September 23, 2018

Agave Fundraiser

Click here for printable copy of Agave Flyer.  Spread the word- print and share!

Spark Signup

The WCS Spark program begins Thursday.  Check out the excellent variety of workshops, free to any 5th-8th grader, happening Thursdays from 3:00-4:30.  Sessions last for five weeks at which time a new selection of Spark sessions are offered.  See the links below for more information and sign-up forms:

• Spark Overview
• Workshop Descriptions
• Sign Up Form

WCS Card Club

In Card Club we will have the opportunity to connect with each other through the world of tabletop gaming. During this time we will be playing any form of tabletop card game (i.e. Magic the Gathering, Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, etc..). Students and staff will have the opportunity to both play and teach games they love as well as spectate matches between others. Click here for rules and guidelines for our Card Club sessions.

Notes from Guidance

Our guidance department embeds important lessons into the schedule for specific age groups.  The following letters were emailed home recently and are posted here for your reference:

• 5th Grade Brainology Classes
• Act 1 Classes- Preventing child abuse and promoting healthy relationships

Last Call...

Both of the following opportunities have been listed in the School Bell this month; this is just a reminder that the deadline for registration was Friday (but I'm sure they would accept some weekend sign-ups!).

• Continental Math
• Intergenerational Book Club

Curriculum Updates

Literacy

We will wrap up our current literature groups next week and begin our annual theater unit!  Students will have the chance to audition for roles on stage or apply for backstage leadership positions.  We embed theater directly into our literacy block for four weeks, reading the script as literature, applying vocabulary, writing reflections and practicing fluency skills through repetitive reading of our lines!

Social Studies

Both the 5/6 and 7/8 social studies classes are preparing for our Candidate Forum in October when candidates for state-wide offices visit WCS.  Students first study the branches and types of government, then research the specific positions of candidates.  Fifth and sixth graders have started creating posters for candidates while seventh and eighth graders are preparing questions to ask at the forum.

Science

We have launched into our Energy in Ecosystems units for both 5/6 and 7/8 students.  Seventh and eighth graders recently explored the relationship between photosynthesis and respiration in plants by observing the change in color of a leaf and phenyl red solution in the presence of oxygen (the byproduct of photosynthesis) and carbon dioxide ( the byproduct of respiration).  Fifth and sixth graders practiced observation skills through drawings of apples.  When the drawings were complete, students worked on matching the specific apple to the original drawing.