As part of the Warwick Playground Dreams Project, Mr. Lennane, our Instructional Technology Facilitator, worked with 4th grade students designing 3D playgrounds using Tinkercad. This online program allowed students to create 3D models that can then be printed on a 3D printer. Some students decided to work alone while others worked in small groups. This was done to support the Warwick Playground Dreams Group and the presentation that will occur on April 7th. Many of the student designs were very complex. The students showed how creative they can be when they are given an open-ended task like this. It was amazing to see how far their imaginations took them as they created these amazing designs. The ultimate task of marketing and design at our students’ fingertips!
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Agricultural Literacy Week… Catherine Bennett, a Master Gardener with Cornell Cooperative Extension, organized volunteers to visit our Kindergarten and 1st Grade classes. Through the Agriculture in Classroom Program, master gardeners visited each classroom to read the book, The Grapes Grow Sweet. The gardeners shared their knowledge with our students and answered all of their “juicy” questions. Cornell donated a copy of the book to our school library. Our visitors also brought two kinds of grape juice for our students to taste.
Be a H.E.R.O. … On Friday, March 17th, Omega Man visited Sanfordville to celebrate our students’ PAWS behavior during the 2nd Trimester and spread their anti-bullying message. Students were excited to attend this high energy show. Omega Man bend iron, tore a phone book, and broke a bat over his leg to capture the attention of students as he shares his message of being a hero! H.elping E.veryone R.espect O.thers! Teachers did lead-up activities and will follow-up with “How can I be a HERO?” writing assignment.
The Story of OmegaMan: The Man Behind the CapeA superhero can generally be defined as a fictional hero having extraordinary powers and be an exceptionally skillful or successful person. Lakeland, FL, is home to such a hero, and many residents and their children have had the privilege of meeting OmegaMan and hearing his anti-bullying/character development message. Marc Wilkes, the man behind the proverbial cape, travels throughout country as a comic superhero sharing his vision of a world without bullying and helping kids understand the importance of good choices at literally thousands of schools. Marc’s story begins with a childhood personal experience. Growing up with a speech impediment, Marc struggled with many of the common schoolyard bullying tactics that children sometimes demonstrate. At the age of 12 yrs old, he started lifting weights. It was a way of escaping from the negative look he had about himself. After years of teasing and growing depressed in his early teens, the mild-mannered young man realized that the bullying was taking its toll. Marc grew up to be a stronger and more confident man, putting the stuttering and the bullies behind him, and focusing on being positive. Marc started traveling with a group of motivational speakers, still not very confident in speaking in front of crowds. He realized this was just preparing him for his future. Today, OmegaMan & Friends spend the school year traveling the country, sharing personal message of overcoming adversity and the benefits of being a “Dream-Maker” and not a “Dream-Breaker Our first and second graders are eager to welcome Spring. Some have launched into their poetry unit with Spring acrostic poems and Haikus while others compare and contrast frogs and toads! Some classes wrote about their opinions of Spring yet others explained what they would plant in their Spring gardens.
Parents as Reading Partners (PARP)... The SES PTA and teachers sponsor our PARP “One School, One Book” which brings families together through great literature. This year at Sanfordville, the program will also bring us a great author, Daniel Kirk (March 15), STEAM projects, writing literacy, and art projects. All of this through one great novel, “Stuart Little!” Thanks to the generous efforts of the SES PTA, WFEL, Femi Ford, Erica Grundfast, Dawn Trone, Leah Mednick, and Mrs. De Vries, the world of Stuart Little will be brought to life.
The program will begin February 21, 2017, with an introduction to the novel by Stuart Little himself and some helpful friends. Students will then read a chapter each night with their family. The next day at school, classmates will share the adventure, answer trivia questions, write stories, solve problems similar to those faced by Stuart, and create art projects. Using Daniel Kirk’s book “Library Mouse” as a model, students will create their own books which will be displayed throughout the Library/Media Center. Our students look forward to meeting and learning from Mr. Kirk! Please join us for this author’s visit on March 15th! Please call for times! Spelling Bee… On February 15th, Sanfordville Elementary School had its 2nd Annual Spelling Bee. After two preliminary rounds, the top student spellers from each 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade class competed to be champion! They followed the Scripps National Spelling Bee Program that is designed to improve spelling, increase vocabulary, and develop correct English use. The Spelling Bee was organized by PTA member Michelle Branch and teachers Mrs. Augelli, Mrs. Leigh and Mrs. Wishnia. The winners for each grade are:
3rd grade: 1st Zachary Polsky 2nd Brooke Kelley 3rd Mark Wishnia 4th/5th grade 1st Kooki Aryeetey 2nd Ava McNeil 3rd Ava Kraszewski 100th Day of School… Our Kindergartners marched through the hallways to celebrate the 100th day of school. Students also completed projects identifying 100 items of various items. PE classes focused on exercising to 100. They skip counted by 5’s, 10’s and 20’s to reach the goal of 100 in jumping jacks, mountain climbers, and push-ups!
Happy Valentine’s Day…Lots of love was shown this week with crafts and creativity. Students loved creating Valentine cards for friends and family. Teachers captured the spirit of the day and incorporated love and friendship into their writing.
Our 4/5th grade students gathered in our cafeteria for their traditional “Moving Up Photo”. This photo becomes the centerfold of the SES Yearbook. Students enjoyed some time together with their grade-mates as this is the first of some fun, moving-up events for our students. The pictures below were snapped by Mrs. Maraia. Check out the full "professional" picture in this year's yearbook!!
Third Grade classes utilized the Presidential Inauguration as a time to learn more about our Nation’s Capital. Students researched and created informational books about special places in Washington D.C. When I spoke to students about their books, they were so excited to share what they had learned. They shared excellent details about their special landmarks.
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AuthorMrs. Johnna Maraia, is the Principal of Sanfordville Elementary School in Warwick Valley Central School District in Warwick, New York. Archives
August 2018
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