Indian Mills Elementary School

This is the 2nd edition of our Staff Newsletter. We hope you enjoy this glimpse into our days with your children.

Our preschools themes for February include Dental Health/ Healthy Habits, Valentine’s Day, Community Helpers, and Weather. We are so excited to be having a dentist come visit us later in the month. Mrs. Goldstein's class loves showing off their teeth. Can you guess whose smile?

Ms. Frascella and Mrs. Goldstein

Kindergarten has been having fun learning about motion and force using K'Nex during our Push, Pull, Go science unit. We are looking forward to the 100th day of school and Valentine's Day. We will be busy participating in many exciting activities during this short month of February.

Mrs. Amacher, Mrs. Gibbons, & Mrs. Truager

First grade welcomed visitors into our classrooms to share about their jobs. This was a nice way to enhance our social studies unit about careers. Some visitors included police officers, restaurant owners, medical professionals, and military personnel.

Mrs. Barnes, Mrs. Hendron, Mrs. Newman, & Mrs. Rinker

The second graders have been busy learning about the world around them. We made our own world maps and wrote about the continents. We also wrote about our dreams like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Mrs. Fox, Mrs. Girgenti, Mrs. Howard, Mrs. Lafferty, Ms. Shipton, & Mrs. Waters

The third grade classes participated in Japan Day after reading a Japanese story, called the Kamishibai Man. Kamishibai is an old form of Japanese storytelling that involves using story cards and a wooden stage. The third graders experienced real Kamishibai stories. In addition, they learned to roll sushi and even had the opportunity to taste cucumber rolls. Finally, students were thrilled to learn the art of Japanese calligraphy. They loved writing their names in Japanese. It was a wonderful day of expanding our horizons.

Mrs. Abramovitz, Mrs. LaMonaca, Mrs. Macrae, Mr. McCorristin & Ms. Simon

The fourth graders at IMS have learned that compliments can make a difference in someone's day. They were asked to give a SHOUT OUT to a peer and recognize that person's good deeds. The students have risen to this challenge!

Mrs. Durelli, Mrs. Fuchs, Ms. Curtis, Mrs. Geoghegan, Mr. Kimmel, Mrs. Terry & Ms. Wilson

The students at IMS are in for a real treat when we kick off Read Across America on Friday, March 1st. We will be dressing up to celebrate several Dr. Seuss books. There will also be a special assembly and guest readers will be visiting some of our classrooms. Be on the lookout for more information soon.

Great Adventure logs due February 19th!

Ms. Babbitt, Mrs. DuBoff, Mrs. Girgenti & Mrs. Haines

There are exciting things happening in the IMS Art Room. Students have learned about several artists: Piet Mondrian, Vincent Van Gogh, Grandma Moses and Roy Lichtenstein. They also created Pueblo Indian clay pottery. Many artistic pieces of these accomplished artists have been replicated by the students using different mediums. The 4th graders will be making a trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art in the month of March, where they will observe and critically think about the PMA’s diverse works of art, under the guidance of the museum’s educational staff. We are grateful to The Shamong Foundation for Educational Excellence for funding this class trip, through an Art Grant.

Mrs. Shaw-Hartman

The 3rd graders are excited to start their recorder unit in the upcoming weeks. Playing the recorder gives the students an opportunity to learn how to play a wind instrument as well as read staff notation. Thank you to the 'Home and School Association" for purchasing the recorders!

Ms. Martin

In Physical Education this week, we are starting our soccer unit with 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders and our recess activities unit with PreK, Kindergarten and 1st graders. 4th grade is finishing up their Afterschool Athletics Club, while 2nd graders will start their club on the 25th of February. 4th graders are also starting their pedometer program and 3rd graders are starting to take their resting and active heart rates during PE classes.

Mr. McIntyre