Weekend Update May 29

Check out this week's Stonehedge SHOUT OUTS

Distance Learning

I can not believe we are starting another week of distance learning.  I hope you are all doing very well.  I have been trying hard to find the silver linings during this closure. Hopefully, everyone is making the best of the current situation. We have two full weeks, plus one day, of instruction left.  Teachers report that you are doing a great job and we are ALL so proud of you! Don't forget to check out the distance learning portal on the website and have your child(ren) complete the weekly PE exit ticket. Thanks!

Retrieval of Student Belongings

Please wear a mask, maintain a 6 ft. distance between others, and only bring the necessary children and adults. Please remember to pick up medication in the nurses' office (if necessary), visit the Lost and Found near the exit doors (which will hopefully be outside), and follow the one-way traffic flow.  Also, please remember any books you may have borrowed from the Library or our Instructional Specialists. You will enter through the main entrance, check-in, go to the 1st or 2nd hallway, and exit out the back parking lot doors.  You might find it best to park in the bus loop. Again, if you are unable to come at your assigned time, please contact me and we will arrange for an alternate pick up time (asimmons@westgenesee.org).

Please check-in at the front door.

Don't forget those library books!

Be sure to go down the hallway and out the back doors.

Please check out the Lost and Found near the exit.

If it is nice, we'll have the Lost and Found outside. 

Chess Tournament

If your child plays chess, please consider having them participate in the West Genesee Chess Club online tournament which will be held on June 10th. Here is a link to the WG Chess Website. There is a page on the website that needs to be filled out to register for the tournament. Thank you to Mr. Mercado!

P2 Character Strength is Perseverance! 

Perseverance is often about overcoming obstacles. Perseverance is an important character trait it helps us to achieve our goals. It helps us handle setbacks while trying to reach our goals.  We have really needed to show our perseverance while school has been closed.  Sometimes, it is hard to make ourselves do our school work when it is nice outside or when you'd rather play a game.  I bet some parents have used the trait of perseverance to manage through this pandemic!


Pictures from Around School

Weekend Update for May 22

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!  I hope you have a chance to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. As today is an instructional day, please use today to catch up on any work and visit the portal to see special area activities. 

Time to Pick Up Student Belongings

The week of June 1-5 will be for families to come to STB to pick up personal belongings.  Letters have been mailed to our only and youngest students regarding timing and procedures.   As indicated in the letter, if you are unable to come at your assigned time, please contact me and I will give you an alternate time.  Also, don't forget to bring back any library books and/or books you may have borrowed from our reading teachers. If you need to pick up medication, please plan to visit the nurses' office.  We will have Lost and Found tables set up near the entrance... please check for any items your child may have lost over the year.  Here is a copy of the letter if you didn't receive it.

Kindergarten Screening

If you have an incoming kindergartener, you will be receiving a letter stating that Kindergarten Screening scheduled for the end of June has been postponed. We have tentatively rescheduled for the week of August 24th.

P2 Character Trait

Bravery can take many forms. Physical bravery involves overcoming fear of bodily injury or death. Moral bravery occurs when an individual does what he/she believes is right in the face of social and/or financial consequences. Mental bravery occurs when people overcome their everyday fears and anxieties.

Pictures from Around School

(Feel free to email pictures to asimmons@westgenese.org)

Weekend update May 15, 2020

Greetings!  I hope everyone enjoyed the virtual mental wellness week.  This certainly is a difficult time for everyone.  I often find myself feeling isolated and missing interaction with people.  It helps me to focus on the things I am grateful for and find time for some emotional renewal.

I know there are challenges with distance learning.  However, I have seen such powerful interactions between students and teachers via zoom.  Teachers continue to work hard on creating engaging lessons for all of our students.  Many teachers post Special Area activities on their google classrooms, but they are also available on the portal.  Additionally, Mrs. Abbot started a book club on Artemis Fowl.  I hope you will listen in!

The P2 character trait for next week is gratitude.  What an important trait to focus on during this time!  Simply put, to have gratitude is to be aware and thankful for that which is good.

PTA News: Mr. Suddaby and I met with several PTA members.  We are working on a plan for students to get their yearbooks.  More information to come soon.

Check out the Stonehedge SHOUTOUTS from Mrs. Abbott

Next week:

Friday, May 22 No School

Pictures from "Around School"

Weekend Update May 8, 2020

Check out this week's Stonehedge SHOUT OUTS:
 https://shorts.flipgrid.com/watch/9754089452208430

Thank you for all your warm wishes you sent to the staff of Stonehedge in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week.  Your kindness is so appreciated.  And, we send that appreciation right back at you.  Teachers and Families working together as a team is always key, but in this pandemic, it is even more important.

As Teacher Appreciation wraps up, we want to celebrate Mother's Day.  A special wish to all of you Moms out there.  Many moms who have also taken on the role of teacher to your own students during this closure.  Thank you for all you do.  I wish you and your family a fantastic weekend.  I hope it is full of JOY, LOVE and HAPPINESS.

Coming Up Next Week

Let’s honor all we have accomplished and overcome to get this far -- being “Stronger Together” as Wildcats. The West Genesee Mental Health Team wants your help to come together as a school community as we take a moment to focus on our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Each day helps us be a little more mindful of ourselves and each other.  This all leads up to Fun Friday filled with choices to help you students and families recharge and reset.

Monday: “Mindful Monday”- Do a random act of kindness for someone

Tuesday: “Take Time Tuesday”- Take time today for yourself


Wednesday: “Wellness Wednesday”- Do something active, eat healthy foods, look up new recipes, drink more water, read a book--just for fun

Thursday: “ Thankful Thursday”- Write a Thank You note or make a sign for someone you love or an essential worker

Friday: “Wildcat Wellness Day” - See the Choice Board on your google classroom or visit it here. Show your Wildcat Pride and celebrate being a Wildcat! #wildcatstrong

Want to join the Artemis Fowl virtual book club?

Mrs. Abbott will be doing a daily read-aloud of Artemis Fowl to get ready for
the movie premiere on Disney+ on June 12th 2020. You can listen live on
zoom at 1pm every weekday. The readings will be recorded if you can’t join
us at 1. Join the Artemis Fowl Google Classroom you can get the code from your teachers' Google classroom.  You’ll be able to access the zoom link from there. See Mrs. Abbott’s blog
for details.

Positivity Project

P2 Trait for Next Week is Other People Matter Mindset. We start thinking about the character traits we have learned about.  #OtherPeopleMatter is our motto, hashtag, and the spirit of the movement
Other People Matter--Anything that builds relationships between and among people is going to make you happy!  What makes you happy?  What traits do you bring to make your family, neighborhood, and community better!  Go out this week and share those wonderful traits you have with others.

Pictures from "Around School"

Feel free to email pictures for "Around School" to asimmons@westgenesee. org

Weekend Update May 1, 2020

Welcome, May!

I don't know about your household, but Governor Cuomo's announcement to close schools for the remainder of the academic school year hit the Simmons' house pretty hard.  It goes with the territory to say some days are better than others.  Mr. Simmons always says, "At the end of the day, a win is a win.  It doesn't have to be pretty."  So, on these tough days, we are spending time counting our blessings and trying to remember a win is a win.  I hope your good days are outweighing your difficult days.  I wish you well and hope everyone is healthy and safe.

Click HERE for our STONEHEDGE SHOUT OUTS! 

Distance Learning

Please know that the Stonehedge teachers and staff are working together to create an end of school year plan for our students.  Please assure your children that personal supplies and items left at school will be returned and that they will be well prepared to enter the next grade level in the fall. The teachers and staff will continue to create engaging lessons for our students.

Thank you to those of you that took the time to fill out the district's survey regarding distance learning. Here is another quick survey that the district's physical education teachers would appreciate each child filling out at the end of the week. Please remember to reach out to your child's teacher if you have any questions or concerns about the instruction and work that is being provided. In addition to email and google classroom, all teachers will be offering office hours or zoom time to provide instructional support at least twice a week beginning next week (most already have as some of you are aware). Please remember to also go to the Distance Learning Portal on the website to access PE, P2, Library, Counseling, and enrichment activities.

If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to email me at asimmons@westgenesee.org or call the school office at 315-487-4633 and leave a message.

Congratulation Stonehedge!

The New York State Education Department recognizes Stonehedge Elementary School as a Recognition School (based on 18-19 data)! Recognition schools are those with high academic achievement and strong progress, that perform acceptably for all subgroups, have at least 95% participation, and demonstrate the relentless commitment of teachers, administrators, staff, and parents. There are less than 600 Recognition Schools in NYS.

National Poem In Your Pocket day

Yesterday, April 30th was National Poem in Your (Home) Pocket Day.  Each year our fantastic librarian and the library staff do an outstanding job making poetry fun for our students. With help from our teachers, students, and families, this year’s poetry celebration was amazing.  If you haven’t already done so, check out the library lesson on the WG Learning Portal Page for Poem in Your Pocket Day. And if you haven't seen the Stonehedge staff celebrating Poem in Your Home Day, click here.

Pictures "Around School"