While the Pre-K students were getting ready for the big event, I invited their parents into our all-purpose room for coffee.  Lo and behold, right across the hall, the second graders were exhibiting their science projects for the kindergarteners.  I peeked in and asked if I could bring all these parents in to see their projects.  They graciously accepted, so in we went.  It was very impressive to see how well the teachers had addressed the various types of learners by letting them choose what they wanted to do for a project as long as it related to space.  There were rockets, space modules, and moon buggies made out of everything imaginable and decorated with each creator’s stamp.  Other children had chosen to write reports or make travel brochures.  No matter what each child did, they all were proud of their creation and exhibited a good understanding of their unit on space. 

Later that day, I was in the fourth grade rooms where the students were working in pairs on a “scavenger hunt.”  They were researching their biography on Martin Luther King for such things as similes, metaphors, alliteration and possessives.  They were excited and I couldn’t help think what a wonderful way to review literary devices. 

Then as I went back into room 113 to clean up from the coffee, I came upon the third graders who were using litmus paper to discover what common liquids were acids or bases.  (I don’t think I knew what litmus paper or acids were until I was in high school!) 

I ended my day with an observation of a first grade drama class where children were learning to move like specific animals and then watched kindergartners seek out numbers in sequential order on the floor.  As they found the next number in the counting sequence, they had to dribble their basketball that many times before they could move on.  

I marvel at how lucky MPA children are to be exposed to so many different things in one day and how exciting learning can be. 

Next week is Book Festival Week.  The children may wear ANY book festival shirt or sweatshirt from past or present book festivals on Friday, February 2nd. 

We hope to see all of you at the Book Festival Family Night from 5:00-8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 2nd.  The committee has been working hard to make this a successful event and, in the past, it has truly been an exciting family gathering. 

Lower School Conferences take place the week of February 5th with Friday, the 9th, being NO SCHOOL FOR PreK-6.  Panther Club is available. 

Monday, February 5th, is the free Disney Concert put on for the Lower School by the Upper School orchestra.  What a marvelous way to introduce your child to the orchestra.  Your children may wear their pajamas and bring a stuffed animal for the event.  It starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Nicholson Center.  We certainly want to show the Upper School orchestra that we appreciate the time and effort they have put into preparing for this concert, and we do that by having a fantastic attendance - so please come. 

If you get a chance before or after pick-up, take a minute to look in the Gallery at the Upper School Art Exhibit.  Make sure your children realize that this is like an art museum so they are not allowed to touch the pottery, but it certainly is beautiful to observe.