what's happening
@Highlands
Elementary School Specials Update
Have a wonderful summer!
ART
Kindergarten artists are wrapping up their first year of ART learning about artists including Alma Thomas and Miro before creating art of their own. 1st graders are feeling very proud of their weaving skills. 2nd graders are generating lots of creative ideas inspired by different careers in art.
Many 3rd and 4th grade classes were able to enjoy the art of suminigashi, a Japanese floating ink process. Finally, they wrapped up their art in large portfolios and played the game “exquisite corpse” inspired by the surrealist artists.
Art is such a wonderful summer activity for your children. Ask them what they are interested in making, and support them with materials, time and space! I would love to see their creations…feel free to share their work with me via email this summer: hchelmecki@district106.net
LIBRARY
All library books need to be returned to the library! With 4 days left of the school year, we still have over 300 books checked out.
Summer is a GREAT time to read!
Our summer reading website will go live on June 3, 2026! On our website you will be able to find the reading challenges for our school as well as reading challenges from all of the local public libraries. I have also included some fun businesses that are offering summer reading incentives! There is also a link for the LT summer reading list!
The summer reading challenges for our school are open to any student who will be completing K-7th grade at the end of the current school year. Once your student has completed the challenge, you will need to fill out a quick Google Form (this will go live toward the beginning of August) to verify your student completed the challenge) NOTE: no paper copies will be accepted!
MUSIC
Kindergarten flew by quickly this year, but that has not affected the learning that occurred! Students have been introduced to various concepts of sound and rhythm such as: Loud vs quiet, High vs Low, Long vs Short sounds, and of course steady beat. We have been reviewing through movement and play over the last couple classes, and are ready for 1st grade music!
1st grade has been having a blast reviewing rhythm and meter through various games and activities. We most recently in 1st grade participated in a game called “Rhythm Relay” where students listen to a pattern, and race to find the correct one in the room. We are excited to keep learning about music next school year!
2nd grade has been applying their rhythm and melody knowledge over the last few weeks to review the concepts learned throughout this year. From rhythm knockout activities and scale review, they are excited to continue learning about the world of music in 3rd grade!
3rd Grade has finished up their introduction to the world of instrument families and the orchestra! Over the last few weeks, we have watched videos and listened to various instruments, and have been reviewing by playing listening games and visual identifying activities.
4th Grade has completed their goals of writing their own music! USing their knowledge of various concepts we’ve learned about this year, they worked together to create their own melodies and ostinatos to perform for their classmates! We wish 4th grade the best of luck in all their musical endeavors in middle school!
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Students are continuing their golf unit. During the unit, students will practice the basic skills of putting and chipping while using weighted plastic clubs. Students are taught the correct grip and hand placement, and how those impact the flight pattern of the ball. There is a lot more to the sport than just hitting a ball. Participants gain an understanding of the reasoning for different clubs and the action-reaction properties of different angles of the club. Environmental factors play a big role in golf and students learn how weather and terrain can impact their hit. Sportsmanship and safety play a key role as students learn how to manage emotions, practice golf etiquette, and show personal responsibility for their progress. The mini golf course enables students to put their putting skills to the test while trying to navigate difficult obstacles.
Fitness testing Practice (K-1)
All students in grades K-1 participated in practice fitness testing to align with what the 2-4th grade students were doing. The focus is for students to be exposed to the different types of tests and the five components of fitness. (muscular strength,muscular endurance, flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, and body composition.)
Fitness Testing(Grades 2-4)
Once students reach second grade their scores will be kept in the assessments portion of the district website. Fitness Testing Scores are uploaded to your child’s account. To find their scores first login to the school website. Then click on “assessments” and go down to “Physical Fitness Scores”. You can click on the tests you want to view and will be able to see their scores from 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Grade. If there is a score missing, it means that the student was absent on the day of the test or make-up, did not complete the test, or was on a medical excuse.
SCIENCE
Kindergarten: The kindergarteners did a fabulous job this year in science. They worked so very hard each day learning fun science concepts. I cannot wait to watch them grow in their science knowledge next year!
First Grade: The first graders had a wonderful year in science. They learned things from photosynthesis to metamorphosis. I am so very proud of all of them.
Second Grade: Second graders worked so very hard learning about science tools, the scientific method and matter this year. They are ready to go out and experiment. Watch your household items, they may ask to experiment with them this summer!
Third Grade: Third graders have turned into budding botanists, zoologists and meteorologists all in one year! They have gained extensive knowledge in all three units. Way to Go!
Fourth Grade: I cannot believe it is time to say goodbye. I have known most of my fourth graders since they were in kindergarten and have had the privilege of watching them grow into amazing scientists. I know they are all destined to accomplish great things. Good Luck in 5th Grade!
Have a SCIENTIFIC SUMMER!!
Kindergarteners made their own rainbow in science.
what's happening
@Highlands
Elementary School Specials Update
ART
Thank you for coming out to celebrate all of our artists at this year's Highlands Enchanted Glow Show.
Kindergarten artists are learning how to collaborate while creating large animals for our main hallway this summer. 1st graders are learning about weaving, first creating a paper weaving before working on their own creative weaving inspired by Judith Scott. 2nd graders are generating lots of creative ideas inspired by different careers in art.
3rd graders are completing a series of fun design challenges focusing on the principles of design to wrap up the year. 4th graders are completing their expressive performance art projects, working with their peers to create and photograph their tableaus that express what they care about. This creative project gives them ample artistic freedom.
Enjoy seeing all of the end results in your child’s end of year art portfolio.
library
We are in our final author/illustrator study for the year: Dan Santat. Students will be learning about Mr. Santat and exploring his books and illustrations.
2nd graders are beginning to learn about reliable sources of information and how to tell the difference between real and fake news.
3rd-4th graders are finishing up learning about new authors/books and will begin our makerspace unit which will take us until the end of the year.
Be on the lookout for our Summer Reading Website! It will be a one stop shop for all things reading this summer!
All library books need to be returned to the library no later than Wednesday March 27th! We need to ensure all books are accounted for before summer break!
Kindergarten students creating their perfect friend day!
music
Kindergarten is exploring the differences in rhythms, and using fun games and activities to identify, and use long and short sounds. They are also excited to start learning “Summer’s in the Air” for our end of the year assembly!
1st grade combines their knowledge of rhythm and steady beat to identify measures that have 2 beats in them! They are focusing on separating the beats into strong and weak, so that they can organize music through movement and play.
2nd grade is applying what they know about meter to the activities we are currently doing to organize music into measures that have 4 beats in them. They are showing where new measures begin by calling it out, but also by counting in their heads to stay with the beat!
3rd Grade has done a wonderful job learning about recorder, and the different concepts in music that are important to play an instrument. We are now closing out the year learning about all the different instrument families, how they get grouped together, and how to identify them based on sight and sound.
4th Grade has begun their journey into becoming song writers! Working with their partners, they are creating drum patterns, melodies, and putting everything we have learned this year together to create a song of their own. They will be performing for their classmates in the coming weeks!
physical education
Students are beginning their golf unit. During the unit, students will practice the basic skills of putting and chipping while using weighted plastic clubs. Students are taught the correct grip and hand placement, and how those impact the flight pattern of the ball. There is a lot more to the sport than just hitting a ball. Participants gain an understanding of the reasoning for different clubs and the action-reaction properties of different angles of the club. Environmental factors play a big role in golf and students learn how weather and terrain can impact their hit. Sportsmanship and safety play a key role as students learn how to manage emotions, practice golf etiquette, and show personal responsibility for their progress. The mini golf course enables students to put their putting skills to the test while trying to navigate difficult obstacles.
science
Kindergarten: The kindergarteners have just about concluded their unit on weather and the four seasons. We are ending with the best season of all SUMMER!
First Grade: The first graders released their butterflies this week. They did an awesome job observing each stage and writing in their butterfly journals.
Second Grade: Second graders learned all about molecules this week and how they look and act in each state of matter.
Third Grade: Third graders are working hard on completing their unit on weather. They have explored the different clouds, the water cycle, and extreme weather.
Fourth Grade: The fourth graders continue to work on completing their paper roller coaster by the test day. They are working on making the longest marble ride along with creating a great theme as well.
Third Graders are sketching and identifying the clouds they see outside.
stem
Check out our Seesaw Journal to see stem learning in action.
Kindergarteners are building and coding a bowling lane from Tinkrworks. They coded 3 pictures on the display. X for strike, / for spare and smiley face for some pins down.
1st graders are coding using an app called Kodable. They will program a fuzzbug to follow a path and collect stars. They will learn conditionals and loops in coding. They can customize their fuzzbug and code their pet.
2nd graders are building and coding a twirling teacup ride and a ferris wheel.
3rd graders are building and testing a self driving car using vex pieces. They can use an ipad app to drive it.
4th graders are using ozobots and coding them to play a bowling game.
what's happening
@Highlands
Elementary School Specials Update
art
All are invited to come celebrate the arts at the upcoming Enchanted Glow Garden during our School’s Open House on Thursday, May 14th.
Kindergarten is focusing on the foundational concept of the color spectrum and collaborating to create large animals.
1st graders are developing fine motor skills through the practical application of ruler skills in a paper weaving project. This will prepare them for an experimental weaving project. Donated weaving materials are welcome!
2nd graders are continuing finishing their art history journey, making contemporary art exhibition models. Their creative galleries are a wonderful demonstration of their idea generation skills.
3rd graders are experimenting with different methods of abstraction and putting the finishing touches on their detailed colored pencil compositions. 4th graders are using their print projects as a backdrop when presenting their final expressive “What I Care About” projects.
library
Kindergarten & 1st grade are working on finishing up our Book Madness bracket! This was our last week for our brackets and we will be voting next week to narrow down from the Final Four to our top TWO book choices!
2nd graders have been exploring poetry and even wrote their own acrostic poems which will be displayed throughout the library! We are finishing up our Book Madness bracket next week. We also did a scavenger hunt throughout the library to find clues & solve our spring riddle!
3rd-4th graders will continue to be exposed to new books and book talks as we learn how to find the perfect book just for “me.”
music
Kindergarten is still practicing their high and low sounds, but are also incorporating long and short sounds to their repertoire, being able to identify them, play them, and count them!
1st grade is performing patterns that they wrote with a partner for their classmates utilizing various concepts like rhythm (quarter note and eighth note), and recently have been exploring what music looks like when it is written out: staff, measures, meter, etc.
2nd grade is moving through the year quickly, learning about melody and how to incorporate it with rhythms and their knowledge of the music staff. They are organizing beats into measures, and identifying meter while performing.
3rd Grade is flying through recorder karate, learning concepts like key signature and how to play various pitches! We are now transitioning from playing the recorder, to learning about what instrument families are, and how to identify them, beginning with the recorder’s instrument family, the woodwinds!
4th Grade is playing their way through the end of the year, and will be beginning their final project: “I can songwrite”. Using all the concepts learned this year, students will work together to come up with song using their knowledge of melody, the staff, rhythms, and so much more!
physical education
Students in Grades 2,3, and 4 are currently participating in the spring Highlands Fitness Test. K and 1 are becoming familiar with these tests by practicing them. Their results will be used to identify areas for individual improvement in each skill area as well as teaching the students about creating attainable goals to motivate them. When Completed, all of the scores will be posted into the district portal so that both parents and students can compare their fall scores to the spring scores and view progress that each student has made throughout the year.
Science
Kindergarten: The kindergarteners are learning all about evaporation, condensation, precipitation and reservoirs! They are loving all of the fun experiments we are conducting about the water cycle.
First Grade: The first graders are having a blast watching the butterfly life cycle. Our caterpillars are working hard in their chrysalids and going through the process of metamorphosis.
Second Grade: Second graders are starting their matter unit this week. We will be exploring the three states of matter.
Third Grade: Third graders are great at predicting the weather! We are currently working on extreme weather and how to stay safe.
Fourth Grade: The fourth graders are working hard on their paper roller coasters. They are working on building the roller coaster with the longest marble ride and creating a theme for their roller coaster as well.
stem
Check out our Seesaw Journal to see stem learning in action.
Kindergarteners are learning about the science of force by playing golf and bowling using pushes and pulls.
1st graders are beginning to learn to code using an app called Kodable. They will program a fuzzbug to follow a path and collect stars. They will learn conditionals and loops in coding.
2nd graders are building and coding amusement park rides such as a swing and snack stand. They are using motors and sensors to activate the Legos.
3rd graders are building and testing a super car. It uses rubber bands, gears and a knob to wind up the car. We will measure distance traveled in inches.
4th graders are learning how to code the accelerometer to create a flight simulator on the circuit board. Next we are coding a remote control to activate lights and sound on the circuit board.
what's happening
@Highlands
Elementary School Specials Update
Look at all of the learning that is happening during Specials!
ART
All are invited to come celebrate the arts at the upcoming WSCAE Art Expo on April 25th from 10-2pm at the Oak Park Cheney Mansion. Highlands Elementary will have 12 artists with work on display! https://wscaeartist.weebly.com/
Kindergarteners are creating bug hotels for our upcoming Enchanted Glow Garden art show! 1st graders are sharpening their observation skills by drawing plants and creating beautiful still lifes. 2nd graders are continuing their art history journey and creating a contemporary art exhibition design. 3rd graders are experimenting with different methods of abstraction and putting the finishing touches on their detailed colored pencil compositions. 4th graders are generating ideas for an expressive print project.
Save the Date for our end of year Art Show!
Enchanted Glow Garden, Thursday, May 14th
Library
April is School Library Month and we are celebrating all month long! We are so lucky to have a beautiful library and a budget that allows us to build an amazing library collection filled with so many adventures and so much knowledge! On Friday April 10th, the library hosted staff members to visit the library and view all of the new books that are being added to our collection
K-2 is celebrating the library by working on a collaborative mural that we will showcase in the library for years to come. We are also reading our way through our Book Madness bracket.
3rd-4th graders are celebrating the library by working on fun library themed activities. We are also hard at work learning how to find safe & reliable sources as well as learning the differences between real photographs and photos that have been altered.
MUSIC
Kindergarten is learning how to play high and low sounds on the xylophone, and are now starting to incorporate these sounds with rhythmic building blocks!
1st grade is performing patterns that they wrote with a partner for their classmates utilizing various concepts like rhythm (quarter note and eighth note) and Mi Sol and La! They will be moving forward to counting beats and how they work in music to create these rhythmic patterns!
2nd grade is finishing a project where they are tasked with collaborating with their peers to create a short song on the xylophone! They will be performing these songs using the sounds they know, rhythms and beat, and their voices!
3rd Grade is flying through recorder karate, learning concepts like key signature and how to play various pitches! They will be using these skills and concepts as we shift into instrument families in the coming weeks.
4th Grade has begun to utilize dynamics in their playing/singing, and will be using these skills in the coming weeks as they begin their journey as song writers! They will be incorporating all their knowledge to put together songs of their creation.
(2nd Grade Practicing rhythms)
Physical Education
Students in Grades 2,3, and 4 are currently participating in the spring Highlands Fitness Test. K and 1 are becoming familiar with these tests by practicing them. Their results will be used to identify areas for individual improvement in each skill area as well as teaching the students about creating attainable goals to motivate them. When Completed, all of the scores will be posted into the district portal so that both parents and students can compare their fall scores to the spring scores and view progress that each student has made throughout the year.
science
Kindergarten: The kinders are learning all about storms and are ready to explore the water cycle.
First Grade: The first graders are ready to watch metamorphosis happen right in front of their eyes. Our caterpillars are here and ready to show the first graders how they change into each unique stage. Ask your first grader to sing the insect song to you!
Second Grade: Second graders are so busy testing candy in our fun candy experiments. They are becoming scientific method experts.
Third Grade: Third graders are meteorologists in training! They are tracking the weather, learning about clouds, storms and the water cycle.
Fourth Grade: The fourth graders are becoming force experts. They are learning all about contact and non contact forces. They will put their knowledge to the test when working on their paper roller coasters.
stem
Check out our Seesaw Journal to see stem learning in action.
Kindergarteners are learning about the life cycle of a butterfly and making chromatography butterflies.
1st graders should be bringing back their plant monitor on their assigned day. Watch for an email. They are building with Legos. We have been making tightrope walkers and sail cars. Next they will learn how to code using an app called Kodable.
2nd graders are building and coding amusement park rides with Legos. They made the fast lane entrance and a carousel. Next is a swing.
3rd graders are building a pulley system to rescue an astronaut that fell into a crater.
4th graders are learning how to use and code the touchpads on the circuit board to light up and play sounds. Next they will code the accelerometer to create a flight simulator.
what's happening
@Highlands
Elementary School Specials Update
ART
All Highlands students are invited to enjoy the upcoming WSCAE Art Expo on April 25th from 10-2pm at the Oak Park Cheney Mansion. Highlands Elementary will have 12 artists with work on display!
Kindergarten artists are developing their observation skills by drawing natural objects and building a nature collection. 1st graders are channeling their inner Basquiat, creating vibrant mixed media artworks. 2nd graders have traveled back 100 years to learn about the modern art movement. They are creating “Living Your Best Life” collages inspired by Matisse. 3rd graders are experimenting with different methods of abstraction. Remember to admire their amazing clay faces on display in the main hallway all spring! 4th graders are diving into the world of printmaking! And don't miss their incredible clay pool float sculptures, also on display in the main hallway all spring!
Library
The winners for the 2026 Monarch and Bluestem reading list were announced this week and students in grades K-4 were so excited to see that the books we voted for were the winners! The 2026 Monarch award goes to Claude: the True Story of a White Alligator written by Emma Bland Smith and the 2026 Bluestem award goes to Escape at 10,000 Feet by Tom Sullivan. It is such a joy to see our students reactions when their favorite book wins!
3rd grade has been learning about staying safe online while 4th grade is digging into how to determine the difference between real and fake news. We will continue both of these units into April to ensure our students are prepared for the digital world.
Music
Kindergarten has begun to not only identify high and low sounds, but also how to play them on barred instruments! This is also done in conjunction with their knowledge of tempo, steady beat, and will soon start learning about long vs short sounds (Rhythms).
1st grade is wrapping up their first in class project using xylophones to play/create their own patterns using pitches and rhythms that they know. They will be performing for their classmates this week, and moving forward with new skills soon!
2nd grade is quickly hearing and performing using all their rhythms and pitches that they have learned, and will be applying these skills to instruments such as drums and xylophones soon!
3rd Grade is quickly mastering various skills, rhythms, and belts in their Recorder Karate journey. We will soon be taking their instrumental knowledge and applying it to the instrument families very soon!
4th Grade performed a beautiful concert this past week, ushering the joy and warmth of Spring through music! Thank you to all who were able to attend, and for making the 4th Grade Spring concert a success.
Physical Education
Badminton- The K/1 students are provided an opportunity to work exclusively on hand/eye coordination by understanding how to hit an object by using an implement. The Kindergartners use a shorter racket, which makes hitting easier because of its closer proximity to the body. We also start with balloons because of their slow descent and the larger target that they create. Towards the end of the unit, the students will advance to the birdies when they are ready. Again, focus at this skill level is based primarily on repetition and practice.
During the badminton unit, the students in grades 2-4 learn about several different types of shots used in the game of badminton. These shots include the flick serve, drive serve, drop shot, net clear, overhead clear, and smash. After perfecting these basic skills students learn about the rules related to the game of badminton for both singles and doubles play. Near the end of the unit students participate in a 2 vs 2 tournament where they are able to demonstrate what they have learned early on in the unit.
Science
Kindergarten: The kinders are making their cloud people and learning all about different clouds.
First Grade: The first graders are very excited for our next animal group, THE INSECTS! When we get back from spring break we will have our very own insects to watch metamorphosize in front of our eyes.
Second Grade: Second graders are knee deep completing fun experiments using the scientific method. We love using everyday items to experiment with in science.
Third Grade: Third graders are ready to explore the weather. They will learn about extreme weather, weather tools, and the water cycle.
Fourth Grade: The fourth graders are jumping feet first into force and motion. Bring on the roller coasters!
STEM
Check out our Seesaw Journal to see stem learning in action.
Kindergarteners are learning how to code commands. They are using a Codeapillar app to make their caterpillar move forward, left, and right. Ask your child about their favorite command. I love the swim, dig, and flashlight command. Some are beginning to code our codeapillar and bee robots.
1st graders should be bringing back their plant monitor on their assigned day. Watch for an email. They are building with Legos. We have been making tightrope walkers and sail cars.
2nd graders are learning how to code electronic pieces with our Lego kits. They are making Legos spin with motors and turning on lights.
3rd graders are on a mission to Mars and building spaceships and rovers for their astronaut using vex pieces.
4th graders are learning how to use and code the touchpads on the circuit board to light up and play sounds.
what's happening
@Highlands
Elementary School Specials Update
March is here and all of the Special classes are buzzing with learning!
art
Kindergarten artists are honing their observation skills by drawing natural objects and building a nature collection. 1st graders are creating mixed media art inspired by the artist Basquiat. 2nd grade has been practicing figure drawing and will soon be creating cut paper collages with the theme “living your best life” inspired by Matisse . 3rd grade will soon be starting a project that will challenge them to creatively blend realism and abstraction. Don't forget to check out the clay faces on display in the main hallway all spring! 4th graders are embarking on a print and performance art project centered around the theme "What I Care About." Also, be sure to see the amazing clay pool float sculptures on display in the main hallway all spring!
Library
We have started BOOK MADNESS in the library! A bracket of 16 books has been made for K/1 and for second grade. Each week we will read two books and vote for our favorite. At the end of the bracket, we will have chosen our grand champion!
3rd/4th graders are participating in our Series Showdown where they will learn about two chapter book series each week and vote for their favorite. New this year is that our series bracket is also genre based so students will be exposed to all of the genres available to read. Book madness is a great way to introduce new books to our students and get them excited to read while using their voice to vote.
music
Kindergarten is singing their way through the year to the steady beat, and are now starting to coordinate that with their understanding of tempo, and high vs low sounds to create songs and melodies.
1st grade is booming with music, as they now have a deeper understanding of various rhythms, and how they help piece music together. This week they are learning about the xylophone, and how they can use it to create patterns using their knowledge of solfege and rhythms.
2nd grade is moving forward in their musical journeys, and are beginning to understand and play new rhythms (16th Notes). They will eventually in the coming weeks begin singing patterns with “Re” in the major scale, and improvise with the new rhythms they’re learning.
3rd Grade is continuously making progress towards their black belts in Recorder Karate, and have been working hard to master various instrumental skills on their recorders. Some of these skills are breathing, articulation, and knowledge of rhythms and the staff.
4th Grade is excited to perform at their 4th Grade Spring Concert on March 19th! They are using their musical knowledge to apply dynamics and depth to their concert music, and using their skills with rhythms and the scale to help them learn and memorize their show. We cannot wait to see you there!
Physical Education
The students began their jump rope unit. The skill of jumping rope is not only a great cardiovascular workout, but also increases coordination, rhythm, and timing. The students gain familiarity and comfort with the ropes while continuing to focus on the correlation of the movement of jumping with the timing of the rope. Continued stress is placed on creating small circles with their arms, standing straight, and using small controlled jumps(like a spring) to help build the timing involved in jumping the rope on a consistent basis. The 3rd and 4th graders use a student-centered approach that allows them to progress at their own pace and move onto the more challenging skills when they are ready. Students are provided the opportunity to practice over 20 different skills that challenge them to use different movements, rhythms, and patterns in order to accomplish! This unit is all about practice and improvement, which helps instill confidence and hopefully creates a lifelong passion for movement.
Science
Kindergarten: The kinders are rocking their four basic clouds! We are making cotton clouds and cloud people too.
First Grade: The first graders are excited to learn all about the group our classroom pet is in. We are diving into the wonderful world of amphibians and Froggy is a great learning tool to teach this group.
Second Grade: Second graders are having a blast with conducting candy experiments using the scientific method. We have a fun St. Patrick’s Day scientific method experiment in two weeks too.
Third Grade: Third graders are finishing up their chapter and gearing up for an upcoming test. The next unit is on weather!
Fourth Grade: The fourth graders are just about done with their unit on animals. They are then going to get ready to jump into the wonderful world of force and motion! Bring on the roller coasters!!!Add more great content here!!
stem
Check out our Seesaw Journal to see stem learning in action.
Kindergarteners are learning how to code commands. They are using a Codeapillar app to make their caterpillar move forward, left, and right. Ask your child about their favorite command. I love the swim, dig, and flashlight command.
1st graders should be watching their plant monitor to see what their plant needs. A happy face for H20 means it needs no water. 1st graders are back to building and testing with Legos. We just finished launching cars and measuring distance in inches.
2nd graders are building the smart lamp and designing the sides to customize their lamp. They will be coming home soon.
3rd graders are learning the vex piece names. We built JOSH and labeled the parts on a blueprint.
4th graders are learning how to code LED lights to turn on one at a time and flash on/off. Next we will add sound to make a siren with lights.
what's happening
@Highlands
Elementary School Specials Update
March is going to be a LUCKY month in all of our Specials classes!
Art
This year Highlands will have a special GLOW SHOW, in place of our traditional Art Fair. The Art Fair will be back next year, but we have decided to do something a little different for 2026!
Kindergarten artists have been doing fantastic things in art class as they begin using their observation skills to look closely at objects starting with an apple still life. 1st graders are creating mixed media art inspired by the artist Basquiat. 2nd grade had been busy completing their collaborative renaissance inspired fountains for our end of year glow show! 3rd grade will soon be starting a project that will challenge them to creatively blend realism and abstraction. Don't forget to check out the clay faces on display in the main hallway soon! 4th graders are carefully painting their pool float sculptures which will be on display at our end of year glow show!
Library
Thanks to our extremely generous Education Foundation, our elementary school hosted author/illustrator Troy Cummings this week! After each presentation, Troy challenged the students to either create their own monster by mixing together their favorite animal with something they could find in the refrigerator or writing their own story using tips from his book Can I Be Your Dog?.
In the month of March, students will be reading books from our Book Madness brackets and voting for our favorite books. First & second graders will be voting for their favorite Monarch nominated book that we have read this year and third & fourth graders will be voting on their favorite Bluestem nominated book.
Music
Kindergarten is constantly strengthening their understanding of steady beat, high and low sounds, loud and quiet sounds, and being able to showcase these concepts through body movement and play. They’ve begun to incorporate tempo into their vocabulary, and will soon start to tell the difference between rhythm and steady beat.
1st grade is singing confidently and recognizing patterns in music that utilize La Sol and Mi (solfège). They are also creating/improvising melodies using these sounds alongside quarter note and eighth note rhythms, and will soon improvise using barred instruments.
2nd grade is swiftly getting through concepts, now being able to sing and hear patterns using Do Mi Sol and La. They are also becoming chefs, creating their own rhythm menus utilizing their own ideas on rhythmic patterns to assist them!
3rd Grade is excited to perform at their 3rd grade concert this Thursday, February 26th! They’ve been working very hard on learning the various recorder techniques, and applying their knowledge of the staff to learn all their vocal music. We can’t wait to see you there!
4th Grade has begun to learn music for their Spring 4th grade concert taking place at the end of March, so be on the lookout for more information soon! They’ve also been strengthening their understanding of dynamics, and their application in both music, and the real world.
Physical Education
The kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade focused on Yoga while the 2nd-4th grade students had a daily choice to participate in yoga or fitness.
Yoga provides the opportunity for students to differentiate their participation by challenging their bodies at their own ability levels. It empowers students with the skills of relaxing their body to allow for maximum muscular effectiveness, while removing the fear of competition that can exclude from students from their willingness to participate. Physically, yoga enhances flexibility, strength, coordination, and body awareness while also developing an inner connection to oneself and the natural world that surrounds them. When children learn techniques for self-health, relaxation, and inner fulfillment, they can navigate life’s challenges with a little more ease. This unit introduces students to the basic movements in yoga and progresses to more difficult and complex positions.
The Fitness Unit focused on muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and/or cardiovascular fitness. Each lesson focused on a specific area of the body(i.e. core, upper body, lower body, etc…) , but also utilized complex movements that involved multiple areas of the body. Lessons were extremely challenging, but also allowed for students to work at their own pace and ability level.
science
Kindergarten: The kinders are now learning about the season of spring. They are focusing on the four types of clouds: stratus, cumulus, cirrus, and cumulonimbus.
First Grade: The first graders are now entering the world of birds and are getting ready to make their penguins! Some classes completed their penguin feather experiment this week. Ask your child why penguin feathers do not get wet!
Second Grade: Second graders are ready to do a ton of fun experiments using the scientific method.
Third Grade: Third graders are finishing up their chapter and gearing up for an upcoming test. The next unit is on weather!
Fourth Grade: The fourth graders are just about done with their unit on animals. They are then going to get ready to jump into the wonderful world of force and motion! Bring on the roller coasters!!!
stem
Check out our Seesaw Journal to see stem learning in action.
Kindergarteners are learning how to code commands. They are using a Codeapillar app to make their caterpillar move forward, left and right.
1st graders are potting their plants. They finally arrived! They will bring home their plant monitor they coded to test when their plant needs water or sunlight.
2nd graders are coding music to show emotions on their smart lamp. Using they remote control, press 1 for happy music, 2 for sad music and 3 for angry music.
3rd graders are beginning to build with vex kits. They are engineering tools to build with. We are exploring the pin tool to pull, push and lift connected vex pieces.
4th graders are learning about circuit boards and coding Led lights to turn on/off and change colors.
what's happening
@Highlands
Elementary School Specials Update
Take a peak at what is happening in Specials classes!
Art
Kindergarten artists will soon be using observation to create a still life with oil pastel as they wrap up their subject matter in art learning experience. 1st graders continue to generate their own art ideas while exploring printmaking and collage. 2nd have time traveled to the Renaissance and have transformed into fountain designing architects. 3rd grade artists are working hard on their clay face projects. 4th graders are dreaming up their clay pool float projects. It is so exciting to see how much their clay skills have progressed throughout the years.
Library
We are getting ready to host author Troy Cummings on 2/24/26 thanks to our generous District 106 Education Foundation. We have been hard at work in the library learning about the author and studying his illustrations.
During the month of February the library will be highlighting books to celebrate Black History Month, the Winter Olympics, as well as our multicultural collection.
Kindergarten students are working hard at distinguishing the difference between fiction and nonfiction as well as learning a few ASL signs to help us remember the differences.
1st-2nd grade students are continuing to read through our state nominated reading list.
3rd-4th grade students are focusing on our Bluestem nominated books.
music
Kindergarten is moving to the steady beat quickly through the year! While they are still exploring music through singing and play, they are also utilizing a variety of instruments to do so. Some examples are claves (Rhythm Sticks) and hand drums.
1st grade is strengthening their understanding of melodic patterns using solfege, and more specifically are utilizing Sol and Mi to understand these patterns in music. We’ve also begun putting names and syllables to our rhythms (Quarter note and Eighth note) to help understand the correlation between rhythm and steady beat in music.
2nd grade is excited to be back in music class learning about different patterns they can sing and play using high and low sounds. We’ve also begun a quick review of rhythms that last for more than one beat (Half note) in order to gain a better understanding of music.
3rd Grade is hard at work preparing for their February concert which is taking place on Thursday, February 26th. An email has been sent to all 3rd grade families as a save the date, so please be on the lookout for more information! Additionally, they have been hard at work learning and understanding the techniques that go into playing an instrument: The Recorder!
4th Grade Band, Orchestra, and Choir performed last week at the 4th Grade Beginner Ensemble Concert, and did a wonderful job! In music class, 4th grade is continuing to learn about the different types of dynamics that you can find in music, and are also going to begin preparing for their 4th grade concert later this year.
physical education
(K-1)- The K/1 students are being introduced to the fundamental skills involved in hockey. This unit provides students practice with hand-eye coordination, problem solving, communication, responsibility, and obviously exercise. The K/1 students use a soft foam hockey stick. These types of sticks have a soft foam end that keeps the kids safe while also building confidence and self-esteem. Stress is placed on hand placement, stance, and how to effectivity swing a hockey stick. The students practice hitting and retrieving a soft ball while keeping control and “absorbing” the contact with their stick. We constantly reiterate the importance of being safe by explaining why they should keep the stick low and thus avoid “high sticking”. The students increase their understanding of spatial awareness and responsibility by engaging in the act of swinging an implement in this safe and effective manner. At the K/1 level, students practice the skills of dribbling, passing, and shooting at a target. Practice in these skill areas progress by participating in hockey lead-up games and activities towards the end of the unit.
(Grades 2-4)- Students began the unit by focusing on skills of stick-handling. Stress is placed on keeping the puck close to the stick by using short taps and moving the stick side to side. While practicing passing, students gain an understanding of the pressure and angles used to pass with, along with how to absorb the energy from the puck when receiving it. During the shooting lesson, students practice trying to hit a target using a slap shot and wrist shot. The understanding of the type of shot to use and the situation to use it is explained to the students as a means of providing them with a better understanding of the difference between the two.
Science
Kindergarten: The kinders are experimenting with temperature, making marshmallow snowflakes and having a blast learning all about winter!
First Grade: The first graders are now entering the wonderful world of reptiles and are getting ready to make their alligators!
Second Grade: Second graders finished their science tool unit and are ready to start their exciting unit on the Scientific Method. We are starting off with a Valentine experiment.
Third Grade: The third graders are finishing up their adaptation centers. They will then learn about food chains and food webs!
Fourth Grade: Highlands has been infested with amazing Junk Bugs! The fourth graders did a fabulous job on their bugs. We are finishing up our vertebrate lesson and then learn about how animals learn!
STEM
Check out our Seesaw Journal to see stem learning in action.
The Museum of Science and Industry has some cool, curiosity camps for kids. Here is the link to check them out. Curiosity Day Camps | Griffin MSI
Kindergarteners made a weather tool. They made a windsock and tested wind direction. Next, they will learn about windstorms and make a tornado safe home.
1st graders made a Lego dance party with gears and are now building a Lego hockey game.
2nd graders are coding colors to show emotions on their smart lamp. Using they remote control, press 1 for happy colors, 2 for sad colors and 3 for angry colors.
3rd graders are building and coding with Legos. They are making a Lego pinball game.
4th graders are learning about digital citizenship. They are playing Kind Kingdom and making Internet safety posters. We graphed their favorite Internet Safety games. Ask your child what their favorite game was.
