Capstone Studio Week Was a Great Success!
This week was Capstone Studio Week for our eighth graders. They had several hours each day in which to work on their Capstone projects. They were in small workgroups based all around campus, supporting each other with ideas and positivity. Arts and technology teachers were on hand to answer questions and offer suggestions. Mentors checked in with their students’ progress. BDS was abuzz with creativity and productivity. We had a prototype exhibit today in the Downing Gym, and now students have a week to put the finishing touches on their work. Next, they will prepare their presentations, to share their learning journey with the whole community.
Capstone presentations will be held in the Palandjian Arts Center the week of April 10. Don’t miss this chance to learn about topics such as paleontology, the electricity grid, mental health, the hijab, and youth sports from our wonderful eighth graders. A detailed program will be posted soon. Meanwhile, save these dates!
- Monday, April 10
9:00 to 10:15 a.m.
12:40 to 2:00 p.m.
3:00 to 4:30 p.m. - Tuesday, April 11
9:00 to 10:15 a.m.
12:40 to 2:00 p.m.
3:00 to 4:30 p.m. - Wednesday, April 12
8:00 to 9:30 a.m.
12:40 to 2:00 p.m.
7:00 to 8:30 p.m. - Thursday, April 13
8:00 to 9:30 a.m.
12:40 to 2:00 p.m.
7:00 to 8:30 p.m. - Friday, April 14
8:00 to 9:30 p.m.
– Jennifer Friborg, French teacher and Capstone coordinator
Celebrating the 100th Day of School:
Kindergarten: 100 Days Smarter!
No snow day can stop the 100th day of school! All year long, students in both kindergarten cohorts have been tracking how many days we have been in school using ten frames and numerals. On Wednesday, kindergarten celebrated an exciting achievement–their 100th day of school! On that day, students and teachers who were interested in doing so came to school dressed up as if they were 100 years old or centenarians, as we learned that they are called!On the 100th day, the students also chose from a wide selection of dynamic activities and centers that highlighted the number 100. For instance, they might have stuck 100 stickers on a chart, filled in blank hundred charts, transformed the number 100 into a picture, predicted what 100 drops of water would look like, or wrote 100 words. As a whole class, we did 100 exercises and read a 100th-day-of-school poem. Finally, we listened to some picture books specifically about the number 100 or the 100th day of school such as Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the 100th Day of Kindergarten, The Night Before the 100th Day of School, and 100 School Days.Since today officially marked the 102nd day of school, that means we only have 64 more days of school remaining in the 2022-23 school year. You may wonder, who’s really counting? In this case, kindergarten certainly is!
– The Kindergarten Team
First Grade: Make That 100!
First graders celebrated a milestone this week at school–our 100th day! The students joyfully participated in this wonderful first-grade tradition that we were finally able to do as a full group again after a couple of years of doing it independently and in separate cohorts. In preparation, first graders brought in a collection of 100 items and created t-shirts with 20 handprints (to equal 100 fingerprints) to wear on the 100th day if they chose. We assembled as a group in Coolidge Hall to measure the weight and lengths of our collections using nonstandard units of measurement. The first graders discovered how many “feet” long their collection was by measuring it with their own feet and then comparing that measurement with a partner. They also discovered how much their collection weighed using base-10 blocks and a balance scale. We had some very heavy collections, weighing the same as upwards of 300 blocks! It was great fun and an exciting way to come back from break. Happy 100+ days!
– The First Grade Team
Fifth Graders Eat Up Lessons on the Digestive System
Fifth grade scientists finished off their digestive system unit with the production of an essay or map of the human digestive system. Students described in detail the journey food takes, from the first bite all the way through to the end. These essays and body maps showed off the fifth grader’s knowledge and understanding of their scientific learning. And in their math class, the students completed their unit of study on decimal operations, learning how to multiply and divide decimals by both whole numbers and other decimals. We now move on to dimensional mathematics, and fifth graders have begun learning how to calculate volume using a variety of methods. Lots of dynamic and challenging lessons and learning ahead in fifth grade science and math!
– Patrick Murray, fifth grade teacher
