November 2013

Mrs. Shaunie Critchfield is a special education technician in Mrs. Shelley Thomas' kindergarten class. She and her husband live in Lake Shore and have two sons and two daughters. Avery, in fifth-grade is the last of her children to go to Brockbank but they all attended here. Shaunie likes the outdoors, jogging, hiking, camping, watching sporting events, spending time with her kids, fishing, and biking. She also likes sewing, reading, canning, making crafts, baking, and mowing the lawn.

In art, Mrs Brenda Dudley taught students how to make friendship bracelets out of yarn. The students really enjoyed making and showing them off. Mrs. Dudley always has fun and creative projects for the students to do in her class.

Brockbank first-graders learned about the first Thanksgiving by making colored bead bracelets and retelling the story of how the Pilgrims came to America. Each bead in the bracelet represented a part of the story.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013, Brockbank kindergarten students celebrated Thanksgiving by having their annual Thanksgiving Feast. Each student had a specific job to do to help put the meal together and they learn the importance of working together. The students really enjoyed eating a meal that they helped to make!

Brockbank first-graders recently finished reading the book, "Turkey Trouble" written by Wendi J. Silvano. In the story a turkey is in trouble, bad trouble, it is almost Thanksgiving and he is the main course. Farmer Jake is looking for him. Turkey has an idea what if he doesn't look like a turkey? What if he looks like another animal instead? First-graders then got to use their imaginations and pick a disguise for Turkey so Farmer Jake won't recognize him.

Brockbank Elementary is happy to share some fun ways on "How to Cook a Turkey" according to second graders. Students had a creative writing assignment which lets the students use their imagination with no prompting from the teacher as far as content, they are able to write their own ideas. Below is some ideas of "How to Cook a Turkey" by Brockbank second grade students in their writing:

Brockbank's staff spotlight is Mrs. Sheri Gappmayer. Sheri is new to Brockbank's staff this year, she is a classroom aide for first, fourth, and fifth grades. She and her husband live in Lake Shore and have three sons and two daughters, all of which attend or have attended elementary school at Brockbank. Sheri likes gardening, camping, reading, and cooking. Some of her favorites are the color- blue, Twix candy bars, taco salad, and fresh lime drinks, listening to "Lady Antebellum", books, "The Great and Terrible Series", the movie, "The Cutting Edge", and eating at Dalton's.

Brockbank third graders were thrilled to receive dictionaries donated by Central Bank this week. Mr. Glen Roach is a part of the Spanish Fork Rotary Club who has a goal of placing a dictionary in the hands of every third grade student. Each student put his/her name in the dictionary and is encouraged to use it during classwork and also at home. Mr. Roach has sponsored Brockbank Elementary for several years and we appreciate his continued support of our students. Third graders look forward every year to Mr. Glen Roach's visit and the dictionaries he brings.

November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered the 272 word Gettysburg Address on the battlefield near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. In the battle at Gettysburg over ten thousand Americans lost their lives. This famous speech was given at the dedication of the cemetery for Union soldiers who fought and died in the battle. In the address President Lincoln expressed the importance for Americans to remember the sacrifice made by these soldiers. Even though the speech was barely 3 minutes it has become one of American's most famous speeches of all time.