Notes from Principal Simmons: Parading and Trotting, Stonehedge Stays Active!

The past week has been jam-packed with engaging activities at Stonehedge! From the Halloween Parade to the Turkey Trot, students and parents paraded and trotted around with excitement.

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble: Turkey Trot A Great Success
Yesterday's sunny, crisp weather for the annual Turkey Trot helped to motivate students, parents, and teachers to walk, jog, and run 4,779 laps around the Stonehedge parking lots! With each lap averaging a 1/4 mile, that's1,194.75 miles-- or nearly the equivalent of walking from Stonehedge to Disney World in Orlando, Florida! Way to go Stonehedge!

In addition to teaching lessons to the students on thankfulness and becoming physically fit, the event generated dozens of overflowing boxes worth of donated food for local food pantries. Thank you to everyone who contributed. Donations will be accepted throughout the week. Special thanks to the physical education department for coordinating and the many parent volunteers and staff who helped out during the day. (See below for many more pictures from the Turkey Trot.)

Honoring Our Veterans
In November we celebrate "thankfulness" as an important character trait. Again this year, we are highlighting our appreciation of the veterans of the armed services and active servicemen and women. On Monday, November 10, we will have veterans from the VFW Post #8664 of Camillus and the Camillus American Legion Knifetown Post #1540 on the morning announcements. A celebration will be held beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Stonehedge library for veterans and their families.

The 7th Annual CNY Veterans Parade and Expo will be held on Saturday, November 8 at the New York State Fairgrounds. The purpose of the event is "Thanking Our Veterans" of every generation and conflict.

The one and one-half hour long parade features more than 90 veterans and military organizations from throughout Central New York and beyond. The parade is based on the old-fashioned military style parades that featured military vehicles, local military units, Veterans of Foreign War Posts and American Legions. Every branch of the armed services and every conflict since WWII are represented.

The VA and other organizations present information about services available to veterans of any age. There will once again be a presentation about TRI-Care for retirees and a Kids' Area, Sponsored by TOPS, that will feature activities, games, displays and even face painting. For more information, go to www.cnyveteransparade.org or click the image above.

Halloween Parade Was a Treat

There were plenty of Princess Elsas, zombies, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles happily marching during this year's Halloween Parade.