Runnells Elementary School Specials Newsletter

Newsletter September
Volume 1, Issue 1

Art News
Contents
Art News

Art Pictures

Upcoming Events

News From Mrs. Vroom

P.E. News

News from Guidance

Upcoming
Events

5th and 4th Grade

Music Concert,
Monday, November 9
at 7:00 p.m.
2nd and 3rd Grade
Music Concert,
Tuesday, December
8 at 7:00 p.m.
Kindergarten and 1st
grade Music
Concert, Monday,
April 11 at 7:00 p.m.

Hi, my name is Mrs. Hall and I am the Art

teacher. I am looking forward to a
fantastic year teaching your child to enjoy,
appreciate and create art. We will look at
and talk about major works/styles of art
as well as create our own masterpieces
using the elements and principles of design.
We will also study various artists and
cultures from around the world.
For the last few weeks in class, we have
discussed craftsmanship. I wanted
students to slow down, take their time, and
really think about what they were creating.
Students in 4th and 5th have been doing
observational drawing. During this
exercise, students drew exactly what they
observed outside. This is a very
important skill for artists. Several
students told me that they had never
noticed the shape of the knots in the trees
before or how the petals of a flower
drooped instead of sticking out.
I will continue to post artwork on Artsonia

this year. If you have forgotten your

password or need to set up an account,
please email me. Artsonia is a great way
to keep a record of your childs projects
or buy a keepsake for yourself or
grandparents.
Artists are great scavengers! Please
check around your house for these
items. We use all kinds of materials for
art projects.
ART ITEMS: Wallpaper books,
sharpies, gently used silk flowers, wood
scraps, wire, tin foil, scrapbook paper,
construction paper, feathers, art
calendars, wood dowels, fake fruit, or
anything else you think I might be able
to use-please email me.
Another donation you might want to
consider is one of time. I would love to
have parent helpers when we do various
projects. Perhaps YOU have a special
talent you would like to share? Let me
know-guest speakers are always
welcome!
.

Observational drawing outside on a beautiful day!

Page 2 of 2

Specials Newsletter

Runnells Elementary School

News From Mrs. Vrooms Music Room

Im so excited to be back at Runnells Elementary School this year! The first few weeks of music class involve lots
of reviewing from the previous years. The 4th graders have sang the Car Song, performed a dance to Rainy
Night, clapped and counted rhythms then transferred that to instruments, and sang our Song of the Month
Jump. The 5th graders have reviewed the dance Alabama Gal and tried to clap the rhythm while marching to
the beat. Theyve also spent a lot of time on the song Clap Your Hands and Play the Drums. In this song the
kids get to be in an elementary school drum line and eventually improvise 16 beats of their own drumming. The
5th graders have also sang the Song of the Month as well as played the instruments to review previously learned
rhythms. The 3rd grade students have started reading rhythms and playing them on their coffee cans. They even
have tiny tambourines! The second grade students have started learning the song Miss Mary Mack and tried the
hand clapping pattern. Theyve also played Jelly Band on the iPads with partners. The first graders have
reviewed how music can go fast and slow through movement and played long and short patterns on the
instruments. And finally the kindergarten students have marched around the room, played the instruments, sang
Johnny Works with One Hammer, and performed actions to the Tree Song. These are only a few things that
each class has done the past couple of weeks. The students and I have been very busy so far! Please mark your
calendars for the 5th and 4th grade music program, which is Monday, November 9 at 7:00 p.m. The 2nd and 3rd
grade music program will be on Tuesday, December 8 at 7:00 p.m. Kindergarten and first grade will have their
program on Monday, April 11 at 7:00 p.m. Remember ALL students are an important aspect to the concert so
attendance at the concert is VERY IMPORTANT for all students.
Lastly, I spent a lot of my summer working on my website. Please check it out at
http://mrsvroomsmusicroom.weebly.com/ The website includes not only helpful hints for music teachers, but
also information about whats going on in the classroom that week, upcoming concert information, talent show
tryouts, sites for kids, lesson opportunities, and much more. I will try really hard to update the website every
week.
Im looking forward to a great year with your kids!!! Please, dont ever hesitate to contact me at
lisa.vroom@southeastpolk.org
You may also call me at Clay on Wednesdays and Thursdays, or Runnells on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Fridays.

These fourth grade students

are having a great time
creating in their composer
groups!

Page 2 of 3

Specials Newsletter

Runnells Elementary School

P.E. News
Welcome to the 2015-2016 school year.
My name is Ami Sinnott and I am your
childs Physical Education teacher. I
come to Runnells Elementary from
Saydel Community School District where
I taught for the past twelve years. I am
very excited to join the Runnells staff
and share my passion with your child.
My husband and I live in the Runnells
community and have three young boys.
My goal for physical education class is to
engage each child in a variety of
PE Schedule

activities so they develop the

knowledge, skills, and confidence to
enjoy a lifetime of healthful physical
activity. Many activities will address
several components of physical fitness
such as flexibility, cardiorespiratory
endurance, muscular strength, and
muscular endurance. Physical
Education class will also focus on the
importance of sportsmanship,
teamwork, and cooperation.
For safety reasons I do ask that your

Kindergarten

Mrs. Hoyt: Tuesday and Thursday

Mrs. Perry: Tuesday and Wednesday

1st

Mrs. Paris: Tuesday and Thursday

Mrs. Schaffer: Tuesday and Thursday

2nd

Mrs. Albertson: Tuesday and Thursday

Mrs. Von Bank: Tuesday and Thursday

3rd

Mrs. Douglas: Wednesday and

Thursday

Mrs. Phipps: Tuesday and Wednesday

4th

Mrs. Avitt: Wednesday and Thursday

Mrs. Nesheim: Tuesday and Thursday

5th

Mrs. Goode: Tuesday and Thursday

Mrs. Logan: Wednesday and Thursday

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me by phone at 966-2068 ext. 5639 or by email at
ami.sinnott@southeastpolk.org.

News from the Guidance Counselor

Welcome back to an exciting school year filled with
learning and personal growth for your child! Classroom
guidance lessons have begun this week focusing on
classroom expectations during guidance lessons, our
guidance reward program for 1st-5th grade and a fun
puzzling activity about their summer and the upcoming
school year. Just a reminder about our counseling
services available for students; we have individual
counseling and group counseling available for students
who need a little extra support. Another service we have
available for students with more severe needs is
individual counseling through Next Step Counseling. If
you are interested in any of these services please contact
me and we can make sure your student is getting the
support they need.
Upcoming Events: The end of October is Red Ribbon
Week. School wide we will be learning about healthy
choices through a variety of activities.
Kristi Syhlman Runnells Elementary School
Counselor 515-966-2068 x 5506