Dear Thacher Families,

As a reminder, there is no school Monday in observance of Columbus Day/Indigenous People's Day. We hope you enjoy the long weekend!

Frank Rich, Principal

Hello Thacher Elementary School families,

Things have been off to a roaring start in the music classroom at TES. In these first few weeks of school, I have been blown away by the students’ ability to learn about and play new instruments, improve their singing voices through a variety of songs, hone their movement and dancing skills, and express their own musical creativity via improvisation, composition, and story-telling. Some highlights include…

Kindergarten singing with some of our puppet friends including Bobo the Tennis Ball and our mischievous Copycat! We have also played non-pitched percussion instruments like tambourines and egg shakers, moved our bodies with flowy motion by ourselves, with a partner, and with scarves, and we have also learned how to cooperate with one another through singing games. Song stories and freeze dances seem to be student favorites as well!

Grades 1 and 2 are honing their singing, saying, playing, and dancing skills. I have been blown away by how focused and musical each class has been as we begin our mallet instrument lessons (Thacher is fortunate to have a variety of xylophones, metallophones, and glockenspiels). Students have been working on using their singing voices more efficiently and we have begun assigning vocabulary to our movements like “free” or “bound” motions or by moving in “straight” or “curvy” pathways.

Grades 3 and 4 are really showing me the fruits of our labor: students have learned several circle folk dances and are ALREADY at a point where they can lead the dance after I show them the initial steps. Each class is also working to develop a more “upper elementary” vocal sound–particularly our grade four chorus, who are breezing through our Winter Singalong repertoire (grade 4 families, I’m also pleased to report that we have a date and time for our Winter Singalong. Please join us Thursday, December 19 at 6:30 PM in the Thacher auditorium. More detailed information to follow). Finally, I have truly never had a group of students already making such smart and musical sounds on recorders this early in the year. Recently, classes have used their recorders and other percussion instruments to accompany the story The Pirate from Alvin Schwartz’s book In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories. The kids loved it and I loved watching them be so creative!

Finally, our Insights classrooms have gotten the opportunity to play Mr. Chippo’s ukulele, egg shakers, tambourines, and a few lucky students have even gotten to play our log drum. We have sung fun songs and moved to a steady beat while learning about parts of our bodies. We have even used songs to reinforce concepts like counting and colors.

Truly, I tell you it has been so much fun watching your kids grow and learn these past few weeks… Your children have done some amazing work! Please enjoy some photo evidence below…

Musically yours, 

Mr. Chippo

Join parents of other English Learners for an ELPAC meeting on October 17, 2024, at 5:30 PM. Parents/Guardians who attend will learn about school communication, school calendars, and the services available to students in the English Learner's program.   

• If you need an interpreter, you must inform your student's ELL Teacher by Tuesday, October 15, 2024.  

• Childcare will NOT be provided for this meeting. Children may attend and sit quietly at the table with their parents in the meeting. 

• Each family who attends will have the chance to win a GIFT CARD! 

• Click the link for more information: https://www.smore.com/n/um3yf 

Visit the APS Community Fliers page to view the most recent events, opportunities, and resources happening within the Attleboro Community. 

October 14: No School (Columbus Day)

October 17: ELPAC Meeting (see flyer above)

October 23: Strategic Plan Focus Group (See flyer above)