Ithaca South Elementary

During Small Group Time today, preschoolers in Ms. Kievit's classroom explored materials from the Math Area. They worked with dominoes and pattern blocks. We’ve got spirit, yes we do! This afternoon each student received an Ithaca Yellowjacket bracelet, in celebration of Homecoming! A big ‘thank you’ to the family that gifted them to Ms. Kievit's class. If you look closely in the last few pictures, you’ll see students showing off their bracelets!

Kindergarteners practiced their comparison skills in STEAM lab by constructing rakes and then comparing the leaves they gathered. These young scientists noticed differences in size, shape, and color!

Second graders engineered smelling tools in STEAM lab to determine scents in six mystery jars. These young scientists were challenged to use materials flexible enough to wrap around their heads, yet stiff enough to maintain a "nose-like" shape while in use. It's safe to say that all of the students wished their designs didn't work so well while smelling the vinegar jar! 😉

Our preschoolers in Ms. Kievit's classroom capped off the end of their first week with a visit to the school library. They got to sing a few songs and listen to a story about Buzzy the Bumblebee with our librarian, Mrs. Longanbach.

Our preschoolers in Ms. Kievit's classroom capped off the end of their first week with a visit to the school library. They got to sing a few songs and listen to a story about Buzzy the Bumblebee with our librarian, Mrs. Longanbach.

Picture Day at South Elementary is coming on Thursday, September 25!
You can place your order on mylifetouch.com using your Picture Day ID: EVT4N237V.
Order before midnight on Picture Day to get FREE shipping!
Your child can also bring their completed flyer with cash or check on Picture Day. Orders after Picture Day must be placed online only on mylifetouch.com .

In STEAM lab, second graders read a story about a boy who built a bridge to save his friends during a field trip. They were then challenged to work with different materials and determine which were best suited for building bridges. They all found clever ways to work with tricky materials!

This week in Music 2nd grade is learning how to sing "Paddle in My Kayak," a fun song about a kayak adventure! The song has students pretending to paddle, see wildlife, and encounter a strange foe!

Today Mrs. Simcox's class earned their first instrument say! They learned how to play the egg shaker and we played along to "the Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks!"

First graders learned how Earth's rotation creates days and nights in STEAM lab, then were challenged to create Lego models to demonstrate what they learned. Using cubelets robots and flashlights, the young scientists made their Lego homes rotate to experience day and night!

On Fridays, our Junior Jackets show their school spirit by wearing BLUE & GOLD!!

Our 2nd grade students are doing a great job learning our partner reading routines. Partner reading is a vital component of our Bookworms curriculum, as it enhances fluency, comprehension, and motivation, facilitates collaborative practice, and enables differentiated instruction by providing each student with a more active and supported reading experience!

We read Harvey the Carpenter in STEAM lab today and created tool boxes and tools with recycled items! Cardboard hammers, pipe cleaner drills, and popsicle stick screwdrivers are just a few of the tools these great builders made!

We are so thankful for our amazing friends at the Thompson Home Public Library for helping us secure the books necessary to kick off our STEAM lab challenges this year! Their willingness to track down all of these great books allows us to create a STEAM program built on a strong literature foundation. Thank you for your support!

South Parents: School Dismissal is Live! You should receive an email so you can set up dismissal instructions for your child. Check your Spam/Junk email if you don't see it. For help, please email Mrs. Giles: sgiles@ithacaschools.net.

We are excited to see you tonight at our South Elementary Open House from 5:30-7:30pm! Our teachers are ready to meet their students!

First and Second Grade supply lists are below. Kindergarten lists vary by teacher. You will receive them by mail. Welcome back letters were mailed mid-week and should be in a mailbox near you very soon! Open House at South: Thursday, August 21 from 5:30-7:30

You can find your child's classroom teacher by logging into PowerSchool Parent Portal. If you need help logging into PowerSchool, please email helpdesk@ithacaschools.net We look forward to a great year ahead! Incoming Kindergartners/New Students: If you have not completed the forms in PowerSchool, you will not be able to view your child's teacher.

Parents: Please log-in to PowerSchool and complete paperwork and forms for this school year. We will be releasing classroom assignments in the next few days. You will not be able to view your child's teacher until the 2025-26 forms are completed. This includes incoming Kindergarten students. If you need help logging into your account, please reach out to the technology department.