Jaguar Journal 2018 Spring Issue

DID YOU KNOW? 5T H GR A DER S BECOM E E X PL OR ER S AT L I T Z I NGER ECOL OGY CEN T ER

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By Kathryn Handal

or the past 10 years, Edgar Road 5th graders have visited The Litzinger Ecology Center as part of a Social Studies unit. This field trip helps students learn how people who worked for kings and queens went to undiscovered places to record what they found. During the visit students draw a map that includes plants and animals they encounter. To make a map the students first have to explore the place.

The skills needed to create the map are reading and constructing maps, understanding the concept of location to make predictions (a good educated guess) and solving problems. Students use a compass to navigate their surroundings.

The Litzinger Ecology Center is an outdoor laboratory on 34 acres in Crestwood, where people learn about nature, animals and plants. They have many different habitats that include a bottomland forest, restored prairie and an urban creek. They have a lot of different trees growing on the property such as red oak, white oak, elm, and cottonwood with many different animals living in them. There are beavers, woodpeckers whip-poor-wills, hawks and snakes, but be careful around the poison ivy.

The Missouri Botanical Gardens takes care of the property.

5th grader, Kirsten Loesch said, “It definitely enhanced my social studies knowledge and was an enjoyable trip!”

“The purpose of this fieldtrip is to learn about nature, recognize geometric shapes in nature, become explorers and most importantly – to have fun. This trip is important because it gets kids outside, especially now when many stare at a screen all day. The students love the field trip especially the hollow log that they can climb through!” shared Mr. Hunsinger.

IN THE NEWS 2N D A N D 3R D GR A DER S CELEBR AT E BL ACK H IS TORY MON T H W I T H SONG

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By Aidan Willey

n February 28th there was an amazing concert celebrating Black History Month at Edgar Road School. The 2nd and 3rd graders sang at two concert times: one for the school at 2:00pm and one for the parents and families at 6:30pm. The songs they sang were: “Lessy”, “Follow the Drinking Horn”, “Down by The Riverside”, “Work”, “We Will Make a Difference”, and “God Bless America”.

“I chose the theme to guide our students with a greater awareness of our musical history. The inspiration for the theme was all of Webster’s work progress to a better future for all. I prepared by carefully planning songs for the students that were grade level appropriate songs that helped us to learn more about black history and to help us bring together a unified celebration for all,” shared Mrs. Mokriakow When Dr. Wuch was asked how she felt about celebrating Black History Month, she was happy to answer and said: “I believe we should celebrate Black History Month all

the time; however, I also agree to highlight it for one month.”

Joe Ryan and Meg Rodebaugh were asked what their favorite song was and why they think black history month is important to celebrate. Meg said, “I think it was a good idea because people have not had practice treating black people equally. I hope they thought it was good singing and I hope it motivated people to get black people treated the same as white people.” Joe answered, “A lot of people when my grandma was young probably saw people who were black being treated wrong and that wouldn’t be a fair reason today. Martin Luther King stood up for all black people and even got arrested to make sure black people would be treated equally as white people. Even the little kids that came to our concert; I wanted them to learn a lesson for when they get older and if they see someone treated non-equally, they won’t treat people non-equally just because they are a different race.”

I loved the concert overall and I’m looking forward to seeing if they have it again next year!

GUESS WHO?

by Natalie Felgenhauer and Cameron Brown

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hich teacher do you think is afraid of spiders and heights?

If this teacher had a super power – it would be super intelligence to cure deadly diseases such as cancer.

Guess Who answer on pg 3.

JAGUAR JOURNAL STAFF

Joe Ryan and Meg Rodebaugh squeeze in some extra practice after school.

Aden Abotsi Cameron Brown Jenifer Carr-Schwartz Natalie Felgenhauer Kathryn Handal Logan Leftridge

Ella Schilling Josie Sharp Laurel Stuber Aidan Willey Rich Schilling

SURVEY SAYS

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id you get to watch the Winter Olympics that just wrapped up about a month ago? There are some fun sports in there that aren’t your typical everyday sports -- like skeleton and bobsleighing.

Skeleton is where you ride on an icy narrow path, on a thin sled while lying face down and face first. Scary, huh? It is a winter sliding sport and only involves single riders.

Skeleton started in Switzerland. The sport first appeared on television in 1928 and appeared again in 1948. Skeleton was permanently added to the Winter Olympic Games in 2002. In 2014 the United States men earned one silver and one bronze medal.

FUN FACT- The sled can reach up to 80 miles per hour!

Bobsleighing is a little more popular and well-known sport. Bobsleigh is when groups of two or four ride down an icy, narrow, and fast path on a sleigh that is gravity powered.

Bobsleigh also started in Switzerland.

In 1897 the world’s first Bobsleigh club was founded. The bobsled can reach speeds up to 125 miles per hour. This year, 2018, the United States women’s team earned a silver medal.

FUN FACT- Bobsleigh tracks are also used for skeleton and lunge tracks.

Edgar Road students were asked if they would rather participate in bobsleigh or skeleton.

69% chose bobsleigh while 31% voted for skeleton.

Here’s what a few Edgar Road students had to say…

Sophia Streib, 5th Grade.

“I’d choose bobsleighing because it would be fun to work with a team.”

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SPRING

by Josie Sharp

Spring 2018

R ain up ahead!

Hi Allergies!

Mary Muldoon, 3rd Grade.

“I’d choose the skeleton. It looks fun and I like the idea of going down head first really fast all by myself!”

Ian Lawson, 5th Grade

“I wouldn’t really like to do either, but would prefer Bobsledding. I wouldn’t like Skeleton, because you go down head first and that’s crazy!”

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Audrey Sharp, 1st Grade

“I’d like to do bobsled, then my friend Greggy could be on my team with me!”

Leyson Koenigsfeld , 5th Grade

“I’d choose Bobsledding because it sounds safer.”

ED GA R ROA D SCHOOL’ S SECR E TA RY SERV ES S T U DEN T S W I T H A SM I LE

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by Ella Schilling

hen you walk in the office doors of our school you might expect to see lots of things related to jaguars, since they are our school mascot. But you would be wrong. Instead; the main desk is covered with Minions and dog photos. This is because our school secretary, Mrs. Eckert, loves both of these things!

Mrs. Eckert has been collecting Minions since seeing the movie, Despicable Me, with her husband several years ago.

She thought the Minions were super cute and funny, and has loved them ever since.

Her favorite Minion toy is a slap bracelet

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT GUESS WHO? GY M NA S T EL I Z A BE T H ANSWER RYA N GI V ES H ER I NSIGH T ON GY M NA S T ICS

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given to her by a former student named Finn.

Another one of Mrs. Eckert’s favorite things are dogs. She loves all breeds, from big to small. She owns two dogs -- a flat-coated retriever named Roper and a Great Pyrenees called Donut. They are both ginormous! One of her favorite memories of her pets is when she picked them up at the adoption center and took them home.

Mrs. Eckert has worked as our school’s secretary for four years. Prior to Edgar Road School, she worked at Holy Cross Academy. Some of her responsibilities include writing tardy slips, filling out attendance slips, and collecting extra forms.

“Mrs. Eckert once helped me find my parents at dismissal. If I could describe her in three words they would be: kind, pretty and helpful,” said 2nd grader, Lilly Hellwig.

“She is kind, generous and hardworking,” said 1st grader Ben Jones who shared that Mrs. Eckert once brought him his lunch when he forgot it.

“Mrs. Eckert cares about all of the students, their parents, and she works very hard to make them happy. I enjoy working with her. We laugh a lot when we are together,” said 1st grade aide, Mrs. Torbit, who fills in for her during her lunch break.

“I know being a secretary is the best job choice for me because I arrive to work with a smile and leave the exact same way.

I love seeing all of the students throughout the day. While keeping track of our school budget and all of the different accounts can be challenging, I love my job,” said Mrs. Eckert.

by Laurel Stuber

ifth-grader Elizabeth Ryan has been practicing gymnastics for more than three years at Saint Louis Gym Center. She has attained an advanced level and doesn’t care where she practices. She’ll practice at her gym or at her house.

“My favorite move is probably the round off back handspring layout step out on the tumble track,” Elizabeth said.

Sometimes gymnasts have mental blocks.

This happens when you have done a skill but you suddenly get scared and can’t do it.”

Elizabeth has had two mental blocks so far. One was when she was trying to do a back handspring on the trampoline and the other was a back handspring on the ground.

She kept just going for it and having people spot her. After practicing a lot, she was finally able to do it herself.

Elizabeth usually feels happy, stressed out or tired when she does gymnastics. Elizabeth has to practice three hours a week.

She always wants to finish a skill and when she does, it fills her with excitement. If she had to choose, Elizabeth would say that she likes bar better because she is a little bit more advanced and likes the feeling of doing some of her favorite skills.

She has never been in a competition, but once she reaches the excel level she will be eligible to compete.

“I really like gymnastics and I don’t really have any interests in other sports that I have tried,” Elizabeth said. She has tried basketball, soccer, wiffle ball and ballet.

Elizabeth tells future gymnasts to just keep practicing and always have confidence in yourself.

Reveal: Drum roll please…if you guessed MR. JORDAN – you would be right.

As a child Mr. Jordan enjoyed spending time with friends, and playing sports like basketball, soccer, baseball, and golf.

Now, he likes being outdoors, camping, fishing, spending time with family, and traveling.

Growing up Mr. Jordan’s role models were his parents. “They were very hardworking, caring, and understanding and talked to me a lot,” said Jordan. From a very young age, Mr. Jordan considered a job as a teacher, “My mom was a second grade teacher and I always liked learning about her class and kids she was able to work with,” said Jordan.

Mr. Jordan is well liked by both co-workers and students. Mrs. Wright likes working with Mr. Jordan and considers him a friend. “He’s nice. We help each other out. We work close together since we are both specialists,” shared Wright.

“He is one of my favorite teachers,” said 4th grader Harrison Lewis.

“Mr. Jordan is really nice and plays fun games. My favorites are Butterfingers and Ships and Sailors,” said 2nd grader Charlotte Hoff.

“My favorite part of gym is soccer,” said 2nd grader Liam Collier.

“One of my best teaching moments is when kids come back to Edgar Road and tell me how much they enjoyed P.E. and other kids telling me their favorite games and I know I’m making a difference,” said Jordan.

Mr. Jordan

Spring 2018

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SPORTS M A K I NG T H E T E A M

by Jenifer Carr-Schwartz and Aden Abotsi

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occer is a popular game played on the Edgar Road playground at recess, but did you ever wonder what it takes to play for a select team or even a college team? 5th grader Parker Allen plays for Liverpool United and comes from a family of soccer players.

She and her two siblings each play on select teams and her dad, Chris (Coach Allen) has more than 17 years’ experience coaching boys and girls soccer. He currently coaches Parker’s team, as well as, St. Louis University’s women’s soccer team.

Q: What do you like most about soccer?

A: Coach Allen - “I love organizing the team as a structure and executing a game plan. I like seeing players come together as a team – creating something special.”

A: Parker - “I really like playing defense.”

Q: Do you have any rivals?

A: Coach Allen – “Dayton, Mizzou, SIUE.” A: Parker – “Everyone we play!”

Q: How is coaching college soccer different from coaching younger players?

A: Coach Allen - “It’s very similar, all the players want to have fun. The college players are more serious about it though because all they want is to win. One of my players actually wants to play on a professional team.”

Q: Coach Allen - How often do you recommend practicing?

A: “For a youth player (grades 1-5), I believe they should be practicing nearly every day. By that, I don’t mean

Parker Allen

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Spring 2018

structured team practices, but rather individual touches on the ball in the backyard, street, or a local park. People would be amazed at what just 15 minutes (juggling, shooting, dribbling) with the ball everyday could do for a player’s skill development. Plus, it fosters a love of the ball and a love of the game.”

Q: Coach Allen - Do you have any training/conditioning tips for young players?

A: “Learn to be comfortable with the ball at your feet. That comfort level is developed through individual time on the ball.”

Q: Coach Allen – For kids interested in playing high school soccer – what do they need to do to make the team?

A: “When I was a high school coach, the most important characteristic for me was the work ethic and attitude of the player.”

Q: Coach Allen – What do you need to do to make a college soccer team?

A: “This is a really good question, but one that is difficult to answer. There are all sorts of different levels to college soccer (Division III, Division II, NAIA, Division I, etc...) and I believe if any player has a desire to play in college, there is a place for them. However, if you are talking about NCAA Division I level (like SLU), then it’s pretty difficult to play at those programs. The one thing you really need is a special quality, like -- what separates you from all the other players on the field?

It could be speed or your technical ability on the ball or your vision to find passes on the field. For us as coaches in recruiting, we are always asking ourselves, what makes that player special?”