The Monthly Snapshot
The Electronic Newsletter for LES and NPL
Important Announcements
- For grades 3 - 12, the second quarter ended on Tuesday, January 15.
- February 11 is a teacher in-service day. There will be no school for students.
- February 18 is a make-up day. Currently, there is no school on this day.
- March 1 is the end of the second trimester for grades K - 2.
Learning to write code in grade 1
Our first graders are discovering the world of computer science! Students are learning to write code to create video games, art, and digital stories. Through these tasks, they are developing problem-solving, collaboration, persistence, and computational thinking skills. Rather than giving up, students are beginning to look at the problem from a different angle and are gaining authentic learning through trial and error.
The “unplugged” activities also assist in teaching computational skills and safe digital citizenship skills without computers. They are building up the courage to try new things without the fear of being wrong.
Teamwork is also being shown throughout their coding journey. Students are working together as partners or teams to conquer questions or tasks given to them related to writing code.
The most exciting part about learning to write code is the students love it! They look forward to it every week and can even earn extra time to write code through positive behavior as a reward. If you see one of our first graders, be sure to ask them how learning to write code is going! They will love the opportunity to share their new knowledge.
Pictured are some of our students writing code; above, Caleb A. and Nicoleana W. are teaming up together while below (left), Kayla F., Levi F., and Arianna K. work independently on tasks. Also below (right), Odessa B. displays how she is writing a code to make Scrat move towards the nut to win the game!
Looking ahead, we are gearing up to celebrate the 100th Day of School! It will be a fun-filled day with many engaging activities!
Writers publish informational booklets in grade 3
Third grade authors have learned the ins and outs of informational writing and are now working to “publish” their own informational booklets!
They have researched and organized information on topics of their choice such as snow-boarding, rabbits, NASCAR, softball, Nerf guns, and more. They have filled their writing journals with interesting facts, expert words, and labeled diagrams, revealing all they have learned and know on their topics.
Students are currently learning some basic keyboard skills as they type their rough draft in preparation for publishing. Finished booklets will be displayed in our classroom library for classmates to read and enjoy. The students LOVE reading each others' work!
Grades 5 and 6 make donation to Smile Train
By Mrs. Alexander
The holidays are a time of giving. During the month of December, the grades 5 and 6 students at LES made the decision to give to others. Students and their families in both grades and members of our staff brought in donations for the charity called Smile Train.
This international organization provides surgery to children with cleft lips or palates. A cleft lip or palate is a medical condition that can make it difficult for the child to eat, breathe, hear, and speak. Smile Train provides the surgery for free as donations cover all expenses.
Together, we collected 500 dollars for the organization. This will pay for two children to have the surgery they need. For more information about Smile Train, please use the external link below.
Thank you to everyone who contributed.
New NPL Unified Club spreads kindness
By Mrs. Barnes
Last year, NPL was fortunate enough to create a Unified Bocce Team here at the school. This team did very well and placed second at the state competition in Harrisburg.
This year, NPL has expanded this program into a Unified Club. The goal of this group is to help spread kindness, awareness, and acceptance of all students, regardless of academic ability, race, gender, or anything else that makes all of us wonderfully different.
Before the holiday break, students created over 400 signs that held words of encouragement. After the rest of the student body left for break, a large group of students stayed and placed those signs all over the building. Every single locker, teacher door, and office entry had a positive saying attached. Even more were placed in and around the cafeteria, in the hallways, and even in the restrooms.
When students and teachers returned from break on January 2, it was easy to see and hear the happiness that was created by these colorful encouragements. Students were reading their phrases to one another, exchanging them, and having conversations about the way those signs had created a joyful environment to return to.
This is what the Unified Club had hoped for, and what we will continue to do as we move forward into the school year. Our goal is to continually spread positivity and encouragement throughout our building and make our school family as happy as it can be. As Harold Kushner once said, “Do things for people, not because of who or what they are or what they do in return, but because of who YOU are.”
Always choose kind.
Students attend CCC STEM Day
By Mr. Kefover
On Tuesday, November 20, 2018, two of Mr. Kefover’s ACE Calculus students, Ethan R. and Katelyn F., attended Corning Community College’s (CCC) first annual STEM day. At STEM day, Katelyn and Ethan were among high school students from across the region who were offered insights into careers surrounding science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
At this event, students had the opportunity to hear from regional leaders about what they do every single day at their jobs. Experts from companies such as Lockheed Martin, Corning Incorporated, Vulcraft, Hilliard Corporation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Cornell University, and SUNY CCC spoke to students about the talent they are looking for and need and that there are viable career paths right here in the Southern Tier for students with these talents.
Students registered for this event on-line and chose from dozens of workshops ranging from aerospace engineering and computer science/programming to welding and machining.
Mr Kefover also entered Katelyn and Ethan in the STEM day Math Contest. Out of over 300 students, Ethan tied for fifth place and took home a trophy, awarded at the end of the day, for his efforts! Congratulations, Ethan!
Agribusiness students learn to drive tractor
Students in the introduction to agribusiness course at NPL recently completed the National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program. During the program, the students learned about many of the hazards that will be encountered when working in agricultural related careers and how to safely work in those potentially dangerous conditions. The highlight of the course is that the students are able to learn how to safely operate a tractor.
Mr. James Kreger graciously loaned one of his tractors to the school so the students could have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience operating a tractor. The students learned how to perform daily safety inspections, properly mount and dismount the tractor, how to attach implements to the tractor, and how to safely operate the tractor.
The students spent several class periods operating the tractor through a course. Once the students were comfortable operating the tractor, they had the opportunity to take an operating and driving skills test.
Those who pass both the driving and written exams receive their United States Department of Labor Certification allowing them to legally operate most farm equipment when they are 14 to 15 years old.
Above, Emitt S. practices for his driving test.
Students get creative with reading in grade 8
By Ms. Biddle
For grade 8 English Language Arts, the students are required to read one book of their choice each marking period. In addition to reading the book, the students complete an independent reading assignment, which changes each marking period. For the second marking period, the students were all required to answer comprehension questions on their books. The comprehension questions required the students to analyze information about the protagonist and antagonist, plot points, point of view, mood, etc. The students also had to choose one of the three creative project options given.
The first option was “Interview the Protagonist or Antagonist.” For this option, the student took on the role of both the interviewer and interviewee. The student created questions to ask the protagonist or antagonist in an interview and provided thoughtful answers to the questions as to how this character would answer each question.
The second creative project option was “Create a Comic.” For this option, the student was required to illustrate plot points from the novel in a comic strip or book.
The third creative project option was “Develop a Newsletter.” For this option, the student designed a front page of a newspaper. The student had to include a title related to the chosen novel, two pictures with captions, and an article summarizing plot points in the novel.
Overall, the student work was impressive. See the examples included below.
Newsletter Option
Comic Option
Background Credit
In this project, the students made different shades of green using blue, yellow, and white paint which they cut into triangles and glued in layers to create a wintry landscape. To reinforce using shapes to make images, a cardinal made of triangles was added to the collage.
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