MRS.FORD, WILL WE BE __________THIS YEAR?



PreK students already out making observations in our schoolyard (ignore timestamp)!

 This is the question I've heard many times since the first day of school from excited students and families. It comes in many forms. The __________ has been filled with, but not limited to:

                                         * raising Monarchs again?
                                         * going on boat trips?
                                         * building towers and ramps?
                                         * having Think Tank nights?
                                         * raising and releasing Shad?
                                         * having Lego Club?

                                         * able to come to you and explore?

The answer to all off these questions has been a resounding:

 "YES!!! (Followed quickly by) "It's the second week of school, I'm working on it and we are doing even MORE fun things this year!"

I love working where students, staff and families are so devoted to inquiry-based learning! It's the best.


Seriously though, I can barely contain my excitement for how Think Tank and Science programs here at Maury will EXPLODE this year! Before you look below at some of our new programs, please note that parent and community support is crucial to the success of my program. Please look through at what interests YOU and email me at vanessa.ford@dc.gov to get on my " Think Tank and Science Support Team"! ( Perhaps I'll make "Double T, Double S, T stickers!)

So what IS coming to Maury this year?? Take a look...( Many headings are "clickable".)

       THE THINK TANK LENDING LIBRARY OPENS SOON!

What do you get when you combine two parts Capitol Hill Community Foundation grants, 6 parts parents willing to pick up and  put together IKEA furniture and one part amazing Maury mom/Hill store owner of Labyrinth Puzzles and Games? You get the new THINK TANK LENDING LIBRARY! Packed with games to help you and your child engage in problem solving and strengthen your habits of mind, you will be able to check out games for periods of time to play at home. I'm looking for some parent volunteers the week of September 10th to start putting the pieces of this library together ( library cards, game description inserts etc) so please email me at vanessa.ford@dc.gov  if you can help!
      
                                              A WORLD IN MOTION

 Thanks to a grant from the GM Foundation, Maury will be provided with an engineering curriculum called "A World in Motion". I will be working with various grade level teachers to implement this amazing curriculum. The video below outlines some of the challenges our intermediate grades will complete, while this link shows what our K-2 students will work with. Take a look!              


                                  

                                     JUNIOR FIRST LEGO LEAGUE

This Lego-based challenge program is for students ages 6-9. It will start in the next few months and occur during student's recess time once a week. More information will be forthcoming!

   EXPLORAVISION: SCIENCE COMPETITION FOR KIDS

This particular competition will take place with a group or groups of students along with parent volunteers! All projects are due in January so this will start happening in the next few weeks!
                                       
                  MONARCH BUTTERFLIES AT MAURY!

Next week, approximately 60 instar stage 1(aka baby) Monarch caterpillars will arrive at Maury. Each class will have a few to observe, learn about and raise through their entire two week "journey" to become Monarch butterflies. You will see a tent in the front lobby housing our butterflies as they emerge, and we will have multiple send-offs. This year we are tagging them too! We have a wonderful staff of Monarch experts who have participated in intensive training about these amazing natural wonders. Ms. Mitchell, Mr. Scott, Ms.Kelly, Ms. Bomba and Mr. Rogers are our resident experts! Stay tuned and PLEASE volunteer to help out
 HEALTHY SCHOOLS SCHOOLS WEEK: OCT. 15th-20th!

Are "farm to table" issues of interest to you or your child? Contact me to help develop events for the week!

                   OTHER EVENTS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE THIS YEAR INCLUDE:
* Two Think Tank Nights!
* A Science Fair!
* Work on our outdoor classroom as part of our "RiverSmart Schools Grant"
* Celebrating National Engineer Week!
* Recycling Programs!
* Partnerships with The Anacostia Watershed Society and Living Classrooms DC!
* Work on becoming a Silver member of Eco-Schools!



Get Thinking Maury Cougars!

Mrs. Ford