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The Holidays Inspired Learning
NORTH MASSAPEQUA - SOUTH BAY’S NEIGHBOR NEWSPAPERS - WEDNESDAY JANUARY 30, 2019 • www.southbaysneighbor.com
The holidays were on everyone’s mind in Mary Elizabeth Delaney’s class at Unqua Elementary School in the Massapequa School District, which created numerous opportunities to improve literacy and math skills. Children wrote about their holiday traditions on
triangular pieces of paper, which were then hung together on a bulletin board to form a Christmas tree. After learning about contractions, students wrote them on snowflakes along with the translations. They also made seasonal word art and solved math problems on their decimal
snowmen. Because the holidays are a meant to be a time for giving and kindness, students also wrote their wishes for the world on paper snow globes. The wishes included ending homelessness and hunger, finding a cure for cancer and no more litter.
Songs of the Season While fifth-graders were the stars of the show, everyone was invited to use their vocal chords to embrace the holiday spirit at the annual winter concert at Fairfield Elementary School, in the Massapequa School District. The concert featured the fifth-grade orchestra,
chorus and band. Students were dressed in red, green and white, with a few ugly sweaters mixed in, and also donned Santa hats and reindeer ears. Audience members were invited to participate in holiday sing-a-longs during the transitions between ensembles. There were two shows for Fairfield
students on December 19th and one for parents on December 20th. The band was led by Kristin Hodulick, the chorus by Jeanine Yako and the orchestra by Michael Molloy. Among the featured songs were “Jingle Bells” and the “Abominable Snowman Chase.”
SONGS OF THE SEASON - Music teacher Jeanine Yako led the festively dressed fifth-grade chorus at Fairfield Elementary School. Photo courtesy of the Massapequa THE HOLIDAYS INSPIRED LEARNING - Unqua Elementary School fifth-graders, School District from left, Sydney DeFilippis, Kaylyn Motreuil, Andrew Pedalino, Aidan Cutler and Natalia Michael stood with their holiday-themed writing activities. Photo courtesy of the Massapequa School District Twenty-three students the Massapequa School and map skills. William squared off in the Berner District at the state and eighth-grader Ricky Middle School auditorium geography bee in Albany. Chen competed in the final on Jan. 14 to test their All Berner students took round, which featured knowledge of national and an online geography test, three questions. world geography. After and the highest scorer The geography bee was nine rounds, sixth-grader for each social studies coordinated by social William Stebner emerged teacher competed in the studies teachers Maria as the winner. He will schoolwide bee. Topics Casale, Josee Charvet and now take a qualifying test included state capitals, William Chlystun. for a chance to represent international landmarks
Geography Bee Winner
DAZZLED BY TECHNOLOGY - Kindergartners used Chromebooks to log into Raz-Kids in Kathleen McLaughlin’s class at Fairfield Elementary School in the Massapequa School District on Jan. 11. Each student listened to a story on his or her reading level and then discussed it with the teacher to make text-to-self connections. GEOGRAPHY BEE WINNER - In the first round, social studies teacher Maria The activity helped students with their reading comprehension and technology skills. Casale asked each participant a question on state capitals. Photo courtesy of the Photo courtesy of the Massapequa School District Massapequa School District