Merry Christmas

 Merry Christmas to all of our St. Sylvester families! Enjoy the time off with your second grade angels and have a healthy and blessed New Year!

Special Fossil Lesson

This year our school has been lucky enough to be chosen by the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum to partner with on how to improve learning in science. This partnership will afford many opportunities to our school, teachers, and students all year long. The teachers at St. Sylvester have already attended a few workshops hosted by the museum. Last week, two of the educational directors at the museum came to teach a lesson on fossils to our second grade class.



First, they presented actual fossils to each of the small groups of second graders to examine and discuss. There were remains from both plants and animals identified.



Then, the students listened to a description of the steps in which a fossil forms. The last portion of the activity was when each of the second graders made their own"fossils." Everyone put clay on the bottom of a cup and then pressed a seashell into the clay to make an imprint. Later, we filled each imprint and cup with plaster. Once these are set, the students will remove the clay and the imprint left on the plaster will act as a fossil. Look for these "fossils" to come home sometime this week and ask your son or daughter how it was formed!
 

Christmas Concert

 What a great way to get into the Christmas spirit! The whole school came together this past Sunday to share their singing and instrumental talents for all of their school peers and families to enjoy. After a lot of hard work by Ms. Fox, their music teacher, they were ready to perform! Thank you to all of the families that attended the annual Christmas concert and also the family potluck afterwards. We truly are blessed to have such an activity and vibrant community here at St. Sylvester School. 


Dinosaur Project

The second grade's dinosaur science project was given out last week. It is due back on Monday, December 17th. Each student was given one dinosaur to read about and research. There are two physical things due on December 17th. First, each student should bring a model representing their dinosaur. This model can be sculpted, painted, or drawn, but should not be just printed off of the computer or purchased at a store. The second thing they will need to present is a piece of yarn or string that is the length of their dinosaur.

Every student will have time that week to present their dinosaur to their classmates. During this presentation, they should be able to pronounce their dinosaur's name. Lastly, they will be asked to describe what their dinosaur looked like and also tell three interesting facts about their dinosaur. At the end of the oral presentation, their classmates will have time to ask any questions they have about the dinosaur. Please help your child prepare for this longterm project at home.

Dinosaur Project Due: Monday December 17th