March 5

Student-led Conferences
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These conferences are led by students.  They will look different our Fall conferences.  Each conference will last about 30 minutes.  Students will be at the center of the conversation, guiding parents/guardians through an exhibition of their learning.  Students will focus this conference around highlights, successes, and goals.  We find that student-led conferences are a tremendous opportunity for students to be leaders in their education.  If you would like to meet for a traditional parent-teacher conference please email Curtis or Melissa and we can schedule a meeting outside of these conference dates.

Heart & Sole
Please see this link for information about this program.

WSAS Unit and Reading
We are continuing our study of Earth Systems.  Before vacation, we focused on the layers of the Earth and plate tectonics.  What delicious Earths we had!!  Now, we are studying more of the geosphere, the hydrosphere, and some of the atmosphere.  Your student has selected a disaster or phenomenon of one of the spheres to study in more depth.  The topics include: tsunamis, volcanoes, drought and wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, mountain building, and deep sea exploration. 

All students will be reading a non-fiction book regarding their phenomenon.  Some students will also be reading a fiction book that has the event in it (that is by choice).  The books are due to come in next Tuesday, and although they should be read at school, several students find it helpful to bring them home.  If your student brings home their book to read, please help them to bring it back to school, as we will be using them in class as well. 

In April, your student will be participating in a project in which they will need to model a phenomenon, and either explain, or create a design solution which reduces the impacts of weather related hazards.  More information will be coming out at that time.

Spelling
Students had been studying spelling with workbooks and Spelling City.  The enthusiasm for those has waned a bit.... We will be dedicating part of Friday's WSAS to spelling lessons, games, and class bees.  We have greatly improved our capitalization skills, but I'll be sure to throw some grammar into the mix then.  The rest of Friday WSAS is dedicated to free reading and free writing (or making up back work)

February 3, 2020

Hello Quest Families!
I hope you are healthy and well in this cold and flu season!

Here are some updates.

WSAS
We finished our Human Migration Unit with our museum of Suitcase Projects.  Students did very nice work with their research, their writing, and their projects.

We are moving onto our study of the structure of the Earth.  One of our projects for the project based learning component is to make a model of the Earth.  This project is to be done primarily at home.  It is due February 17th.  A link to the project can be found here.

Book Groups
We are 1/4 finished with our Classics books.  Students are working on finding evidence from the text to compare two characters or two settings, or two events from the story.  Students are also working on figurative language found in these books.  I have posted the calendars of work on my webpage.  I am working on slideshows so you can follow along with the lessons taught each day.

Students are also required to read one independent reading book per month.  This book can go towards the Book Bingo, which has prizes :)

Boston Trip
We are planning on going for a one day trip to Boston on Thursday, May 28.  We love to have chaperones on that day! Please let us know if you are interested. All chaperones need to be fingerprinted beforehand, which can take about 6 weeks.

January 22, 2020

Suitcase Project Exhibition
On Wednesday, January 29th, students will present their Suitcase Projects.  These are projects about various migrations around the world.  Students will voice their reports to an audio file, and visitors (including peers) will be able to listen and learn about the various migrations.  Our presentation will run from 8:15 - 9:00.  Families are welcome to attend.

Classics Book Groups
Students will begin their new books tomorrow, the 23rd.  Your student will be reading one of the following books:  Island of the Blue Dolphins, The Phantom Tollbooth, A Wrinkle in Time, The Fellowship of the Ring, or Bridge to Terabithia.  These books will run through February 21st.

Earth Systems
We will begin our study of Earth systems on Monday, January 27th.  This unit will run through the beginning of March.

Multiplication
We have been working with many different strategies for multiplication.  One of the strategies introduced is the standard algorithm for multiplication.  This is a great opportunity to connect with your students and show them how you learned how to multiply.

Good Citizen Challenge - https://goodcitizenvt.com/
All students on Team Quest have been registered to participate in the Good Citizen Challenge.  This is not mandatory.  We have been exploring this challenge for the last few weeks and some students are striving to earn the full 251 points.  There are prizes involved in completing the challenge.  Many of these activities are great to work on at home.

Micro:Bits
Over the past few weeks, students have be using a technology called Micro:Bits to further their understanding of coding.  They created thermometers as well as digital multiplication flash cards.  We will continue to use these tools in future units of study.

Boston Field Trip
At the end of May, Team Quest will be taking a field trip to Boston to end our unit on the Revolutionary War.  We love taking parent chaperones on this trip with us.  If you would like to join, be sure to complete the Level 3 volunteer application https://huusd.org/apply-to-volunteer.  This process can take time.

November 26

Identity Unit Ends, Human Migration Unit Begins
We ended our Chemistry unit today with sublimating solid iodine, and exploring Oobleck.   During this unit, students learned about phase change and how the molecules behave in each of the different phases.  After Thanksgiving Break, we will be starting a Human Migration Unit.  We will learn about the United States early history with Three Worlds Meeting (Africa, the Americas, and Europe).  Mid December, students will choose a migration to study.  This will be any migration in human history.  They will participate in the "Suitcase Project," which includes art and report writing.  We will present these January 17th, and all are invited to attend.

New Books
To go with our Human Migration Unit, your student will be participating in a book group.  Your student has chosen one of the following:

Day of Tears by Julius Lester and The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equaino by Olaudah Equaino

Refugee by Alan Gratz

How I Became a Ghost by Tim Tingle

The Open Road by Alexandra Diaz

Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate

Students will be learning how to discuss these books in small groups, and will write about these books in their reading notebooks.  Mrs. Hill will be leading discussions on How I Became a Ghost.  Mr. Taylor will be leading discussions on Refugee.  Mrs. Williams will be leading discussions on the other three titles.  If you have any questions about any of the books, please do not hesitate to ask.  Students will have from December 1 - January 17 to read this book.

New Independent Reading Policy!
I have received many requests to help students read more at home.  Starting in December, students will be asked to read at least one independent book per month.  This will be in addition to the book they are reading at home.  We will have short book projects which we will work on in school dedicated to these independent reading books.  I will start this up when we return.  Thank you for all of your feedback on this!

Winter Recess
When there is enough snow, Questers have the chance to go sledding on our amazing sledding hill.  Students need snow boots, snow pants, and mittens to do this.  If your student would like to participate, but does not have these required clothing items, please let us know.  Later in the year, we hope to have a skating rink as well!

Quest Feast Each year, the Quest Team has a holiday feast to celebrate our community and the winter holidays.  This is a feast that parents and other relatives are welcome to attend.  It is a tight squeeze on team, but we have always fit everyone in!  We ask each student on the Quest Team to bring in a sample (4-6 servings) dish that their family enjoys eating – perhaps something traditional – and we have a big potluck lunch.  Students sign up for entertaining with singing, instrumental pieces, or other forms of appropriate entertainment.  The feast is held in the Quest Team's classrooms.  Family members are welcome!  Each student is expected to bring a dish, a drink such as cider or juice, a dessert, or paper products like plates, forks and knives or napkins.  Please email Melissa Williams with what you can bring.  We ask everyone to bring something to contribute to our community.  

Here is a link for more information.  

We wish you all a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

November 18

This is the day we experimented with density columns.  We were discovering this physical property of liquids and solids.

Field Trip Wednesday, November 20
At least once on Quest, we make it a goal to go to the Flynn Theater.  This Wednesday, we will be going to the Flynn Theater to see the Dance Theater of Harlem.  We will leave school at 9:15 and will return by 12:30.  We ask that students either bring a bag lunch on Wednesday, or ask to purchase one through the school.  We were going to take a poll for who wants a bag lunch from the school today.... If your student would like to purchase a lunch for tomorrow, could you please email Mrs. Williams at mwilliams@huusd.org?
Thanks!

Narratives and What to do on Another Snow Day?
Students have been working on story writing.  They have mostly developed a story either based on a true account, or a completely fictional idea.  I am hoping to have these finished before Thanksgiving break, but we are loosing a day here and there to ice!  Your student is welcome to work on this story at home!  If you are wondering how it will be scored, check the daily slideshow for further details.

Spelling and Vocabulary
Each week, your student is assigned spelling either through Spelling City, or in a workbook (of their choice).  Each week, your student is also assigned vocabulary through Flocabulary.  No one has opted for the workbook for vocabulary :) Students have 15-20 minutes a day to work on these, which is enough for most students.  The due dates for these are online.

Independent Reading
Due to popular request at our conferences, I am working to help students find books they could / would read at home.  Although there is not a book log for each night, it is expected that students will read 20-30 minutes nightly.  There will be Free Read Fridays during WSAS to encourage the reading habit, and we (the students and I) will make monthly recommendations on our new Quest Reads blog.  I will be checking to see progress in the independent reading books.  Keep me updated with how it is going at home with a quick email or note :)

Conferences
Thank you to all of you who attended conferences and who have reached out to us.  Please don't hesitate to contact us with follow up thoughts and questions.

October 23

Quest State Fair
A big thank-you to everyone's help to make our State Fair a success.  Students had a wonderful time, and there were so many tasty treats to try.  This will become a staple of the Quest experience for sure! 

Parent Teacher Conferences
Mrs. Hudak will be posting information on how to sign up for parent / teacher conferences.  This first conference is a parent / teacher conference, to which your student is welcome to attend, but it is not required.  These conferences are 15 minutes in length.  If you should find you need an additional conference after this, you can look to schedule an additional conference sometime during the day later in November, and into December.

Quest Clothing
Quest clothing is ready for ordering.  Please fill out this google form to place your order.  Checks can be made to CBMS.  Please have orders in by November 8th.

Math Homework
Students have been assigned a weekly Math homework.  They bring this homework to and from school in a 'homework folder'.  Each week assignments are posted on the Quest Calendar.  Typically, they are sent home Monday and due Friday.  You can find extra copies and answer keys on the Quest website.  Homework serves an opportunity for students to practice skills they are learning in class.  If student put forth a good effort and are still struggling, they should bring their questions to Mr. Taylor.  This is a great opportunity for them to practice how to advocate for themselves.  It also provides Mr. Taylor with valuable insight into misconceptions they might have around the math.  Please do not let homework become a stressor on your family.  If it is too much on home life, let Mr. Taylor know and he can help them find time at school.

WSAS
Students have switched units to our Identity Unit.  Our essential questions are: What is the identity of different types of matter?  How does the arrangement of particles affect phenomenon?  We are completing experiments and we are learning how to draw scientific models.  In writing, we are working on personal essays.  We have some good story tellers in our class!  If you get the chance, tell your students a story, or see if they can come up with an event in their life they might want to write about!
Homework for writing this year is optional.  It will begin in November for those interested.  I have sent a Google form to your student for their feedback.
In reading, students are reading biographies and autobiographies.  I have a slideshow of what students are learning on my webpage.  I have short videos for them to follow, with assignments included.  This gives students a choice of pace through the unit while I meet with small groups to help them with their reading.

October 2nd

Hello Quest Families!
Here are some updates.

State Fair
We are in the last two weeks of our geography / states unit.  Next Thursday, October 10th, at 8:15, we will have a State Fair!  On that day, students will have a table to display the following about the state they are studying:
A relief map
The book they read (set in the state)
A fun facts paper
An essay
A tourism video
Food cut into 10-15 samples

The food is where you come in!  For the next couple of days, we will look up some recipes.  Please help your student by asking about the recipe, helping them get supplies, and bringing the samples to school. With creative packing, students have been successful bringing in food projects on the bus.  If this project is a hardship for your family, please let me know, and I can help out.

The fair will run from 8:15 to around 9:00.  All are welcome.

Studying for states
Students should continue to study their 50 states until they have them memorized.  Knowing the location of the 50 states, as well as other geographical landmarks will help them in their studies of the United States this year.  Our last official quiz for this will be next Tuesday.  However, students may retake this during workshops until they get all 50 states correct.

Assessments
We will be attempting to put as many assessments as possible on SeeSaw.  Please refer to this to see how your student is doing.  Students will have information about their relief map, essay, reading comprehension, and tourism video by mid October.  Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Problem Solving
We are wrapping up our first unit (Expressions, Equations, and Volume) this week.  Be sure to check Seesaw to see some of the work you student has done this unit.  Next week, we will start a fraction unit.  Students will also be exploring how to program with Cubelets.