Recycling is in full gear! February 16th starts our recycling event!

February 16th through February 28th we will be collecting cell phones, batteries, ink cartridges and plastic bags!  There will be collection boxes in the front hallway.  Remember our motto Reduce, reuse and recycle!

We have started our worm composting to help with our MacArthur gardens.  The students were very excited about these little critters and decided to be “aunts” and “uncles” to our new friends!

Recorder club!

Welcome to the Recorder Club page (Record-Break-Ers)!  Record-Break-Ers is a great opportunity to learn about all the different types of recorder:  bass, tenor, alto, soprano, sopranino, and garklein.   

We will meet every Monday, starting September 12^th.  Perfect attendance is very important.  There will be a perfect attendance pizza party on December 14^th, and only those members with perfect attendance will be invited.

 We will be performing with Voices That Rock (Chorus Club) and MacJammers on Monday, December 12^th.  Be sure to mark your calendars!

MacJammers!

Welcome to the MacJammers© club page!  In MacJammers, we play instruments such as the bass bars, xylophones, metallophones, glockenspiels, LOTS of drums, and homemade instruments!  We also learn how to play these instruments properly to make a beautiful musical sound.

 MacJammers meets every Thursday during lunch/recess, starting September 8^th.  Perfect attendance is very important.  There will be a perfect attendance pizza party on December 14^th, and only those members with perfect attendance will be invited.

 We will be performing with Voices That Rock (Chorus Club) and Record-Break-Ers (Recorder Club) on Monday, December 12^th.  Be sure to mark your calendars!

Chorus!

Welcome to the Chorus Club page (Voices That Rock)!  In VTR, we sing a lot of fun hit songs.  We also learn how to take care of and use our voices using cool vocal warm-ups.

Voices That Rock meets every Wednesday, starting September 7th.  Perfect attendance is very important.  There will be a perfect attendance pizza party on December 14^th, and only those members with perfect attendance will be invited. 

 We will be performing with MacJammers and Record-Break-Ers (Recorder Club) on Monday, December 12^th.  Be sure to mark your calendars!

2011-2012 Chess Club Information

Macarthur Elementary has had the privilege of having Rich Whitman teaching at our Chess Club for many years. Mr.Whitman took the chess club to a State Championship in both 1995 and 1998 and has taught with Yury Shulman in his chess camps for several years.  Mr. Whitman will once again teach our Chess Club starting September 26.  There are going to be a few changes to the club this year that we hope will make the club better and enable more kids to get the experience of playing in a rated chess tournament. Old players can have the first opportunity to sign up at the September 10 tournament. Open registration will be held at a mandatory parent meeting - Monday, September 12 at 7 PM in the MacArthur Library.  We need to have all parents present in order to ensure we have enough volunteers to run the club in the most beneficial way to the children.  Parents will need to sign up to help supervise a few meetings or join a committee for us to run a successful club with a winning season.  Supervising is by far the most important job we need filled and is really very easy. 

The club fee will be $35* payable to MESCC.  The fee should be paid at the parent meeting.  It will cover:

 - Free instruction for 20 Monday sessions & free game analysis during Saturday tournaments

- Club tournaments

- Club t-shirt

- Pizza party at last session

- Awards – trophies to top 5 players in each section of the Winter Championship (medals for tiebreaks) 

* If this fee would be a financial burden, please speak to Claudia in the office.

Registration is limited to 40 students and will only be accepted at the September 10 tournament (we will have the supervision and committee sign up sheets available at the tournament) or the mandatory parent meeting on September 12.

Fine Arts and PE Club Opportunities

MacArthur is excited to offer a variety of club opportunities in the Fine Arts and PE areas during lunch and/or lunch recess. Please take time to read the club descriptions and talk with your child regarding his or her interest in participating in clubs.

The club preference sheet is due by Wednesday, August 31^st. Your child can rank order his or her choices. Our goal is for each child to receive his or her 1^st or 2^nd choice. Club sizes will be limited for student safety and enjoyment. It is possible for students to participate in more than one of these club offerings if space is available. Check your back pack mail on Friday, September 3^rd to see the clubs in which your child was able to be placed. 

Information on other club opportunities at MacArthur will be sent home in the coming weeks.

Clubes de Arte, Música y Educación Física

Clubes de Artes (Srta. Martin)

Club del periódico: de grado 3 hasta grado 6, durante el almuerzo. Los estudiantes participarán en la elaboración del “Mac Bear Times”, de publicación mensual. Los alumnos escribirán artículos, chistes y entrevistas. Elaborarán  comics, juegos e incluirán fotos. Los estudiantes participaran en todos los aspectos incluido la edición y formateado del mismo.

Club de Arte Primario: grados 1 y 2, durante el almuerzo. Estudiantes que están interesados en participar en actividades creativas son bienvenidos a este club. Trabajarán  en diferentes ‘áreas del Arte incluido elaboración de comics e ilustraciones. Trabajarán en grupos de amigos e individualmente.

Club de Mosaicos: grados 5 y 6, durante el almuerzo. Se trabajará en el diseño y elaboración de mosaicos. Los estudiantes trabajarán juntos para elaborar un mosaico que represente  a la escuela MacArthur, también aprenderán las normas de seguridad mientras crean sus propios mosaicos.

Club de Fotografía: grados 3 y 4, durante el almuerzo. Aprenderán los conceptos básicos sobre fotografía : manejo de cámara, tema y composición. Los estudiantes utilizarán cámaras digitales para tomar sus fotografías.

Clubes de Educación Física (Sra. Lenski)

Club de Marcha: grados 1 hasta grado 6, durante el recreo del almuerzo. El objetivo de este club es dar a los alumnos la oportunidad de desarrollar corazones y cuerpos sanos a través del ejercicio. Andarán a través de un paseo por detrás de la escuela a través de High Point Park y volverán al gimnasio para estirar.

Deportes de Equipo: grados 5 y 6, durante el almuerzo. Los alumnos participarán en una liga deportiva. Se ofrecen tres deportes a lo largo del año: otoño= fútbol, invierno=baloncesto y primavera=hockey hierba. Este club proporcionar  a los alumnos interesados en los deportes antes mencionados la oportunidad de jugar a un mayor nivel más competitivo aprendiendo más sobre juego y táctica.

Club del Salud en Invierno: grados 5 y 6, durante el almuerzo.  Este club es para los estudiantes que quieren aprender acerca de como mantener un estilo de vida saludable como hacer ejercicio y comer saludable.  Estudiantes van a comer almuerzo con Mrs. Lenski y hablar acerca de tipos de comidas saludables y tamaños de porciones.

Práctica Deportiva: grados 3 y 4, durante el almuerzo. Los alumnos participarán en el desarrollo de  destrezas y estrategias y juego lúdico. Se ofrecerán tres deportes: otoño: fútbol, invierno: baloncesto y primavera: unihockey- floorball. 

Clubes de Música (Srta. Bamzai)

Coro: grados 4 hasta 6, durante el almuerzo. Coro es un gran lugar para que nuestros alumnos se reúnan, charlen, rían y, por supuesto, canten!

MacJammers: grados 1 hasta 6, durante el almuerzo. MacJammer es una mezcla de percusión con xilófonos y  tambores.

Club de Flauta Dulce: grados 3 a 6, durante el almuerzo. El Club de Flauta es un lugar donde los estudiantes desde grado 3 a grado 6 pueden perfeccionar sus destrezas musicales aprendidas en la  clase de música. También aprenderán a tocar bajo, tenor, alto y soprano.

May 2011 News from the Mac Bloggers

                                                The May PBIS Assembly

Yay for May! As the children started filing in, Ms. Serafin’s class led us in the Mac Bear Chant in English. Ms. Harden and Ms. Heichel’s class also continued the chant in Spanish. Soon after, the Battle of the Books awards were announced. “The Triple A Readers” won a trophy at the District 54 Battle of the Books event.  Their trophy was held in front of the school for all to see. Say ‘Hooray’ to Alyssa Annika, and Anna for bringing the trophy home to MacArthur! Also, good luck next year to all Battle of the Books Members! Next, art awards were given to Jasmine T. and Jennifer S. for having their work on display at the Hoffman Estates Village Hall. The 1^st and 2^nd grade Dance Club danced to the song ‘Fireworks’.   Math Olympiads awards were given out too. Congrats to the ‘power of 5′ to Megha R. for winning a trophy, patch, pin, and a certificate. To end the awards, congrats to Joshua for succeeding wonderfully at the Special Olympics, and let’s give a big hand to Mrs. Lenski, his trainer! Students of the Month were announced and Bear Buck Winner were pulled as well. Students earned an extra recess on Friday for meeting their monthly goal.    A new goal for May was set: 8,750 Bear Bucks!  Good luck MacArthur students!!

Linda Gorham, the Miracle Worker

On Thursday, April 29th, Celebrate Me Day, MacArthur School was visited by story teller, Linda Gorham.  “Yay, exceptional, unexplainable” were some of yhe describing words given by the MacArthur students as they heard many world-famous stories told with expression and great fluency. Students heard the famous South African tale,  ”Abiyoyo”. They also listened to the Britian version of the 3 Little Pigs and a story from Iran and Greek. Parents check out Linda Gorham’s website for more information.                      

Linda Gorham, story teller, visits MacArthur School and Students

Celebrate Reading and Writing

At this miraculous event, children became authors and wrote many fabulous books in English and Spanish. Students and their families went around different rooms and picked up unique genres as the teacher in that room stamped their genre card. Also, Linda Gorham, the famous storyteller, recited stories for the children that came to this event. The Book Exchange held by Laura G. was wonderful as well, as students got to donate upto five books and exchange them later on. The Book Fair perked students and parents as well as it had a buy one, get one free offer and many books and other items as well. Hooray for Celebrate Reading and Writing!

Written by, Visvajit
Edited by, Ethan

Battle of the Books District Competitions

On Thursday, April 21st, 2011, MacArthur Battle of the Books students had the pleasure of competing against other District 54 schools to see who would remember the most information of the 15 wonderful books they all have read this year. One fabulous 3rd and 4th grade team and one 5th and 6th grade team magnificently buzzed in their answers. All their hard work and studying paid off! From the 3rd and 4th grade team, Annika A., Alyssa A., and Anna M. (“The Triple A Readers”) battled wonderfully and came in 2nd place! They will be moving on to the District Battle at the Schaumburg Library on Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 4:30 PM. Hooray!

For the 5th and 6th grade team, they did well too. Visvajit S., Pranav R., and Laura G. (“The Super Speedy Freaky Fast Readers”) had also battled at their highest capacity and came in 4th place, but they felt as if it were 1st place because of how well they did! Let’s all be proud of both our superb teams and hope for the best for the “Triple A Readers” as they move on to the next level this Thursday! Let’s give a big hand to MacArthur readers!

Written by MacBlogger, Visvajit S.

Good luck to “The Triple A Readers” who are moving on to the district level Battle of the Books Competition on Thursday, April 28th! Way to go, ladies!

April 2011 News from the MacBloggers

The Orchestra Assembly

By, Visvajit 

On Friday, April 1^st, 2011, MacArthur School’s intermediate students had an orchestra assembly. The performers were junior high students from Eisenhower Jr. High.  They played various forms of string instruments, including violins, violas, cellos, and bass, combined together to make beautiful music. Many songs were played and influenced the intermediate students to join the Orchestra in Seventh Grade.

FUN FAIR

By, Jada

The Macarthur Fun Fair is on Friday, April 8^th from 5:30-8pm. You get in free, but you have to pay for the tickets to play the games. There are many games, as well as face painting, balloon art, and much more!!! There will be lots of food: Cheese Pizza, Sloppy Joes, Salad, Drinks, Chips, Popcorn, and Cotton Candy. We also need baked food donations such as doughnuts, cakes, muffins, and cookies. There will be a meeting held during the fun fair to elect our 2011-2012 PTA Board. The people who are running for this campaign are: Mikel Eppenbaugh for President, Susanne Fawbush for 1^st V.P., Laurel  McGrath for 2^nd V.P., Liz Searle for Treasurer, Tanya Pearson for Recording Secretary, and Cilda Pretorious for corresponding Secretary.  We hope to see you all there!

                                                Celebrate Reading and Writing

By, Visvajit

Currently, students are working on non-fictional and fictional stories written by themselves to express the idea of writing books. The theme this year is “Your Window to the World.” The books related to a specific country. They will be typed up, illustrated and bound together. Each student will have a separate book to be displayed for others to see on April 28^th, 2011, beginning at 6:00 PM. Let’s give a round of applause to our MacAuthors!

  The April PBIS Assembly

By, Ethan

At the April PBIS assembly, we learned whether or not our March goal of  having 4,000 Bear Bucks was met. Mrs. Meyer and Mrs. Lipman played an April Fool’s Day joke on us, by saying that we all got 3.999 Bear Bucks.  It was one less than our goal.  April Fools! We got about 2,000 more than our goal and earned an ‘All-School Bingo’ with prizes if you win for all our hard-work on Wednesday, April 6^th.  The Students of the Month were announced and Bear Buck Winners were picked too! The Mac Bear Cadence was chanted in Spanish by the kindergarten class and presented baseball style by Mrs. Scannell’s class.

Happy April, everyone!