QUEST Students Cast Their Votes
Fifth-grade QUEST students at Parkway Elementary School explored the natural wonders of the world through “The New 7 Natural Wonders of the World,” an initiative that united the global population in selecting the greatest geological phenomena on earth. From 28 finalist “wonders,” hundreds of millions of people worldwide cast their votes to decide which would be the seven greatest wonders of the world.
The QUEST students created and shared PowerPoint presentations that informed Parkway’s third-grade students about these awe-inspiring places with fascinating facts, creative typography, and gorgeous photographs. Some of the geological formations presented were waterfalls, caves, canyons, and volcanoes.
Of the 28 finalists, the seven natural wonders are: Amazon Basin, Puerta Princesa Underground River, Iguazu Falls, Ha Long Bay, Komodo National Park, Table Mountain, and Jeju Island.
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Think About It
Students at Meadowbrook Elementary School enjoyed “Stories of Substance,” a special assembly through the PTA Cultural Arts Program that used drama, humor and music in a creative and powerful way to effectively educate students about making healthy choices. The performance was written and performed by young adults and developed from actual stories in the community.
Through the skits, the students learned about the importance of having good manners and respecting one another, the differences between being a bully, a bystander and an upstander, the consequences of spending too much time playing video games, and inappropriate texting. Each skit ended with the phrases “Think about it” and “What would you do?”
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Woodland Students Take A Stand Against Cyberbullying
Woodland Middle School received a $2,000 grant from Cablevision for its role in encouraging students to go online and sign the Power to Learn “Delete Cyberbullying” pledge. The pledge drive was part of a year-long program which featured a series of activities to raise awareness among students and parents about the risks associated with online bullying. Power to Learn is Cablevision’s nationally recognized education initiative and is dedicated to integrating technology into the classroom.
The check was presented to Principal James Lethbridge and Assistant Principal Patricia Graham by Cablevision’s Power to Learn Manager of School Relations Martha Turner. Mr. Lethbridge and Ms. Graham gratefully accepted on behalf of the school.
Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray was in attendance and praised the students for their commitment to take a stand against cyberbullying. She spoke about the potential consequences of online bullying and said, “Students today are coming of age in a technological world and need to be taught that cyberbullying can have serious, lasting repercussions.”
Congratulations to the Woodland students for taking part in this important project!
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Exploring the Lives of Native Americans and Settlers
The fourth-grade teachers at Parkway Elementary School have been working with an AUSSIE consultant on a unit that explores Native Americans and settlers. The curriculum they have written, which is linked to the Common Core State Standards, employs mathematics, science, social studies, creative writing, and ELA. Computer teacher Maria Crayne-Leftwich also developed a Wikipedia page on Native American legends to assist the students with their assignments.
Fourth-grade students had the opportunity to videoconference with the Cleveland Museum of Art on the subject of Native Americans and settlers. After viewing landscape art, they deconstructed the artwork into small details, using their imaginations to tell a story. The students also viewed old photos and computer-generated images of Native Americans, settlers, and their habitats, and discussed the differences between log cabins, teepees, long houses, and wigwams.
The museum provided materials to be used during the videoconference such as beads, buttons, cloth, leather, fur, corn, beans, and feathers. By working in small groups, each student took on the role of either a settler or a Native American and traded or bartered these items without speaking because of the language barrier.
The Parkway students enjoyed their trip back in time and can’t wait for their next videoconferencing adventure!
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Partners in Education
Earlier this school year, Woodland Middle School art teacher and Art Club advisor Dr. John Healy was awarded a $1,500 grant from NEFCU, which was used to purchase art supplies for the Art Club.
To thank NEFCU for their generous donation, Art Club students completed a beautiful art mural entitled “Partners in Education,” which depicts Long Island with headshots of students in the club. This special piece was commissioned for NEFCU and will be formally dedicated at the NEFCU office building in February 2012.
In December 2011, NEFCU CEO Ed Paternostro and Vice President for Marketing and Community Relations Valerie Garguilo visited Woodland to view a preview of the mural and meet the students in the Art Club as well as Dr. Healy and Principal James Lethbridge.
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Meadowbrook Holds Its First Spelling Bee
Meadowbrook Elementary School held its first-ever spelling bee on January 6, 2012. Five student representatives from each fourth and fifth-grade class participated in an intense competition as their fellow classmates sat in awe of the difficult words being spelled.
After approximately 45 minutes of rigorous competition, it was down to two of the school’s top spellers. Fifth grader Kaylin Anest captured the title of runner-up, while Shayan Huda, also in fifth grade, was named the Meadowbrook Spelling Bee Champion with the winning word “behemoth.” When Principal Susan Hyde asked Shayan the secret of his success, he replied, “I studied a lot!”
Shayan will go on to the county level of competition on March 24 at Hofstra University.
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Exploration Through Education
Third-grade student Argonauts in Debra Berger’s class at Bowling Green Elementary School are exploring basic physics with scientists from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as part of the Jason Project’s “Exploration Through Education Program.”
The students are learning about velocity, speed, acceleration, and momentum based on Newton’s Laws of Motion on Earth and on Mars. The curriculum incorporates technology and state-of-the-art tools which meet the Common Core State Standards.
All of the students are inspired and motivated to become future leaders in the science field through the authentic analysis of data and exploration. “I tell my parents what I learn every day in class. They think I am making it up because it sounds like middle school work and not work for third graders!” said student Saniya Gaitonde.
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