kids
BEARDEN SHOPPER-NEWS • DECEMBER 31, 2012 • A-7
Holiday cards at Bearden Elementary
Kids on the Block
Cards received each year at Christmastime line the wall outside the office at Bearden Elementary. A.L. Lotts Elementary School 1st-grade student Tessa Larmee visits with Kids on the Block puppet Eddy Franklin and puppeteer Danielle Pressley.
If you went to elementary school in Knox County, chances are you met some of the puppets from Kids on the Block Inc. The group started in 1977 to help educate children about their classmates’ disabilities and help them understand each other’s differences. Each year at Christmastime, the special mailbox in Bearden Elementary School’s office is filled with cards from students both past and present. School principal Susan Dunlap keeps every card and photo and reminisces each year. “It’s fun to look back and see what our little Bearden Elementary School first-grade teachers Leanne Colquitt and Laura Holland take a moment to enjoy the cards sent to the school. children looked like,” she said. Photos by S. Barrett
A.L. Lotts holds International Children’s Day
Sara Barrett
Puppeteers Danielle Pressley and Katherine Setliff visit Knox County Schools on a regular basis with some of the 50 puppets used in the program. Some of their favorite shows to perform include topics on bullies, feelings and conflict resolution. According to Setliff, each puppet “has its own unique biographical background information such as family dynamics, friendships and circumstances.” Puppets
SCHOOL NOTES
West Hills Elementary
Greenway School
■ Box Tops for Education from General Mills’ products and Labels for Education from Campbell’s products are being collected to purchase supplies for the school. Labels can be dropped off in the silver collection box at the front of the school or can be mailed to: West Hills Elementary School, 409 Vanosdale Drive, Knoxville, TN 37909. Info: email Jill Schmudde at jschmudde@gmail.com.
■ A visitors’ open house will be held 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, for interested families to tour the facility and meet the faculty.
Sequoyah Elementary ■ PTA will meet 10:45-11:45 a.m. the second Wednesday of each month in the library. All parents are encouraged to attend.
A.L. Lotts Elementary School 5th graders Kylie Stooksbury and Ella Walkney display similarities in their apparel before performing with poi balls and helping out with a German dance.
A.L. Lotts Elementary School 5th grader Christopher Lemons juggles scarves while warming up for his performance during International Children’s Day. “Clubs are my favorite (to juggle),” he said, “but I don’t want to hurt anyone.” A.L. Lotts Elementary School kindergartner Risa Kishida gives a peace sign while wearing traditional garb from her native Japan.
range in age from a few months old to senior citizens. Setliff said most kids enjoy meeting the puppets, but smaller children can sometimes be afraid of them at first, so the puppets sit on the floor and the children can feel them. After each show, students have the opportunity to write letters to the puppets. Melody, which seems to be the most popular puppet according to Setliff, receives the most mail and always writes back to each person. Another popular character is Eddy, who gets picked on by a bully. The shows that seem to resonate with most students are those that provide opportunities for interaction with the puppets and allow students to offer suggestions of how to deal with a problem. “Our favorite part of our job is getting hugs and ‘high fives’ from students after a show,” said Setliff. Info: www.kotb.com.
Snowflakes for Sandy Hook When school resumes for Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., it will be in a different building. Parent volunteers would like to welcome the students with a “Winter Wonderland” with the entire building decorated with
as many unique snowflakes as possible. Send snowflakes by Saturday, Jan. 12, to the Connecticut PTSA, 60 Connolly Parkway, Building 12, Suite 103, Hamden, Conn., 06514. Make each snowflake unique.
SPECIALS OF THE WEEK!
A.L. Lotts Elementary School kindergartners Emily Keith, Daniel Zhang and Matthew Lively find their seats for a performance during International Children’s Day. Emily and Matthew are wearing traditional clothing from their native countries for the special day.
School news? Call Sara at 218-9378
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