Wheatland-Chili Central
Schools
Electronic Newsletter
February 17, 2012
7th Grade Scientists
At the Middle School, 7th grade science students in Mrs.
LaCelle’s class have been studying classification of organisms
from bacteria through vertebrates. An owl pellet project affords
the students multiple opportunities for learning. The activity
allows students to have a hands-on experience in the classroom
while using the information they gather in a variety of applications. Mrs. LaCelle summarized the lesson below:
Owls are vertebrates themselves and they also eat vertebrates.
The owl pellets are formed from indigestible remains of fur and
bones from their prey, which have been sterilized. Therefore, the
skeleton of the animal the owl ate is available for classification as
well. The class discusses food webs in conjunction with what the owls ate. Students dissect out the
prey skeletons and then must use a dichotomous key to classify which prey the owl ate. This is a
specifically outlined skill in the NYS Intermediate Science Core Guide.
Students compile class data and rank the prey animals from most
eaten to least, then graph the information. These data tie in with
interdisciplinary work in math as well as practice skills tested on
state assessments. Students compare their results to the hypothesis they proposed at the beginning of the study, and also discuss
sources of error in their experiment. This reinforces how the scientific method is used to answer questions posed by researchers. The
class also looks at background information about how real scientists
study fossilized owl pellets, as well as pellets today, to determine
climate changes in an area.
21st Century Learning
Wheatland-Chili High School students Samantha Berl, Jenna Bower, Damon Bradford, Stephen Brooks, Alex Clar, Connor Dawson,
Sarah Gaiser, Tychianna Glenn, Justin Monette, Allison Smith,
Jackie Stryker, Aaron Swanson, and Burak Tavacioglu addressed
the Board of Education on Monday, February 13, as part of an
instructional program overview. These young men and women
shared samples of their work and skillfully articulated how
their education continues to prepare them for success in
the 21st century. The presentation showcased their creativity, problem-solving, communication, technological literacy, initiative, and leadership.
Math and Movement at T. J. Connor
If you stop by the multi-purpose room at T. J. Connor on any
given day, you may see students enthusiastically clapping,
counting, skipping, or hopping on brightly colored mats and
rugs! They are participating in the Math and Movement Program with our Math Consultant Teacher, Mrs. Broman. Several
months ago, we were fortunate to apply for and receive a grant
that helped fund the acquisition of this program for students in
grades K-4. The Math and Movement Program is based on research suggesting that cross-body movements integrate the
right and left hemisphere of the brain and help cement newly
learned material in the memory. In a recent article by Eric Jensen, “Moving with the Brain in Mind,” he reports, “Research indicates that physical activity benefits learning, allows cognitive
maturation, enhances spatial learning, and anchors new information in the brain.” Studies with
students participating in the Math and Movement program have shown a significant increase in a
broad range of skills including skip counting, basic addition and subtraction facts, multiplication,
and division skills, and positive and negative numbers.
TJC teachers, under the tutelage of Mrs. Broman, use the Math and Movement activities with the
existing math curriculum to reinforce the foundational skills that are necessary for students to master. Mrs. Broman works with individual grade levels and at times has an older class teach a younger class using a variety of movement strategies and several of the mats and rugs from the program. Once teachers have learned some of the uses of the mats and the correlated movements
from Mrs. Broman, they are able to utilize the materials on their own throughout the week. Teachers have reported that they have recorded an increase in students’ ability in specific math skills as
well as increased math confidence and the willingness to try more difficult problems! Currently,
Mrs. Broman is working on Math and Movement lessons that correlate to the Math Common Core
Curriculum to be ready to implement in September. Also, Mrs. Broman will be hosting a Math and
Movement Family Night a little later in the school year. Watch for more details in the TJC Wednesday Notes and on our TJC website. Start stretching now so you are ready for Family Math and
Movement Night with your children!
Students Gather for Swim and Gym Fun Night at the
Middle School
The sophomore class set up and organized an activity night for all middle
school students last month. Nearly 100 middle school students attended and
participated in various activities that included swimming, basketball, dodge
ball, ping pong, cooperative games, and a dance contest. A good time was
had by all as students had a chance to socialize with friends, connect
with staff members, and have some fun. A special thank you goes out
to all 10th grade students who organized the event as well as to our
adult chaperones, which included Mrs. Hagadorn, Mrs. Baxendell, Mrs.
Gray, Mrs. Povelaites, Mr. Glass, Mr. Rothfuss, and Mr. Zilliox.
High School Students Participate in Solo Festival
On January 13 and 14, Wheatland-Chili once again hosted the annual Monroe County School Music Association Winter Vocal Solo Festival. Aside from
having over 20 6th through 12th grade vocal music students perform at the
festival, High School Chorus members helped to coordinate and run the festival which saw over 400 student musicians perform.
2nd Graders Use Storybird
T. J. Connor librarian, Mrs. Arendt, includes teaching technology skills to all students in grades K-5 in her weekly classes. Along with basic keyboarding skills,
students learn the elements of Word, PowerPoint, using on-line research resources, how to access various educational websites, and more. Just recently
the second grade students created stories using a website called Storybird.
This website is collaborative, educational, enhances reading and writing skills,
and can be used in school or at home. Everyone can create and publish a story on-line as well as read stories written by others.
Mrs. Arendt began the process with each second grade class by selecting pictures from the artwork provided on the website. Then the students worked together as a class and wrote the sentences to go along with
the pictures and created their story. You can view the stories written by each second grade class by going
to the Library page on the TJC site or by following this link:
http://wheatland.k12.ny.us/webpages/karendt/second_grade.cfm?
subpage=781080.
Now that the students know how to create these stories, they will begin working on their next project. They will work with a partner and use the Storybird
website to create their own book. This website is a great opportunity for families to get creative together and see what amazing stories they can publish!
Let your second grader show you how to create stories at the following link:
http://storybird.com/.
8th Grade Students Use Video and Other Creative Outlets to
Summarize Learning
Mrs. Mannara's ELA 8 students just finished their unit based on The Giver by Lois Lowry, which follows
the journey of a boy named Jonas through the twelfth year of his life. Throughout the unit, students
were engaged in a number of reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities that not only mirror
events in the book but also asked students to use higher level thinking skills to analyze and synthesize
information through the use of a Daily Reading Journal. Students had the
opportunity to exercise their creativity in a culminating project by creating
one of the following:
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Travel brochure about the community in The Giver
Video trailer for the book or summarize the most important scenes on
video
Scrapbook depicting the important events in the life of Jonas
Journal depicting the important events in the life of Jonas
Photo album depicting the world of Jonas without color
Memory journal by speaking with individuals over 62 years of age and
summarizing what they remember about the world when they were the
same age as Jonas
We appreciate the creative instructional approach that Mrs. Mannara used
within the classroom as well as the students' hard work to create quality
projects.
100th Day of School
It is hard to imagine, but Thursday, February 9, was the 100th day of the
school year. T. J. Connor students have been preparing for this day from the
first day of school when Mrs. Broman handed out the 100th Day Reading Logs.
This annual celebration at T. J. Connor was more than just a milestone worth
noting – it was the perfect time to have fun with the number 100. From the
counting of students as they entered school in the morning to the last math
class of the day, students were involved in card games using the number 100,
mental math to complete 100 problems, counting and sorting various collections of 100, investigating “dollar” words, reading poems and stories about 100,
receiving 100th day crowns, glasses, or pencils, and receiving certificates for reading for 100 days!
There was a definite “buzz” of excitement around the building all day.
The following students received special awards: Madileine Malo was the 100th student to enter the
building; Janae Hooker, Madeline Jewell, Elijah Otto, Maddie Ozminkowski, and Colin Hogue completed
their 100th Day Reading Log for the 6th year in a row; and Ryan Bailey, Doug Krenzer, Abigail Winslow,
and Lindsay Moore completed their 100th Day Reading Log for the 5th year in a row. Logan Rocha was
so excited and inspired he wrote his own 100th Day poem that he read during the morning announcements to start the school day:
The 100th Day by Logan Rocha
100 dimes
100 pennies
100 nickels
100 quarters
100 dogs
100 cats
100 hogs
100 bats
This poem is pretty cool.
Now it’s time for the 100th day of school!
Students Develop Spanish Skills through the Arts
Over the past few weeks, students in the Level IV Spanish class have been busy writing and filming their
very own telenovela! This unit began shortly after winter break with an introduction to the Spanish soap opera and a brief overview of the cultural impact
that telenovelas have had in various Spanish-speaking countries. Students
also had the opportunity to watch portions of a Mexican telenovela called
Amor Real (True Love), which aired in 2003.
Following this introduction, students worked as a team to brainstorm ideas for
their own telenovela based on the common themes they saw in Amor Real,
including love, betrayal, greed, and familial ties.
Students then compiled their ideas and worked in
pairs to write the scenes of their telenovela in Spanish. Currently, students
are in the process of acting and filming their scenes in different locations
throughout the school. They will spend the week before February break editing their work and putting the finishing touches on their final product. Keep
an eye out for the premiere of this original production entitled, La vida loca,
to be posted on the high school Spanish homepage after February break!
Farewell to Mrs. Johnson
For over thirty years, Mrs. Johnson served the District in a variety of
capacities, including her most recent position as our Business Manager,
Treasurer, and Purchasing Agent. This month Mrs. Johnson retired
from Wheatland and will now have the flexibility to spend more time
with her family. Over these many years, Mrs. Johnson has watched
over the District’s funds as though they were her own funds, providing
guidance for the many financial decisions that were made. Mrs. Johnson is a wonderful person and outstanding business manager, and her
many skills and talents will be missed by her colleagues and friends
throughout the District. Our students were aware of the important role
that Mrs. Johnson played in the day-to-day operation of the District, and recognized her with cards of
well wishes for the future.
Successful Ground Hog Day Dinner
Ground Hog Day has many rituals and traditions across our nation! Here at
Wheatland-Chili, Ground Hog Day is celebrated with a dinner sponsored by
the Rotary Club of Scottsville, the Scottsville Lions Club, the Wheatland Youth
Assets Initiative, and the High School Interact Club with ambiance created by
posters from the T. J. Connor first and second grade students. Rotarians and
members of the Interact Club prepared and served the dinner and the
guests enjoyed the posters before, after, and during their meal. Attendees also enjoyed the musical talents of our students, led by our Band
Director, Mr. Zimmerman. Superintendent Dr. Deb Leh is a Rotarian and
helped serve desserts that evening! Congratulations to the TJC students
whose posters were selected for recognition. The winners are: First
Place - Jeffery Mancuso, Second Place - Olivia Cross, and Third Place Joshua Gebhardt.
Students Recite Pledge at Board Meeting
Students from the High School led the community in reciting the Pledge
of Allegiance at the beginning of the Board of Education meeting held on
February 13, 2012.
WHEATLAND-CHILI CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
13 Beckwith Avenue, Scottsville, NY 14546
Phone: (585) 889.4500
Fax: (585) 889.6284
Board of Education
Eileen Hansen, President
Carole Smith, Vice President
Carol Davis
James Musshafen
Kim Snyder
Mark Strivings
Elizabeth VenVertloh
Deborah Leh, Ed.D., Superintendent