The 3rd grade students have been studying about how plants and animals survive and Middletown history. So the nice brisk Spring walk to Wesleyan's Farmer's Market on April 8th was a perfect way to lea
rn first hand from farmers. We were able to try fresh goat cheese and mustard greens, learn about maple syrup and how bees make honey. The highlight for many was the 5 year old Angora rabbit named Seymore who sat in a basket. Students were also impressed to see several historic buildings on the walk that we will be learning about in social studies and to connect the architecture to what they have been learning about in art. If you haven't been to the Wesleyan Farmer's Market, it's well worth a visit! 
Maddie Neufeld and Cara Tratner, both students from Wesleyan, gave 45 minute presentations about global warming to 3rd, 4th and 5th grade classes during the week of April 6th. After listening to a power point presentation about what global warming is, how it is caused and what we can do to help stop it; the students played a game that showed how pollution is blocking the warmth of the sun from escaping the atmosphere causing a notable rise in Earth's temperature. Student wrote down ways they can help such as using energy efficient light bulbs, walking or using public transportation, composting and reducing waste. Everyday is Earth Day at Macdonough!
Macdonough School will be participating in this year's Project ACES (All Children Exercise Simultaneously) on May 6 at 10:00 a.m.!
Joanne Jukins, 2nd grade teacher, gave a 2 hour class for beginner MIMIO users on Tuesday, March 31st. Teachers from around the district came to Macdonough's computer lab to learn about the many great educational uses the MIMIO has to offer.
Students from Wesleyan University participated in the 2nd Annual Bring Back a Book campaign. The program, organized by students in Dr. Barbara Juhasz' service learning course, asks Wesleyan students to "bring back a children's book" upon returning from spring break.
Members of the Macdonough School learning community came together to meet with representatives of JCJ Architecture to participate in a series of activities designed to gather information on our views for Middletown Public Schools.
Each Monday night in March and April, a group of a dozen parents is meeting at Macdonough School for a program entitled Raising Readers.
Macdonough School students and staff were delighted with a presentation of African Dance and Drumming.
Members of the Macdonough School Running Club attended the The O’Hartford 5K & Wee Mile in Hartford on Sunday, March 15th. Most of our young runners competed in the Wee Mile children's race around Bushnell Park.
Students at Macdonough School took the fifth portion of the Connecticut Mastery Test today. Third, fourth, and fifth graders read passages and filled in missing words on the Degrees of Reading Power test.
For those who worked especially hard, the staff arranged for some fun incentives. A few children in each of the classes were selected to play laser tag at A New World Laser Tag in Middletown. The students will be meeting after school for this fun trip at the conclusion of the Connecticut Mastery Test.
Chaelyn Lombardo, from Kids Korner, will be running another "Literature for Lunch"Book Club in collaboration with the Family Resource Center. This club will be for Second Graders. It is called, "Cooking for Literacy!". It is an academic, social, and physical curriculum.
IThere will be two clubs of 7 children each. One club will be held on Tuesdays and the other will be on Thursdays (12:20-1:10). Each club will meet in the FRC for both their lunch and recess period once a week. There will be some instruction and discussion over lunch. After the children are finished and have cleared their trays, they will begin the activity for the day.
The groups will complete several activities and games based upon a popular storybook and they get to keep a free copy of the book at the end of the club. The final club meeting will be the special cooking activity day which is based upon the storybook.
Students at Macdonough School took the third portion of the Connecticut Mastery Test today. Third, fourth, and fifth graders read passages and answered reading comprehension questions.
Students at Macdonough School took the second portion of the Connecticut Mastery Test today. Third, fourth, and fifth graders read passages and answered reading comprehension questions.For those who worked especially hard, the staff arranged for some fun incentives. Smiley face t-shirts were provided to students whose hard work brought smiles to our faces!
The shirts were supplied by our friends at Gorilla Graphics of Middletown!
PROBE, Middletown's Gifted Education Program, is taught by Roberta Avery & Marie Serra at Farm Hill School. Students from Macdonough School travel to Farm Hill one morning each week to participate in activities.
The March 1, 2009 edition of the Middletown Press featured a story entitled "Macdonough Named one of Best Achieving Schools in State." The story focused on the Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now recognition of Macdonough School (ConnCAN) as one of the most improved schools in Connecticut.
Kids on the Block is a community service group at Wesleyan University that teaches elementary school students about people with disabilities through puppet performances. The group will be visiting Macdonough School to perform for fourth graders on April 9th at 12:15 p.m.
Save the date! The district-wide art show is March 7th-15th. The opening reception is March 7th.
Kindergarten has been working on various mixed media, seasonal artworks including penguins and snowmen. To celebrate the Chinese New Year students have been working on and will be completing Dragons.
Grade 1 students have completed clay animal sculptures. We are currently completing Paper Cuts.
Grade 2 students studied Henri Matisse and created collages. We are currently creating fans and studying watercolor techniques.
Grade 3 students constructed the facades of houses using clay, after studying architecture. We have just begun a project on Carp kites. The kites involve learning about symmetry, the technique of rubbing and the blending of oil pastels.
Grade 4 recently completed an artwork inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe using a glue relief and chalk pastels. We are currently studying calligraphy.
Grade 5 students are working on mixed media collages inspired by the artist Stuart Davis.
Third graders at Macdonough School recently celebrated and learned about the Chinese New Year. This year is the Year of the Ox.
S=Self-Responsibility
U=Understanding
R=Respect
F=Fairness
S=Safety
We believe that introducing, modeling, and reinforcing positive social behavior is an important of a student’s educational experience.
The month of February will include a focus on Self-Responsibility. Teachers and students will spend time each day discussing the attribute of Self-Responsibility in the classroom, the hallway, the cafeteria, the bus ride, and even at home.
