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