In the Classroom.

What fun week we just had! The state reports were an absolute joy to watch. The effort and heart the children put into the reports were on full display. We also continued with our studies of the plant world, working our way from fungi to algae to lichens. We are making our way from the lower plants to the the higher plants, comparing them to the growing and developing human being as we go (fungi are like the babies of the plant world, the algae are like toddlers that are just learning to stand, and the lichens and mosses are like toddlers who are just starting to walk, etc). This provides the children with a point of reference and an interesting way of looking at the world around them. And while the students understand that the comparison to developmental stages is not a direct one, but rather an artistic way of looking at it, it provides them with a useful and imaginative framework to understand the plant kingdom as they study it in years to come. Our studies have been full of field observations, artistic renderings, the writing of outlines, and the writing of informational paragraphs. We have two field trips to the Garfield Park Conservatory lined up as well as a visit by Dr. Bethany Elkington, an ethno-botanist who will be talking about her own experiences in the field as well as taking us on a tour of the Atkins Medicinal Plant Garden at UIC.

Other News.

• Wednesday, May 3, 7:00-9:00 pm. Parent Evening. Please be sure that at least one parent can attend this evening event! On the agenda are the pentathlon, middle school, and more!
• Friday, May 5. Grandparents and Special Friends Day. A new format this year!  Please see emails and website for schedule and details.
• Friday, May 5, 6:00pm. Music Concert. Come hear the beautiful tones of students from Grades 3 – 8 in the annual music concert.
• Thursday, May 11. 8:30 – 12:10. Field Trip of Garfield Park Conservatory. 
• Saturday, May 13, 11:00-1:00. May Faire (The Festival Previously Known as Summer Fest). Join us for the last big community bash of the year. Potluck, maypole dancing, face painting, games, and more!
• Wednesday, May 17 – Friday, May 19. Pentathlon. More details to come. Be sure to keep Thursday, May 18 free, as that is the day to come and watch the events! Schedule and location details to come at our Parent Evening.
• Thursday, May 25. 10:30 – 2:30. Field Trip of Garfield Park Conservatory. 
• Friday, May 26. Records Day. No School
• Monday, May 19. Memorial Day. No School