Students of the Month

SeptemberNate Ashton – KSamantha Orner – 1st

Nathan Held – 2nd Sydney Selesky – 3rd

Logan Kintigh – 4th

Jacob Vastell – 5th

OctoberAllison Fox – KAshley Malego – 1st Zach Szajnuk – 2nd Freddy Kudrick – 3rd Caitlyn Bubarth – 4th Mya Gregory – 5th

A Word from Mr. Burk…The beginning of the 2011-12 school year has been an exciting time a Stanwood. First, our WTAE visit was a great success. We were able to highlight the outstanding things that happen every day within our facility. Our guest, Mike Harvey, had nothing but wonderful things to say about the staff and students at Stanwood. On top of his positive remarks, Stanwood’s impression was plastered throughout the evening and morning newscasts. It was a great time to be at Stanwood.

Additionally, every Friday, our students enjoy the announcements made via our news channel, WTSW, Channel 21. We utilize this engaging medium to share information about our school. Also, once a month, special programming is provided to support our bully free program. A short clip, including talented actors from within the school, motivates and prepares our students for their classroom meetings supporting the theme for the month. Again, it is a great time to be at Stanwood.

Lastly, Stanwood has become the model for technology within the district, if not the county. Every teacher has incorporated the wonderful hardware, MIMIO, and software to support the learning needs of our 21st century students. Every day, I am impressed with the ways that our faculty is utilizing this great tool. More importantly, I realize that it is a great time to be at Stanwood.

I am sure that the rest of the year will provide events, activities, and opportunities for our learning community to enjoy the outstanding culture/climate within our walls. It is certainly a great time to be at Stanwood.

Stanwood SpiritVolume 1, Issue 1November 17, 2011

Stanwood Elementary

Help Stanwood Earn a GrantThis year, our new physical education teacher, Mr. Deering, has applied for a grant to build a walking trail around Stanwood. This trail will be used for the school Walking Club. We can all help out by voting each day on-line or texting at: http://www.powerabrightfuture.com/gallery/detail/?nid=889

Or Text to vote: Text clorox5205 to 44144

Please remember to vote each day until December 9th –Thank you!

WTAEStudents were treated to a special visit from WTAE’s weatherman, Mike Harvey and the Carnegie Science Center. Together, they presented weather experiments and local television clips of the recent tornado in our area. Afterwards, the WTAE was presented a beautiful weather cake created by Cathy Bumheimer. The Stanwood community was glued to their televisions that evening to see if they could spot themselves on TV.

Mimio in the ClassroomMr. Royal, an editor from Scholastic Publications, visited Stanwood with a videographer to film a promotional video that spotlights how our curriculum drives the implementation of technology in our elementary schools. Be sure to see the photos featuring some of our kindergarten and third grade classrooms. Curriculum Driving Technology: http://blogs.scholastic.com/royaltreatment/2011/11/curriculum-driving-technology.html

Reading DepartmentOnce again, Larry Keough, visited Stanwood to share his new book “Eddie and Betsy.”  A meet and greet was held after his presentations. Liam Harrell enjoys reading books by Mr. Keough.

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Barnes & Noble NightBarnes and Noble night will be Wednesday, November 30, 2011. Also Chick-fil-a at Eastgate Plaza will sponsor Stanwood Spirit Night then.  Don’t forget to mention Stanwood at both businesses so 20% of the sales will come back to us.  Hope to see you there!

Grandparents’ BreakfastThe Grandparent Breakfast was moved to the fall this year and was a huge success. Students invited grandparents to join them in a breakfast in our newly renovated cafeteria. Stanwood teachers and members of C-PAT worked together to provide breakfast treats to all that attended.

Fireman’s VisitThe Youngwood Fire Department visited Stanwood once again for their annual Fire Safety program. Students talk with the firefighters and get an opportunity to look at the equipment and fire trucks.

New StaffWelcome to Stanwood new staff members. Ms. Damico is a new kindergarten teacher. Mrs. Heveker moved from West Hempfield Elementary to teach 3rd grade at Stanwood this year. Ms. Thomas is new to our 4th grade teaching team. Mrs. DeGennaro and Mr. Allen are now part of our 5th grade team. Mr. Deering moved from Fort Allen to teach Physical Education. Mrs. Hoffer is a new PCA at Stanwood. Mrs. Orie and Ms. Meharra joined us while teachers are on maternity leave.

Physical EducationMr. Deering began Walking Club with students in grades 2 through 5. Once a week students come to the gymnasium in the morning to walk. They collect sticks to count the number of laps they complete. The mileage is recorded and “toe tags” are awarded as

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children make their walking goals. Dunovan Cook counts his laps during Walking Club.

Grade 3Grade 3 students received dictionaries from the rotary. Each year the Youngwood Rotary provides each student in third grade with their own personal dictionary. When asked about the dictionaries, Michael Nemetz said, “They’re awesome!” All the students extend a BIG THANK YOU to the Rotary!

Grade 4Fourth grade students recognized International Peace Day on Sept. 21st by creating pinwheels . The pinwheels depicted drawings with bully-free messages and symbols of a peaceful lifestyle. Pinwheels were used for display at the Grandparents Breakfast and the Open House. Ryan Horwatt and Michael Polinski participate in the lesson taught by Ms. Caroline Yost. While doing her practicum, she participated in teaching the bully-free lessons for the pinwheels.

Grade 5Several of the 5th grade classes and members of the YMCA Kidwatch helped to created amazing images of all the WTAE newscasters. With only one week before the WTAE team came to Stanwood, the students traced, drew and painted 14 life-size images of the newscasters to be displayed for the weather assembly. What a surprise to see them aired on television that night!

Kindergarten Fall FestivitiesMrs. Muchoney’s class shows off their pumpkins provided by the Goodman Farm.

Book Nook

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Thanks to all the wonderful volunteers, Miss Clark and Mrs. McCauley for making the Book Fair this Fall such a great success!

♫Musical Notes♫On October 25th, the fifth grade band students went on a field trip to the Palace Theatre to hear the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra perform the Young People’s Concert. They performed the Star Spangled Banner, selections from Tchaikovsky’s Symphony #4, where they featured each instrumental family. There was a special guest – Aleksandr Vionov, a 14-year-old pianist who performed Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concert No. 1 (movement 3). They ended with Benjamin Britten’s “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra”. The students enjoyed the concert very much.

Spotlight on Student Teachers & InternsMrs.Yost:

My name is Caroline Yost and I am a graduate student at California University of Pennsylvania, studying school counseling. This year, I have been working under the supervision of Stanwood’s guidance counselor, Mrs. Taylor, every Tuesday and Thursday. So far, it has been an enjoyable and educational experience. I have had the opportunity to gain experience in the many different aspects of being an elementary school counselor. Under Mrs. Taylor’s supervision, I have been meeting with individual students, running small groups, and teaching classroom guidance lessons. Getting to know the students and faculty at Stanwood has been rewarding in many ways. I am learning and growing as a professional with every student I see. I am so glad I have the opportunity to be here as I work towards my goal of becoming a professional school counselor.

Other student teachers in the building include: Erica Hages learning with Mrs. Correll ; Melanie Hughes comes to us from Slippery Rock to teach with Mrs. Sefchok. Trina Klasnic pre-student

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taught with Mrs. Crescenzo and Michelle Allemang teamed up with Ms. Gray.

Kalp on the KornerThe 2nd and 3rd grade are off to a great start learning the keys on the keyboard. Our goal is to become “Masters of the Keyboard.” The 4th and 5th grade are finishing their units on Microsoft Word. 5 th

grade will be moving to Windows Movie Maker, while the 4 th grade will take an adventure in Microsoft Excel. Kindergarten and 1st

grade are on their journey of learning the curriculum software.

Keepin’ the Art in SpARTansStudents in all grades are showing off their creativity in Art Class. Kindergarten begins the year by learning about new techniques and materials with a focus on safety. First grade begins to learn new art terms such as landscape and horizon line. Second grade has been focusing on texture and the artist Vincent Van Gogh. Third grade learned about architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, to design their own dream home in paint and in clay. Fourth grade have been studying a variety of Pop Artists such as Wayne Thiebuad, Claus Oldenburg and Roy Lichtenstein. Ask any fourth grader what “pop” is short for. Fifth grade finally got their sketchbooks after a long wait. They learned about drawing from memory, observation and imagination to prepare them for the sketchbooks. (Sketchbooks are due on Dec. 8, 2011).

From the Nurse’s DeskHere are some basic guidelines on when to keep your child home from school:

1. Oral temperature of 100 degrees or higher2. Coughing with wheezing or difficulty breathing3. Excessive vomiting during the night prior to school

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4. Sore throat with difficulty swallowing not relieved by drinking fluids

5. Pale, drowsy, listless behavior6. Painful earache7. Itchy, crusty eyes

A Message from C-PATThe next C-PAT meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 in the school library. We hope to see you there!

Stanwood & Trent Gray Makes Cover of Jump & Hoops Insider

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Newspaper Editors: Mr. Kalp & Dr. Milne*If you have news that you would like us to consider placing in the newspaper, please let us know via email (kalpj@hasdpa.net or milnew@hasdpa.net). Send requests to Dr. Milne at milnew@hasdpa.net.