Academic Enrichment

Grades three and four have art once a week for one hour. Grade five has art twice a week for forty five minutes per class.

Students are told what is expected in their final projects for each unit and specifically how they will be graded.  We look for evidence that students grasped the major concepts, practiced the studio skills and put forth a strong effort. Each student’s initial level of ability is also considered.  Therefore, grades will also reflect the progress the individual student has made. It is important to us that students understand that in all artistic growth much risk-taking and patience are necessary, and that there is a wide range of perspectives about what makes a piece of artwork successful.

There are rotating displays of student work outside the art rooms and in the LRC throughout the year.  These displays include samples of units we have worked on, and students select what they would like to contribute.  We make sure students understand that many different kinds of art are valued. Both finished and experimental works are encouraged and shared.

There will also be an annual spring art and music festival.  This year’s event will be on Wednesday, May 16. Artworks on display in this exhibit reflect both our curriculum units as well as works students undertook independently.  We ask students to make their art show choices based on which pieces they feel demonstrate their best efforts and of which they are most proud.

Third Grade Health Topics:

• Responsibility
• Bullying
• Personal safety
• Body systems
• Hygiene
• Fitness and nutrition
• Substance abuse prevention
• Stress management

Fourth Grade Health Topics:

• Cooperation
• Bullying
• Nutrition
• Physical Fitness
• Personal hygiene
• Substance abuse prevention
• Stress management

Fifth Grade Health Topics:

• Character Education
• Personal Fitness and Nutrition
• Substance abuse prevention
• Bullying
• Personal hygiene
• Puberty-physical and emotional changes
• Stress management

• The 3^rd and 4^th grades have health once a week for 30 minutes.
• The 5^th grades have health once a week for 45 minutes.

Bullying and stress management are also mandated by the state and are on going and sequential in grades 3,4 and 5

Yes, it  is a mandated unit that is taught in the 5^th grade disease and hygiene unit.

The puberty lesson is taught in the 5^th grade at the end of May The girls and boys are separated for this lesson.

GRADE 3 GENERAL MUSIC

Third grade students will be exposed to a variety of musical styles including, but not limited to, American folk songs, Patriotic music, and world music. They will learn basic rhythms and sight-singing skills.   They will learn to sing in tune and play classroom instruments. Students in third grade will begin recorder in the Spring.  

GRADE 4 GENERAL MUSIC

Fourth grade students will continue on their musical journey advancing to more complex rhythms and songs. Students will be required to listen to and analyze different genres of music in the classroom.   In January, students will continue with the recorder and begin a more comprehensive recorder unit. They will draw upon the musical skills that they have learned up to this point to become independent recorder players.

            FOURTH GRADE CHORUS is open to all students in the fourth grade. Fourth grade chorus is the first performing ensemble in the Intermediate School. Students will perform music with a moderate level of difficulty, including, but not limited to rounds, canons, two-part music, classical music, art music and spirituals.   CHORUS MEETS BEFORE SCHOOL ON THURSDAY MORNINGS AT 7:45.

GRADE 5 GENERAL MUSIC

Fifth grade students will begin a more advanced level of study in music. Students will be required to sing in tune, sight-read simple melodies, listen to and analyze musical forms and write their own musical compositions. Fifth grade students will read and perform music in different meters, keys and tonalities.

            FIFTH GRADE CHORUS is a non-auditioned performing ensemble that builds on the foundation set in the fourth grade. Chorus is open to all fifth graders regardless of whether or not they have performed with the fourth grade chorus. Students will perform music with a higher level of difficulty, including, but not limited to rounds, canons, two-part music, classical music, art music and spirituals, CHORUS MEETS BEFORE SCHOOL ON THURSDAY MORNINGS AT 7:45.

           BAND is open to all fifth graders who sign up to play a band instrument at the beginning of the year.  Students will begin the year with small group lessons and advance to full band rehearsals in January. IN JANUARY, BAND MEETS BEFORE SCHOOL ON WEDNESDAY MORNINGS AT 7:45.

           ORCHESTRA is open to all fifth graders who sing up to play a stringed instrument at the beginning of the year. Students will begin the year with small group lessons and advance to full orchestra rehearsals in January. IN JANUARY, ORCHESTRA MEETS BEFORE SCHOOL ON WEDNESDAY MORNINGS AT 7:45.

BAND is open to all fifth graders who sign up to play a band instrument at the beginning of the year.  Students will begin the year with small group lessons and advance to full band rehearsals in January. IN JANUARY, BAND MEETS BEFORE SCHOOL ON WEDNESDAY MORNINGS AT 7:45.

According to the Connecticut Council of Language Teachers the benefits of second language learning include:

• Children have the ability to learn and excel in the pronunciation of a foreign language
• They show positive results in areas of standardized testing; English, Language Arts. Math and SAT scores are shown to have significant gains
• Students show greater cognitive development in such areas as mental flexibility, creativity, divergent thinking, and higher order thinking skills.
• Second language study enhances listening skills, memory and understanding of English
• It improves self-concept and sense of achievement in school
• Children develop a sense of cultural pluralism, openness and appreciation of other cultures

The 5 C’s of Foreign Language Education:

• Communication
• Cultures
• Comparisons
• Connections
• Communities

Grade 3 Studies

        Third graders entering the Intermediate School have their first experience as password-based network users.  Each student has a unique, password-protected documents folders used to save and manage computer-generated work throughout their time at WIS.

        Through the third grade computer curriculum, students gain experience with a variety of software programs, including word processing, multimedia and graphic organizer software. All of these software experiences move our students toward becoming more independent users of technology. The programs are used to generate original student documents and presentations, with teacher direction. In addition, third graders use curriculum-based interactive software to support their learning in other areas.

      To build basic Internet search skills, children are introduced to keywords as an on-line search strategy.  This introduction to basic information literacy is designed to help young researchers focus on and define their information needs – a key element in the effective navigation of the vast digital information sources of the 21^st century.

Grade 4 Studies

       As their digital information needs become more complex, fourth graders get more in depth instruction in using the Internet as an information source.  This is accomplished through a series of collaborative lessons between the LRC and the Computer Lab covering such topics as plagiarism, copyright implications, citation of sources, Internet search strategies and website evaluation. At this grade level, students begin to practice generating online search strategies based on their information needs. Curriculum-driven research projects provide fourth graders with the opportunity to practice these information literacy skills.

      Students continue to use productivity software with increased independence. In addition to word processing, multimedia and graphic organizer programs, they gain experience with software designed to create chronological timelines.

Grade 5 Studies

       The cornerstone of fifth grade computer instruction is a Colonial America webquest completed by students in conjunction with their Social Studies unit on the Colonial Period. The webquest requires students to use a variety of software programs and information literacy skills to complete webquest tasks, thereby synthesizing the technology skills acquired to this point.

        By fifth grade, students are generally independent in the use of word processing software and now receive direct instruction on the use of the computer as an editing and revising tool. Curriculum-driven multi-media projects continue with increased independence.

Computer lab instruction is based on two things: developmental readiness and the State of Connecticut Information and Technology Literacy Framework.  In kindergarten the focus of instruction is on the building the student’s comfort level with equipment while utilizing computer activities that support their learning in other curricular areas.  By fifth grade students are expected to be approaching proficiency in the following skill areas: keyboarding, use of word processing and multimedia software, and Internet information literacy.

In compliance with CIPA (Children’s Internet Protection Act), the Weston Public Schools maintain Internet filters that block students from inadvertently accessing websites containing inappropriate content.  This minimizes the chances that your child will view such web content while using the Internet at school.  Please refer to the district Acceptable Use Policy for additional information. 

The students should wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing that allows for their body to move.

Yes!  When moving in the gym as well as on equipment sneakers help the students move safely. 

Any sneaker that are made for physical activity.  Sandals, Merrill’s, and Healy’s, are not allowed because they lack the proper arch and ankle support needed for sports and games.