May Kicks off with Lots of Exciting Learning

Junior Poets Proudly Share Poems

According to poets.org, every April, on Poem in Your Pocket Day, people throughout the United States celebrate by selecting a poem, carrying it with them, and sharing it with others throughout the day as schools, bookstores, libraries, parks, workplaces, and other venues ring loud with open readings of poems from pockets.  Several eager Stonehedge readers shared their poems, some original, some by other poets, throughout the day.

Later in the evening, students gathered for the first annual Poetrypalooza in the library. Our fabulous librarian Mrs. Abbott put together the evening which featured 49 different poets sharing original poems or favorite pieces by other authors. Congratulations to everyone who participated, it was a great night!

PLEASE NOTE: If you are dropping off your child in the morning before school, remember that school starts at 9:00 a.m. Students should not be dropped off before that time. 

Don't miss our Open House and Ice Cream Social on Thursday, May 7

The annual Open House and PTA Ice Cream Social will take place on Thursday, May 7 from 6:15 – 7:15 p.m. Stop into your child’s classroom and discover what they have been working on, then stop by the cafeteria and cool down with an ice cream sundae or popsicle. Information is coming home today with your child.

Please remember that May 15 is a half-day with dismissal at 11:30 a.m.

Telling the Tale of the Golden Goose

Actors from The Merry-Go-Round Theatre Playhouse visited the first grade classrooms this week. While discussing the Brothers’ Grimm story of The Golden Goose, they introduced students to some German vocabulary words and a song called Mein Hut Der Hat Drei Ecken, which in English translates to My Hat It Has Three Corners. Following the instruction in class, students were treated to an interactive performance of The Golden Goose.

How to be Kind at School

May’s Character Education traits are kindness and courtesy. First grade students from Mrs. Farrow’s, Miss Elmer’s, and Miss Kolis’ classes put on skits during the assembly to demonstrate how to be kind and courteous on the playground, in the cafeteria, and in the classroom.

Food Service's cheerful Mrs. Denise helped out first graders with their skit on being courteous in the lunch room.

Congratulations to our HEDGE Award winners who were recognized for their Citizenship.

First grade winners: Jocelyn Andrews, Muhammad Awada, Mia Barbuto, Peyton Blair, Noah Bond,  Alanna Bowman, Addison Briggs, Jack Dotzler, Macy Dreher, John Egerbrecht, Daegan Forshee, Dylan Frost, Michael Gibson-Rudy, Alyssa Hadden, Zachary Jodway,  Scott Johnson, Liam Kelly, Lena Kent, Quinn Kilbury, Ryan Limpert, Lily Mauro, Ryan Payne, Devin Reed, Rei Riggall, Mariana Robert, Dontae Rufus, Daniel Schiffer, Daniel Timoshuk

Second grade winners:  Khalid Alrkaies, Tucker Bealer, Carson Berg, Gavin Briggman, Sydney Buckhout, Liam Boyles, Madison Crysler, Laura Davis, Mackenzie Dunham, Maxx Fesinger,

Phylicia Gabriel, Sidney Hamilton, Addison Hanlon, Amahri Harvey, Aidan Johnson, Janie Kang, Braeden Kazmirski, Ben Korzeniewski, Jacob MacCaull, Ayden Pease, Matthew Pietrafesa, Logan Rowley, Jacob Service, Chad Smith, Randal Smith, Jazzlyn Whitfield

Join us for a Community Movie Night

A community Movie Night will be held on Friday, May 8 at 

8:30 p.m. at the West Genesee High School Parking Lot. This event is sponsored by R2 and is free to the public. Click on the link below for additional information:
Community Movie Night

Second Graders Have Magnetic Personalities

Second grade students rotated classrooms this morning as they studied magnetism. In each classroom students learned a different aspect of magnets. The fascinating subject surely attracted their attention.

Miss Finger demonstrates how different ends of this magnet have varying strengths of  magnetic pull.

In Mrs. Carrington's class, Chad was thrilled to discover the laws of magnetic attraction. 

Kindergarten Students Plant Seeds of Learning

While studying the plant life cycle, kindergarten students got hands-on experience planting and caring for sunflower seeds. 

I look forward to seeing you at Open House on May 7!

~Lori

Stonehedge Supports Autism Awareness Day and the SPCA

During our character education assembly today, where we learned about citizenship, Nancy Graham from the SPCA spoke to students with a special friend-- Kenya the dog. Kenya was all too happy to accompany her human as she spoke about the responsibility, caring, and compassion needed for pet ownership.

In addition, members of the "Let's Unite" club at Stonehedge presented a check for more than $500 to the CNY SPCA. The donation was raised through the recent Pennies for Paws drive. 

Members of the Let's Unite club present a donation check to Nancy Graham from the CNY SPCA.

Ms. Graham speaks with students while Kenya surveys the crowd. 

Congratulations to Our HEDGE Award Winners

First Grade

 Nasser Amer, Isabella Apps, Dominic Carbone, Renee Clukey, Mia Coppola, Colin Crinnin,  Sofia Earl, Elizabeth Friers, T. J. Griffin,  Alexis Houser, Michael Koltakov, Mikenna Komuda, Lilly Lundborg, Necessidy Odom,  Kaitlin Jones, Yana Melnik, Mariana Robert, Audrianna Reed, Colby Rienhardt, Nicole Sanderson, True Sims, Vincenzo Trapasso, Gregory Wood, Ryan Zeleznock 

Second Grade

Luke Alfieri, Kaelyn Ashby, Luke Beck, Lilyanna Garzone-Baker, Aubrie Gleason, Inna Guleva, Sidney Hamilton, Jack Hayes, Emma Holmes, Riley Kittle, Thomas Levison, Carly Mathewson, Ryan O'Hern, Brooke Owens, Alexa Pallone, Diana Petrovets, Rowan Prior, Donivin Roache, Brian Short, Hailey Soutar, Aiden Tucker, Lizzy Windhausen, Sophia Xiao

Stonehedge Lit it Up in Blue for Autism Awareness Day

Students and staff at Stonehedge were encouraged to wear blue today to honor World Autism Awareness Day. According to the website, World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD), celebrated each year on April 2, was adopted by the United Nations in 2007 to shine a bright light on autism as a growing global health crisis. Autism is one of only three health issues to be recognized with its own day by the United Nations. WAAD activities increase world knowledge of autism and impart information about the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention. Additionally, WAAD celebrates the unique talents and skills of persons with autism around the world.

Stonehedg Blue Team supports Autism Awareness. Clockwise from Principal Keevil (left rear), Mrs. Colburn, grade 1; Miss Scheutzow, grade 2; Mrs. Farrella, Blue Team Secretary; and second grade students Maxx Fesinger and Jack Wade. 

 Just a reminder that we are on Spring Break from tomorrow (Friday, April 3) through Friday, April 10. School resumes on Monday, April 13. Enjoy the break and hopefully we'll get some nice spring-like weather!

~Lori

Feelin' Lucky

Stonehedge was fortunate enough this St. Patrick's Day to have several students from the Harrington School of Irish Dance perform for our students.

The dancers performed traditional jigs and other dances. They even invited students up to teach them a few quick moves in front of everyone! We were also treated to a bagpipe performance by Mr. Cunningham.

 Second graders Enya (left) and Kylie showed their St. Patrick's Day spirit.

Each year, Mrs. Schweitzer's second grade students send Lucky Grams to prior teachers. The Lucky Grams are a letter letting their former teachers know how lucky they feel to have know them! In the photo above, Mrs. Vislosky stands with former students (from left) Angie, Julianna, and Kaelyn who wrote her a Lucky Gram.

Several little leprechauns made their way into school recently. Luckily, we didn't notice any mischief though!

Last week, our first grade students were treated to a morning spent with local maple syrup expert "Mr. G". Groups trekked through the deep snow outside to watch Mr. G demonstrate tapping a tree to get sap out. Upon returning to the classrooms, the students were shown how to boil down the sap and turn it into syrup. 

Focusing on Patience and Acceptance

This month we highlight patience and acceptance as our Character Education traits. Students in Mrs. Cunningham and Mrs. Mathewson's classes gave a clever demonstration on being patient with each other and accepting of each other's ability to make a basket while playing a game.

Students show patience by being flexible and tolerating a shift in plans without whining or complaining. Taking turns and sharing attention are also signs of a child who is developing patience. In this fast-paced world of ours, it is sometimes difficult to be patient, but remember, our children are always watching how we ourselves show patience.

Students in first grade on the left demonstrate how to be patient and supportive as their friends play basketball. Students on the left showed how NOT to be supportive and patient during the assembly.

Congratulations to our HEDGE award winners

         

Grade 1 HEDGE Award Winners

Lawrence Baiz, Michael Burdett, David Byrne, Harrison Card, Angelo Caruso, Alyssa Coon, Logan Dellow, Austin Fesinger, Anni Gilliam, Mikey Gomes, Luke Irvin, Braxton Kelley, Sophia Lawrence, Braydon Manley, Riley McAloon, Evan McCrohan, Isabella Morrell, Natalie Napoli, Dylan Noviello, Samantha Orr, Vinny Pruett,  Da'Lesha Rufus, Mikey Williams

Grade 1 HEDGE Award Winners

RJ Bartholomew, Ryan Begay, Garrett Bleskoski, Brooke Buza, Kayleigh Cherchio, Kyira Davis, Brooke Gourd, Joseph Mazzoni, Will Meade, Cathleen O'Keefe, Connor Pyer, Ty Rotblat, Trinity Smith, Ryan Tabaczyk, Luke Tremblay, Liam Tyler, Chris Watkins, Hannah Wood

We Have a Winner!

The PTA hosted a game night for grades two and three last week. We had a great turnout and each students went home with a prize. Special thanks to our PTA volunteers and our teachers who helped make the night special for everyone.

Important Dates

March 20, 11:30 a.m. dismissal for students--1/2 day staff development

March 25, Family Library Night, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

April 3 - 10, Spring Recess, No School 

Have a great day!

~Lori

                                        

Oh the Thinks You Can Think!

Stonehedge celebrated Dr. Seuss' birthday yesterday. And, as he does throughout the year, Dr. Seuss challenged us to 'think all the thinks we could think'. 

Students in Miss Elmer's first grade class wrote about their favorite Dr. Seuss stories. 

Ask your first grader about the new library goldfish, Otto, inspired by their reading of  Gustav the Goldfish and A Fish out of Water by Dr. Seuss.   

 Some kindergarten classes fashioned Cat in the Hat style paper hats. 

Celebrating 100 Days of School

Between several school delays, holidays, and snow days, it may have been difficult to track exactly when the 100th day of school fell. But that didn't stop our celebrating and learning dedicated to the number 100.

Some kindergarten classes took advantage of a fun app that can age your appearance. The app aged the children to appear 100 and students wrote about what they would like to do when they are 100 years old. 

Other classes drew pictures of themselves at age 100. 

Miss Kolis' students were greeted with a 100 day banner and door decoration they could walk through.

Winter "Wonder"land was a Success!

For the second year, the Winter "Wonder"land event drew record crowds as parents, students, and staff discovered projects and toured classrooms.

Please enjoy this short video that showcases some of the great learning, field trips, school guests, and teamwork that went into this year's Winter "Wonder"land. 

Click here to view the video.

How to Help our Animal Friends
One of Stonehedge's fifth grade clubs, called Let's Unite, is organizing a 'Pennies for Paws' drive now through March 13. Students are asked to bring in spare change and donate to the SPCA. Collection jars are in classrooms. 



Second Grade Students Enjoy Lively Performance
Our second grade students were entertained by the Merry-Go-Round Youth Theatre as they performed selections from Just So Stories, written by Rudyard Kipling. Selections included How the Whale Got His Tiny Throat, The Sing-Song of Old Man Kangaroo and How the First Letter Was Written. Students had the opportunity to learn about the stories prior to the actual performance by working with the actors to learn about the characters, setting, and text features. If laughter is any indication, the children loved the performance!

Stonehedge's own physical education teacher Steve Shoults is going bald! Well, more accurately, he's going to shave his head in an effort to raise money and awareness of childhood cancers. Mr. Shoults is collecting any size donation to go towards this great cause. Every student who makes a donation will be entered to win a drawing. The prize? The winner will get to shave Mr. Shoults' hair! Be on the lookout for more information.

Important Dates to Remember

Enrichment Day - Saturday, March 7

Library Night - March 11, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. 

Family Game Night for Grades 2-3 - Thursday, March 12, 6:30-7:30 in the ST Gym

Half Day of School for Students - Friday, March 20 Student Dismissal 11:30 a.m.

Open Library Night - March 24, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

~Lori