Springing Towards Break

Even this wintery April weather can't dampen our spirits! We're springing into fun this week and getting ready for some rest and relaxation over break!

It's not too late! First graders and their families still have time to RSVP for Thursday night's (4/19) bingo night from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the Blue cafeteria. There's still room! Call 315-487-4633 to RSVP today! 

Second Graders Measure Up
Second grade students recently dove...and jumped...and hopped...into their unit of study on measurement. They took to the hallways and jumped like a "frog" "rabbit" and "kid". They then measured with non-standard units. Sounds like a mile of fun! 

Welcome to Kindergarten Class of 2031!

We are trying something new this year, it’s our Get Ready for Kindergarten program and it is intended to make the transition to kindergarten a pleasant experience for both the incoming kindergarten parent and the new student! At each session, students will meet our kindergarten teachers, school principal, and many other staff members who will be working with their child in kindergarten and beyond.  Children will participate in fun activities focusing on kindergarten readiness skills, meet the teachers, and meet their classmates.

The first session was held last week and was very well attended!

Families of incoming kindergarteners are encouraged to attend the additional sessions. The next one will be held Thursday, May 24, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Children will visit a new set of centers with our kindergarten staff.  While they are learning and having fun, parents will join the principal and other school staff for an overview of the following: Understanding your child’s transition to kindergarten, socially and emotionally (school counselor); Kindergarten readiness skills (kindergarten teacher / speech therapist); Beginning literacy and numeracy (instructional specialist); and other important information (principal).

Using Technology in the Classrooms

Mrs. Donahue's kindergarten classroom center time looks a little different on Monday mornings. 

During center time, the students still work with Mrs. Ryan, their Early Literacy teaching assistant, to master letters and sounds. They develop their fine motor skills during an independent work center, and read and write with Mrs. Donahue. However, the students also rotate through a center with Instructional Technology Support Assistant Mrs. Gartner-Baca. 

"Mrs. G", as the kids call her, helps the students as they explore different educational apps on the iPads and Chromebooks and will even introduce basic coding! Working in small groups with the children allows her to guide them through the lessons and activities as well as troubleshoot any issues as they come up. She works in three kindergarten classrooms a day, rotating through all six kindergarten classrooms throughout the week. Routinely visiting classrooms for support in both math and English Language Arts, Mrs. G. guides students as they become familiar with using a touchpad on a Chromebook, develop early typing skills, and basic webpage navigation all while reinforcing math and language skills. 

First Graders Digging Into Data Collection!

"In the game of Rock, Paper, Scissors, would you rather be the rock or the scissors?"

During a recent math unit, students in Miss Elmer's first grade class created questions, polled their classmates, collected data, and then graphed the results! Students polled their friends on the important issues facing six-year-olds like, "Would you rather have pizza or spaghetti for dinner every night?"

Dates to Remember
Tuesday, April 17 - PTA meeting 6 p.m. at High School library classroom
Tuesday, April 17 - District Budget Presentation 7 p.m. High School LGI
Thursday, April 19- First Grade Bingo, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Blue Cafeteria
Friday, April 20- Half day for students, dismissal at 11:30 a.m.
Monday April 23-April 27 - No School, Spring Recess

The Positivity Project

Stonehedge students have learned about humor, integrity and forgiveness as our P2 character strengths this month. Hopefully, you can see the humor in a 2-hour delay in the month of April!  Below you will find an explanation for each of these traits.

Humor is our character strength focus this week. According to Positivity Project co-founder Jeff Bryan, Humor is a sense of playfulness and lightness. It is a way of looking at and describing the world that brings laughter to people. A person with the strength of humor is skilled at seeing the funny side of things, bringing smiles and laughter to others, and identifying and communicating the absurdities in life. People with this strength don’t specifically need to be joke tellers, although many are.

Integrity is doing the right thing when nobody is watching. People with integrity practice what they preach and maintain a consistent pattern of behavior aligned with their values. They have the courage not to follow the crowd if it means going against their beliefs. Integrity is closely aligned with the terms of honesty and authenticity. People with integrity tell the truth and have alignment in their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, or forgiveness

Forgiveness is the ability to move past being injured, and allow yourself to reconcile with the person who hurt you. Forgiveness can often be seen as a selfless act, but it also carries many benefits for those who practice it. Those who demonstrate forgiveness have the ability to move forward after someone has hurt them. Forgiveness is often rooted in the idea that all people are valuable and worthy of a second chance. Many who forgive have the ability to consider things from another’s perspective.

Kudos to Grade 2!

Our Library staff has something very excited up their sleeves for our second grade students. Teachers on our Grade 2 Team are so proud of how students have worked during their reading block to become proficient and fluent readers. For many students, the process of decoding the author’s words and making meaning out of those words is becoming effortless! Stay tuned to see how our fabulous Library staff plans to capitalize on these skills and help our second graders read like rock stars!

First Graders Build Banjos and Learn about Sound

First grade recently completed a science unit on sound. They learned that sound is caused by vibrations. Students made banjos and then used them to play a game where they had to use the banjos to cross a river without being seen by Brian the Beaver. 

Welcoming the Class of 2031!

We are trying something new this year, it’s our Get Ready for Kindergarten program and it is intended to make the transition to kindergarten a pleasant experience.  Parents and children will meet our kindergarten teachers and many other staff members who will be working with families in kindergarten and beyond.  Children will participate in fun activities focusing on kindergarten readiness skills, meet the teachers, and meet other children who will be entering Kindergarten in the fall. We are asking families to RSVP. The first session is scheduled for Thursday, April 12, 6:00 -7:00 pm. We will meet in the Blue Cafeteria.

Let's Go Blue 4 Kids

Did you know that April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month? Throughout the month of April, the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center is joining the National Children’s Alliance and its thousands of members and supporters across the country to bring much needed attention to the issues of child abuse intervention and prevention. As the leading agency in Onondaga County for the prevention of child abuse, McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center is planning a number of activities and events to recognize the importance of community education on child abuse prevention.

The West Genesee PTA/PTO District Council is asking for your support during the April awareness campaign Go Blue 4 Kids.

By donating $1, you can help the WG community go BLUE and support the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center’s important work. For each $1 donated, the school will receive a pinwheel. Please send donations by April 12 in an envelope marked “Pinwheels for Prevention” and have your child put it in the collection box in the Main Office.

On April 19, all pinwheels will be placed outside of each of the schools in the district. The McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center works to prevent child abuse through intervention and prevention education.

Upcoming Events

Thursday, April 12, Get Ready for Kindergarten, 6:00 -7:00 pm. (Please RSVP)

Tuesday, April 17 ST PTA Meeting, 6:00 pm-7:00 pm High School Library Classroom

Thursday, April 19 Grade 1 BINGO 6:30-7:30 pm

Monday, April 23- Friday, April 27 School Closed, Spring Break

~Lori