The Peace Garden Project and Opening Ceremony!

The Brookdale Peace Garden Powerpoint

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May 18th Update by Vivek

We are having an opening ceremony for the Peace Garden. The fourth grade classes are making invitations to the school and some teachers that have retired or teachers that have left the school.First, we planned how the Peace Garden will look,then we made a peace garden booth for the spring fling, then we did some digging, then some dads did some work,then we planted the peace garden, and now it is time to make those invatations for the opening ceremony. The fourth grade is also going to take a field trip to the Field museum which is filled with rocks and minerals. Maybe it will be the museum that Mrs. Hatch took her students to before she retired. Maybe the fourth grade will get to watch a small movie about rocks and minerals.

Peace Garden Pictures

Peace Garden Update

Last night at 10:00p.m. when I was done with all my family obligations, my husband and I went to Brookdale to see the progress on the peace garden. It was beautiful. I was overwhelmed with excitement to see that garden taking shape. I was outside in the dark snapping pictures to share with my family today. I was nearly in tears that this project is coming to completion.

We would have never been able to pull this project off without the dedication and support of our 4th grade parents. I would like to extend a special thank you to all of the parents who helped Saturday morning to put the fence up, and the peace pole and path in. You have done an amazing job. The peace garden has truly transformed the look of that entire piece of land. Thank you.

This is just a friendly reminder that we will be planting and mulching Monday from 9-11 and finishing up our planting on Wednesday from 9-11. Though, the planting will take place during our interventions and specials period, the teachers have been supportive to reschedule our intervention times so that all of the students can participate.

Please send your students with an extra pair of boots or old gym shoes in a plastic bag, so that they can participate in this activity. Also, if you could please send gardening gloves and tools with the students, that would be very helpful. Be sure to label your tools with your last name. If you are available during these times, we would love it if you could stop by to help plant, manage students, take pictures or even just say hi.

When the planting is done, we will be beginning our planning of the opening ceremony which will take place June 1st at 2:00. Please join us on that day to open the garden and celebrate this unique and meaningful learning opportunity.

Once again, thank you for your continued support, help, donations and time invested in this project. Together we are making a difference. The peace garden is a symbol of the love of the Brookdale community.

To all the moms, HAPPY MOTHER's DAY.

Sincerely,
Rachael Batchu

May 6th

We will be going on a field trip to the Field Museum on Tuesday May 26th. I need 4 parent chaperones. we will leave the school at 9:00 and will be returning at 2:00. This field trip is to compliment our rocks and minerals unit. Please email me back if you would like to chaperone students.

Thanks,

Quick Update April 29th

4B Families,

I would like to welcome James to our class. He just joined on Wednesday. He had already settled in nicely and had made some friends. Please give him and his family a warm welcome to the neighborhood.

Pady family, please contact me to pick up and drop off our recycled batteries.

The students did a wonderful job getting the grass out of the Peace garden. That digging is hard work. Anyways, they are bringing home muddy shoes in the bag. We have reminded them that it is their responsibility to clean them and not their parents. Thank you for letting us use your gardening tools. Also, I know that times are tough for everyone right now, so thank you bunches to the parents that sent in donations and to the students who sent in their allowances!!!! Our peace garden is coming along so nicely. Also we want to give a special thanks to the parents that stopped by to help out or say hi.

In addition, if your student would like to take home a copy of their illinois commercial, please send a jump drive with them Friday or Monday to school. I need to empty all of the presentations from our drive because it is getting full!

FYI, I will not be in school on Thursday.

Friday Progress reports are coming home with grades. Please review the information and send back the report with any missing assignments stapled to the back.

Thanks again for your ongoing support!!

P.S. If your child is always breaking their glasses or you know someone in need of a pair.... See the website below.

www.zennioptical.com They have glasses starting at $8.00 complete (more for stronger prescriptions) and the shipping is a flat rate, no matter how many pairs you get. They have more expensive options on frames, also, but the $8 selection was pretty great. It looks like bifocals are available, also. I got my glasses in just over two weeks. It's awesome for the family on the budget, which is all of us these days!

April 27th Classroom Update

Dear 4B Families,

I think that we can say that we are in the final stretch now, as we are just approaching 28 days left of school: well 27 days and an hour or so! With that in mind, I will try my best to keep you updated as the year comes to a close and your student prepares for 5th grade. Some important updates are posted below.

CBM (curriculum based measurements) are the reading fluency, reading comprehension and math computation short assessments, where the data is sent home in report cards and kept to make academic decisions on your student. These CBM tests will take place next week. They range from only one minute to four minute assessments. Students can prepare for these assessments by practicing reading aloud and mixed operation math practice (multiple digit multiplication, division, addition, subtraction).

Peace Garden Update: The peace garden is well underway. As you have already heard, the 4th grade students raised $181.00 at Spring Fling and a $1500 grant from the IPEF. The students have also received donations for mulching, home depot and some flowers. We will be breaking ground on Tuesday and Wednesday from 9-10. Please send students dressed for gardening with extra appropriate shoes ( in a plastic bag). Parents are welcome to come and help. Also students can bring gardening spades, shovels and gloves to borrow for the week. We will be collecting monetary and plant donations. We will be planting the garden the week of May 11th.

Curriculum: We have just finished the Midwest unit. The students have all done a nice job learning the states in the Midwest. They have also created neat clothespin people of the Midwest which are on display in the Meet the World case near the elevator. Currently, we are working on the Southwest. I have received another $1500 dollar grant from the IPEF for creating regional culture kits. I will be working with the students to create a bin for each region with kinesthetic items for learning about each region. We will be beginning the rocks and minerals science unit in May. In Math, both 4th grade and accelerated are working on finishing unit 10. All literacy classes are focusing on understanding different genres and themes in poetry.

Progress Reports: May 1st

As the year wraps up, please do not hesitate to call or email with any comments, concerns or questions. As always, thank you for your time and commitment to our classroom and projects.