OCEAN PARK ELEMENTARY

OCTOBER 2013NEWSLETTER

A Message from the Principal: Mrs. Meinhardt:

Happy October! The month of September is spent teaching students about the Ocean Park Self-Management Program in addition to reading, math, writing, music, PE, etc. The students are working hard to learn and practice the self-management skills:

1.I follow directions when given.

2.I use my best work skills.

3.I respect my school, myself, and others.

4.I demonstrate self-control and patience.

5.I follow safety rules.

Each month I will be sending a form home called The Home/School Connection. It contains lots of ideas about how to help your child with homework, learn to solve problems, reading techniques, etc. Please spend some time reading it and let me or your child’s teacher know if any of the activities are helpful.

Anouncements:

CLASSROOM NEWS:

Last week Mrs. Knutzen's inquisitive scientists in Room 8 dissected owl pellets. This investigation was part of our FOSS (Full Option Science) kit. Fourth graders totally got into this activity! First, we watched video clips of owls, and discovered that owl pellets are pieces of bone and fur that owls cannot digest. So, clues to an owl’s diet are left behind. Next, we recorded the properties of the owl pellets, which were hard, brown and oval-shaped. Finally, we carefully pulled apart the pellets and found quite a few rodent bones and some bird bones. Since we are studying bones, it was the perfect opportunity to compare human anatomy with that of rodents and birds. We had a bone map, and we identified the major bones and pieced them together on the paper rodent skeleton. We finished up the lesson with a quick game of "Simon Says" using anatomical names of bones. This was the best science lesson so far this year! We filled our cranium with a lot of good information!

Ms. Frace's class spent the month of September learning the routines and procedures for our Literacy

Block. We have five components to practice reading and writing. They are Read to Self, Read to Someone Else, Listen to Reading, Work on Writing, and Word Work. Students are bringing home books to read, and spelling practice lists and tests. Everyday students work on writing, either in their journals, or Family Letter Books. FLB's came home for the first time on October 1. Please write with lots of detail to your child, and ask questions. It gives them something to answer back. This activity will be a treasured keepsake in years to come! This class is a great group of second graders!

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN PE? OCTOBER’S SKILL UNIT: BOWLING

October is here and as the weather permits, students will be outside periodically in the fresh air playing at a variety of games. Our skills unit for this month centers on the game of bowling. Last year, Ocean Park School received a grant from the Ocean Beach Education Foundation to purchase brand new carpeted bowling lanes, weighted (safer) plastic pins and balls. In addition, we added the BPAA Bowler’s Ed In-school teacher’s curriculum which connects directly to the new equipment. This equipment and teacher’s guide is now part of the PE curriculum at both Ocean Park and Long Beach Elementary Schools.

Parents – once again, a friendly reminder to please be sure your student has comfortable tennis shoes for use in the gym. Open-toed shoes, sandals, or high-heeled shoes are not safe for use in PE activities.

President’s Challenge pretest will give students grades 1-6 a baseline for improvement. All five assessed areas of fitness have been completed, except for makeups. Students will exercise 4 days a week, set goals, and strive to improve physical fitness.

Fitness assessments measured are:

1. flexibility

2. quickness and agility

3. muscle strength and muscular endurance upper body

4. muscle strength and endurance lower body

5. cardio-vascular endurance

For more information see the website at

BOWLING: teaches and then reinforces physical skills of…

  • Timing
  • Footwork
  • Target aiming
  • Hand – eye coordination
  • Balance

As well as cognitive learning: knowledge of …

  • Rules
  • Strategy
  • Math skills – learning to keep score
  • Bowling etiquette
  • Sportsmanship

Questions or concerns? Call OP school or email

Physical Fitness – “A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.” Mr. Meinhardt ,Ocean Park Health and Fitness