"Orange" You Glad You Go To Stonehedge?

Yesterday, October 19, was Unity Day. According to Pacer.org:  Make it ORANGE and make it end! What are your true colors when it comes to bullying? If you care about safe and supportive schools and communities make your color ORANGE on Unity Day. That’s the day everyone can come together – in schools, communities, and online – and send one large ORANGE message of support, hope, and unity to show that we are together against bullying and united for kindness, acceptance and inclusion.

Kindergarten students proudly show off their orange with ADA-PEP counselors Susan Sheehan (left) and Elizabeth Miller. 

As part of Stonehedge's recognition of Unity Day, students and teachers created paper t-shirts. The shirts, hung from a clothesline down the entire length of the connecting hallway between sides, were written and illustrated with ways that people can be kind to each other. 

Stop, Drop, And Roll!

"Get Out! Stay Out!' was just one piece of life-saving advice our students in grades K-2 received when firefighters from the Fairmount Fire Department came to school. Firefighters discussed what to do should there be a fire at home. Students 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 all the Firefighter Mazzoni and all the firefighters from Fairmount Fire Department 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. 

Firefighter Jesse dressed in full gear and crawled around the gym showing children that firefighters are nothing to fear. He encouraged students to answer a firefighter's call when looking for people during a fire. 

Firefighter Mazzoni demonstrated "Stop, Drop, and Roll" with two kindergarten students.

He rocked! He rolled! He made story ninjas out of us all! When children's author Sigmund Brouwer visited last week as part of the PTA's PARP (Pick a Reading Partner) program, he got students and teachers moving and grooving and excited for the art of storytelling.

Mr. Brouwer's performances were tailored for age appropriateness at each grade level. He explained his love of the stories that are hiding between the book covers. He also gifted us with three free e-books. Check out orcabook.com/myrockandrollbooks/ to view them.

Special thanks to the PTA for bringing him to Stonehedge and to the library staff for hosting! Be sure to check out Stonehedge PTA's Facebook page for even more pictures and video from his video.

Halloween Happenings

Halloween is almost here!! Costumes are being decided and candy is at the ready.  The Stonehedge Halloween Parade will begin at  10 a.m. on Monday, October 31, 2016.  We hope you will be able to join us by lining the parade route out in front of our school. The children love to see you there! No need to sign in for parade viewing.

A few simple guidelines will make the day a safe and happy one for all of the children. 

1.  Please send your child’s costume to school in a bag.  Do not send your child to school in costume or wearing make-up.  All scary, bloody masks, weapons, spears or other dangerous accessories must remain at home. Our youngest students can be frightened easily, and we want them to have a positive experience.

               

 2.  Classroom party times will be determined by the teacher and announced ahead of time. Due to health and safety concerns only adults who are designated helpers will be permitted in the classrooms during the parties. Helpers are asked not to bring younger children.

3.  If you are going to join the festivities and dress up, please avoid masks.

Naturally, we need to be able to recognize everyone who is interacting with the children.

4.     We will follow normal dismissal procedures.  Please encourage your child

to ride the bus home. 

5.     If you must pick up your child due to appointments or other business, be sure

to sign him or her out in the main office.

We look forward to a wonderful holiday with the children.  Your cooperation and assistance is very much appreciated.

For additional fun, please visit our annual district  Halloween Carnival sponsored by the R2 Program on Thursday, October 27, 2016 from 4-7 p.m. in the West Genesee High School LOWER GYM. Click here for more information. A “spooktacular” night is sure to had by all! 

Channel 9 News included a brief story about Stonehedge's new outdoor classroom on their Cool School segment. Click here to view, and scroll to the bottom of the page.

Please note these upcoming important dates:
Family Fun Night, Friday, October 21, 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Halloween Parade, Monday, October 31, 10 a.m.
Early Dismissal, Tuesday, November 8, Election Day, Professional Development (Dismissal at 11:30 a.m.)
Veterans' Day Celebration. Thursday, November 10

~Lori