L.E.R.U: Pi Day Edition (3/14)

• MCA Coming Up! 

All Little Elkians (4th and 5th years) will be taking the MCA Reading test this coming Monday - Tuesday, March 18 and 19. The test begins promptly at 8:45. Please ensure that your child gets a good night's rest, eats a good breakfast and arrives on time. Thank you for your support!

The dates for the MCA Math test are Monday, April 22 - Tuesday, April 23.

• Pi Day Synopsis

The amount of joy we had today talking and learning about the relationship of a circle's diameter to its circumference can hardly be quantified—at least not with a rational number. Where do I begin?

Greta led a group of Little Elk carolers who graced about half of the elementary classrooms with a rendition of  "O, Number Pi" to the tune of "O, Tannenbaum." They were received with applause and smiles. Great idea, Greta! 

Unofficial results from today's Pi recitation  :)

1. Oliver (50)
2. Scarlett and Audra (26)
3. Emmett (20)

Today's edible pies were contributed by Kenzi (Shepard's Pie), Ollie (Pumpkin), Hugh (Pumpkin), Colton (Arctic Orange), Miles (French Silk), Leo (French Silk), Audra (Strawberry Rhubarb), Emmett (Peach) and Henry Peter (Cherry). They were all delicious, and most of them were homemade. We indulged ourselves to the brim, and a good portion of elementary staff as well. Yum!  And thank you!

--

John Albright

Little Elk River Update: March 10, 2019

Greetings Little Elk families,

• We are honoring Pi Week for the next 4 days—because one day is insufficient for a polygon with infinite sides! Officially, we celebrate pi on Thursday, 3/14. But I have a feeling that we will get started earlier, as there's too much to do on circles and circumferences to cram into one day. 

The answer is Yes! Children may bring in a homemade pi on Thursday if they would like! Or anything else baked in a round tin (a quiche, for example). It would be great to have a couple of gluten-free options as well.(Note: We have decided that cherry cheesecake is a pie). 

• The multiplication fact blitz begins now! Students are expected to successfully complete 50 or more multiplication facts in three minutes! Please practice multiplication and division facts with your child wherever and whenever you can. Making one's own flashcards is a great way to memorize them. Or one could make their own fact family triangles, like the ones we have in class. Make it a team effort. This could be fun for the whole family.

• Our gym/art day has moved to Wednesdays. For parents, this just means that if the tennis shoes do not stay at school, they should come back no later than Wednesday morning. Loose fitting clothes are also good to wear on Wednesdays.

• In addition, our Off-Campus Day (park/library) has moved to Mondays. We will likely be walking to the park to play in snow tomorrow afternoon.

• In our lessons on Writing we've been exploring different writing systems as they evolved out of the Bronze Age. We have a couple dioramas going and some cuneiform tablets. In our lessons on Weather we've been tracking the local weather and are about to start graphing it. This week will also begin lessons and demonstrations on the characteristics of air, especially air temperature and air pressure.

• In our Language Arts groups we've been mostly reading short stories, folktales and short plays from the Junior Great Books, in addition to our regular writing and spelling work.

• Most interesting newcomer to Little Elk is the 1934 Smith Corona typewriter. Who knew that getting children to write simply required a trip to my favorite antique shop? They seriously can't keep their little fingers off of it. 

            "Don't touch that!" 

            "But John, it's on the shelf. This is a Montessori school." 

            Need a birthday gift idea?

• We are in need of paper towels again! Since we have air dryers in our bathrooms and no paper towels, we are out! Please and thank you!

• Our art supplies could use some replenishing. If you are able to donate any of these items, know that they will be well used on dioramas and other projects:
  

1. Tempera or Acrylic paints (esp. primary colors and white, black, and brown)
   
2. Hot Glue Gun and Glue sticks (there are various sizes, and the small ones are fine)
   
3. an old vinyl or cloth table cloth to use as a drop cloth, preferably rectangular
   

• Finally, thank you to McKenzie (Karin Egge) for providing the inspiration and ingredients for buckwheat crepes (the week before last), as well as Friday's apple cinnamon muffins. A shout out also to Lilah and Audra for bringing in fresh eggs from their backyard chicks. (If I have forgotten anyone's generosity, as surely I have, please let me know).

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your support!

In partnership,

Seth, Elizabeth and John

--

John Albright