GARDNER GAZETTE

We've made it to March! Time flies when you're having fun!

We are excited to be celebrating the end of the 3rd quarter on Friday with our incentive of a dance party and pizza for those without office referrals. We plan to take advantage of the spring-like weather and celebrate outside. Our 4th quarter incentive will be an end of the year celebration called Gardner Getaway.

IAR testing will be March 28 through April 8, 2022. More specific information will be shared as we get closer.

We are looking forward to the warmer, sunnier days ahead! Have a great month!

Mr. Hogan kicked off our annual Kids Heart Challenge event last week with our Gardner Elementary students. Our goal is to promote Heart Health awareness by jumping rope during PE classes, and to raise donations for the American Heart Association. As always, numerous fun and exciting incentives are available for the students who earn donations! All online and cash/check donations are due by Friday, March 25th. Our students and community show tremendous support for our event each year. Please consider donating once again toward this great cause and organization!

Here comes pizza night! Take the night off and have someone else do the cooking! Papa John's night is Wednesday, March 9th! A flyer is attached at the bottom of the Gazette.

Read Across America week is February 28th through March 4th.

Congratulations to all of our 5th grade students who participated in the Spelling Bee. McKenna Sternau, Claire Stafford, Candace Zlatic, Lillian Kolweier, Rosalia Petruso, Jacob Otten, Kaleigh Halleran, Katelyn Myers, Braylon Phillips, Alex Shaffer, Caden Kite, Kendyl Rader, Colin Schmieg, Sage Dayton, Easton Propst, Ella Black, Tessa Schultheis, Sophia Roades and Addisyn Crain, Tess Nobbe, Eleanor Martin. The 3rd place winner was Lou Jarden, 2nd place winner was Henry Worley and the 1st place winner was Lydia Huffman. Lydia will move on to represent Gardner Elementary in the Regional Spelling Bee in April.

Congratulations to the following students for winning an Above and Beyond for the month of February. The trait of the month for February was Courage, “the ability to do something that frightens you”. Nathan Koch, Leah Stein, Ben Hassler, Kylie Kujawski, Ava Eschamann, Brody Stueve, Drew Castello, McKenna Lalk, Rosie Brennan, Christian Jenkins, RJ Gagliardi, Sydney Koeneman, Connor Kohl, Lydia Brown, Jaxon Hill, Braydon Eckart, Hannah Dunker, Lola Stephens, Lilly Hency, Abe Matthews, Morgan Schmitz, Logan Melius, Levi Norsigian, Drew Rahn, Blaine Ahrens, Jaxson LaBeau, Kenzie Nordike, Logan Schweitzer, Shane McNew, Wade Warnecke, Ella Matzenbacher, Braelyn Washausen, Cannon Hensiek, Gracie Stechmesser, and Vincent Gooch.

Congratulations to the following students who will proudly represent Gardner Elementary in the Young Author's Conference later this month. Lydia Huffman, Leah Stein, Kaleigh Halleran, Kendyl Rader, Macie Espenschied, Braelyn Washausen, Lillian Kolweier, Mackenzie May, Shelby Davalos, Harper Stewart, Carson Kohl, Zoe Briesacher, Olivia Rusteberg and Bahtiar Baghmanli

Congratulations to our students who participated in the district Science Fair. Bahtiar Baghmanli, Lilly Hency and Jack Marks. Best of 4th grade, Kaiden Hermann, Best of 5th grade Charlotte Nonn, and Best of Gardner, Dominic Johnson.

As we are starting the month of March we are excited to kick it off with Read Across America Week. During this week we want to encourage the love of reading among the students. We try to make this week fun with dress up days and rewards for reading! Be on the lookout for photos of our fun week!

Your reader has dove into 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).

Our scientists will investigate more in their Energize Everything Unit specifically on learning why the first hill of a roller coaster is the highest?

Our mathematicians will continue in unit 5 on digging deeper into fractions and decimals. We also will be reviewing math concepts to prepare for the upcoming state testing.

In social studies we are continuing chapter 6, learning about Illinois’ journey to statehood.

Our wonderful writers are beginning a new opinion writing piece on, “Taking a Stand.” They will write about something they want to change in their community. It is great to see how passionate the students are about their topic.

Also coming soon to Gardner Elementary is the Civil War Play! We are so excited to bring back our Civil War themed play, “The Blue & the Gray”. 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. If they didn’t reach out to your learners teacher to get this!

Thank you for your continued support each day.

This month in 5th grade, weekly D.A.R.E. classes will continue with Officer Wiegand. Students are enjoying learning about his role in the community and how they can focus on making good choices through a variety of strategies. Mathematicians are completing Unit 5: Operations with Fractions, extending on our previous fraction unit studied in the fall.

Writers are in the drafting stages of the Opinion Writing Unit and will continue to strengthen and improve their writing piece this month. Ask your child what they are writing about!

In reading, students will spend a Seuss-tastic week learning about Dr. Seuss in celebration of his birthday. Learners will then begin the Maniac Magee novel study, focusing on figurative language.

Scientists will continue their food web and ecosystem studies, while types of governments are the focus in social studies.

It’s hard to believe that we are already approaching the 4th quarter of the 21-22 school year. Thank you for your continued support in making this school year successful!

Chorus News

“The Gardner Comedy Show” will be Tuesday, March 1,2022 at 7:00 p.m. Chorus members are to be in the music room by 6:50 p.m. Students are to wear solid color shirts and long pants. The show features dancing dinosaurs, pizza delivery men, and many jokes.

We have been invited for those that can sing for the Young Authors Conference at Gardner on Saturday, March 26, 2022. Information will be coming home after the concert.

We will be singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” at the Cardinal baseball game on Monday, May 23,2022. Information about this event will be heading home soon.

Spring Band and Chorus concert is Tuesday, April 26, 2022.

Band News

Band members are reminded that practice records are due every Tuesday. Please remember to also go to your weekly band lessons. Practicing and attending lessons are the ways to improve your playing. On Thursdays we get to listen to band member’s talents with “Got Something to Share”. We have some amazing talents in our band. Keep working and sharing your talents.

Those who signed up for the “Night to Shine” recital have received their music and should begin working on their parts. “Night to Shine” is Thursday, April 21, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.

Spring Band and Chorus Concert is Tuesday, April 26,2022.

• February 28th - March 4th - Read Across America
• March 1st - Chorus concert 7:00 pm
• March 4th - End of 3rd quarter
• March 9th - Papa John's night
• March 10th - STUCO meeting 2:40 - 3:40
• March 11th - Report cards
• March 25th - Kids Heart Challenge money due
• March 28th - IAR testing - more info to come
• April 11th-15th--Spring Break