Community Takes Part In Fun Learning Events With WED

Math, Science, and Reading Week events are so much fun!  The best part of these events is that everyone in the whole school community gets invited to participate.  In this article I will be reporting on the following events in chronological order:

1. Woonsocket Area Career and Technical Center Child Studies Reading Week - March 16, 2010

2.  Bernon Elementary School Community Reading Day - March 22

3.  Woonsocket Middle School Math and Science Family Night- March 30

4.  Globe Park Elementary School Door Judging Contest - March 31

I have already reported on reading week events in different school buildings over the last several weeks and I have more to report for this week's Education Spotlight.  You might ask why aren't all of these events held on the International Reading Associations' suggested reading week (Which is usually aligned with the great Dr. Suess' birthday?)  The answer is simple.  In order to have maximum community participation for each building (in Woonsocket we have eight elementary schools and two middle schools,) it helps to have only one or two schools doing reading week events at the same time.  In fact I just received an invitation from the Globe Park PTO to participate in their Community Reading Day this week on Friday, April 8, 2011.  But for now. I will update you on some absolutely wonderful events that have happened recently.

WACTC Child Studies Reading Week - March 16, 2010

I had so much fun when I went to the Child Studies classroom at the Woonsocket Area Career and Technical Center (WACTC.)  Every year the teachers Christine McKenna and Colleen Curas invite me to read but this year was extra special.  The book that they picked for me to read was "Green Eggs and Ham" by Dr. Suess.  Well I am certain that all of the day care students, child studies students, and teachers figured out that I love that book and have read it to all of my children many times over.  I barely had to look at the pages to read the story with an inflection and drama that had all of the kids laughing. 

After I was done reading, there was a surprise for me.  I was invited to the Culinary and Pastry arts classrooms to enjoy a breakfast of green eggs and ham with all of the Childcare and Child Studies students.  In addition to green eggs and ham I also got to sample green buttered bread, green apple juice and green fruit cocktail.  It was the first time I actually ate green eggs and ham and I absolutely loved it! 

What I was most impressed by that day was the spirit of collaboration and integrated learning that was taking place.  This year was so much more exciting by combining the lesson with culinary and pastry arts teachers Suzanne Marsella and Tom Lannan.   The students from both programs got so much more from the collaborative lesson and were very proud to share the experience with me.   One of the culinary arts students encouraged me to try a kiwi fruit for the first time and I loved that too.   As I sat with one of the Child Care students Egan Hammond and one of the Child Studies students Kayla Mousseau, I got to see the how pleased Eagan was with Kayla's help and support.  Kayla told me that her mother June had attended the same Child Studies program at the WACTC when the current Principal/Director, Dr. Bedard, was her teacher.  Kayla said that she is interested in Child Care when she graduates but may even consider a career as a teacher after having such a good experience at the WACTC.  That speaks volumes about the programs that we offer our students in Woonsocket. 

Bernon Elementary School Community Reading Day - March 22

The Bernon Elementary School PTO hosted a Community Reading Day that was very well attended.  Some of the volunteers from the community included; Representative Phillips, City Council Member Schneck, City Council Member Gendron, Police Captain Lee, Middle School Principal McGee, Savoie Elementary Principal Hazard, as well as myself.  The event began with complimentary refreshments before the student representatives from each class came and escorted us to their classrooms to read.

The intent of this event is to share the joy of reading with the children, and impress upon them the importance of reading in the workplace and the community.  I must say that while I did my best to show the students in Ms. Silvia's class my love of reading, they certainly showed me their love of reading too.  We have heard a lot of concern over the change from full-day to half-day Kindergarten but I must commend our teachers for making the most of the time they have with their students.  Ms. Silvia's class was so well behaved and organized.  The students were so excited that they wanted to read along with me at times.  I was surprised by some of the big words that they could read when I called on individuals to help me out. 

 Woonsocket Middle School Math and Science Family Night- March 30

Woonsocket Middle School at Hamlet hosted a Math and Science Night for all of our Middle School students and families.  The students and families participated in fun brain teaser and geometry games.  Math games like Sudoko came in the traditional form but included a big board version of Recycling Sudoku.  That was provided by Michael Debroisse, the City of Woonsocket's Solid Waste Superintendent in an effort to show all the materials that get recycled in Woonsocket.  Children and parents could compete against each other just to add to the fun.  Also, environmental science topics that where covered included controlling storm water runoff and organic composting that showed how to use earth worms to make rich garden soil.  There was an inflatable planetarium and videos on astronomy and natural disasters.  Pizza and refreshments were provided by local sponsors and an awards ceremony was held to give out gift certificates and other prizes in exchange for the tickets that students and family won in the game competitions.  Principal McGee and K-12 Instructional Leader for Science Kathy DiModica both commented to me that a lot of parents participated and the event was a success.

Globe Park Elementary School Door Judging Contest - March 31

Globe Park Elementary School celebrated Math Madness Week during the week of March 28 through April 1, 2011.  The Door Judging Contest was just one of many events that they actually held that week.  The organization of these events was thanks in a large part to the leadership of Christine Parker.  Christine Parker is the TIME Teacher at Globe Park Elementary School.  This is a federally funded position and the acronym TIME stands for Teacher In Multiple Environments.   While these teachers spend 80% of their time in the schools, 20% of their day is flexibly spent on parent outreach and engagement.  Of course, our staff at Globe Park Elementary School has a strong leadership team and Christine wanted me to thank Principal Rob Derosiers, Math School Improvement Team Chair Cindy-Sue Girard, and Science School Improvement Team Chair Jen Polacek.  They all go above and beyond for the students and families of their school!

I was asked to be one of the guest judges and I saw School Committee Vice Chairperson Nadeau, Director of Instruction and Administration Matk Garceau, and Instructional leaders Jacques and Zagrodney also judging.   Each class decorated their door around with a theme that had to include their room number.  Many combinations of Math and Science examples were used to display their room number.  There were so many excellent doors that I had to go around twice to narrow my recommendations for the top three classes.  Several local guest Judges from the district judged the doors. First place winners were treated to a “Popcorn and Movie” party (as well as “bragging rights,”) second place winners received stationary/stickers, and third place winners received pencils.  The doors were also left decorated for parents to see during Parent/Teacher Conferences.

In addition to the Door Decorating Contest, each class was provided an enrichment activity sponsored by the school’s Parent Teacher Association called POW! Science! Each grade had the opportunity to do a 50-minute experiment/activity. (Each grade level will have a day) Topics were:

1^st – Balance and Motion

2^nd – Kids Chemistry

3^rd – Machines in Motion

4^th- POW Towers (I got to visit a class of students participating in this while their teacher was wearing a turkey suit.  She promised the class if they performed well on the NECAP test she would wear the costume all week.  They did, and she honored the commitment.)

5^th – M.E.P.S (Math Engineering and Problem Solving)

The Math SIT Team provided a problem of the day for each grade level that corresponded to their science theme. All classes regardless of ability were included in all activities.  Estimation Stations were set up outside of the cafeteria. There were two word problems and two estimation jars. Winners of the estimation stations were awarded Friday afternoon.

Also, school-wide Bingo was held on Thursday afternoon at 2:30.  They played two school-wide games until the first three winners came to the office and then teachers could continue in their classrooms as each class was given math pencils for winners inside their individual classes.

Finally, on Friday the culminating activity was the Math and Science Parade. Students dressed up showing math or science concepts.  It began in the 1^st grade wing and picked up each grade as it marched by. The parade started at 2:30.  Thanks to the Woonsocket High School Music Department for playing the march over the intercom. Students who did not participate lined the hallways and watched the parade as spectators.

In Summation

Our teachers are making instruction fun and exciting.  Also, our community members are volunteering their time to participate in these events.  This is the type of student, parent and community engagement that we must strive for on a daily basis.

Sincerely,

Robert J. Gerardi, Jr., Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Woonsocket Education Department

If people do not believe that mathematics is simple, it is only because they do not realize how complicated life is. 

John Louis von Neumann

Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas. 

Albert Einstein

Men love to wonder, and that is the seed of science. 

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Science is simply common sense at its best. 

Thomas Huxley