Phoenix Press June 2017

Phoenix P,-ess

WeBringNewsFrom FCSLowerSchool

Fifth G,-adeHitsIkeBigCity

B� SMtiM,CofM,M'1D�Vofrf, May26,2011

DearLowerSchool,

GreetingsfromNewYork!It'sbeenfullof adventure!WejustvisitedtheUNandnowwe're headingtoBryant Parkforafifthgrade picnic. Wearekindofrushedwithonlyfifteenminutesto eat,butasidefromthatit'sbeenagreatday!Oh, wehavetogonow,don'twanttomissthebus.

Seeyoutomorrow,

Thefifthgrade ]UNE7,2017

Fifth graders have been studying peace and conflict resolution in the world. On May 26th, we boarded buses at 7:00 a.m. and headed to the Big Apple. When we got off the bus, we saw the magnificent, extraordinary United Nations! We walked through the courtyard, and saw many statues and memorials along the way. Next, we came to the main entrance where we split in three groups. We took a moment of peace in the meditation room. We went to many fabulous exhibits, including the General Assembly room and even saw a meeting in action!

Our final activity in the UN was an amazing guided tour, where we saw many unique gifts given to the UN by different countries. Then we went to lunch in Bryant Park. It was an awesome trip and, fourth graders, you have a lot to look forward to!

0.N.AS!!!

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Youwantfun,youwantadventure,youwantOnas... Afunexperienceforthefifthgraders!

From getting your group through a giant spider web, to zip lining across a lake, rising fifth graders, huh, you're gonna have fun!!

The fifth graders went from May 25 to May 26 and spent two days in platform tents. It was rainy, it was cold, but that didn't stop them from having fun! They got to do low ropes course, high ropes course, canoeing, archery, rope swing, tire swing, and team building activities.

At night the kids played cards, told stories, had karaoke parties, played hide and seek, and had a blast. Lights out was at 10 o'clock. They woke up at 7:30, and some woke even earlier. There was an awesome blacktop, and a great dining hall.

Summer camp is still open for registration! Throughout this experience the fifth grade had a blast and an amazing time. They wish they could do it again!

P.S. They had an awesome dog named Mackenzie.

The 11Biza,,e'"Bazaa,

In April, the fifth grade had a bazaar in Mr. Denton's classroom. It was a simulation of the Silk Road. Fifth graders dressed up in traditional Middle Eastern clothing and each ran their own stand such as spices, henna, food, brass and silk. The spices had a spicy twist...they ran out of bags for the pomanders {little bags of spices)! Many of the stands' businesses were booming, such as the grape stand, brass, henna, and especially spices.

Many classes and parents came to bargain and buy. First, they got some riyals from the money changer. Then they were free to bargain with the shopkeepers.

The reason this bazaar was so "bizarre" is because it was the last bazaar Mr. Denton will ever do. Even though it will never be the same, the show must go on! The other classes will have new opportunities with new teachers and friends. We will miss the wonderful bazaar Mr. Denton has run all these years. It has been a treat to do this with him.

TheGift of Music

By Clara Behling and Avery Lewis

SimpleGifts,ThisLandWasMadefor Youand Me,HoHoWantany,Tafta Hindi,and Draw theCircle were just afew of the songs4th and 5th graderssang at the Spring Concert on April 27th,led by Mrs.O,our music teacher.

First,everyone performed SimpleGiftsfor the opening song. Thisisasong the Shakerssang together about "simplicity",which wassomething they strongly believed in. Then the Rainbow Ensemble shared three of the songsthey have been practicing

for along time. The ensemble consistsof two 2nd gradersand two 5th graders. They played beautifully with three violinsand one cello.

Next,4th graderssang ThisLandWasMadefor YouandMe,by Woody Guthrie.They sang two famous versesand two versesthat are not aswell-known.Hissongsexplain hislife during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. Then the 4th and 5th grade chorusperformed HoHoWantany.The song isalullaby which the Iroquoiswomen sang to their little ones.The women are very highly honored in their tribe for giving life.

The Middle Eastern song that 5th grade performed next wascalled Tafta Hindi.It isasong about a merchant selling Indian tafta.We dedicated thissong to our 5th grade humanitiesteacher Mr. Denton,who has been teaching about the Middle East for along time and isretiring thisyear.

We ended the concert with asong called Draw theCircleand finally SimpleGiftsonceagain,but thistime the whole audience wasfree to sing along.It wasabeautiful performance and asimple gift for the parents!

From"Israel" to "Irving"

By Jey Brown and Jacques Pierre

On Friday,May 26th,4Aput on awonderful play about the life of Israel (Irving) Berlin.The play started with him sitting hisgrandkidsdown to tell them the story of hislife.He and hisfamily immigrated to Americabecause their house in Russiaburned down when he was5 yearsold. Rhynlandwasthe name of the ship which the family suffered on for many weeksin steerage with no room to walk around.When they finally arrived at EllisIsland they were checked by doctors for diseasesand barraged with questionsabout their health and well being.

One day,Izzy and hisfamily went to the market to get an apple,but they couldn't afford it. So Izzy decided to find agood paying job.Hisfirst job wasaNewsy,delivering newspapers.Believe it or not,Izzy fell into ariver delivering one day and held onto the five penniesthat he earned.

After hisfather got sick he became a singing waiter,and then wrote asong for all of the customers.He changed hisname to Irving and went on to write famoussongslike White Christmasand GodBlessAmerica

Ms.McBee wrote the play (with the help of SashaGroch) because he wasagreat example of how immigrantsgoing to Americacould become a regular citizen or even afamouscelebrity.

The scenery wasvery realistic and was made by 4Astudentsin the Light Lab.?The kids worked very hard and really owned all aspectsof the play,?said Ms. McBee.?They did agreat job!?

2nd GradePerforms Anansi

By Quin Stovall and Emilio Ovalle

?It'sso hot, it'sso hot, it'sso hot under African skies!?

Thisyear?ssecond grade production of Anansi andtheMossCoveredRockwasabig success,starting out with the well-known and well-loved song It'sSoHot which,when finished,got much applause. Many parents were even brought to tears!

Thismarvelousplay wasrumored to have been the best one yet. All of thiswaspossible because of the 2nd grade teachers:Mrs. Davis,Mrs.Kollender and Mrs. Adorno. Anansi theSpider isahumorousAfrican folk tale known to many.Thisparticular story featuresthe trickster Anansi,the banana-loving elephants,the yam-loving lions,the dancing mango-loving rhinos,the wise old zebras,the tricky old bush deer,the narrators, and,of course,the strange moss-covered rock.

The story beginson ahot summer day,when Anansi bumpsinto amosscovered rock in the jungle and uttersthe magical words,?Thisisastrange,moss covered rock,?that instantly makeshim fall asleep for one hour! He wakesup tired and confused. After he realized what had happened,he figured that he could use thisrock to trick other animalsand steal their food without having to lift one single finger.Eventually,the animalsturn the trick right back on Anansi.

The actorsspoke loud and clear,good for all to hear.The singing wasmagical and the scenery was simple yet beautiful. All of thiscame together to form a wondrousplay that we?ll all remember!

Thankyou so much to the

5th grade