GARDNER GAZETTE

IAR testing is in full swing and our students are doing great! There are a few more days of testing left. IAR math assessments are April 5th through the 7th for 4th and 5th graders. We are looking forward to the end of testing with a celebration during the school day on Friday, April 8th.

The Dental Safari is coming to Gardner!

All Kindergarten, 2nd, 6th, and 9th Grade students are required to have a dental exam. If your student will be going to one of the above grades in the fall, please start to schedule dental exam appointments now with your dentist. If you do not have a dentist, Dental Safari is coming to Gardner Elementary on April 20th. If your student needs a dental exam please contact the Gardner school nurse 618-939-3060, etx.342.

Spring break is the week of April 11th through the 15th. We hope everyone enjoys the time off with their families. Students return to school on April 18th. When we return there are only 6 weeks left of school!

Please mark your calendars fourth graders; beginning band meeting will be Monday, May 9 at 7:00 p.m. in the cafeteria. Band registration forms will be handed out the week after spring break. The beginning band camp will be Monday, July 11 through Thursday, July 21, 2022.

Spring has sprung! The warm, sunny springtime days are calling our learners outside! While school is still in session, it is important for us all to remember that we are still covering new material. We still assign homework daily. Please help your child continue to strive as we tackle the 4th quarter.

Your reader is continuing to read the novel Year of The Panda by Miriam Schlein. They are using reading strategies that have been taught so far this school year while reading this novel. Some strategies they are using are the “RACES” strategy to respond to reading questions, writing SWBST summaries, writing character traits with text evidence, and identifying BME (beginning, middle, and end). Once we finish this novel we will begin to learn more reading concepts.

Our scientists will investigate more with matter and then begin The Birth of Rocks specifically on learning about volcanoes and mountains.

Our mathematicians will continue in reviewing math concepts to prepare for the IAR state testing. Then they will jump into Chapter 7 in learning multiplication of fractions and digging deeper into measurement.

In social studies we are starting to learn about the Civil War after we wrap up chapter 6, learning about Illinois’ journey to statehood.

Our wonderful writers are beginning a new writing piece on personal narratives. They will write about something they have experienced in their life.

Also coming soon to Gardner Elementary is the Civil War play themed, “The Blue & the Gray”. We will host this event on May 17th! Every student will take part in the play, and there are different levels of participation. Please make sure you have the paper from your learner regarding the play information.

Thank you for your continued support each day.

Math- Students are learning to multiply and divide decimals. Next your mathematician will focus on multiplication of mixed numbers.

Social Studies- Classes are learning about Cahokia Mounds and the culture of this prehistoric native civilization.

ELA- Your young writers have taken the role of poets by learning about different types of poems and writing their own.

Reading-Learners are finishing up reading the novel, Maniac Magee. This book is full of figurative language which allows for students to become more familiar identifying each type and the meaning.

Science-Scientists are starting a new unit called Watery Planet. They will investigate how the four different spheres of the Earth interact with each other and see how a change in one can cause a change for another sphere.

Conservation Day is fast approaching on Friday April 29th. We’ll be enjoying a day in nature at the Waterloo Sportsman’s Club learning about many topics regarding conservation and nature. April will be a busy month!

Band Camp for next year 6th grade

Band members mark your calendars for Summer Band camp. The camp will be for the weeks of July 11 through July 21. A schedule will be sent home soon.

Band and Chorus save the dates

The “Night to Shine” recital for those that signed up to participate is Thursday, April 21 at 7:00 p.m. in the Gardner gym. A reminder for those performing will be sent home in the next week.

The Band and Chorus Spring Concert is Tuesday, April 26 at 7:00 p.m. in Gardner’s gym. This is the final performance for the year. Concert reminders will be handed out this week.

Chorus will sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” at the Cardinal Game on Monday, May 23.

• April 5th, 6th & 7th - IAR Math, 4th and 5th grades
• April 8th - Midterm
• April 8th - End of IAR celebration, during the school day
• April 11 -15th - Spring break
• April 18th - Return to school
• April 20th - Dental Safari
• April 21st - Gardner Night to Shine
• April 26th - Chorus concert