Visitors strolling down the elementary school hallway on
Saturday, June 5 discovered an amazing collection of drawing and
paintings portraying Native American stories and culture. The
student art was part of art teacher Kathleen Bushek's Elementary
Art Show Pow Wow. (full
story and photos)
Fourth grade celebrates agriculture
The skies threatened, but the rain held off as
the fourth graders spent the morning outside learning about
local agriculture at Cornell Cooperative Extension Agriculture
Awareness Day on Monday, June 14.
Several local farmers explained their businesses
and displayed animals and equipment for the eager students. More
than a fun activity, Ag Awareness Day helps students understand
the diversity and importance of agriculture in our local
economy. (full
story and photos)
Respect
and self-control through martial arts
Ask most students what they know about martial
arts and they will tell you tales of Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee,
Jr. kicking the stuffing out of bad guys in the movies. Jamie
McRedmond's first grade class learned that martial arts are
much, much more. (full
story and photos)
Seniors open 10-year old time capsule
Ten years ago, Rita Garguilo's second grade
class buried a little of their history. With graduation just two
weeks away, they celebrated their past and their future by
unearthing those memories. (full
story)
PreK class
graduation set
Ms. Wieczenski's Pre-kindergarten class paid a
surprise visit to the Superintendent's Office on June 9 with an
important message, "We are graduating on June 22nd!"
The class not only reminded Dr. Hoffman of the
event, but they extended a personal invitation for him to
attend. He immediately accepted. (learn
more about the visit and Pre-K)
Cystic Fibrosis March teaches true meaning of
"caring"
How do you teach students the importance of
caring? You can tell them about it. You can ask them to write
about it. You can have them look it up on the Internet. But
sometimes, "doing" is the best teacher. (full
story and photos)
Second grade haikus to be published
It is common for a number young students to have their works
published in various student publications. But, Mrs. Garguilo's
second grade class set a new standard by having every student's
haiku poem accepted for publication in "A Celebration of
Poets - Spring 2010." (full
story)
Three
honored in NY Ag writing contest
Three Fonda-Fultonville second-graders were among forty prize
winning students from across the state for their entries in the
12th annual New York Agriculture in the Classroom "Be Aware of
New York Agriculture" contest. Emma Agnes earned first place,
Julianna Hickey placed third, and Sierra Rose earned a second
honorable mention. (learn
more)
Kindergarten
Buddies build friends and strengthen learning
Step into Stacey Lee's kindergarten classroom on
most Friday mornings and you will find pairs of kindergartners
and fourth graders reading books, writing, working on projects,
and talking.
For the eighth consecutive year, fourth grade
teacher Katie Briggs and Mrs. Lee have collaborated on
Kindergarten Buddies, an informal program where fourth graders
join kindergartners as tutors and friends. (full
story and more photos)
African Acrobats—a lesson in acrobatics,
strength, and culture
The elementary school was treated to an
incredible display of physical prowess by a team of Kenyan
acrobats during an assembly on April 12 in the high school
gymnasium.
"Our goal is to expose the students to amazing
acrobatics and give them a sense of the incredible things our
bodies can do with work and practice," said Interim Principal James Sack. "In
addition, many teachers
will take a moment back in the classroom to find Kenya on a map
and to teach a little about a different part of our world."
(full
story and photos)
Luck
of the Irish eludes kindergartners
Mrs. Hanifin and Mrs. Lee's classes celebrated St. Patrick's Day
in the spirit of the Irish— they went on a leprechaun hunt. To
help find the troublesome and elusive creatures, the students
searched
around the school using "leprechaun finders" they made in the
classroom. (full
story)
Mush! Sled dogs visit Fonda-Fultonville
What travels across snow, mud, or dirt at speeds
of up to 30 mile per hour for 20 miles — oh yes, and it barks!
Ask Fonda-Fultonville Elementary School students and they will
tell you the answer is sled dogs!
Gar Morey and Ray Jennings of Go Kennels in
Fonda visited each of the grades on Wednesday, Mar. 17 to share
the experience of racing dog sleds. The visit was part of this
year's reading program, "Paws to Read." (full
story and photos)
Visitor
teaches kindergartners about fire safety
Volunteer fireman JD Downing spent an afternoon
in Stacey Lee's kindergarten class teaching the students about
fire safety. He talked about thinks such as why it is important
to have smoke detectors and what to do in case of a fire. (full
story and more photos)
Ventures in
Entrepreneurship "sweetens" learning for fourth graders
Can you really teach worthwhile lessons by baking cookies?
You certainly can if you pair high school business students with
eager fourth graders!
Fourth grade teachers Lori Dietrick and Ann
Mahon were looking for a different way to reinforce their
lessons on measurement. What better way than to step into the
kitchen! The elementary teachers teamed up with high school
business teacher Laura Bellinger to create a two-day lesson that
included basic math, reading, and practical business and life
skills. (full
story and more photos)
First and
Second Graders Color and Learn about Bicycle Safety
March is
“National Brain Injury Awareness Month.” The Brain Injury
Association of New York State (BIANYS) has collaborated with the
New York State Police and other local police agencies, to bring
the Eleventh Annual “Design Your Own Helmet” Contest to all
first and second graders, in Montgomery, Fulton and Schoharie
Counties. (full
story and photos)
Fourth
graders get a first hand look at Native American culture
(Click on any photo to view a larger image in a
new window)
Fourth grader Aaidyn Cook brought something
special to class for "show-and-tell"—her grandfather Clifford
Cook. Mr. Cook is a descendent of the Cherokee people and
visited Mrs. Zajaceskowski's fourth grade class to share a
little of the Cherokee and Native American culture. (full
story)
Is your emergency contact information up-to-date?
If your child became seriously ill at school, could we reach
you? If there were an emergency school closing, how would we let
you know?
Whether for a snow day or some school emergency, school
officials occasionally need to contact parents/guardians with
important information. We rely on the emergency contact
information that you provide at the beginning of each year. But,
people move; phone numbers and e-mail addresses change. In the
event of an emergency, could we reach you? Don't leave things to
chance; please contact your school with any changes to your
emergency contact information.
Teacher
by day, hero by night!
(Photo courtesy of Karl Koch/weezer.com)
F-F fourth graders had to do a double-take of a photo that
appeared in local newspapers and on the Internet. Was that
really Mr. Romano dressed as a fireman? They soon discovered
that yes, that was Mr. Romano!
Fourth grade teacher and volunteer fireman Eric Romano manned
the jaws of life to free the Rivers Cuomo, lead singer of the
rock band "Weezer," and his family and staff from their tour bus
after it crashed into a muddy ditch on the Thruway on Dec. 6.
The vehicle had skidded on the icy road, plowed over the
guardrail, and dropped into a mud-filled ravine. The accident
wedged the bus door against a wall of mud making it impossible
for the injured occupants to escape. Mr. Romano and his fellow
firefighters climbed into the ditch, removed a rear window and
safely rescued everyone.
Thank you Mr. Romano for volunteering your time to serve your
community in such an important way!
F-F Elementary officially receives its 2009 National Blue Ribbon
School Award
It all became official on Nov. 2 and 3 as Principal Alicia Henry
and Reading Coach Sue Wolf formally accepted Fonda-Fultonville
Elementary School's 2009 National Blue Ribbon School Award
during special ceremonies in Washington, DC. They proudly
accepted a plaque and a flag to mark the event. (full
story and photos)
Learn more about the 2009 National Blue Ribbon School award
Fonda-Fultonville Elementary School was named a
2009 National Blue Ribbon School by U.S. Secretary of Education
Arne Duncan on Tuesday, September 15. (full
story)
Lesson makes social studies a tasty treat!
Mr. Murray's and Mrs. Mahon's fourth grade
classes wrapped up a social studies lesson on the geography of
New York in a mouth-watering way. They made sugar cookie maps of
New York State! (full
story and more photos)
After-school program expands to include elementary students
Beginning this fall, the Advantage After School Program will
serve students in grades K-8. The program is expanding to
include younger students thanks to new funding from the state.
This is a supervised program that provides homework time and
activities. (learn
more, get forms)
CDC video discusses merits of child
immunization
Recent protests over requiring health care
worker to have H1N1 flu shot may raise concerns among parents
concerning other immunizations. The following video from the
Center for Disease Control discusses the issue in simple terms.
The CDC describes the video as "After talking
with parents across the country, CDC put together this short
video to help answer the tough questions that real moms had
about childhood immunizations. Understanding the importance of
vaccines is crucial for you to protect your children’s health."
If you have further questions, please contact your health care
professional or the school nurse.
Free and Reduced
Lunch forms online
Free and
Reduced Meal Applications must be filed for the new school year!
Click
here for an application, or pick one up in one of the school offices. Please be reminded that FFCSD has a NO CHARGE policy.
The cafeteria accepts cash and checks made payable to the FFCS Cafeteria. Check payment can also be mailed to the school. Att: Judy Murray, FSD.
Principal
Alicia Henry 112 Old
Johnstown Rd
P.O. Box 1501
Fonda, NY 12068-1501
(518) 853-3332
July-August
Happy Summer!
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