The Monthly Snapshot
An Electronic Newsletter for LES and NPL
Join NPL on Remind!
To join, you can use the link below. We will also be sending instructions home with our students.
https://www.remind.com/join/npl16930
Important Announcements
- The midpoint of the second quarter for grades 3 - 12 was on Thursday, November 29. Parents and guardians should check the Sapphire Community Portal for current student grades.
- Keystone Exams will take place at NPL on December 4 and 5 (Literature), December 6 and 7 (Biology), and December 11 and 12 (Algebra I).
- LAPAT's Santa Shoppe will take place at Liberty Elementary on December 4 - 6.
- Our LES Winter Concert will take place on Thursday, December 6 at 7PM, and our NPL Winter Concert will be on Monday, December 17 at 7PM. We hope to see you there!
- The NPL chapter of FBLA will hold its Installation Ceremony on Monday, December 10 at 7PM.
- There will be no school on December 24 - 28 and on January 1 for our Holiday Break. On December 21, we will run an early dismissal schedule. On January 2, school will resume at the normal time.
Prioritizing craftsmanship in art
The artists at LES have had a very creative and productive start to the school year. Our underlying focus this year is "craftsmanship," which is being very thoughtful in your choices, very careful in your actions, and taking the time and effort to be neat. This is a skill that can carry over into how we think, act, and reflect on all we do throughout life.
Here are is just a glimpse into the hard work going on in the art room:
- Kindergarten applying knowledge of color mixing
- 1st grade exploring making marks with lines and dots
- 2nd grade listening to musical rhythms and turning beats into visual rhythm in sound paintings
- 4th graders using elements of storytelling to paint a vivid memory
- 6th graders on a mission to fold 1,000 origami cranes
- 2nd grade making choices to paint visual balance
- 5th graders using geometrical concepts to create repeating prints
- 4th grade arranging the pieces of their collaborative color wheel
- 4th grade practicing figure drawing by using each other as models
- 5th grade beginning papier-mâché hot air balloons inspired by the Civil War
- LES work selected for the new STSD district office Student Art Gallery in Blossburg. Clockwise from top left: Leah Graham (1st grade); Jackson Wright (3rd grade); Marissa Forgeng (6th grade); Isaac Sparks (3rd grade). Artwork rotates quarterly with student work from all five STSD schools.
Kindergarten and grade 1 visits Green Barn Berry Farm
As the weather gets cold, it’s easy to forget the pleasure of fresh air and being outdoors. Our primary students were fortunate to get outside and participate in some fun and educational seasonal activities.
The primary grades had the opportunity in late October to visit the Green Barn Berry Farm located in Muncy, PA. A tractor - pulled hayride (see picture below), picking a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, and feeding some farm animals were among their favorite moments of the day. They also got to participate in a sorghum maze. They had to use problem - solving skills and work together to find their way out. Luckily, we all made it!
Pictured below are some of our students enjoying their view from the hayride around the farm and feeding a couple of our new furry friends (see picture above)!
Grade 2 visits Three Springs
By Mrs. Rausher
It was a chilly but beautiful October day for our LES second grade field trip to Three Springs. While there, students participated in a variety of learning activities.
Students practiced teamwork as they maneuvered their way through an awesome corn maze in small groups. Six Three Springs staff members were hidden in various locations within the corn maze, each holding a different colored marker. Student groups worked together to locate these individuals and collect each of the six colors.
The children also learned how apple cider is made using an antique cider press. Every child had the opportunity to drop an apple into the press and watch the press in action.
Students visited the horse barn where they moved through three activities. They learned about two different types of horses as well as a mule. The children practiced roping skills and partnered up to be a "horseback - rider," guiding a blindfolded "horse" using rope for reins and a bridle.
Students enjoyed a hayride around the outskirts of the farm.
In addition, each student was able to select a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch to bring home. Our day ended with an interactive performance by Three Springs staff members. All of the children as well as their chaperones had a wonderful time!
Gathering at the Farm
Practicing Roping Skills
Using the Cider Press
Grade 5 visits Gettysburg for "a day we will never forget"
By Carmen Foresman, Abaigeal Garverick, and Samantha Walker
Preparation for our field trip to Gettysburg began on our first day of fifth grade and lasted until the day of our trip.
To get ready it took a lot of practice memorizing the Gettysburg Address, studying the Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg, and learning to march like a Civil War soldier.
We were all assigned names of Confederate soldiers from the 57th and 28th Virginia Regiments. We learned to respond to such commands as company halt, right face, and about face.
On Friday, October 19, we boarded our bus and began our journey to Gettysburg, PA.
“We were all very excited!” said Carmen Foresman.
We arrived at the Gettysburg National Park and picked up Park Ranger John. He told our bus driver where to drop us off so that we could begin our re-enactment of Pickett’s Charge. Once we were all out of the bus, Captain Spessard (Truman Loudenslager) and Captain Smith (Evan McTish) formed our ranks by yelling “Company Fall In!”
Ranger John then shouted, “Soldiers are you ready?”
We replied loudly, “Yes Sir!”
We started marching in two separate regiments. Ranger John reminded us that we were marching in the same place as the brave men of the 28th and 57th Virginia Regiments. We learned many cool, sad, and interesting facts as we marched across the field. We crossed a road and then “stormed the hill with the rebel yell.” When we got to the top of the hill, Ranger John answered some of our questions and then we recited the Gettysburg Address for him.
“So far, this fieldtrip was the best one yet!” said Samantha Walker.
After we ate our picnic lunches, we picked up our tour guide.
Our first stop was Devil’s Den. It was a super cool place with enormous rocks, and it was easy to see why it was called Devil’s Den. We listened as our guide told us stories, pointed out interesting facts, pictures, plaques, and a Witness Tree. Witness Trees are trees that were present during the battle and are still standing today.
One of our next stops was Little Round Top where we took a class picture.
Our final stop was the Pennsylvania Monument. It was huge! First we took our places on the steps and recited the Gettysburg Address and then we released six monarch butterflies from our science class. We explored the monument and read some of the names on the plaques.
“I know that I can speak for our class when I say that our field trip to Gettysburg was a day we will never forget!” shared Abaigeal Garverick.
Grades 5 and 6 advance in PA Virtual Robotics Coding Competition
By Mrs. Murray
It has been a very busy month in the LES library! The students in grades 5 and 6 all recently competed in the first annual PA Virtual Robotics Coding Competition. With the support of the teachers at LES, the students were enrolled in the competition in September and students worked through training, boot camp, and qualifiers missions over the past several weeks.
Students worked on the competition during library time, science class time with Mrs. Alexander and Mrs. Krotzer, and other time available time in all of their homerooms with Mrs. Casselberry and Mrs. Schmouder as well.
This competition required each student to use the computer to program their robot through a series of obstacles to complete missions.
Learning to code is very similar to learning a new language. The benefits of coding include problem solving, pushing past failure, working as a team, innovating, introducing students to computer science, reading, calculating, and so much more!
As of this edition of The Monthly Snapshot, the LES student team has been invited to the finals in Harrisburg, PA on December 4. We will be sending two teams of 2 students to represent LES in the final.
To make the finals, the students all worked together to accumulate points, and the LES team finished the competition in 14th place out of over 110 teams that were registered in the state!
Congratulations LES 5th and 6th grade students and may the code be with you in the finals!
Students experiment with new equipment
With the purchase of new weightlifting and cardiovascular equipment at North Penn - Liberty High School, there has been a new opportunity for the elementary students to get in on the fun!
LES grades 5 and 6 students engaged in the fitness activity that they found the most interesting and beneficial. All students were introduced to each piece of equipment as safety and proper form were taught. In small groups, the students then traveled from station to station, working up a sweat as they went.
It was impressive to watch the students' abilities and respect for the equipment and each other.
Grade 7 combines for multi-subject look at slavery
By Mr. Hill
The grade 7 students have started a unit on the continent of Africa. For the past few weeks, the students have studied the physical features of Africa, including the world's largest desert -the Sahara and the world's longest river - the Nile.
The students next looked at the four climate zones of Africa and found that the Equator has a major influence by dividing Africa in half. The students discovered that as one travels north or south of the Equator, one encounters similar climate zones.
In geography students have been working on figuring distance and direction by working with different kinds of maps and learning to use the compass rose, the scale of miles, and the key of symbols for each particular map. Additionally, the students worked on making generalizations by comparing the data on a chart of five different countries and determining what factors seemed to result in a higher or lower quality of life.
The grade 7 teachers are looking forward to collaborating on an upcoming unit on slavery. The students will be reading a novel about slavery in English and studying the slave trade from Africa to the Americas in social studies. They will also do some computations in math class, attempting to figure out the distance slaves traveled from Africa and how far escaping slaves had to travel to reach freedom. In science class, they will find out how slaves used the stars in the night sky to keep their bearings headed north when trying to escape.
This will be a good, in-depth look at slavery from the perspective of various subjects.
Students engage in service projects
Every full school day, Tuesday through Friday, ends with a period of time called “Mountie Minutes.” Students can sign up for numerous activities (one each day) throughout the week. Many activities are those that have been offered during past years. However, one of the new activities offered to students this year for Mountie Minutes is “service projects.”
During the service projects activities, students work on creating items that can be given to people in our local area as well as areas throughout the world. It is just a half an hour of time, once each week, so the projects are relatively small in scale. The hope is that students feel compelled to help others in our area as well as around the world. Students have been encouraged to come up with their own ideas for projects and the teachers for the group (Mrs. Bubb and Mrs. Lisowski) are also helping with the ideas.
So far this year, students have completed the following projects:
- Baked goods for Goodies for Our Troops
- Cards for children in hospitals
- Scarves and bracelets to be placed into shoeboxes (with other items that were purchased from local retailers) which were given to a local church in Liberty and then sent to different areas around the world
- Brownies and cards to be given to the bus/van drivers and custodians for the Liberty schools
Again, this activity is offered on a weekly basis and is open for all students to attend. We are hopeful that students will continue to come up with some great ideas for projects. If any members of the community have ideas, please feel free to contact us at mbubb@southerntioga.org or tlisowski@southerntioga.org.
Service Project Students
Scarves and Bracelets
Students Working
Senior high gets creative in ELA
By Mrs. DiFuccia
The first marking period was quite a whirlwind in senior high English language arts (ELA)! We spent a lot of time getting to know one another, and I can see already that many students are rekindling their love of reading!
Each student was assigned to independently read two books of their own choosing during the marking period. Once completed, the students got their creative minds, and in some cases hands, working! They chose one of the following six reading projects to complete:
- Create a Ted-talk video trying to convince your classmates why they should or shouldn’t read your book
- Complete a live book talk in front of the class
- A 5-minute book talk with me
- Create a 5-minute book trailer (think movie trailer) for your book
- Create a piece of artwork to represent your novel and explain why it is representative of your book.
- Create a book soundtrack, with a minimum of 7 songs, and typed lyrics
So many of the completed projects were incredible, including paintings, murals, wood and metal working projects, and many creative book trailer videos and soundtracks. I have to say, I was very impressed!
Shown in the picture above is grade 10 student, Samantha. Sam painted a glow-in-the-dark canvas representing her chosen novel, It by Stephen King.
Additionally, seniors have been working on their interviewing and public speaking skills. In their latest assignment, they created demonstrative videos teaching their classmates a step-by-step process of completing a task. Students were able to express their individuality, their interests, and their talents. The range of activities was amazing! Videos explaining how to saddle a horse, trap a wild animal, tune a guitar, and sketch a face were just a few of the informative presentations given.
Shown in the picture below is senior, Mikayla. Mikayla created a demonstrative baking video, which included tips on how to decorate cupcakes into festive, Thanksgiving turkeys.
Using Google Sites to create online portfolios
By Mrs. Kalin
Mrs. Kalin’s period 6 transition class has been working on creating a portfolio using Google Sites.
Google Sites was selected for various reasons; the work is automatically saved, the application is easy to navigate and upload from Google Drive, and content can be changed or updated effortlessly and can be shared with parents and guardians. See an example of these electronic portfolios in the picture above.
Currently the students have three headings and the first is "Self-Awareness." Students looked at their likes and dislikes, strengths and areas to improve, and skills/tasks they need assistance with as well as those they don’t.
The second heading is "Job Information." The students used the Internet to search local employment opportunities that meet their individual qualifications, and they completed and uploaded their resume and employment application as if they were applying for their chosen job.
The third heading is "Finances." Students used the earnings from the job advertisement and calculated their weekly, monthly, and annual income. The next step was to upload their budget that was created, determine what requirements were needed for an apartment, and then found one that was in their budget using the Penny and Dollar Saver. Currently, the students are creating a Google spreadsheet with needs and wants for their newly rented apartment. This will be uploaded into their portfolio when it is completed.
Future activities will consist of paying bills and maintaining a checking and savings account.
What's going on in Mr. Davis' classes?
Grade 7 Life Science
The 7th grade science classes are actively involved with learning about the basis of life. Having completed the structure and function of cells, they are now learning about cellular reproduction. Above, grade 7 student Olivia Walker depicts the phases of a cell as part of a class assignment. The study of cells is leading into the study of organisms and how species continue to survive.
The next logical step will be making the leap to how living things interact and fit into the larger systems of the ecosystem, biome, and planet.
Grade 9 Biology A
The 9th graders are in the process of studying the chemistry of life. They will be learning the reaction involved with photosynthesis and respiration and how the products of these reactions are essential for the continuation of life as we know it. This will build the foundations to continue next year with Biology B and the preparation for the Keystone Exams.
Anatomy
The anatomy class (after having studied the major structures of the body) have been involved in the study of systems. They are currently studying the endocrine system which produces the many hormones that cause growth, repair, protection, and change in the body. The students also have researched several careers that involve the study of anatomy as possible future careers for them. They researched training needed and schools that offer it as well as the possible future salary they could expect to earn in different parts of the country.
Winter sports schedules released
Background Credit
This project is a landscape collage that emphasizes lines.
Upcoming Event Calendars
Liberty Elementary School
Email: jeglesia@southerntioga.org
Website: http://www.southerntioga.org/?page_id=249
Location: 8622 Route 414, Liberty, PA, United States
Phone: 570-324-2521
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LES16930/
Twitter: @Lbrty_Principal
North Penn - Liberty Jr./Sr. High School
Email: jeglesia@southerntioga.org
Website: http://www.southerntioga.org/?page_id=193
Location: 8675 Route 414, Liberty, PA, United States
Phone: 570-324-2071
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NPLiberty
Twitter: @Lbrty_Principal