March Nutrition Letter to Parents 2016

MARCH IS NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH

Dear Parents/ Guardians,

FES will be celebrating National National Nutrition Month school-wide. Each week we will focus on the 5-2-1-0 message through the announcements, our wellness blog and by sending health information handouts/links to teachers and parents. Specialists in PE,music, library, art, computer, health and Spanish will integrate nutrition information in their classes.  All students will participate in Read Maine Agriculture on Mar. 22. Guest readers will read the book “Potatoes for ME” in the cafeteria. Classroom teachers will receive a copy of the book and activity guide.

The First Lady is once again teaming up with PBS flagship station WGBH Boston, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to host the fifth annual Healthy Lunchtime Challenge to promote cooking and healthy eating among young people across the nation.

The challenge invites kids ages 8-12, in collaboration with a parent or guardian, to create an original recipe that is healthy, affordable, and delicious. One winner from each U.S. state, territory, and the District of Columbia will win the opportunity to be flown to Washington, DC and the opportunity to attend the 2016 Kids’ “State Dinner” here at the White House, where a selection of the winning recipes will be served. Kids will also have the opportunity to learn from television personality and member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition Rachael Ray.

More information on healthy eating, interactive games, and children’s recipes are available at Let's Go and My Plate Kids. We hope you join us at home to celebrate Nutrition Month.

FES Wellness Committee

Growing Valentines 2016

Such fun when 5th grade buddies help Kindergarteners!

This is the third year that Falmouth Elementary students have planted hundreds of bulbs to bloom just in time for Valentine's Day. While they grow, students nurture and observe them inside our building. Just as they are about to bloom, we reach out and deliver these heartfelt Growing Valentines to seniors in Southern Maine.  Several private and civic senior communities have been designated as distribution centers. Some of these locations include, Ocean View, Falmouth By the Sea, Foreside Harbour, Sedgewood Commons, Piper Shores, and Falmouth Memorial Library. Special recognition for organizing and implementing this project goes to first grade teacher, Cathlyn Langston.

Many students throughout FES participated in this fun-filled project. Here is a summary from 5th grade teacher Amy Wheeler "We had a great time today planting valentines with our kindergarten buddies. There was lots of fantastic communicating and cooperating going on which are two huge goals of this mentor program between fifth and kindergarten. I am really excited at the questions that came up for fifth-graders about how bulbs work, What a paperwhite looks like, and how they grow without soil! We also have some misconceptions to clear up since many kids thought these were avocados we were planting. This fits perfectly into our non-fiction reading unit which introduces primary research projects to fifth grade. After vacation we will use this topic as a model before children pick their own topics to explore. Good times and a nice unplanned connection to reading!"

5th grade and K buddies

4th graders graphing their observvations

Mrs. McNally's K class bringing bulbs to the lobby

Happy Bulb Recipients

Luna the service dog delivering Valentines!

Mrs. Voisine's 2nd grade Bulbs

Ready for delivery!