Can't Beat This Week at Stonehedge!

Positivity Project Assembly Marches to its Own Drum!
Today's Positivity Project Assembly was a different look at the character traits that have been studied throughout the year. Perseverance, teamwork, social intelligence, creativity, and more were demonstrated when Downbeat Percussion performed for all of our students. The high-energy, interactive, and wildly entertaining performance had students clapping along, dancing, and wiggling in their seats.

Please be sure to click on the photos below to watch brief videos of today's performances.

Celebrating Love and 100 Days in School

This week marked two fun milestones: the 100th day of school and Valentine's Day. Kindergarten students marked their 100th day of school by helping to complete 100 acts of kindness. They celebrated with small parties in each room where they made crafts and participated in activities all based around the number 100. It's clear to see these kindergartners are 100 Days Smarter!

PTA Hosts Minute to Win It Night 
Last night the PTA teamed up with several staff members to host a Minute to Win It night for second grade families. There was a great turn out and great family fun to be had! Thanks to everyone who participated.

Important Upcoming Dates:
February 19-23- Winter Recess, no school
Saturday, March 3- PTA Enrichment Day, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Saturday, March 3- District Culture Fair 12 - 3 p.m., WGHS
Wednesday, March 14- Half Day for Students, Dismissal 11:30 a.m.

Enjoy this week home with your family!
~Lori

Kicking Off February

Eagles are Crowned Stonehedge PTA's SOUPer Bowl Champions!

It seems that on our Blue side of Stonehedge, there are a LOT of Eagles fans. This week was our annual SOUper Bowl food drive. Twice throughout the week, the Eagles box needed to be emptied of generously donated canned goods and toiletries while the Patriots box....didn't need to be emptied once!

The true winner is of course the Camillus community.  The generous donations will go to our local food pantries and our Stonehedge  families in need. 

Congressman John Katko Visits Stonehedge

Congressman John Katko may have faced his toughest group of constituents yet...he recently spoke to 148 second graders at Stonehedge! As a follow up to their Winter Wonderland studies, the Congressman answered questions from the students and talked about Symbols of America.

Second Grade Minute To Win It Night

Second grade families please join us for the PTA's Minute-To-Win-It night. Based on the hit television game show, the night will consist of mini challenge stations using common household items to complete a task in 60 seconds or less! Please be sure to RSVP to your student's teacher. The don't miss night is Thursday, February 15 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Time to Register Your Child for Kindergarten

If you have a child who will be turning five before December 1, 2018, you need to register him or her for kindergarten! Kindergarten registration for the 2018-2019 school year began on January 8 and will continue until March 29, 2018 at the Central Registration Office located at 300 Sanderson Drive, Camillus, NY 13031. Please check out this link to learn more and schedule an appointment. 

Important Dates to Remember

Tuesday, February 6- PTA Founders' Day Celebration, 6:30 - 8 p.m., library (Representatives from grades 1 and 4 will be present as well) 

Thursday, February 15- PTA Minute to Win It second grade event in both gyms, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Monday, February 19-Friday, February 23, No School, February Recess

~ Lori

It was a WONDERful Winter WONDERland

It was a snowy winter night, a perfect setting for our fifth annual Winter "Wonder"land. Held last Thursday, it was a beautiful showcase of student artwork, research, and projects.

Since returning from winter break, the entire Blue side has been immersed in a world of project-based learning. Students were challenged to explore topics like penguins in kindergarten, the planets in first grade, and symbols of America in second grade.

They dove in and researched through books, great online resources, and videos. Field trips reinforced classroom learning and gave students hands-on, real world experiences. In the last blog, you saw pictures from the first grade trip to the MOST and the second grade virtual field trip about Symbols of America. This week kindergartners ventured to the zoo and saw penguins up close and personal. They enjoyed a unique classroom experience at the zoo while meeting several animals.

 

During the Winter "Wonder"land research and project phase, teachers, staff, and volunteers join forces and help students discover exciting new facts about their subject matter and create projects that showcase their learning.

The event drew a great crowd as students happily pulled their families through the classrooms to show off their hard work. Many interactive displays provided a fun photo and learning opportunity throughout the different rooms.

These students check out a bald eagle nest that second grade students made. 

Posing with a very famous Symbol of America, the Statue of Liberty.

These young ladies were exploring more about planet Mercury in first grade. 

First grade teacher Miss Munley welcomes parents in her classroom where they learned more about Venus. 

Stars in his eyes! This student couldn't wait to pose with the photo booth in Miss Kolis and Mrs. Colburn's room. 

Families could find student artwork lining the hallways and doors. 

A mural of the White House by second grade students. 

Penguin-themed artwork transformed the cafeteria into a penguin museum!

Some kindergarten friends made waddling penguins out of water bottles. 

Checking out some of the research books written by kindergarten students.

A special note to parents from a first grade classroom.

Thanks to all of our volunteers, our teachers, and staff for supporting this important project and making it as successful as it was!


Positively Persevering 

As we mentioned in the last blog post, we recently hosted two former Stonehedge students at our monthly Positivity Project assembly. Scotty Fura, a ninth grader at WGHS, and Molly McIntyre, a seventh grader at WGMS discussed the struggles they have experienced throughout their lives. It was an eye-opening assembly and gave current students a glimpse into the often times challenging lives of two former students. Their words spoke to the character traits perseverance as well as hope and optimism, all being studied this month through the P2 program.  

Molly addresses the group and shares stories of her daily life. 

Mrs. Barbuto helped to describe some of the adaptations that Molly uses to complete her schoolwork.

Scotty surprised the students by explaining that he plays football and baseball, wrestles, and is a volunteer fireman.

School Counselor Mrs. Sheehan, Scotty Fura, Physical Education Teacher Mrs. Barbuto, Molly McIntyre, and Principal Mrs. Keevil stand together after the assembly sporting their Choose Kind and Positivity Project t-shirts.

~Lori

Making the Best of a Power Outage

Making the Best of the Power Outage

It’s been a busy day here at Stonehedge. While we were down with no power and internet, we were still able to hold a wonderfully inspiring Positivity Project assembly and continue with fun and alternative teaching techniques.

A kudos to all our staff and teachers for working together to persevere through a day filled with challenges. We were fortunate to have a warm day, so the building remained at a comfortable temperature. We had water and some alternative lighting.

A big thank you to the WGMS cafeteria staff for helping us prepare lunches on time.

The Buildings and Grounds staff was also here to lend a helping hand to transport anything we needed between the two buildings.

Dr. Brown visited Stonehedge and was in constant contact throughout the day. Teachers, staff, and students all worked together to make the best of this day.  It truly takes a village!

The Power of Positivity

At this morning’s assembly, students learned about the power of perseverance and self-control. After listening to a story based on the novel “We’re All Wonders” by R.J. Palacio, two guest speakers took the floor and truly inspired our youngest students. Former Stonehedge students Scotty Fura, a ninth grader at WGHS, and Molly McIntyre, a seventh grader at WGMS discussed the struggles they have experienced throughout their lives. It was an amazing assembly and we’ll include more details and pictures in the next blog.

Enjoy the long weekend. See you on Tuesday.

~Lori

It's a Winter "Wonder"land

Happy New Year!

I hope you and your family had an enjoyable break. It was certainly nice for me to spend time with my family and friends within a whirlwind of holiday activities. Fast, furious and good to be back.

It’s Winter “Wonder”land Time

The outside weather surely tells us that we are in the throes of winter, but inside the building we are toasty and warm and beginning a wonderful world of wonder.

Teachers have begun the researching process for Project-Based Learning (PBL). For this two week period of time, students engage in a rigorous, extended process of asking questions, exploring resources, and applying information. Students are required to gain knowledge and skills in order to investigate their own “wonders” and engage in authentic and challenging learning. Students will then create projects for an authentic audience –their peers and families! Students make decisions about the project, employ their creativity and work with others to represent their vision and knowledge. 

Perfection is not the desired outcome for these young students, it’s the journey that makes it all worth while.

Be sure to enjoy the highlights below of the learning opportunities students are experiencing. Thank you to our PTA for sponsoring the many field trips that enhance this time of wonder, and to the teachers for facilitating this opportunity. Oh, the places we’ve been!

These first graders have started to generate their "I wonder" questions.

First graders journeyed to the MOST and discovered whole new worlds!

This week all second graders took a virtual field trip and learned about US Symbols like the White House, bald eagle, Liberty Bell, and Statue of Liberty to support their learning during Winter Wonderland research.

Our main office is looking beautiful with some great artwork from Mrs. Shepard's kindergarten class.

You complete what you start despite obstacles. You never give up.

Our P2 character trait for the next week is perseverance. Students have been learning about perseverance and why it is important. We will be having an assembly next week highlighting that character trait along with upcoming traits hope/optimism and prudence. 

We Want to Hear from You! Standards-Based Grading and Reporting

We are hoping that you have found our new report cards to be informative as well as easy to read and understand. We would like to get your feedback regarding our new report cards. Please take a minute to complete this short, five-question survey about the report cards as well as the timing of parent conferences. Your honest feedback is appreciated.

Save The Date: Parenting Wisely Workshops

On Tuesday, January 16 the Prevention Network, in conjunction with the elementary school counselors, will be offering a night on parenting. Prevention Network educators will offer sessions derived from a researched-based program called ParentingWisely. Three different topics will be offered. The evening will be hosted at Stonehedge Elementary. Pizza and child care will be provided. More information on this important night will be sent home soon.

Upcoming Dates to Remember:

Wednesday, January 10, 6:00 pm -PTA meeting, HS Library Classroom along with 

Dialogue with the Superintendent at 7:00 pm in the High School's LGI classroom.

Stay safe and warm!

~Lori

'Tis The Season for Kindness

We Want to Hear from You! Standards-Based Grading and Reporting

We are hoping that you have found our new report cards to be informative as well as easy to read and understand. We would like to get your feedback regarding our new report cards. Please take a minute to complete this short, five-question survey about the report cards as well as the timing of parent conferences. Your honest feedback is appreciated.

Save The Date: Parenting Wisely Workshops

On Tuesday, January 16 the Prevention Network, in conjunction with the elementary school counselors, will be offering a night on parenting. Prevention Network educators will offer sessions derived from a researched-based program called ParentingWisely. Three different topics will be offered. The evening will be hosted at Stonehedge Elementary. Pizza and child care will be provided. More information on this important night will be sent home soon.

There is no better place to be than an elementary school the week before the holidays. 

This month we studied the Positivity Project's character traits kindness and self-control. We recently had a "buddy day" where older students were paired with younger students to complete some fun projects. The projects demonstrated their kindness in working together and that #OtherPeopleMatter because their hard work was given away to help brighten another's holiday. Working together kindergarten and fifth grade students colored placements that will be brought to the Samaritan Center. First and third grade students colored holiday cards for Saint Camillus Nursing Home. Second and fourth grade students teamed up to create cards for Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital. 

Mrs. Schweitzer's second grade class teamed up with  Mrs. Lilienthal's fourth graders.

Mrs. Leonardis' first grade class teamed up with Mrs. LoBello's third grade students.

Mr. Ramsden's fifth graders worked with Mrs. Stalter's kindergarten friends. 

CODE Presentations Offer Great Opportunities for Family Discussions

Last week Officer Brand, of the Camillus Police Department, provided our second CODE assembly of the year. She spoke on different topics at each grade level.

Kindergarten – Students today had a presentation with the staff at The McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center co-presenting with Officer Brand. The children learned a safety plan called “No, Go, Tell” to help them deal with situations that make them feel unsafe or uncomfortable.  They learned the importance of reporting certain situations to trusted adults. The children were read the book “Your Body Belongs To You.”

First Grade – The theme of this assembly is esteem building and the importance of positive self-esteem.  Accepting ourselves, and others, the way we are was discussed.  Being a good friend, and making good decisions, tie into self-esteem.  Officer Brand read the book “I’m Gonna Like Me” and showed a Sesame Street video titled “I Am Special.”

Second Grade – The theme of the presentation was on bullying and bullying behavior, and being a bystander and being an “upstander.”  The students watched a video titled “Haines Elementary School” which showed how the children can properly handle bully situations.  The students also learned about the importance of reporting certain situations to trusted adults.

Dates to Remember:
Monday, December 25-Monday, January 1: No School, Winter Recess
Tuesday, January 16: Parenting classes

Warmest wishes to you and your family this holiday season,

~Lori

Positivity Project: Learning Kindness and Self-Control

Happy December!

As a reminder, report cards go home this Friday, December 8.

Friday's Positivity Project assembly was a great opportunity for students to learn more about the character traits we are all studying this month, Kindness and Self-Control.

Principal Keevil spoke with children about the PTA's Giving Tree collection, encouraging students to be kind and reminding them that #OtherPeopleMatter.

From there, second grade students in Mrs. Prosser and Mrs. McIntyre's and Mrs. Bailey's classes performed skits demonstrating what self-control looks like...and what it doesn't!

Check out a brief video from Friday's assembly! Click here.

Is this what self-control looks like?

That's better!

As a reminder: The Annual Wreath and Poinsettia pick-up will be tomorrow, Tuesday, December 5 in the Blue Lobby between 3:15-5:45 p.m.

Please come by the school to check for your child's lost clothing, backpack, or lunch boxes. Clothing and other items will be on display through parent-teacher conferences, Dec. 15. All remaining items will be donated after that. 

Important Dates to Remember:

December 8  Report Cards Go Home

Now through December 8 Giving Tree Drive
Thursday, December 7 Kindergarten Family Get Together 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. (Blue Cafeteria)
Thursday, December 14 Early Dismissal, Parent-Teacher Conferences, Dismissal 11:30 a.m.
Friday, December 15 Early Dismissal, Parent-Teacher Conferences, Dismissal 11:30 a.m.

~Lori