Stonehurst Stories
April 2024 Vol. 8
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
Good luck to our 3rd, 4th and 5th graders who will be taking the PSSAs over the next few weeks.
Here are some tips to ensure your child is prepared:
PBIS PRESS
Student of the Month
Congratulations to our March Students of the Month!
First Grade: Boubacar Diallo, Yadit Maldonado Sagastume, Adaman Sissoko, Larissa Lapo Galarza, Jakobe Stowe, Persephone O'Connell, Christopher Series, Marqui Rideout, Gabriel Moran Villalta, Allan Salinas Mejia, Dafne Leon Fuentes, Mirella Gavarrete Santos
Second Grade: Darriana Mozelus, Nazjheem Coleman, Ethan Dunkley, Kaiden Montague, Tymir Morange, Genesis Monroe, Hector Pena, Diana Mozelus, Noah Wanamaker, Sharol Orellana Mendez, Lauren Truitt, Mariam Issaka, Matthew Pollard, Kennedy Holloway
Third Grade
Christine Jarama-Romero, Abdulallah Kone, Iris Paola Lopez Hernandez, Snaider Quinatoa Quinaloa, Shemar Karim, Jaden Wilson, Farees Hanan, Nafahti Ridley, Mishel Simaluisa, Presdi Kisamba, Daniel Cordero, Tymir Upshur, Reggie Reid, Malani Smith, Angel Rivera, Adam Alimami Kamara
Fourth Grade
Mabel Dole, Dakota Jennings, Brayan Moreno, Milan Smith, John Jalloh, Musa Fofana, Jaiceon Powell, Anthony Santos, Zenia Orellana, Alimatou Konate, Allyss Gomez-Gonzalez, Tony Nguyen, Kaleb Mesay, Logan Walker, Tahiry Burbage, Mariam Tejan
Fifth Grade
Anthony Fernandez Diaz, Valentina Aucapina, Inaaya Ibrahim, Stacy Laguisma, Dylan Silva Calero, Samuel Presmy, Tristan Williams, Payton Wynter, Bea Barthel, Ebrahime Kone, Samir Gordon, Tony Nguyen, Raymond Warley
TEACHER TALKS
Meet Ms. Borrelli!
College: West Chester University
Years Teaching: It’s my first year teaching since I just graduated in May 2023. I student taught and was a building substitute at Downingtown Marsh Creek Sixth Grade Center. In Upper Darby, I was a 3rd Grade Long Term Substitute at Charles Kelly and I am now a fourth grade math teacher at Stonehurst.
About Me: My name is Nicole Borrelli. I live in Drexel Hill and also went to and graduated from the Upper Darby School District. An odd fact is that I am a quadruplet. On my time off I enjoy hanging out with family and friends. I also enjoy taking my dog Tucker for walks and playing fetch with him. I love baking, cooking and trying out TikTok recipes. Although I love the beach, I also love Christmas time and decorating for Christmas. I look forward to finishing the school year and continuing to teach for years to come.
Meet Mr. Zavod!
College: University of Pennsylvania, BA '97
Emory University School of Law, JD '00
Chestnut Hill College, M.Ed '11
Years Teaching: I've been teaching for 14 years all of which were with the School District of Philadelphia until I came to join Upper Darby and Stonehurst.
About Me: I live in Philadelphia, right by the Art Museum, with my dog, Hershel. I am a car guru and amusement park aficionado (the bigger the roller coaster, the better). I love to travel and have been all over Europe and parts of the Middle East. It's hard to identify my favorite because I've had so many, but my most recent trip to Iceland was pretty amazing. At home I try to spend as much time as possible with friends and family, especially my mom, brother, sister-in-law and three teen aged nephews. Being a kid at heart, for eight weeks over the summer, I still go to the overnight camp I have been going to since I was six years old. One thing most people don't know about me is that I am not only a licensed teacher, but am also a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania.
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
Guidance Counselor: Marissa Difilippo
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. This month, age-appropriate counseling lesson topics were chosen regarding personal safety for grades 1-4.
First and second grade students learned about personal space! First grade listened to a social story about Harvey, who discovers the importance of personal space! Second grade took a trip to Personal Space Camp as we read Personal Space Camp by Julia Cook. Both grades got to use a hula hoop to visualize how big their personal space bubble should be, and how it feels when others are in our personal space bubble.
Third and fourth graders discussed the importance of cyber/internet safety. Students learned 12 tips for being safe online. Third grade played ‘Safe or Unsafe?’ in groups as we read through different online scenarios. Fourth grade created their own examples of safe social media posts or completed a worksheet about what they would do in certain unsafe cyber situations.
5th grade will be receiving their second lesson on the middle school transition! Last month, we talked about feelings and questions they may have about starting middle school. This month’s lesson provides some education on the differences between elementary and middle school, and more specific information about Beverly Hills MIddle School, where most of our students will attend next year.
MENTAL HEALTH MONTHLY
Social Worker: Coleen Sanders
Next month is Mental Health Awareness Month, so I wanted to spend some time this month sharing common warning signs for different mental health challenges. Please remember that this content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice or consultation with mental health professionals.
Recognizing the Warning Signs
There are a multitude of different warning signs that can help identify mental health concerns in adults, young adults, older children, and younger children. Each diagnosis has its own symptoms, but common signs of mental health challenges in adults and adolescents can include the following:
Mental health conditions can also begin to develop in young children. Because they’re still learning how to identify and talk about thoughts and emotions, their most obvious symptoms are behavioral. Symptoms in children may include the following:
NURSE'S NEWS
School Nurse: Colleen Stetler
World Health Day is April 7th! It aims to promote health equity and improve health outcomes worldwide. Parents can use this day as an opportunity to teach kids different aspects of health and wellness. Here are four ideas for your whole family to celebrate World Health Day:
Play with your food! Encourage children to eat healthy foods by involving them in the planning and preparation. They can (safely) cut their foods into a variety of shapes and create fun pictures with what is on their plate.
Learn how to wash hands properly. Studies show that many people skip essential steps in the handwashing process: The 5 steps include (1) Wet hands and apply soap (2) Rub hands together to lather soap- make sure to include the back of the hand and in between the fingers! (3) Scrub hands for at least 20 seconds (4) Rinse well (5) Dry
Get outside and exercise! Some people like running- there are dozens of local 5k races available to sign up for if interested. You could do it as a family for a cause that means something to you. Other options include taking the family to a local park and playing a sport, practicing yoga or going on a hike.
Share your feelings. The inability to name and express complex emotions can be a great source of frustration for children- and even adults! Helping kids identify and name their feelings is important for their overall well being. Sharing feelings helps build trust and strengthens relationships. Books and movies can provide kids with examples of different emotions and how they might look or feel.
SPECIAL'S SPOTLIGHT
News from the Library
Librarian: Margie Weil
Library Happenings:
Computer Coding
In the libraries across the district, we are getting our children ready for working in the 21st century! This is the time of year when all the library students (grades 1-5) learn about the basics of computer coding. This is our 3rd year of featuring coding activities during the last trimester of school and each year’s learning builds on the concepts covered in the previous year. There is a gaming element to most of the activities and each child can work at their own pace. Ask your child what they have learned!
Reading Olympics
We are also gearing up for the county-wide Reading Olympics competition that will be held on May 2 at Strath Haven Middle School. 13 students from the 4th and 5th grades have been working hard for months to prepare and represent Stonehurst as the Reading Royals! Each team member is responsible for reading some of the 43 books of the competition and is preparing to answer questions about what they read. Our team captain, Bintou Konneh (204) will lead our team on to victory in the 2-½ hour competition! Go Stonehurst Reading Royals!
News from the Art Room
Art Teacher: Megan Connell
1st - If the Dinosaurs Came Back
In 1st grade we read the book If the Dinosaurs Came Back, where dinosaurs helped people by reaching things up high, painting houses, giving them rides to work/school. Students thought about how a dinosaur would help them and illustrated their ideas.
2nd - How to “Create” Your Dragon
In 2nd grade we created our own dragons. Students watched a video from How to Train Your Dragon for design inspiration.
3rd - Drawnimals
3rd grade students chose different animal face cards, glued them to their papers, and drew the animal’s body/environment around the face they picked.
4th - Cityscapes
In 4th grade, students were given the option of creating a 2D or 3D city. 2D cities used basic flat shapes like squares and rectangles, while 3D cities used form and a vanishing point to give the illusion of space.
5th - Candy Creations
5th grade students created their own candy designs, coming up with the type of candy, designing its wrapper, and giving it a unique name. We watched videos from Wonka for candy creation inspiration.
CLASSROOM CHRONICLES
FIRST GRADE
In science, first graders explored ways animals communicate with each other. They used different materials to explore vibrations and sounds!
SECOND GRADE
FIFTH GRADE
ELL COLUMN
In this issue we are featuring a fifth grader, Samuel!
Samuel moved here from Haiti with his dad in October of 2023. They moved here to have a safer life. He now lives with his dad, aunt, and cousin.
1. What was the weather like in Haiti?
The weather was very hot. It would rain sometimes but it never snowed. I saw snow for the first time in the United States and thought it was cool.
2. Did you go to school in Haiti? What was it like?
Yes, I went to school. We would learn geography, science, and English. We had music, art, gym, and computers but we didn't have a library.
3. What was your favorite food to eat in Haiti?
My favorite food to eat was Haitian spaghetti with chicken wings.
4. What did you do for fun in Haiti?
My friends and I would play soccer and play music on my keyboard. I hope to play soccer when I go to middle school.
5. What do you miss most about Haiti?
I miss my bicycle and my keyboard. I hope to get a bicycle or scooter soon.
ELL NEWS
ELL Teachers: Kristie Bean, Lillian Young, & Lisa Egan
Fifth grade students who are learning English as an additional language practiced speaking, listening and reading in English as they took on the role of the ELL teacher!
LOOKING FORWARD
April 18 - Spring Picture Day
April 23 - No School
April 24 - Student of the Month Assembly
April 24-26 - ELA PSSA
April 25 - Family Movie Night
April 29-30 - Math PSSA
April 29-May 3 - Rewards Week
May 1 - Early Dismissal
May 2-3 - Science PSSA
May 2 - First Grade Orientation
May 2 - Spring Concert & Art Show
*SPIRIT DAYS*
Wellness Week - April 15-19
Monday: wear red
Tuesday: wear orange
Wednesday: wear green
Thursday: wear yellow
Friday: wear purple
Purple & Gold - April 19
Dress like someone famous - April 26
Purple & Gold - May 3
Dress in your grade's color - May 10
1st: red
2nd: blue
3rd: green
4th: yellow
5th: orange
Purple & Gold - May 17
Teacher/Student Swap Day!
Students dressed like teachers and teachers dressed like students!
April 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