Happy Holidays from Stonehedge Blue

Congratulations to those students who received a Hedge Award this month for November’s character trait thankfulness. Those honored are pictured below:

1^st Grade HEDGE AWARD Winners-Thankfulness

Camille Bohli, Samantha Bowles, Gracie Bserani, Alex Calkins, Jacob Casselman, Kendall Fenn, Patrick Ford, Erin Fortune, Tyler Jacopelle, Mia Kehoskie, Hannah Kenna, Jordan Kolar, James Logano, Anthony Mangano, Devon Moses, James Mungro, Tyler O’Brien, Henry Steitz, Leah Todeschini, Olivia Wake, Madison Wolfe, Afaf Zawahreh

1^st Grade HEDGE AWARD Winners-Thankfulness

Ali Abu-Mustafa, Khalid Alrkaies, Elijah Apps, Luke Beck, Liam Boyles, Samantha Bullock, Brooke Buza, Alex Cardone, Max Conboy, Prince Eudell, Maxx Fesinger, Mark Gabella, Allyson Geiger, Tommy Gozzi, Amahri Harvey, Aidan Johnson, Ben Matus, Kylie Murphy, Aaron Perry, Krishana Sharma, Brian Short, Paul Toumbacaris, Jayden Torrance

Giving Tree Demonstrates Compassion and Caring

The Stonehedge annual Giving Tree shows the compassion Stonehedge families feel for one another. Because of your generosity our committee was able to sponsor several families this holiday season. Generous gifts of toiletries, hats, scarves, mittens, gloves and socks overflowed the donation boxes for the Syracuse Samaritan Center. Thank you to all who had a hand in supporting the Giving Tree!

Second Grade Students Show Their Compassion

Second grade students made cards, gingerbread cutout decorations, and hallway decorations for young patients at Golisano Children's Hospital.

More than 70 gingerbread decorations will be added to meal trays for young children at Golisano Children's Hospital.

Some of the many cards created by second graders for the patients.

Students Take Part in CODE Presentations 

Thank you to Officer Brand, Officer Grace, and Maureen Foran-Mocete from the McMahon /Ryan Child Advocacy Center for talking with students today. 

Topic were as follows:

Kindergarten - My Body Belongs to Me

Grade 1 – Building Self Esteem 

Grade 2 - Bulling Awareness.

First Graders Travel Around the World
Our first grade students learned about holiday traditions as part of a unit that studied Holidays Around the World. As each group visited different classrooms, they were told about a different country's traditions. They even created passports to document their journey.

Mrs. Cunningham, dressed as Saint Lucia, told her visitors about Swedish traditions.

Students enjoyed applesauce and potato latkes in Mrs. Vislosky's room.

Mrs. Vislosky discussed both Hanukkah and Kwanzaa in her room.

In Miss Munley's room, students learned about Dutch traditions including how St. Nicholas leaves candy and small treats in shoes. Their shoes in the hallway were visited by St. Nicholas and filled with goodies.

Visitors to Mrs. Vincentini's room learned about the origins of the German tradition of the Christmas tree.

Emergency Closing Information is Important!

Announcements about school closings, delayed openings, or early dismissal will be posted on the News Headlines section of the District website home page.

Also, School News Notifier (SNN) is an opt-in alert system where parents can sign up to receive text alerts about school closings, delays, and other time-sensitive emergencies; and e-mail notices about school programs and district news. Parents may choose to receive any or all of the alerts, and they can unsubscribe at any time.

Push-out notifications will be made from the West Genesee Mobile Phone App. (You can also access news, the parent portal, calendars, menus, sports information, directories, social media, and our tip line.) You can download to your android or iphone from your App store from the links to the right.

They are also broadcast on twitter, facebook, and the following stations... MORE

New Year may ring in changing circumstances

As the new year begins, financial circumstances may change. If you find that you need information on the Free and Reduced Lunch program, please click the links below to learn more.

Letter to Parents for School Meal Programs

2013-2014 Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals/Milk 

There is no better place to be than an elementary school during the month of December. Our students and teachers have been busy incorporating winter-themed ideas into everyday learning. Take a peek at our hallways during this snowy and magical month.

Wishing you all a warm holiday season and a Happy New Year!

Lori

Happy Thanksgiving!

As we approach the end of November and the Thanksgiving holiday, I cannot help but think about the many reasons I have for being thankful. 

It has been wonderful to see all the parents visiting the school for parent and teacher conferences. Every opportunity we have to build a home and school connection is one for which we are all grateful.

As principal, I am certainly thankful for 
• the support parents have given to the school and the district. Each day you send us children who are well rested and ready to learn.

• the many parents who volunteer at school, or help through the PTA. 

• our students who represent Stonehedge as young children preparing to be upstanding citizens. Children who respect themselves and each other.

• the teachers and staff at Stonehedge who give their all to create to a warm, welcoming, and productive learning environment.  

Please enjoy the photos provided below of students partaking in Thanksgiving activities. I wish you all a safe, relaxing and wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

Mrs. Keevil 

Students in Mrs. Donahue's class enjoy a feast while wearing some pretty turkey-rific hats!

Native American and Pilgrim hats helped to dress up Mrs. Leonardis' students.

Students throughout the school acknowledged what they were thankful for.

Mrs. Shepard's class got ready for some Stone Snack, a take-off of the popular book, Stone Soup.

This is one smart turkey--color coding math problems!

Students in second grade and kindergarten sent in paper turkeys disguised in a variety of costumes to hide from hungry diners.

Mrs. Gauzza's class wishes everyone a happy Thanksgiving. 

Stonehedge Blue is Thankful !

Just a reminder to please vote today!

Stonehedge Pays Tribute to Veterans

On Friday, November 8, Stonehedge students paid tribute to our local veterans and active duty service men and women with a special ceremony that featured the fifth grade choir singing a selection of patriotic songs.  A special flag that had flown in Afghanistan was presented to the school on behalf of Sandy Sanderson. Sandy's daughter Nicole is a student here in Mrs.Leonardis' kindergarten class. Students in the primary grades worked together to write poster-sized letters to the veterans. The posters were hung throughout the library.

First Family Game Night Held 

Our first PTA Family Game Night of the year for grades kindergarten and first was held last week. With close to 200 people in attendance, it was a fun-filled night. A great selection of books were given out to our young participants.

Turkey Trot Raises Nearly $3,000 for Charity

All students bundled up and braved the chilly weather for the 12th Annual Turkey Trot held on November 4. In addition to teaching lessons to the students on thankfulness and becoming physically fit, the event raised $2,917.65 for Sophie's Giving Tree, a charitable organization created in the memory of Stonehedge student Sophie Kawejsza.

HEDGE Awards Recognize Students

November, the month of Thanksgiving, is a time for thankfulness, when we focus our thoughts on the many reasons for being thankful. Thank you to Mrs. Carrington and Mrs. Prosser's students for presenting at the assembly. As adults, we know how important it is to be grateful for the things that we have and the special people in our lives. The bulletin board display in the front hallway is full of things our second graders are thankful for. Be sure to check it out!

Congratulations to our Hedge Award recipients for the month of October. Thank you to these students for showing respect to others!

First Grade HEDGE Award Winners:

Grace Abert, RJ Bartholomew, Lianna Basila, Noah Bell, Kiera Braun, Gianna Caraccio, Iliana Dafoe, Gwen DeMass, Erik Dombroske, Inna Guleva, Sidney Hamilton, Gabriella Hinman, Riley Kittle, Ben Korzeniewski, Thomas Levison, Isabella Makarchuk, William Meade, Cathleen O'Keefe, Jacob Orozco, Alexa Pallone, Connor Parker, Zophia Parker, Dontae Powell, Angelo Vrabel

Second Grade HEDGE Award Winners:

Amaiya Abear, Luay Abraham, Savannah Clark, Peyton Cooper, Brianna Hebert, Kaitlyn Hoy, Rose Latessa, Austin Michalkow, Abigail Moore, Alison Offutt, Scout Oudemool, Joseph Paoli, Claire Petty, Lauren Petty, Benjamin Pietrafesa, Gavin Provo, Ali Robertson, Allison Shortslef, Ty Thomas, Robert Tucciarone, Osvaldo Valenzuela, Nicole Vasilev

A reminder:
Report cards go home this Friday, Nov. 15. This will be a good time to talk with students about their progress and set academic goals for the next marking period. Parent - teacher conferences are scheduled for Nov. 25-26. This will be a half day for students with a dismissal time of 11:30 a.m. on both days. We look at conferences as an opportunity to discuss your child's overall development and to foster a positive home/school partnership. We focus on collaboration all in an effort to ultimately affect student progress. If you are not scheduled for a conference, please contact your child's teacher to secure a time.

Enjoy some additional pictures from our Veterans Day Tribute, Turkey Trot, and Game Night. 

Veterans read through thank you letters written by students.

Principal Keevil calls BINGO.

Physical education teacher Steve Shoults runs with students during the Turkey Trot.

Celebrating Fire Prevention Month and Halloween

Fairmount Fire Department Visits School

“Why does your truck have three hoses?”

“If there’s a fire, what about my x-box?”

“What if we can’t find a way out and there’s a fire?”

These were just some of the many questions that K-2 students asked fire fighters from the Fairmount Fire Department during an interactive fire safety assembly. Students learned about protective gear that is worn and tools used when fighting a fire. They were taught safety procedures to follow at home and reviewed procedures here at school.

Classroom teachers worked age-appropriate fire prevention lessons and videos into their curriculum and students had the chance to climb aboard a real fire truck. To watch the videos that the children saw, click links below:

Sparky Says: Join My Fire Safety Club Video
Children's Fire Safety Tips
Sesame Street and the FDNY: Fire at Hooper's Store 
Caillou Caillou The Firefighter

We would like to thank physical education teacher Margaret Barbuto for coordinating the Fire Prevention activities.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 – Chris Baker, Josh Fleury (a former Stonehedge student!), Dan Kogel, Ron McAllroy, Hunter Rogers, Matt Tynan, Chris Unz   

Update on Halloween Parade

Halloween is almost here, and once again it is time for our annual Halloween Parade. This year our Halloween Parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 31. Our youngest children will lead the parade followed by each successive grade. We hope you will be able to join us by lining the parade route. The children love to see you there! No need to sign-in for parade viewing.  For parents who signed up to help at the party, the classroom teacher will notify you of the time of the party.

PARP Guest Readers Spend Time in Classrooms

More than 50 guest speakers will visit Stonehedge during the month of October and read to students as a popular part of the PTA's PARP program. Some pictures from our guest readers follow:

Above, Brian Kesel, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, serves as a guest reader for PARP in Mrs. Donahue's kindergarten class.

 

High School Principal Dr. Barry Copeland read to students in Karen Schweitzer's second grade class.

Students in Colleen Lauricella's first grade class posed with school nurse Stephanie Skardinski after she read to them.

Former Stonehedge principal Marilyn Stone read to students in Kristen Malbone's kindergarten classroom.

 Students in Patty Munley's first grade class found some great spots to read during class.

Board of Education member Vladimiro Hart-Zavoli read to students in Regan Shepard's kindergarten class.

Enjoy your weekend and some additional pictures from our Fire Prevention assemblies.
Mrs. Keevil

Dressed in full gear, fire fighters crawled through the room to show students what to expect during a fire. 

Students demonstrated how to Stop! Drop! and ROLL!