The Upper School Biology class just completed a unit on Genetics and DNA. As part of this unit the class performed extractions of their own DNA. DNA was extracted from students’ cheek cells using a method that involved a lysis buffer and protease enzymes. The lysis buffer breaks apart cell membranes and nuclear membranes, allowing the DNA to be released from the cells. Protease enzymes remove proteins from the DNA and destroy cellular enzymes that would normally digest the DNA. After the extraction process was complete students then transferred their DNA to small bottle necklaces where they were preserved using an alcohol solution.

1st Grade Gets Creative

First grade has entered PBS Kids Reading Rainbow Contest. Students are in the process of writing original stories and illustrations. Alex N. is writing about a very fat cat, Emma K. has written about a little princess, Evelynn L. wrote about a happy land, Alex G. is writing about a lost dog, and Tristan C. has created a non-fiction story about grassland food chains.

First grade is memorizing 2-4 jokes/riddles. We will have a Comedy Afternoon in February where students will get to recite their jokes.

In honor of Black History Month, first grade is listening to biographies on African Americans. After listening to these stories, students will get to create a person they thought was most interesting to them.

2nd & 3rd Study Heroes

Second and third grade students have begun a social studies unit about “Heroes and Superheroes.” Each child has chosen a ‘hero’–someone who has shown bravery, courage or strength of character–to research. Heroes will be featured on cereal boxes in the coming week. Stop by and take a look!

A special thank you to Miss Esther for coming in to read to the class!

Early School students have jumped into the new year with shape drum exploration, which is a wonderful hands on experience to work on beat and rhythm. These are drums shaped like triangles, squares, rectangles, circles and half circles and are played with sticks. It’s a great way to reinforce shape concepts while learning about music. Our young friends have all played hand drums to celebrate the new year. They are also stepping into slow and fast three quarter rhythms and loving it.

LS students have also drummed in the new year and performed some favorites at Open House. We’ve discussed songs of struggle and freedom as related to the life and times of MLK, Jr. and the concept of song writing. We will explore Asian culture through music in celebration of the Chinese New Year, which begins February 3rd. Dragon dancing music is very popular! Valentine songs are just around the corner and we will begin basic reading of lines and spaces on the staff.

Fourth graders will soon get their introduction to the steel pan and fifth grade will start a new pan piece in the near future.

MS and US guitar students have started a new quarter with the focus being the reading of chord charts and improving technique. We have begun exploring some of the students’ favorite songs.

MS and US Percussion Ensemble are working on their first new pan piece of the semester and are reviewing scales, technique and notation. We started the semester with African drum exploration.

The Middle School Math students used tactile learning to reinforce their critical thinking skills. In their unit on fractions the students used a specialized scale called a Fraction Balance to add and multiply fractions. They simplified their final solutions by finding the least common denominator and converting improper fractions to mixed numbers.

The cold weather is upon us and that means students have been preparing for our annual Winter Concert. All Divisions performed in this world celebration of music which took place Wednesday, December 22nd.
Enthusiasm and excitement abound during this festive time of year as the students explore songs of the season through discussion, singing, instrument playing and movement. Enthusiasm and support for what we do also comes from parents and members of the School Committee. A bright ray of sunshine is keeping us warm with the news of a brand new keyboard donation to the Music Department! Many heartfelt thanks go out to the anonymous elf who has so graciously donated the keyboard and bench. We wish you peace, love and joy during this holiday season and always.

By Teacher Jo Thiele