Math Night, 100th Day of School, Enrichment, and More

Join us for Math Night

On Tuesday night, March 4, Stonehedge Blue will be holding a parent math night. As most of you are aware, the math instruction that your children are receiving is definitely not the math instruction that you and I received when we were students. We would like to spend some time talking to you about the changes that the Common Core requires and discuss ways you can help your child. This night is a learning opportunity and will not be a time to discuss the pros and cons of the Common Core.

The night will be structured as follows:

6:30 – 7:00           Presentation by Mrs. Keevil and Mrs. Gipe (math coach) for all parents (Blue Cafeteria)

7:00 – 7:30           Break-out sessions for grades K, 1, and 2 (in designated classrooms TBD)

We are asking that you RSVP by this Friday, February 28 so that we can get an idea of how many classrooms will be needed as well as the appropriate number of handout materials. 

Kindergarten registration held this week

Parents of children entering kindergarten in the Fall took some time out of their week to register their child at Stonehedge. We look forward to welcoming our newest additions to the Class of 2027 in September.

Did you miss registration? Call the Blue Office at 487-4633 as soon as possible to arrange an appointment. 

PTA volunteers helped register the new arrivals throughout the week.

One new member of the Class of 2027, Tyler Gorzka, registers for kindergarten with his father, Brian.

Enrichment to be held Saturday, March 1

The PTA's Enrichment program will be held this Saturday. Interested students were offered several choices of sessions including cheerleading, woodworking, cake decorating, rainbow loom, and much more. Sessions are being offered free of charge as a way to break up the winter blahs with some fun and exciting offerings. 

In the event of inclement weather on Saturday morning, please check the district website, www.westgenesee.org, and/or the district's Facebook and twitter accounts and Stonehedge PTA's Facebook page. 

100th Day of School Celebrated

Tuesday, February 25 marked the 100th day of school milestone. Teachers took the opportunity to celebrate and encourage creative lessons centered around the number 100. In kindergarten, students made capes decorated with the number 100. First grade students gazed into the future and guessed what they would look like when they were 100 years old.

Super kindergarten students in Mrs. Gauzza's class showed off their capes.

Mrs. Lauricella's kindergarten class posed with their crowns and capes.

Transportation Changes Need a Note

Please remember, if your child's transportation needs change, even for just a day, a letter must be sent in with your child letting the office know. Requests for early pick up or change of bus must be sent in writing. 

Congratulations to PTA Founders Day Award Recipients

Last night the Stonehedge PTA honored four amazing members for their countless volunteer hours and tireless dedication to the Stonehedge community. Kindergarten teacher Julia Gauzza, and parent volunteers Meghan Channels, Michelle Shackleton, and Debbie Welles were presented with the Founders Day Award, one of the highest honors our PTA gives out.

Congratulations to our PTA's Founders Day Award recipients from left, Julia Gauzza, Debbie Welles, Michelle Shackleton, and Meghan Channels.

Stonehedge Students Learn About Keeping Their Buckets Full

Today our school was visited by the Bucket Filling Fairy, Professor Smarty Pants, and a charismatic  cast of characters performing Have You Filled a Bucket Today? The Play.

Peaceful Schools brought us this lively production, based on Carol McCloud's award-winning books, to help teach our students to be bucket fillers by being kind, respectful, and helpful to others. Students learned that everyone has an invisible bucket to hold your good thoughts and feelings about yourself. You feel happy and good when your bucket is full, and you don't feel good when your bucket is empty. 

Many of our teachers, and many across the district - mostly in the primary grades, start off the year with this book and encourage their students to fill each other's buckets. It's used as a positive behavioral management system as well. There are bulletin board displays in many rooms that play off of the book.

The assemblies were sponsored by the PTA. 

Be sure ask your child about their bucket!

~Lori

The Wrap on Winter "Wonder"land

Whew… what a week it has been and it’s only Thursday! Last night’s Winter Wonderland viewing was incredibly well attended. Students were beyond excited to share all that they had learned and what they had created. I saw extended families walking the halls and celebrating learning. I was even introduced by students to grandmothers and grandfathers who so eagerly took part in the excitement of the night.

It took many hands including a talented committee of teachers with incredible dedication, drive and the willingness to think “outside of the box” in order for this type of learning to become a reality. Thank you to the dedicated parent volunteers who worked with children and teachers and who did just about anything we asked of them.  It was a collaborative effort from the get-go with the ideas of many meshed to create such a unique experience for our Stonehedge learners.

My incredible SysOp, Nori Gartner-Baca, provided technology support as students created Glog and Prezi presentations – many for whom this was their first attempt with these programs. With the help of Deb Abbott and the library staff, she developed a list of available resources for research and loaded these resources onto our laptops and iPads. She took pictures throughout this process and below you will find a link to the slide show she created as a documentation of the process. I hope you enjoy it!

Click here to view video.

Parent Math Night to be held March 4

I invite you to the Parent Math Night scheduled on March 4, 2014, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. as an informational session for adults only. Michele Gipe, our West Genesee Lead Teacher for Mathematics will provide an overview of the Math Common Core Learning Standards, and then classroom teachers and Instructional Specialists will lead discussions in break-out sessions for each grade level.  Please contact me at the office if you have any questions about what the night entails.

Winter Recess is February 17-21

Just a reminder that school will be closed from February 17-21 for Winter Recess.  We will welcome students back on Monday, February 24.  

If I don’t see you at the Sweet Heart Dance tonight (6:00-7:30 p.m.), I wish all those who are traveling a safe trip and hopefully those of us who are remaining in the Syracuse area will enjoy some sunny wintry days.

Lori