerche fourth graders will be performing at the State House this week and then at Smithfield Woods Senior Living Center next week. They sound amazing and will be singing for the school on Friday, December 20 at 9:45am. Plan to join us as every grade performs at our holiday sing a long!

Fifth graders had a special role during our Veteran’s Day ceremony on Friday, November 15. Michael Graichen from Patriot Guard Riders brought a set of beautiful flags they use during ceremonies when Veterans are deployed, when they return, and during funerals for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. He taught the kids the proper way to hold the flag and we created a arch for the Veterans to go through to enter the ceremony.

First grade enjoyed a visit from community helpers from the Smithfield Police Department, Detectives Smith and Taylor and Sergeant  Cerce. The children enjoyed a question and answer time with the police officers. Students had their fingerprints taken and a mug shot taken too.

We hope you can join us tomorrow, November 13, at 7 PM for an interactive discussion on vaping trends, risks, and strategies for talking to your child. The discussion will take place at Smithfield High School.

In PE today, first graders are learning how to dribble the basketball. They each have a cone that is their home base. They chose their own spot in the gym where they have enough space to be safe. The kids visit a neighbor and then circle their house three times while dribbling. Next, they visit someone across town and then circle their house three times while dribbling. Standing with the ball tucked under your arm demonstrates that you are done and ready for the next challenge. Practicing hand eye coordination, tracking the movements of the hands with the eyes, is important for reading, writing, various sports and so many activities.

Third graders work to dissect multi step word problems by underlining the known information, circling the question and then working with a partner to determine the answer. Students use math language as they work through the steps. Then, they come back together to check in and see if they are on track and what strategies could help them find the answer. Productive struggle is happening at LaPerche!