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"

Weekend Update April 24, 2020

Happy Friday!
Here are the Stonehedge Weekly Shoutouts

Poem In Your Pocket!

Click here to check out this video in honor of Poetry Week!

Next Thursday, April 30th is National Poem in Your Pocket Day. Usually, Stonehedge would be celebrating by encouraging staff and students to find a poem they like, put it in a pocket, and share it with as many people as possible during the day. And some years, we’ve even held “Poetrypalooza”, an open mic poetry night.  This year, we obviously can’t do things the traditional way, but we have a fun alternative. Check out next week’s library lesson on the WG Learning Portal Page for an opportunity to explore fun poems and then share them via Flipgrid (which is really fun and easy to use). Together we’ll have a virtual Poem in Your Pocket Day that we can share with all of the elementary schools of West Genesee! 

Online Distance Learning

Please be sure to check the online portal for PE, P2, Counseling Notes, Enrichment Art and Music activities.

P2 Character Strength: Purpose and Connection

This strength gives us the sense that we are connected with others and our world. People who possess a sense of purpose believe that they were put on earth for a reason. Having the strength of purpose can show in a variety of ways: friendships, the joy of music or evening raising others to be good people. Those that possess this strength have a true calling.  Brene Brown is someone who is new to me.  I found her podcast, the Unlocking us podcast, during this closure.  She is very relatable and her words have helped me to find purpose during these difficult times. Maybe you will check her out??? (The podcast is an adult thing... the kiddos won't have any interest!)

PTA

Looking for some new books? The PTA is hosting an online book fair for students. Scholastic is offering FREE Shipping on BOOK purchases totaling over $25. The books will be shipped to the student's home.  Mrs. Abbott has done daily book talks posted to the Stonehedge Elementary PTA Facebook page.

 PTA Virtual Bookfair

Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten registration for the 2020-2021 school year has been extended until May 15th. These students will be the graduating class of 2033! Wow! Registration takes place at the Central Registrar's Office located at 300 Sanderson Drive, Camillus, NY 13031. For information about registering your student, go to the Registration Section of the website. Prior to coming in to register, you will need to make an appointment by clicking the appropriate link on the Registration web page or by calling the Central Registrar at (315) 487-4683.

Pics from Around "School"

Nico and his new pogo stick!

Anthony "pogo sticking" for PE!

Look at those letters! And, that smile :)

Vinny, Gr 1, is doing some additional work with his siblings

Sofia and her bug study!

Nico working hard! Keep up the good work :)

From the eyes of a Kindergartener

Keep it up, Randy!

Weekend Update April 17

Check this special video out Secret Life of Stonehedge Pets

Last week, I read Dogs Don't Wear Sneakers by Laura Numeroff.  Several students sent me ideas of activities animals do not do.  Jaden says "Cats don't play pianos." And, kindergarten student, Matthew thinks that squirrels wearing clothing would be pretty darn funny!  My dog, Rudy, would love to see a squirrel in clothing.  Rudy loves to watch and chase squirrels all day long.  As a twist, I saw a video this week of a grown man pretending to act like his dog.  He ran up to a fence and started yelling (barking) at people walking by "This is my house. You are walking near my yard.  This is my yard..."  Maybe, I'll email Laura Numeroff and suggest she write a book about people acting like their pets (People don't bark at the UPS man)! 

Distance Learning

I hope you have been able to get into the swing of things and have been able to establish a workable routine/schedule at home.  I am still working on getting into a good schedule with my children, but it is not easy and I am not sure we are there YET! We continue to receive positive feedback about assignments.  As a reminder, students should still visit the online portal at westgenesee.org to access their library, PE, and P2 activities. I believe all issues with opening up the Positivity Project slides have been resolved. I know that some families continue to be a bit overwhelmed and that is understandable. We are in this together. Again, just do what you can do. Your best is good enough!

P2 Trait of the week

Appreciating beauty and excellence means that you take note and value the world’s beauty and people's skills. You identify and enjoy things that are admirable in the world. You might notice and appreciate a song, a sunset, architecture or someone's personality.  Appreciation of beauty gives joy and purpose.  This week... take a minute to jot down or reflect on the beauty around you.  Maybe we'll have a rainbow or a sunset.  Might you notice trees starting to bud?  Or will you laugh with a loved one who always shows you positivity, humor, and whit?  I am going to daydream of my camp in Hamilton, NY.  I can't wait to go there and appreciate the beautiful hills.

Virtual Spirit Week, #2

West Genesee will again be participating in a Virtual Spirit Week next week. Here is the flyer with more details. The week is as follows:

4/20   Movie Monday
4/21   Travel Tuesday
4/22   Warm-Up Wednesday
4/23   Thoughtful Thursday
4/24   Fresh Air Friday

Check out Mrs. Abbott's Stonehedge Shoutouts

Pictures from Around School

Kindergartener, Jase, learning all about butterflies.

Tyson and Reading Eggs

Readers and Writers at work!

Playdough Math

1st Grade Math Lesson!!!!

Weekend Update April 10, 2020

Here is a video of the Stonehedge Shoutouts!

Yearbooks

Yearbook sales will end on April 13th. Yearbooks may or may not be available for purchase at the end of the school year. 

Gertrude Hawk 

Orders are being shipped to your home! If the order contains a mistake, please call customer service 1-800-706-6275 ext. 384.

Parent Survey

Two members of the Odyssey Program at the high school are doing a research-based project exploring how increased technology use is impacting elementary students in our community. We are interested in getting feedback from parents so they produced two short questionnaires on Survey Monkey. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SG5768Q


Pictures from Around School!

Weekend Update April 3, 2020

Virtual P2 Assembly:

This week would have been our P2 Assembly focused on Social Intelligence in honor of World Autism Awareness Day which was yesterday, April 2nd.  To prepare, students were going to watch this video before the assembly (Please have your child check it out here).  P2 Assemblies are my favorite part of school! We all wear our matching P2 shirts and we open with a song, This Little Light of Mine.  Then, we have a special presentation related to one of the traits of the month.  Since we can't gather together the teachers have put together a video for you and we have included a short video on Austim in place of our guest speaker.  We hope you enjoy our virtual P2 Assembly!

Stonehedge Staff Virtual P2 Opening

Virtual P2: Social Intelligence Video on Autism

Spring Break:

As you are aware, Governor Cuomo issued a new Executive Order which states that school districts must continue plans for alternative instructional options (as well as, distributions of food) and "continue to first use any vacation or snow days remaining." This means for all of us that we will no longer have Spring Break which was scheduled for next week.  We will continue to provide remote instruction for all students.

I'm sure this news will bring mixed emotions for many of you; some families will likely be happy that an instructional plan will be provided for their children to keep them productive and engaged while others were likely looking forward to the break. It looks like we will all just need to continue to be flexible during these uncertain times!

Beginning next week your child will be directed to visit their teacher's Google Classroom for literacy and math activities; all other activities will be linked to the document on the portal. If you have any questions please contact your teacher directly, email me (asimmons@westgenesee.org), or call the office and leave a voicemail that will be automatically forwarded to me (315-487-4633).

Pictures from "Around School"

Miss Cizenski has been learning about this fox and her babies!

Also, just a quick note...to let you know that the Kindergarten and 2nd grade trip to Lemoyne theater has been canceled and you can expect a Refund for Field Trips coming by the end of the year.