Scoop 5.31.26

This past week at Forestdale was full of lots of hands on learning. Many classes have made multiple treks outside to the new garden area to plant, weed, and check on the progress of the plantings. Students and staff have taken multiple trips around the "Mindful Path" and others have utilized the shade on the platform in the outdoor learning space. While it hasn't been super summer hot yet, we have had nice days to go outside to explore this new Forestdale - Together We Grow space.

Our next almost 4 weeks of school will continue to be filled with outside learning experiences, fun activities as well as classroom learning times. Times and dates of upcoming activities will be listed at the bottom of this newsletter and reminders will come home digitally as well.

Enjoy the photos of the week.

-Kara Schofield, Assistant Principal

On Wednesday, our K-2 bus riding students practiced a Bus Evacuation. When the buses reached the school, an appointed second grader on the bus led the the students out the door quickly, calmly and then got into a line on the side walk. Once there, they awaited the OK from the bus driver or Ms. Schofield. This was a new practice for our students, and they participated without a single glitch! Thank you bus drivers, for practicing this drill and keeping all our students safe. Thank you students for doing an excellent job listening, following directions, and practicing safety.

On Friday our PK-4 students got a chance to practice getting on and off the bus - and even going for a quick ride. Students in Ms. Perdigao's, Ms. Vena's and Ms. Caleshu's classes who are going to kindergarten in September got a bus practice this week. They did an amazing job walking up the big steps, holding onto the railing, using soft voices on the bus and remembering to sit down. Ben the bus driver took the students for a "ride" around the bus loop, too! Students attending "Ride The Wave" this summer will have an opportunity for bus practice as well.

The Kiwanis sponsored a Cape Cod Museum of Natural History visit to Forestdale. Students in second grade got to explore locally sourced pond water, searching for snails, plants, and all sorts of exciting critters. Using pipettes or small spoons, students located something interesting they wanted to further explore, and then put that under a microscope or magnifying glass to inspect the object even closer. This was an outstanding presentation that fully engaged all the students. Many thanks to our science teacher Chrissy Howell, the CCMNH and the Kiwanis for making this event happen for our second grade scientists.

The PTA sponsored a visit from NECWA for our second grade classes. NECWA is a volunteer driven non profit based in southeastern Massachusetts, that works to protect the whales, turtles, ocean sunfish, basking sharks, dolphins, seabirds, seals and other unique coastal marine wildlife in New England. The founder and president Carol "Krill" Carson came with many student volunteers to help our second graders learn about whales.

Students got to go inside a life size inflatable model of a humpback whale (seen in our local waters and known as "Salt"). Students went inside this display, and saw life size images of the brain, heart and lungs of the fish. They also had a brief presentation by Krill and her volunteers, telling the students about Salt. NECWA also brought many hands on materials for students to touch, explore, and learn from. Objects such as whale baleen, whale teeth, barnacles, whale bones, shark jaws and skulls and vertebra from a variety of ocean animals.

Students also go to go inside a tent that was playing whale songs. This tent was dimly lit, playing soothing whale "music" and students got to draw on whiteboards while experiencing this auditory delight.

Many, many thanks to Chrissy Howell and the PTA for making this event possible for second graders to attend. This was a wonderful experience that all students seemed to truly enjoy.

Our "Together We Grow - Forestdale Garden" is full of activity. The Mindful Path has had quite a few visitors this week, with Specialist teachers such as Health, Science, Library and PE taking students out during their classes as well as classroom teachers going out to plant and check in on the growing gardens.

A HUGE thank you to our PTA for providing teachers with gift cards to Scenic Roots, so each classroom can plant seeds, plants or flowers and watch them grow for the remaining part of this school year. Layouts in the beds have included a rainbow garden, a 10 frame (math) garden set up, and a pollinator garden, to continue the 2nd grade learning about local pollinators. We cannot say thank you enough for our supportive PTA in granting teachers these gift cards.

We continue to have bird sightings in our new birdhouses, and are anxiously awaiting the arrival of frogs in our two frog ponds! Ask your student what their favorite part of our outdoor learning center is!

The bus loop is accessible some times for pick up and drop off between the hours of 9:10 and 3:10. It is closed for drivers if the barriers have blocked the road. Please find another space to park at that time.

When leaving the bus loop, please be cautious of the entering buses. If you are in the loop and you see buses entering, you will need to wait until all buses have dismissed before moving your vehicle. Unfortunately, due to safety issues, we cannot have cars trying to exit the entrance of the bus loop while buses are entering. Please reach out should you have any questions.

Our playgrounds are unfortunately not available for public use during the school day. Many classes or small groups use the playground at the end of the day and are finding it occupied by families waiting for parent pick up. Please wait until after school hours to utilize either of our playgrounds.

Ms. DeNardo and Ms. MacDonald are seeking CORI'd volunteers to assist with our Field Day, coming up on June 18th. We are particularly in need of assistance with 2nd grade and 1st grade. Please click the link below to sign up for assisting in an activity.