The second graders learned the Earth gets most of its energy from the sun which is called solar energy. We found out that dark colors absorb light energy and turns it into heat. We had a great time watching our solar UFO fill up with air. As the sun warmed the balloon the air got hotter which caused the balloon to rise. What a fun way to learn about solar energy. They are excited to make their own solar balloons with garbage bags!
Debra Gardner
2nd Grade
One of the standards for elementary general music is COMPOSING. Each 4th grader at PCCS wrote his/her own eight measure song for the recorder, using the notes we have learned this year. We then shared our pieces in a “Composers Circle,” which gives the opportunity for students to perform their compositions for their classmates.
The second graders had their final field study to 1000 Islands to observe the river. This observation concluded a year long study of the changes in and around the Fox River. The students observed plant life and animal activity along with taking the air and water temperatures. The students will be comparing and contrasting all the changes noted in their journals for the year. Concluding their hard work, they enjoyed grilling hot dogs and having s'mores!
Debra Gardner
2nd Grade
Park Community Charter School
One of the standards is music listening, and a play-along is an active listening strategy where kids follow a simplified musical score to play along with a piece of music that we are learning about. The attached pictures are 2nd graders at Park playing along to the song “The Syncopated Clock” by Leroy Anderson. They used 3 different instruments to show the A, B, and C sections (rondo form) and followed the attached score. The first picture shows the score the kids are following, the second shows them playing along. It’s a great way for kids to internalize some great pieces of music in a very engaging way.
Becky Nimmer
Music Teacher
Andrew Podoll, a geologist who is spending the week teaching students and staff about our river table, took a few minutes on Wednesday afternoon to explain to the 4th graders how the five different regions of Wisconsin were formed. He used ice cream and oreo cookies to demonstrate the land formations left by glaciers. The presentation was a great review. The ice cream melted in lobes, like the glaciers. The students were able to see how drift was carried from one region to another. He also talked about his experiences exploring and studying glaciers in Antarctica. This was an unexpected treat for us all. Thanks Andrew!
Mrs. TeGrootenhuis
4th Grade Teacher
Letter attached from Mayor Rosin.
We are so proud of our accomplishments as a school and appreciate the support of our parents and community! Kenneth D. Kortens
Park Community Charter School has been named the Primary School of the Year and the National Primary Rookie of the Year by the National Energy Education Development Project Board of Directors. These awards are in recognition of our work with Kaukauna Utilities throughout our first year as a public charter school. PCCS has been using curriculum and hands on experiments from the NEED organization to teach students about various forms of energy production and responsible use. For more information on the NEED program go to www.NEED.org.
Our school will be recognized at a ceremony at the Department of the Interior in Washington D.C. on June 25th. This ceremony will be the conclusion of a weekend in our nation's capital meeting with other schools and touring the sites. We are taking a group of 20 people to the awards weekend comprised of 14 staff, 6 parents and 6 fourth grade students. The students were selected in a random drawing and are receiving a free trip. Two students are sponsored by Kaukauna Utilities, two by PCCS and two by the NEED organization.
We are so proud of our accomplishments as a school and appreciate the support of our parents and community!
Kenneth D. Kortens
Principal
On May 2nd, the 4th graders attended the Outagamie County Historical Society's annual Fur Traders' Rendezvous at the Grignon Mansion. A variety of stations were set up that the students rotated through. Each station taught the students something different related to the fur trade in Kaukauna and throughout the Great Lakes and Canada. This was a hands-on way to review many of the concepts learned in social studies throughout the year.
PCCS Media Specialist Mary Vanderloop had the honor of attending a celebration to honor Dallas Seavey’s win of the 2012 Iditarod. The assembly hall was full and after listening to Dallas talk about the race, about training dogs, about building his sled and a lot of interesting details. He turned the microphone over to Jim Keller from JJ Keller. Jim went to the podium and to Mrs. VanderLoop’s surprise the first thing he said after thanking Dallas was “IS MARY VANDER LOOP HERE?”
She was shocked but stood up and let him know she was in the audience. He then proceeded to explain how Mrs. VanderLoop had contacted him years ago, that she teaches in Kaukauna, how both Victor Haen and PCCS follow the race and how he had brought Dallas to Haen two years ago to meet the students from both schools. Jim recalled how he and Dallas were greeted by our students, “As soon as we were introduced the whole student body sang the Iditarod Song for us. It was really great!” he informed everyone. Then Jim introduced a Third Grade teacher from Waupaca who has been chosen as the 2013 TEACHER ON THE TRAIL. Mrs. VanderLoop spoke to the teacher and plans on having live Skype conversations with her during the race next year.
Here is a picture of Dallas Seavey, Mary VanderLoop and Jim Keller
After our presentation on invasive species in our lakes and rivers yesterday by Todd Verboomen, our first graders went home with an assignment. Attached are some of the responses from parents after they asked their child what he or she had learned.
Kenneth D. Kortens
