Happy Holidays!

Buddy Day Walk and Writing Activities Bring Together Friends
Our older students really got a chance to mingle with their younger buddies today during two different activities. During one part of the day, student buddies walked throughout the school chatting away the time as they learned more about each other. Later, they regrouped and wrote letters of holiday greetings to different organizations including patients at Golisano Children's Hospital, a veteran's group, and residents at The Centers at St. Camillus.
  

First grader Avery and her fourth grade buddy Kelly take a stroll through the school.

Emily, a fifth grader, walks with her kindergarten buddies.

Fifth grader Nathen and his kindergarten buddy J.J. get ready to head out of the gym and start walking.

Fifth graders and their kindergarten friends spontaneously joined hands and kept walking and enjoying each other's company.

First grader Anthony on left and fourth grader Aiden  (center) walk with first grader Kristian.

First grader Tori and her fourth grade buddy Brianna take a quick breather in between laps.

Rei, second grade, and her buddy get to know each other. 

These buddies pose as they take another lap. 

These lovely ladies put their heads together to write a caring holiday letter and draw pictures. 

Kindergartener Maxim and his buddy Hassan worked together to write a letter. 

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.

These students learned about the Israeli tradition of spinning the dreidel.

Mrs. Mathewson stamps passports in her classroom after students learned about some German traditions and sampled gingerbread.

Vlad sampled some chips and salsa after learning about Mexican traditions. Here he is writing in his holiday booklet. 

Candy canes are big part of American traditions. Students crafted tissue paper canes.

Mrs. Cunningham, dressed as Sweden's Saint Lucia, taught the children about Swedish traditions.

Following a tradition from the Netherlands, students left one shoe in the hallway while learning about Dutch traditions. When they were done, their shoes had been magically filled with goodies. 

Liam shows off his passport. Every child received a stamp after visiting each classroom, filling up their holiday passports. 

Kindergarten Plays Their Reindeer Games

Mrs. Malbone's class proudly shows off their hand-crafted reindeer crowns. The morning was set aside for reindeer games. Students crafted the hats, made reindeer food, and read a reindeer story.

Stonehedge Cares
Our Stonehedge family is a generous one. With the combined efforts of our PTA's Giving Tree and staff donations, we were able to help dozens of Stonehedge families provide gifts for their children this holiday season. The Giving Tree drive also collected a trunkload of toiletries, socks, scarves, and other needed items to the Samaritan Center. Thank you for all who contributed to the Christmas Fund. Whether you gave a lot or a little, you made someone's holiday much brighter. 

Earlier this fall, one of our first grade students, Corinna, was very concerned when she and her family drove by some homeless people standing in the pouring rain. Corinna was determined to help. On her own, she came up with a holiday she named "Donate Eve". She emptied her piggy bank and asked her friends, family, and teachers to donate whatever they could to help the homeless on one night, Donate Eve.  Her efforts paid off and she raised $142 for the Samaritan Center. She learned that her donation provided dinner for 142 people that night. Way to go Corinna!

Corinna poses with Mary Beth Frey, Executive Director of the Samaritan Center, after donating her proceeds from "Donate Eve". She also received a tour of the facility and learned a lot about what goes on behind the scenes. 

Winter Wonderland is Around the Corner
Shortly after students return to school, they will be immersed in the world of Winter Wonderland. They will be exploring the continents, the solar system, and penguins. Thank you to those of you who will be volunteering. You will be receiving a schedule in the mail. Your presence for that scheduled time will be so important. 



Remember, school is closed Thursday, December 24 through January 1. Classes resume on Monday, January 4. We look forward to an exciting new year. 

Please enjoy this wonderful time with family and have a safe holiday break! ~ Lori

'Tis the Season

Students Recognized for Their Thankfulness                              

At today's Character Education assembly, first and second grade students were recognized for their thankfulness. They were also challenged to work during the month of December to show their caring and compassion. Mrs. Keevil reminded students that being caring and compassionate doesn't have to cost anything. It is more about how to act towards each other. 

Miss Elmer's and Miss Kolis's classes helped with the short presentation built around the famous Dr. Seuss story, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,  Several students who were "caught" being caring and compassionate were given paper hearts with their names on the front and a short description of their kind act on the back. They took their hearts and pinned them to a big cut-out picture of the Grinch. 

Each teacher was given a picture of the Grinch to place on their classroom door. As students earn hearts, the hearts will be placed on the door to help the Grinch's own heart grow. 

Students pinned hearts on a Grinch poster during this morning's assembly. 

Doors are decorated, waiting to be filled with hearts, each indicating a good deed.

Congratulations to our first grade HEDGE Award winners:

Sarah Abumustafa, Olivia Astafan, Frankie Barbuto, Brooke Bresadola, Amari Chapman, Dominick Cheney, Dominic Cieri, Jacob Deakin, Kasson Emery, James Glassford, Tyler Gorzka, Gabriella Graham, Veronica Grobsmith, Liam Hayes, Tyler Hoy, Maggie Humphrey, Raegan Kitterle, Andrew LaRocca, Shawn McCarty, Charles Mellan, Amelia Mossotti, Ava Noce, Aidan Rice,Alena Seeber, Lucas Strain, Damien Valerino

Congratulations to our second grade HEDGE Award winners:

Anthony Bowles, Sarai Card, Alyssa Coon, Mary Eliz Cornish, Boston Crandall, T.J. Griffin, Luke Irvin, Allison Ivery, Kaitlin Jones, Addison Maddery, Riley McAloon, Kylie Michaels, Yana Melnik, Jocelyn Moses, Natalia Napoli, Vincent Pruett, Rei Riggall, Ethan Reynolds, Brady Smith, Vincenzo Trapasso, Mireya Wright, Za'nigh Yost, Landyn Young

                               

Please Support Stonehedge PTA's Annual Giving Tree

You may have noticed the festive tree in our lobby. It is part of our PTA's annual Giving Tree program. Each year as the holidays get underway, the Stonehedge community turns its heart and thoughts toward others. The PTA's Annual Giving Tree drive is underway and collecting holiday gifts for families in need at Stonehedge. In an effort to meet the specific needs of these children, we are asking families of students in kindergarten, first, and second grade to please consider donating cash or Target gift cards. Please use the special collection envelope that came home with your child to return your donation to your child's teacher. Even a small donation can make a big difference to a child.The Giving Tree runs now through December 11. 

Baking the Basics
When Miss Winters' kindergarten class read the classic fairy tale, The Little Hen, they learned that everyone needs to help out on a task in order to enjoy the rewards. They did just that recently when baking bread in her classroom. Students used math and reading skills as they took turns measuring ingredients and writing the bread recipe.

Snow Days May Be Coming Soon

Though we were fortunate to have a mild November, snow is just around the corner. When winter weather is predicted, stay tuned to Dr. Brown's twitter feed, the website, district facebook page, the West Genesee app, and the local radio and television stations for information on delays and cancellations. In addition, please make sure that your child has appropriate clothing. Students not only walk to and from the bus, but also play outside for recess. We want to make sure they stay warm!

Dates to Remember:

December 24-January 1, No School, Winter Recess

~Lori

Thankful for so Much at Stonehedge!

Thankful for our Veterans

Stonehedge students paid tribute to our local veterans and active duty service men and women with a special ceremony Tuesday that featured the fifth grade choir singing a selection of patriotic songs. Students in the primary grades worked together to write letters to the veterans and draw pictures describing what freedom means. The hallway in front of the red gym was decorated with the drawings. Paper stars filled the office windows with names of veterans in our Stonehedge family. 

The hallway outside the gym was decorated with students' heartfelt drawings and posters.

Bernie Bunce, from the American Legion, thanks the crowd and Stonehedge for its support of veterans everywhere.

Stonehedge's own Mr. Paventi, an Army veteran, watches the ceremony.

Mrs. DeMartini lead the fifth grade choir through several patriotic songs.

Mr. Shoults presents first grader Mason with a certificate of appreciation for Mason's brother who is currently serving in Iraq. 

Second grader Noah stands with his dad and other veterans in the library during the reception prior to the celebration.

Give me a T-H-A-N-K-F-U-L-N-E-S-S

This month’s character trait is thankfulness. Mrs. Prosser, Mrs. Jackson, and Mrs. Lizzi’s second grade classes led the assembly with a cheer about thankfulness. Individual students shared what they are thankful for including “turkey, family, friends, Stonehedge, hearts, happiness, America, kindness," and more.

 Grade 1  HEDGE Award Winners             

Helena Allen, Olivia Bartholomew, Tori Blackwood, Liam Breen, Luke Campolieta, Thomas Deemer, Kendra Dudman, Elliot Flint, Daniel Guglielmo, Timmy Groth, Deen Hamdan, Cole Hamilton, Xavier Knittel, Andrew LaRocca, Isabella Licameli, Elliott Olech, Thomas McCarty, McKenzie McKay, Charlotte Ponto, Natalie Van Riper, Katylynn Rivers, Elizabeth Sherman, Caitlin Shortslef, Abigal Simmons, Payton Wagner, Lucas Walsh, Izabella Watkins

                   

Grade 2  HEDGE Award Winners               

Olyvia Albright, Alex Bigelow, David Bosak, David Byrne, Harrison Card, Landon Derbyshire, Ryen Doran, Harper Flynn, Mackenzie Ginty, Dalton Hagemann, Lila Hennessy, Ryan Hohl, Annalin Hyatt, Liliana Ippoliti, Payton Jeffery, Michael Koltakov, Sophia Lawrence, Lily Mauro, Mason McAloon,Hayden Muller, Devin Reed, Gloria Valenzuela, Aubrey Vincentini, Clayton Watkins

Gobble Gobble...Turkey Trot a Huge Success

Enjoying the nicest weather for the annual Turkey Trot in years, students walked, ran, and trotted around the race path with no jackets, gloves, or hats! The event serves several purposes. First, it encourages our students (and their families) to get outside and get moving. Even if the weather isn't perfect, you can still be active. 

First graders ran hard through their laps!

In addition, this year, the day served as an opportunity to raise awareness about mitochondrial disease. Molly McIntyre, a fifth grader at Stonehedge, has "mito" and recorded a short video about what it is like to live with the disease for all classes to watch. She also visited classrooms and read a children's book about mitochondrial disease. Students were asked to wear green (the color that represents Mito) and bring a dollar donation to the Turkey Trot to go towards mitochondrial disease research. 

Tremendous thanks to our physical education teachers Mrs. Barbuto, Mr. Gangemi, and Mr. Shoults, for coordinating the annual event. All of our special area teachers spent the day outside, handing out popsicle sticks, filling water cups, and walking with students. Many family members, classroom teachers, and assistants trotted right along with students.

Kindergarten students did a great job navigating through their first Turkey Trot!

Second grade students grab some water and collect popsicle sticks after laps. 

Students drop their collected popsicle sticks in colored buckets as they head back into school. Each stick represents one lap (or 1/4 mile) that they completed.

Thankful for our Firefighters

Last week, students in grades K-2 had the opportunity to interact with firefighters from the Fairmount Fire Department. They discussed what to do should there be a fire at their home. They learned:

• To get out and stay out!  
• To stop - drop and roll if their clothing catches on fire, 
• To stay low and crawl to avoid smoke and heat, 
• And the importance of establishing a meeting place so all members of a family can be accounted for.  

Thank you to Firefighters Mazzoni, Kolar, and Rath who came out to the school and led our assemblies as well as tours of the firetruck! Special thanks to Mrs. Barbuto for organizing the visit and supplemental materials for teachers. 

Thankful for Our New Gym

Monday marked the "grand opening" of the blue side of the gym. Throughout the final phase of the building's capital project, the blue gym was used as construction headquarters. With construction complete, physical education classes were finally able to be held in both gyms at the same time for the first time this year. Our physical education department deserves a huge round of applause for teaching nearly 900 students in one gym for two months! Through creative exercises, flexible planning, and good weather, Mrs. Barbuto, Mr, Gangemi, and Mr. Shoults were able to conduct classes to meet the needs of all students. Hats off to them!

Thankful for our Volunteers

Planning has already begun for Stonehedge Blue's annual Winter Wonderland event on February 4. The night is the culminating event for nearly a month's worth of reading, writing, research, and project building. Volunteers are needed at different times between January 11-22 to help students complete research and projects. More information will be coming home with your students. However, if you are interested in volunteering, please be sure to complete this volunteer form. All volunteers must be screened and be approved by the Board of Education. 

If you would like to learn more about Winter Wonderland, click here for information on past events. 

Click here for volunteer form. 

With thanks, Lori