Stonehurst Stories
March 2024 Vol. 7
The official Newsletter of Stonehurst Hills Elementary School
Stonehurst Hills Elementary School
7051 Ruskin Lane
Upper Darby, PA 19082
Principal: Desmond Chisholm
Assistant Principal: Ernest Patrick
PBIS PRESS
Rewards Week
Students who earned enough points participated in floor hockey.
Student of the Month
Congratulations to our February Students of the Month!
First Grade
Mya Adams-Dickerson, Katherine Campoverde, Ayath Hossain, Dafne Leon Fuentes, Tirani Roberts, Stella Banks, Citlalli Sandoval Lorenzo, Mohammed Donzo, Afeena Rahaman, Gurnoor Saini, Joseph Brizuela Boquin, Adaman Sissoko, Jonathan Cruz Agustin, Evelyn Lopez
Second Grade
Evelyn Funes-Castro, Marelyn Eugenio, Matthew Polard, Prince Dennis, Love James, Kennedy Holloway, Siani Cobb, Nasratu Tejan, Mason Robey, Erica Brown, Jovany Gutierrez Bonilla
Third Grade
Antony Avila-Aroache, Joshua Gonzales-Santos, Gabriela Orellana, Anzaria Hines, Juan Campoverde, Carlos Sacasari, Yulia Lapo Galarza, Nevaeha Foley-Robinson, Edward Warley, Daniel Cordero, Edwin Cerna Guerra, Christine Montalban, Kristel Rivera Miranda, Danith Gavilema
Fourth Grade
Sabrine Azzam, Amirou Diallo, Atika Rahaman, Erik Cardenas Quito, Liam Wilson, Era Ali, Kendrick Cherry, Hussein Mangara, Zoelyanis Martinez Vazquez, Heaving Blanding, Shain Williams, Genesis Xiloj Grijalva, Yoely Melgara Pena, Wilmer Orellana Salguero
Fifth Grade
Da'Quan Young, Nohvann Phillips, Noah Gbapaywhea, Asiyah Stanford, Kim Agbemehia, Tyair Hill, Love Brown, Zion Judon-Ward, Arie-Shay Levin, Angelly Arias Salguero, Vastie St. Surin, Zac Perry
TEACHER TALKS
Meet Mrs. Fry!
College: Chestnut Hill College B.S in Elementary Education 1997
Years Teaching: I worked for 2 years in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia School District and then went onto teach 6th grade at Ardmore Avenue Elementary in the William Penn School District for 5 years. I spent the next several years at home advocating and caring for my 2 children with Autism. In 2017 I worked as an Instructional Assistant in the Life Skills program at Lynnewood Elementary in Haverford. In 2022, I decided to take the leap back into the classroom at Chester Community Charter School! I am thrilled to be at Stonehurst as a 5th grade teacher!!
About Me: I was born and raised in Drexel Hill and now live in Havertown with my husband and 3 sons! The beach is my happy place and being outside brings me peace. Reading, spending time with my family and friends, chocolate and restaurants are some of my favorite things! I believe laughter is the best medicine and try to find joy in every situation! Teaching has been and continues to be a great blessing in my life and I am grateful to work with and learn from children everyday!
Meet Mrs. Antal!
College: University of Scranton-Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Adelphi University-Master of Science in Communication Disorders
Years Teaching: This is my 4th year as a speech language pathologist! I have conducted speech therapy all across Brooklyn, New York. I now live and work in Pennsylvania.
About Me: My name is Lauren Antal. I am from Queens, New York. I moved to Ardmore, PA with my husband. I am enjoying learning all about Upper Darby. I went to my first Eagles game last season! On the weekends, I like to check out new restaurants and spend time with my family. I am looking forward to spending the rest of the school year with my students!
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
Guidance Counselor: Marissa Difilippo
This month, students in grades 1-3 continued to learn about problem solving skills in counseling lessons.
First and second grade learned about how to apologize! In first grade, we read The Road To Sorry: Being “Responsible” For Our Actions by Mandy Sweetwater. In second grade, we read How to Apologize by David LaRochelle. Both grades then practiced apologizing with our three apology steps.
In 4th grade, students continued their career development through Naviance. We learned about many different careers you can start right after high school with a high school diploma. 5th grade began discussing the middle school transition! This month’s lesson focused on common feelings surrounding going to middle school and identifying any questions they may have about middle school.
MENTAL HEALTH MONTHLY
Social Worker: Coleen Sanders
Disclaimer: Please remember that this content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice or a consultation with a mental health professional.
NURSE'S NEWS
School Nurse: Colleen Stetler
Hopefully we are nearing the end of cold and flu season! While Spring brings warmer weather, it also brings allergies. It is important to stay healthy and distinguish allergies from a more serious illness. Controlling allergies is also important to keep asthma controlled. Listed below are several symptoms, triggers and treatment tips:
Treatment tips:
- Avoid allergens and keep house clean and free of pests
- Wash hands often
- Change clothes when coming in from playing outdoors
- Use over the counter antihistamines and decongestants as directed
- Keep air filters changed and use air purifiers
- Allergy testing and treatment by a doctor
- Take all medications for asthma already prescribed by your doctor to keep
asthma under control
Parents! Please make sure if your child has a rescue inhaler at home, they also have one at school! If you need information on the steps the district requires to have medication at school, please reach out to me (cstetler@upperdarbysd.org). It is also listed on the districts’ website.
SPECIAL'S SPOTLIGHT
News from the Library
Librarian: Margie Weil
Grow your home libraries!
Multiple studies have shown that having a home library (link to research) is one of the strongest predictors of academic achievement. Increasing children’s access to books correlates to “dramatically positive effects” on reading growth and achievement (Allington, 2014).
We continually offer free used books (most have been donated) to students and families to take home to add to their home book collections. We have given away over 1,000 books so far this year and plan to give plenty more before the year is done. Our Little Free Library can be found in the Stonehurst lobby. Let the security guard know that you want to access the Free Library which is right beside his desk. We also often have free books available to students to take home right outside the library as well. Take home as many books as your family will read!
If you have books that you would like to donate for students to take home or have questions about obtaining books, please let Ms. Weil know at mwei@upperdarbysd.org.
News from the Art Room
Art Teacher: Megan Connell
In February we started a “Story Quilt” project inspired by our Black History Month artist, Faith Ringgold. We have been continuing to draw, paint, and use textures to create our own story quilts that tell a story of something important to us.
CLASSROOM CHRONICLES
FIRST GRADE
First grade read the story The Mighty Silent e by Kimberlee Gard and completed a "Write the Room" activity to find words with silent e.
On Valentine's Day, first grade completed a "Heart Word" activity to practice reading their trick words!
SECOND GRADE
Second grade learned about landforms in science. They modeled landforms out of clay to showcase their knowledge!
FIFTH GRADE
Fifth grade made lava lamps to determine whether the mixing of two or more substances results in a new substance!
To celebrate Black History Month, fifth grade created and presented black history presentations.
ELL COLUMN
In this issue we are featuring a third grader, Yulia!
Yulia moved here from Ecuador with her mom, dad, and sister. Her two brothers still live in Ecuador.
1. What was the weather like in Ecuador?
It was really hot all of the time.
2. Did you go to school in Ecuador? What was it like?
Yes, I went to school. We would paint and play baseball. We also did math and reading, but we didn't have technology or a library.
3. What was your favorite food to eat in Ecuador?
My favorite food to eat was rice and chicken.
4. What did you do for fun in Ecuador?
My friends and I would paint, play hide and seek, and tag.
5. What do you miss most about Ecuador?
I miss my brothers.
ELL NEWS
ELL Teachers: Kristie Bean, Lillian Young, & Lisa Egan
For the month of March, our bilingual buddies made rainbows. Buddies assisted our newcomer students with counting and sorting fruit loops by color. Once sorted, buddies helped the newcomers place the colors in the order in which a rainbow follows. Students counted as they placed the fruit loops on their pipecleaners. To conclude, students placed two marshmallows at the end to represent the clouds in the sky. Our bilingual buddies also delivered rainbows to the office staff!
3rd and 4th grade buddies Katerin, Edwin, and Raziel welcomed our new first and second grade students, Jeff and Elier, to Stonehurst Hills. They took Jeff and Elier on a guided walk around the building explaining all of the important places here at Stonehurst Hills.
LOOKING FORWARD
March 18-22 - Rewards Week
March 20 - Student of the Month Assembly
March 21 - Family Bingo Night
March 25-29 - Spring Break
April 1 - School Resumes
April 10 - No School
*SPIRIT DAYS*
Wear green for St. Patrick's Day - March 15
Purple & Gold - March 22
Wear blue for World Autism Day - April 2
Purple & Gold - April 5
Teacher/Student swap day - April 12
Wacky Wednesday!
Cat in the Hat Day!
Royals Pride!
Valentine's Day!
March Food Menus
Reporting an Absence
- Send an email to shes-attendance@upperdarbysd.org
- Call the school @ 610-626-9111
- Send a note with your child
*Please make sure you inform your child's teacher