'Cause We Know We Have A Brain

What better way to relieve some test anxiety than to make a video about it!  The entire 4th grade participated in performing for this mashup of "If I Only Had a Brain" and "We're Not Gonna Take It".  Of course, for us, we do have a brain and we are gonna take it!  It was fun to make and now the students and faculty will get to enjoy it as we head into the last three weeks before testing.  Our testing dates are April 25-28.
We are gonna take it!
You know, we're ready to take it!
We are gonna take it, and we'll pass!!!!!

https://youtu.be/NpLMmcfKFPk

A Planting We Will Go!

Thanks to a grant from the Brown Foundation with the Woodlands Conservancy and Chevron Oronite, fourth graders discovered the value of protecting and preserving their environment through planting trees.  Not just any trees though!  They have learned that many invasive species have grown in the place where our native plants should be.  The invasive trees grow quicker and shadow the trees that should rightly be there.  Also, the native trees have the highest nutritional value for the woodland creatures that live there.  Today these fourth graders with a little help from their families, planted about 200 trees that we hope will live and thrive over the next few decades.  Parish officials were invited to see that even the youngest in our community can make a difference and can sometimes remind grown-ups of what is important.  It was a great learning opportunity and one these students won't soon forget.

https://youtu.be/4M3MrlcxnL4

Metamorphosis Complete

Students in 4th grade at BCP observed as caterpillars change into butterflies in their classroom.  Students in Room 410 received five tiny black caterpillars about one inch in length.  Within a week and a half, they grew to twice that size!  They ate a sugary substance that came with them in the bottom of their jar.  Once they were that large,  the next change began.  The caterpillars crawled to the top of the habitat, formed a J, and began twisting and writhing around to form a chrysalis. It was like a thin beige skin around them. Approximately another week and a half, we came in to the classroom to see a new creature...a painted lady butterfly, or rather four of them.  One had not hatched and actually never did. It happens.  The metamorphosis was complete.  The video you'll see is our ceremony to release the little captives into the environment and wish them on their way.

https://youtu.be/j4WYvajT2ig