November Newsletter
Principal Dangleis
Where Did October Go?
October definitely went by in a flash. It seems the leaves were just changing color and, just like that, they're now all over our lawns! On a personal note, sadly, my family suffered an unexpected loss in early October and, as I'm sure many of you understand, there was so much to do. So, my October Newsletter never got done. Sorry about that! However, in this newsletter, I will catch you up on important happenings from last month and inform you about the events to look forward to in November.
Our staff and students have enjoyed many shared experiences that have done wonders to build bridges - students building bonds and relationships, staff connecting with children outside of academic settings, new teachers being welcomed and mentored, families invited in for various fun and educational events, volunteers giving selflessly of their time, and leadership teams seeking ways to continually improve and innovate teaching and learning.
In my humble opinion, we have the most amazing group of educators and support staff at Stony Hill. But, as with any great organization, we never rest on our laurels, because we have the most important clientele there is - your precious children. Read on for some of the ways we show our Stony Hill pride and passion for education and community outreach.
Science Assembly
On Oct 19th, second and third graders participated in an assembly about Friction presented by Mr. Alex Rost, electrical engineer and parent of a third grader. The presentation was organized by Mrs. Goonan who was grateful to have received support from several parents. Students participated in a demonstration of the many ways friction helps us in our daily lives. They also learned how friction plays a role in playing a musical instrument. Finally, students were given an opportunity to experience how friction affects the motion of objects by testing how fast a toy car will travel down a slope onto different surfaces. Because of the hands-on nature of the activities, and the relevant examples given by Mr. Rost, this is one assembly that children will surely never forget!
Pumpkin Carving
Shriners Visit
During the month of November, 2nd graders will have an opportunity to participate in a presentation by the Shriners Hospital for Children in Springfield. The purpose of the "My Pals" program is to teach children to be respectful and courteous to their peers regardless of differences. The presentation uses dolls to portray different physical conditions treated at the hospital. The program gives children an opportunity to understand the abilities of children who use wheelchairs, braces, orthotic and prosthetic devices. After the story-telling portion of the program, students are given the opportunity to have a removable cast put on their forefinger and then try coloring a picture. What a great way to build empathy! Please ask your 2nd grader what they learned from this experience.
Stony Hill C.A.R.E.S.
As you know, our character education program focuses on the CARES traits of Cooperation, Assertion, Responsibility, Empathy, and Self-Control. For each trait, we read a related story in class and hold several discussions on how we can show that trait. Then, teachers and their classes take turns presenting an assembly for the whole school that focuses on that trait. The assembly follows a Responsive Classroom structure where students come together to read a common message, greet one another, share personal experiences, and participate in an activity. By the end of November, we will have had assemblies for all traits. After all assemblies are done, we will continue to reinforce the traits throughout the year with celebrations and assemblies. Our mascot, Junior, will also make appearances to encourage children to continue showing the traits and making them part of their daily habits. Whenever possible, talk to your child about ways s/he has shown these traits at school or at home.
Stony Hill Thanksgiving Festival
All of us at Stony Hill are thrilled to welcome families back for our second annual Thanksgiving Festival. This event focuses on two priorities, bringing the community and school together for a fun shared experience, and providing an opportunity for students to engage in community service learning. Families are invited to participate in a number of activities that will be run by staff members. Throughout our school, donation containers will be placed so that families can donate what they can. The money will all go to a local soup kitchen to help provide Thanksgiving dinner to those in need. I will be volunteering at the soup kitchen on Thanksgiving to help serve dinner and will bring the crafts that students will make to decorate the tables. Prior to the event, I will go to each classroom to read aloud the book, Maddie's Fridge, lead a discussion on hunger/poverty and empathy, and lead children to think about how to turn that emotion into action. This event is free. We only ask that you bring either one non-perishable food item or cash to donate. It is also very important that parents remain with their children at all times. Thank you to our PTO for providing the funds necessary to host this event. If you could please RSVP through this site, that would be very helpful. We look forward to seeing all of you and celebrating this season of generosity and gratitude together as a school community!
Friday, Nov 16, 2018, 05:00 PM
Stony Hill School, Stony Hill Road, Wilbraham, MA, USA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
PTO Updates
Stony Hill has the hardest working PTO in the world! Not to mention the many volunteers who make every PTO event and fund raiser a huge success. We are all so grateful for all they do. Here are just some of the things they've accomplished so far this year:
- Book Fair
- Mixed Bags Fund Raiser
- Interskate 91 Party
- Birthday in a Box
- Prismatic Magic Laser Show - Anti Bullying
Important Dates
11/5 Picture Retake Day
11/6 Conference Day - no school for students
11/7 PTO Meeting 7:00
11/12 Veterans Day
11/14 School Improvement Council Meeting 3:00-4:00
11/16 Thanksgiving Festival 5:00-6:30
11/21 Early Release Day
11/22, 23 Thanksgiving Break
Stay In Touch
Email: mdangleis@hwrsd.org
Website: sh.hwrsd.org/
Location: 675 Stony Hill Road, Wilbraham, MA, USA
Phone: 413-599-1950
Facebook: www.facebook.com/StonyHillPTO/