Lake Silver Elementary News

Lake Silver’s Math Magnet Program
The Math Magnet program at Lake Silver Elementary is off to a busy start. Many interesting "real life" activities and applications are being planned to make this year’s experience a wonderful one for students.

Kindergarten will be studying "Kindergarten Cuisine." Students will be exploring math skills used in cooking, such as measuring ingredients and portion sizes. They will also get opportunities to meet some real restaurateurs and visit local businesses dealing with food.
First grade studies "Building and Design." Students will progress from studying two-dimensional designs to three-dimensional structures. This year they hope to visit a real construction site and speak with some architects and designers.

Second grade has their focus on "Mathematics in Our Community." Students will discover how math is used in their home, school, and local businesses and services. They will have the opportunity to visit area locations such as the library, the post office, and a local bank to see how math is used all around the neighborhood.

Third grade will be learning about "Banking and Economics." To do this, the students will be working with a real bank account as they plant, maintain, harvest and sell crops from a working garden.

Fourth grade studies "Travel Time." These energetic students will become master travel agents for the state of Florida. This year they will plan a trip to a location in the state. They will use their mathematical skills to calculate the distance, gas needed, cost of accommodations, purchase of food along the way, and the price of admission to any area attractions.

Fifth graders study "Marketing and Production." This year they will be operating a school store on our campus, running Biz Kids at the Fashion Square Mall, and trying to visit some local companies to see business production at work.

To help make all these educational goals a reality, Lake Silver is asking for help from local businesses and the community. If you would like to have the students participate with your company, or would like to sponsor an already planned activity, please feel free to contact, Vicki Daley, Math Resource Teacher at 407-245-1850 x286 or e-mail her at hollrav@ocps.net.

Lake Silver Music Notes

This August Lake Silver begins its third year as a participant in the Orange County strings program. We welcome our new strings teacher, Aurora Zenfell, the director of Orchestras at Lee Middle School, and look forward to a high level of participation in the program! The OCPS strings program is open to 4th and 5th graders at participating schools. All fourth graders begin on violin; 5th graders (as second year participants) can choose to learn a new instrument: viola or cello.

Look for the Lake Silver Strings in the fall production of "Holka Polka," tentatively set for the first week in December. All of Lake Silver’s fine arts ensembles – Drama, Orff, Drums, Chorus and Strings – will combine to present an explosion of music and drama for the students and parents at Lake Silver!

 AND
 The Lake Silver Fine Arts department announces the founding of a brand new Drum Ensemble! This auditioned ensemble practices during school hours and uses only unpitched percussion. The core of the ensemble is a set of nine brand new drums purchased over the summer from donations and PTA funds. Thank you to all the parents that made this $1000.00 purchase possible! Visit our Music website at www.lakesilver.org for more information on all the Fine Arts programs offered to Lake Silver!