Many Engaging Visitors to Stonehedge Speak with Students

CODE Presentations Focus on Safety of Students

Yesterday Officer Brand, of the Camillus Police Department, visited Stonehedge Blue for our first Community Oriented Drug Education (CODE) assembly of the year. She spoke on different topics at each grade level.

Camillus Police Officer Brand speaks with second-grade students. 

Jami Bolton, Outreach and Education Senior Specialist with the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center, teaches kindergarten students about growing up healthy and staying safe. 

Kindergarten – The focus for this presentation is on physical safety. The officer explained the role of police officers as well as the components that are a part of their uniform. Kindergarten students have a lot of questions regarding the “gear” that police officers wear. Also, the officers discussed the importance of students learning their address and telephone numbers and when is the right time to call 911. The students also learn what to do if a person unfamiliar to them approaches them and attempts to take them to another place. The children watched a video called “Billy and the Bus”, which reinforces the discussion on strangers.

First Grade – Students today had a presentation with the staff at The McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center co-presenting with Officer Brand. The emphasis was on being safe and growing up healthy, learning the difference between “secrets” and “surprises” and identifying solutions to problems and that problems are a normal part of life. The children were read the book, “Your Body Belongs To You.”

Second Grade – The theme of the presentation was on bullying and bullying behavior, including exclusion. Officer Brand read the book, “Juice Box Bully” and watched two Sesame Street video.

Videos are available for your viewing after students have seen them. Click here to view.  

Author and Cartoonist Frank Cammuso Kicks of PTA's PARP Program

We were recently treated to a presentation by author and cartoonist Frank Cammuso . As a kindergartener, Cammuso attended Stonehedge and he shared his experiences growing up in the Syracuse area with our students. He urged students to keep up the hard work. Even if something they love is difficult, they should stay with it. 

Cammuso's visit was part of the month-long PTA's Pick A Reading Partner  (PARP) program. There are many fun events scheduled throughout October including library nights and the book fair. Be sure to check out the PARP calendar that went home with your children.  

Throughout the month of October, many PARP guest readers will visit the school and read stories to our students. Below, Mr. Sparks, seventh-grade teacher at West Genesee Middle School, delights students as he reads to Mrs. Lauricella's kindergarten class. 

Neil Widrick, BOE member,  shares his favorite childhood book The Pokey Little Puppy with Mrs. Cunningham's first-grade students. 

We Need You!

For more than 50 years, Stonehedge PTA has brought in unique programming, activities, authors, musical groups, family nights, and much more to benefit the thousands of Stonehedge families who come through our doors. 

As in the past, none of this would be possible without the dedication of volunteers. This year is no exception, in fact, the need for volunteers is dire. If more volunteers don't come forward, many of Stonehedge's beloved programming will, unfortunately, fall by the wayside. Events like Family Fun Night, game nights, PARP, enrichment, and student activities like the yearbook are in danger of being canceled. 

So why not grab a group of 4-5 friends and come forward to help with an event or program?? We Need You! You'll be working with people you know and as the saying goes, many hands make light work! It doesn't have to be a huge commitment, a few hours here and there can make a HUGE impact. 

Interested? Grab your #VolSquad #DreamTeam and contact Larraine Farella at lfarella@westgenesee.org. We are excited to have you! 

Dates to Remember: 
No school on Monday, October 9 in observance of Columbus Day. 
Tuesday, October 10 - Library Night 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, October 18 - PTA Meeting 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the Library
Tuesday, October 24 - Library Night 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 31 - Halloween Parade 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, November 1 - Turkey Trot

Enjoy the long weekend with family,
Lori