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May 2025 Newsletter

DATES TO REMEMBER

Teacher Appreciation Week - 5/5 - 5/9

Art Show - 5/8

School Board Meeting – 5/12

MIPTO Meeting - 5/13

No School, Memorial Day - 5/26

For more details visit - Matoska Calendar

ATTEND THE MATOSKA ART SHOW - May 8th!


Thursday, May 8th

5:00 - 7:00 pm in the Matoska gym 

Come see all the amazing art Matoska students have created as part of the art enrichment program this year. Every student will have their art displayed at the show.


There will also be silent auction student-made art for sale, art activities and Carbone's pizza. All profits from the art sale and dinner go to supporting the art enrichment program.


Art Show Volunteers Needed!    If interested, sign up here >


IB INQUIRERS

A note from Susan Sedro - IB Coordinator


Developing Critical Thinking Skills in Everyday Life

The second Learner Profile Attribute we reviewed this year was how to be a thinker.  Here is the official International Baccalaureate definition of Thinker. We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyze and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions. 


Our younger PYP students do not readily understand that definition, so we use this child-friendly version in our lessons.

  • We use our thinking skills to solve problems.

  • We don’t wait for other people to fix a problem; we take action. 

  • We think about what is the right thing to do.


We played Twenty Questions in class. Students tended to guess wildly. We challenged them to ask big or thick questions like these. Is it alive? Is it in this classroom? Is it in the left half of the classroom? Would it fit in our trash bin? Many students were able to refine their questioning techniques and were then able to win the game. The following week, I asked children how they had been thinkers over the past week. They told me about children planning parties, finding lost items, solving math problems, and designing block towers. 


Here are a few activities you can do together to promote the development of thinking skills. 

  • Play logic puzzles and brain teasers together.

  • Have your child be involved in planning the logistics of activities, such as deciding upon a menu, making the grocery list, and cooking the meal together.

  • Encourage your child to think of alternative solutions to everyday problems.

  • Have regular discussions where your child needs to justify their opinions with reasons and evidence.


Reading together can be a great discussion starter around this attribute. Here are a few suggestions:

Anything is Possible by Giulia Belloni and Marco Trevisan

We used this book in our K-2 lessons to see how planning, perseverance, and trial and error helped this duo design a flying machine. 

The Floating Field by Scott Riley

We used this true story with our 3-5 grade students. It tells of how children on a small island in Thailand took charge to fix a problem. They were resourceful and used trial and error to build a floating soccer field.

The Boring Book by Shinsuke Yoshitake

This book won the New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year in 2019. It is about someone thinking about being bored. It is humorous and philosophical. 

Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective by Donald J. Sobol


These small chapter books have a different mystery to solve in each chapter. They are aimed at grades 2-5.

I hope these resources help you have fun developing your child’s thinking, planning, and problem-solving skills.



TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK

Teacher Appreciation Week is May 5th - 9th and a chance to recognize the hard work and impact of our teachers. This week, you can:


  • Thank your child’s teacher with notes of gratitude or a gift.

  • Share your appreciation for teachers on social media using #ThankATeacher

  • Advocate for policies that support our educators



BOGO Book Fair May 19 - 23 in the Matoska Maker Space


At our school’s upcoming Fair, for every book purchased, your eager readers can choose another book for FREE!


Here’s what you need to know:

  • Family Shopping nights are: Tuesday, May 20 and Thursday May 22 from 3:00 to 5:45 pm.

  • We accept cash and e-Wallet—set up your child’s digital payment account. Before the Fair, set up e-Wallet for worry-free, cash-free purchases.

  • If you can’t make it to the Fair, then shop at our school’s Online Book Fair starting May 19th. All orders ship directly to your home, and shipping is free for book orders over $25. Your online orders will also benefit our school. Note: Buy One, Get One pricing is not applicable online.



Lastly, we are looking for volunteers to make this possible. Please sign up using the link below.


JOIN THE MATOSKA PTO BOARD

Want to make a difference at Matoska? Join our PTO Board!


The Matoska International Parent-Teacher Organization (MIPTO) is at the heart of our school community, fostering a strong connection between families, teachers, and students through community events, fundraising, teacher appreciation activities and funding classroom needs. Your involvement helps enrich your child's education and strengthens our school community. The time commitment and roles are flexible based on what you’re able to bring to the table (between 2-10 hours per month). 


Meetings occur monthly on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6-7 PM (both in person and virtual). (If childcare is an issue, let us know—we’ve been there!)


Interested? Complete the candidate form at https://www.matoskaparents.com/joinboard




MATOSKA PRIDE SHOP


Check out the gear in the Matoska Pride Shop. Order here >










 
 
 

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