On Tuesday morning, May 27, the Wiscasset Elementary School gathered for a school-wide assembly that was both informative and fun.
Carole Drury opened the assembly with the Hello Song, followed by Neera Harmon leading the students in the Pledge of Allegiance, the school pledge, sharing a joke, and offering a greeting to welcome everyone. Joel Grindle then did a few rounds of "This or That", which is a game the kids know well and enjoy, before Liz Proffetty shared updates from each grade level.
Kindergarten recently traveled to Wheeler Bay with Leaps of Imagination for a hands-on nature experience. Students found a beaver dam, spotted trees that had been chewed by beavers, and got a close look at an osprey nest. Back in the classroom, they've been working on reading, writing sentences, sight words, and math skills, including measuring, adding, and subtracting. "Fun Fridays" have also become a favorite tradition as the class counts down the final weeks of kindergarten.
First grade has been covering parts of speech, 2D and 3D shapes, and word problems, and recently enjoyed a puppet performance of Hansel and Gretel. Students have been doing very well on their end-of-year assessments and are looking forward to upcoming celebrations and trips.
Second grade is currently growing potatoes and hatching chicks in the classroom while working on fractions and subtraction. A field trip and swim party are still ahead before the school year wraps up.
Third grade just returned from the Maine Wildlife Park, where they were able to see the animals they had researched earlier in the year. They are finishing up animal research writing projects, preparing for an upcoming puffin watch, and working to solidify their multiplication facts before summer.
Fourth grade completed a biography study in which each student selected a person and wrote a paragraph about them. In Social Studies, the focus has been on continents and oceans. The class also spent time in the Bio Lab, and visited Pemaquid State Historic Site. Students wrapped up a look into the past with their trip to Colonial Pemaquid. They visited a house that a family of 7 could live in, watched a blacksmith create nails and hooks, and learned about the fishing industry of the mid 1600’s. Then students walked among the old foundations of the village. The docents were impressed with the fourth graders’ background knowledge and questions. Fifth grade spent the week conducting science experiments in the Maine Biolab, and they have begun researching environmental laws and scientists in preparation for a Puffin Cruise taking place next week.
Liz Bodkin shared details about the summer library program, in conjunction with Laurie Ridgway, the Wiscasset Public Library’s librarian. Neera Harmon recognized this week's Pawsome Students, which recognizes students who are safe, responsible, and respectful. Sam Giese led the group through a Mindful Minute, a regular practice that gives students tools to help themselves settle and refocus.
The PreK students performed "Thank You, Everyone," earning a well-deserved round of applause. The morning wrapped up with the Freeze Dance, where staff entered the gymnasium in costumes and danced alongside students to “Can't Stop the Feeling”, which sent everyone back to class energized and ready to learn!
