After learning a bit about apple cider presses, kindergarteners pretended to make their own presses. Partners collaborated to turn a marble "apple" into apple cider as it traveled through their newly designed magnet maze.
This week's staff spotlight is on Mrs. Amy Hindbaugh-Marr. Students at both North and South Elementary are fortunate to learn with Mrs. Hindbaugh-Marr in her STEAM classroom. STEAM stands for: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. When Mrs. Hindbaugh-Marr is not teaching engaging lessons in her classroom, she enjoys attending Detroit Tigers baseball games with her family.
Mrs. Simcox's Kindergartners celebrated Johnny Appleseed Day by participating in apple art, apple tasting, apple graphing, and listening to several apple stories! Although the red delicious variety won the class vote, students loved all of the yummy flavors!
Today was our first day of NWEA testing (Language Arts). This is a national online test that students take 3 times a year (September, January, May). I was SO proud of these amazing kindergarten students. They used a mouse, listened carefully, clicked, and dragged. Adults are not allowed to help with answers, so these learners did this by themselves. We will do our math testing in a couple of days.
Way to go kindergarten kiddos!
More Johnny Appleseed Photos:
First grade collaborators used their science, technology, engineering, art, and math skills to construct models showing how days and nights occur.
After reading Rocket Says Look Up in STEAM, second graders were challenged to construct cots for the girl in the story named Rocket because her neck was hurting from looking up at the night sky so much. They used their problem solving skills and cardboard connectors to keep Rocket up off the ground and comfortable!
Please plan to join us for our Annual Title 1 Night on Thursday September, 28th from 6:00-7:00 at South Elementary to learn about our Title programs at both schools!
We will have pizza and refreshments.
Students who turned in their Scholastic Summer Reading Journals will receive their certificate and prize. It's not too late to turn them in! Please do so by 9/27!
We will be giving away family novels.
Mrs. Hindbaugh-Marr will have the "blue blocks" to enjoy as well!
Our staff spotlight this week is on Jessica Baxter. This is Mrs. Baxter's second year at South Elementary, where she works as a paraprofessional in one of our GSRP classrooms. Jessica has lived in Ithaca all of her life and graduated from IHS in 1999.
Mrs. Baxter loves to travel and vacation with her family and she loves watching her son play football for the Ithaca Yellowjackets!
We are proud to announce that Mrs. Sarah Smith, our Title I/Reading Specialist here at South Elementary, has been selected as the 'Teacher of the Week'. WMLM and Michigan 1 Credit Union have teamed up to honor amazing teachers. Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Smith!
Mr. Whitford's classroom is truly blessed this year with resources from three different programs! Joining us throughout the week are Grandma Gayla from the Foster Grandparent Program, Miss Ellie Martyn from Alma College, Mr. Landon Styka, and Hayden Whitmore from the leadership class at Ithaca High School!
Welcome to Room #139!
Mr. Whitford's classroom recognized Constitution Day today!
We made our own rules and each student signed the contract!
Our staff spotlight this week is on Mrs. Groeneveld. She is a first grade teacher at South Elementary. Mrs. Groeneveld is excited to share that she and Mr. Groeneveld are expecting their first child in November!
Very proud of these kiddos in Mr. Whitford's classroom as they earn the "Cleanest Room" challenge this week! They have been encouraged to help Mr. Larry, our custodian, to keep their room clean before leaving at the end of each day! The trophy dust pan ("Mr. Dusty") gets to be displayed in the room this week as reminder of their accomplishment!
Join us at NORTH Elementary for the first PTO meeting of the year on Monday.
Second graders created and tested "smelling tools" like Ada did in the story Ada Twist, Scientist. This challenge was filled with many opportunities to use STEAM skills...and chuckle with each other!
Kindergarteners tackled their first STEAM challenge of the year by building scooters like the one created in the story The Most Magnificent Thing!
South Elementary Staff Spotlight:
Ms. Kayla Howey
Ms. Howey is our new 2nd grade teacher. She recently graduated from SVSU, but grew up in Gratiot County. One fun fact about Ms. Howey: she recently got engaged!
Meet Ms. Buzzy! She is Mrs. Vozar's special helper in the hallways, at pick up and drop off, at recess, and at lunchtime. Ms. Buzzy is helping our Junior Jackets learn our school rules:
Bee Respectful
Bee Responsible and
Bee Safe
These kindergarteners in Mrs. Simcox's class have been learning routines and settling in at South this week.
