4th graders enjoyed finding "oil" (the pink layer in the cupcake) today in Science! They had to take core samples to see where they thought the most oil would be, then they cut them in half to see if they were right!
Our 6th graders are having an absolute blast at camp. So far, they’ve conquered the zipline, braved the "Big Swing," and even put their survival skills to the test by building their own campfires! More importantly, the students are making wonderful memories and strengthening friendships every day. We are so proud of their bravery and school spirit!
5th graders in Miss Sopocy's class did an incredible job with their "Live Wax Museum" for Grandparents and VIP Day. This project was all about curiosity and creative freedom. Each student chose a person who inspired them or made a mark on American history, dived into their own research, and designed a poster to tell that person's story.
It was so much fun watching them take total ownership of their work and get excited to share what they learned. A huge thank you to all the grandparents and special guests who stopped by our classroom to support these young historians, you made the day so special!
Thank you to all of the 4th grade grandparents/VIPs that came to spend time with their little loved ones!
Grandparents' Day/VIP Day 2026! Thank you to all of the special people who joined us today potting plants. What a fantastic turnout!
Sending last week's THE BUZZ one more time as it has IMPORTANT INFORMATION with DEADLINES.
Hi North Families,
Please note, we have IMPORTANT INFORMATION in this week's The Buzz!
Here is The Buzz WK 31! Have a great weekend!
Swarm Together, Mrs. Rayburn
Fourth graders are learning about renewable energy in science, so they created and compared different wind turbine blades in STEAM lab. Using the multimeters to determine voltage was quite exciting!
Our 5th graders had an incredible opportunity to take part in a walking field trip to the courthouse! During their visit, students explored several important offices, including the Clerk’s Office, Treasurer’s Office, Register of Deeds, and the Commissioners Room. They also had the chance to speak with Sheriff Clark and participate in a mock trial right in the courtroom.
This hands-on experience brought learning to life as students made meaningful connections to topics we’ve been studying in class. They asked thoughtful questions, engaged in great conversations, and deepened their understanding of how local government works—all while learning about the history of Gratiot County.
A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this day possible and to those who took the time to teach and inspire our students. It was a memorable and impactful experience for all!
We had a very special virtual visit with our 6th graders recently! We were honored to welcome back one of our own Ithaca Alumni who is now serving as a National Park Ranger at Jewel Cave National Monument.
It was an incredible experience for our students to see where their education can take them. Our guest shared a wealth of knowledge about the unique geology of Jewel Cave, the life of a Park Ranger, and the importance of preserving our National Parks.
Our students were absolutely engaged, asking fantastic questions and learning what it takes to protect one of the longest caves in the world!
Hi North Families,
Please note, we have IMPORTANT INFORMATION in this week's The Buzz!
Here is The Buzz WK 31! Have a great weekend!
Swarm Together, Mrs. Rayburn
As an extension of their properties of matter science unit, fifth graders were challenged to use random STEAM lab supplies to build freestanding towers that could hold golf balls. Ms. Richardson's class constructed the tallest tower at 78cm!
Miss Sopocy’s 5th grade class has officially finished both the ELA and Math M-STEP tests! To celebrate all of their hard work and perseverance, the students participated in an engaging and yummy science lesson.
To wrap up Unit 3 on Matter, the class made Root Beer Floats to observe the three states of matter in action:
• Solid: The vanilla ice cream.
• Liquid: The root beer.
• Gas: The carbonation creating those foamy bubbles!
This experiment was a fantastic way to get the kids thinking critically while enjoying a sweet treat for completing their testing. Way to go, 5th grade!
Congratulations to our Grand Prize winner at North for the March Read-Athon fundraiser!
Reminder for our Grandparents/VIPs!
Our highest grade level earners took a rainy walk to The Hearthstone for their lunch with Mrs. Rayburn!
Congratulations to the top students at North Elementary for our Read-A-Thon fundraiser. Each of them have earned lunch out with Mrs. Rayburn as a reward for all of their hard work!
Congratulations to Mrs. Hull's class for winning the class competition for the Read-A-Thon! Thank you to our amazing PTO for buying us ice cream!
Congratulations to Everley M who designed the logo for our 6th grade camp shirts! Thanks to the generous sponsors, listed on the reverse. The next time families will see these shirts is the day 6th graders return from camp. It's only a few weeks away!!
Our 5th grade scientists have been busy exploring chemical changes!
Students had the opportunity to observe several exciting reactions right in the classroom. They watched bread transform into toast, noticing changes in both color and smell. They also created a gas by combining water and an Alka-Seltzer tablet, and explored changes in temperature using hydrogen peroxide and yeast.
To deepen their learning, students weighed each experiment and recorded their observations, gaining hands-on experience with real scientific practices. It was an engaging and interactive way to bring science to life!
North Elementary would like to congratulate two third grade teachers who are retiring at the end of this school year!
