December Happenings...





Caring and Compassion

Stonehedge students and staff have spent the month of December involved in many different activities that demonstrate our ability to care for others. Our December Character Education assembly featured students from Mrs. Cunningham, Miss Cantone and Mrs. Vincentini’s class. Caring connects us so we can shine brightly was the theme presented to students. Children shared the special ways in which the demonstrate caring for others. Congratulations to the following students who received a Hedge Award for last month’s character trait, Thankfulness.

1^st GRADE – 2012 HEDGE AWARD RECIPIENTS – THANKFULNESS

Miss Cantone – Quinn Frese, Andrew Landon, Dreonna Pullium

Mrs. Cunningham – Maya Abedrabbah, Logan Furbeck, Hannah Kenna, Gavin Provo

Mrs. Donahue – Jameson Bard, Madison Barrett, Andrew Bova, Ella McIntyre

Mrs. Malbone – Lauren Petty, Ty Thomas, Paul Sheehan

Miss Munley – Kyaira Orozco, Joseph Paoli, Emily Schiffer

Mrs. Vincentini – Owen Coleman, Frank Nazarkiewicz, Madison Payne, Nathan Ruzekowicz

Mrs. Vislosky – Lauren Battaglia, Amelia Degilio, Emmett Jacuk, Tyler O’ Brien

2^nd GRADE –  2012 HEDGE AWARD WINNERS – THANKFULNESS

Mrs. Bailey – Noah Coleman, Ella Thome, Morgan Priddy

Mrs. Carrington – Tatianna Blount, Robert Lopez-Cunningham, Hannah Mazzoni, Tilak Patel

Miss Dusart – Michelina Colapaolo, Emilie Shoults, Zoryana Yaromich

Mrs. Prosser – Angelina Gittschau, Ruth Melnik, Ethan Smithers,

Mrs. Schweitzer –Derek Dishaw, Vincent Firenze, Isabella Gibson-Rudy, Jacob Perry

Mrs. Shepard – Carly Fura,  Gavin Garofalo, Olivia Sam-Foote

Winter Concert

Today our students attended the 4^th and 5^th Grade Winter Concert. Students heard selections from the orchestra conducted by Mrs. Cheney and the 4^th and 5^th grade chorus directed by Mrs. DeMartini. It was a wonderful performance with many familiar holiday selections as well as some new pieces. It’s just what was needed to get us all in the holiday spirit. Thank you to all the students and staff involved in this delightful concert. The evening performance will take place at the WGHS tonight at 7:00.   

Safety at Stonehedge

If you are like me, you spent time this past weekend gathering information and trying to make sense of the tragedy that occurred in Newtown, Connecticut at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. Our thoughts and prayers go out to that community as they seek answers and begin the painful healing process.

At Stonehedge we work diligently to ensure the safety of students and staff. Our building safety plan is reviewed and adjusted annually. We continually practice with students many safety drills and procedures such as fire drills, stay-in-place drills, lock down drills and bomb threats. District administrators work as a collective to brainstorm ways to ensure safety. Nothing is more important than the safety of your children. 

Parents also play an important role in safeguarding our children. Such responsibilities include respecting and adhering to building rules and dismissal procedures.  It is extremely important that parents put in writing transportation/dismissal changes and update emergency contact information and adults designated to pick up your children. It is also imperative that parents are attentive and traveling slowly throughout school parking areas. Although not always viewed as convenient, we ask you not to take shortcuts through these procedures.  

  

Your children are very special to me and I hope that you enjoy your holiday season by spending quality time with family and friends.

Lori

October Happenings

Family Fun Night

This Friday, October 19^th our PTA will sponsor Family Fun Night.  The event takes place from 6:00 – 8:00 pm.  Come as a family and enjoy Story Time, Face Painting, Music & Dancing, Bingo, Pizza, and much more.

  

October is Fire Prevention Month

Students at Stonehedge have had many opportunities to learn about fire safety.  Many thanks to Mrs. Margaret Barbuto, one of our Physical Education teachers as well as our PTA Chair for Health & Education, for organizing Fire Safety activities. Teachers had availability to Fire Safety DVDs, supplemental grade appropriate materials and of course the visit by the Fairmount Fire Department. 

Students in K-2 took part in an interactive presentation led by the fire fighters. Students learned about gear worn and tools used when fighting a fire. They were taught safety procedures that they should follow at home and reviewed procedures utilized here at school. Experiences such as this would not occur without the support from our community. Thank you to the following firefighters for spending the day keeping children at Stonehedge safe:

Captain Matt Schultz

Lieutenant Jake Carlson

Lieutenant David Mazzoni

Fire Fighters - John Abert, Rick Dunlop, Dan Hamilton, Ian Herford, Dan Kogel,  Mike Putnam, Hunter Rogers, Cassidy Tiska, Chris Unz  

 

Off to a Great Start!

 

It’s all about the bus ride!

                  

Pictures are worth a thousand words and these are no exception! We’re off to a good start as students at Stonehedge are settling into new routines and classroom procedures. It’s a welcoming sight to see the hallways full of children eager to start a new school year!

Be on the lookout today for a letter regarding our upcoming Open House night planned for September 12^th.  A schedule of classroom presentation times has been included for your convenience.  We will also be showing a DVD presentation designed to inform parents of our No Bullying Educational Program.  The DVD will be shown every half hour beginning at 6:00 with the last showing at 8:30.  I encourage you to commit to viewing this presentation and becoming familiar with the approach we will be taking to educate students and staff about bullying behaviors. 

It has been a busy week for staff and students.  Enjoy the weekend and I look forward to seeing you September 12^th at Open House.

Mrs. Keevil


Siblings and friends show first day Stonehedge kindergarten students the ropes!

Stonehedge is a Buzz of Activity...

                 PARP

May is PARP month and many distinguished guests have been reading some of their favorite books to Stonehedge children.  Earlier this week Brian Kesel, our very own West Genesee Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, shared one of his favorite stories with the kindergarten children in Miss Winters' class.  Five Little Monkeys with Nothing to do, by E. Christelow earned him laughter and applause.  Thank you Mr. Kesel for being a PARP guest reader!

Mr. Kesel  reads to kindergartners



Mr. Driscoll reads to second graders



The excitement of PARP continued as our PTA sponsored a presenter from the MOST who performed a variety of science experiments centered on sound and vibration, states of matter, optical illusions and the power of air.  It was not only curriculum based, it was exciting to watch! Our hope is that students will be inspired by the presentation and encouraged to read more about science, famous inventions, and tinker with invention ideas of their own.

 

Students learn about the power of inventions during an assembly presented by the MOST

  

Shh...

 

Miss Munley's first grade students have something very special carefully hidden behind their backs. Much thought and attention to detail is happening around the school as students prepare some very special surprises for Mother's Day.  All of our moms are just going to have to wait until Sunday to find out what all the fuss is about. A very special Mother's Day to all!

It's a secret!

Run for the Roses...

The Kentucky Derby may have passed, but today, the "Run for the Roses" is alive and well within the Winner's Circle at Stonehedge Downs. Again our PTA has outdone themselves with the Staff Appreciation Luncheon. The decorations were exquisite and the food delicious! Guests enjoyed Pasta on the Green, Kentucky Roasted Chicken, Triple Crown Green Beans, In the Money Potatoes and then topped it all off with Winner's Circle Desserts. Staff truly appreciates the time and effort spent organizing this spectacular event. We realize how very lucky we are to have such an amazing PTA here at Stonehedge!

Perseverance in Action at Stonehedge

Yesterday we had our January Character Education assembly and spoke about Perseverance. We talked about the many things we do each day and how some are more challenging than others. Children learned about the importance of maintaining a positive attitude and letting determination and perseverance guide them during challenging tasks. 
We were fortunate to have 5th grade Stonehedge Jump Rope Team demonstrate what perseverance looks like in action.  They performed a routine set to music that highlighted the many tricks they could do with various jump ropes.  They even did tricks jumping with pogo sticks and moon jumpers! Mr. Shoults talked about the many hours of practice that went into learning some of these moves. Members of the team worked in pairs or small groups to perform some of the most difficult moves. 
Students in grade K-2 were impressed with the performance and many look forward to participating on the Jump Rope Team when they are in 5th grade.  

Watch for a blog from Principal Gerst next week showing the Jump Rope Team's performance for grades 3-5 to be held on Monday!

Congratulations to our Hedge Award recipients for the month of December.  These students were recognized by their teachers for exhibiting acts of Caring and Compassion. 

 



First Grade: Jared Jaeger, Carly Fura, Tyler Wavercak, Anastasia Chuvik, Ella Thome, Tyler D'Alessandro, Troy Ingerson, Taryn Mann, Liam Burns, Michael Herrington, Mia Pinker, Cameron Noce, Logan Hamilton, Alexis Michaels, William Van Horn, Morgan Priddy, Paul Walintukan, Matthew Rudskiy, Kaitlin Fisher, Tilak Patel, Janiya Daye, Alexis Byrne, Katelyn Hagadorn 

Second Grade: Eizabella Brodbeck, Collin Bittel, Maxwell Smith, Nicholas Dupre, Dylan DeSena, Shannon Vallee, Lacey Buza, Ryan Korzeniewski, Alexyss O'Neil, Chloe Wolfe, I'Luv Williams, Jadien Kline, Emily Lind, Stephen Coulter, Katherine Ford, Kameron Sjuve, Madison Boyles, Delaney Casson, Liam Forshee, David Charleston, Brooke Tanner                                                                                                      

Approximately two hundred 2^nd and 3^rd grade students and family members tried their luck at BINGO last night. Books, games and craft prizes were given out to game winners. Thank you to Chris Delallo and Mira Corbin for chairing the event. Also thank you to Heather Mauro for organizing the refreshments. The next game night will be for students in grades 4-5. More information to follow.

Have a great weekend!

Lori