April - Rockford Public Schools

P.E. News
This month in Physical Education we
will be concentrating on finishing our
jump roping unit. The students will be
learning the proper way to jump rope
using a short rope, or single person jump
rope. One of the most popular weeks of
the jump roping unit is when we move to
the long ropes and the multiple activities
we do with them. All ages learn a variety
of games which help them learn about
rhythm jumping and teamwork. If you
have a jump rope at home have your
child/ren show you what they have
learned and maybe they can teach you a
few new moves.
Thank you to the kids and parents who
participated in Jump Rope for Heart. As
a school district Rockford Public Schools
raised $14,324.47. As a school, Crestwood
raised over $1,400.00 this year.
The following are the top six earners in
the school.
Abby Kurtz $275.00
Lauryn Hedstrom $175.00
Tyler Harrington - Elburn $156.00
Jessica Stewart $151.00
William Haggerty $126.00
Lance Bultman $91.00
A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERY-
ONE WHO RAISED MONEY THIS
YEAR!!
—Scott Tucker,
Physical Education Teacher
ART-i-facts
Youth Art Month is observed annually nation-wide during
the month of March to emphasize the value of art education
and public support. Art can, among other things, contribute
to the development of a child’s self-esteem, heighten appreciation
of the work of others, offer a means of selfexpression,
improve problem solving skills, and raise overall
academic achievement. Make a family project, take a trip to
the art museum...celebrate with your family!
The Grand Rapids Art Museum is offering Saturday All Day with the Arts
for families through April. Each month offers a different theme that includes
hands-on activities, guided or self-guided tours and demonstrations.
The program is from 10:00am-3:00pm and is free with admission. What a
great opportunity for a family fieldtrip! The Grand
Rapids Art Museum is offering extended programming
during Spring Break, April 2-5. You can
drop-in for art-making from 10:00AM-3:00PM.
Get creative!
Fifth graders annually attend a performance by the Grand Rapids Symphony.
They were asked to illustrate a part from Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant
prior to their field trip. A slide show illustrating the musical piece included
several student works from each class attending the concert! Fifth
graders are learning about Pop Art, and the Endangered Species Series by
Andy Warhol. They are working on multi-step linoleum block relief prints,
using an animal of their choice as the subject.
Art Trading Cards is a new art form that has only existed for less than 20
years! They are miniature works made for trading, and found worldwide.
1st –5th graders have all made their own ATCs this year to trade and collect.
We started the new year off by learning about how the Chinese culture
celebrates this holiday. Kindergarteners learned about the Lion Dance, and
made their own miniature festive lion puppets. First graders learned about
the Golden Dragon Parade before decorating their accordion dragons with
patterns. Second graders used the symbol of former Chinese Emperors as
the subject for their dragon drawings. Each sculpted a signature seal and put
their stamp of approval on their finished work. Third graders sculpted
dragons out of clay , and covered them with visual texture. Fourth graders
learned some facts about the complicated Chinese language before painting
a New Year greeting using Chinese characters.
Kindergarteners also designed patterned s-s-snakes after reading
the African tale, Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears.
First graders sculpted clay Passport Masks. These miniature
masks serve the same purpose as our passports do. Tribal
members, from a particular group of countries, carry them
when traveling to show their tribal affiliation. Third graders
tried their hands at the popular African art form of weaving.
They learned the weaving process and vocabulary while making
patterned baskets. Fourth graders will experiment printing
Adinkra cloth like the Ashanti people of Ghana. They will
assemble their own stamps and create original patterns.
Jacob Tomasko,
Principal of the Day
—Artfully yours, Mary Penrod