Students at Danbury Catholic School held their presidential election on Tuesday, November 4th. The fifth and sixth graders manned the lobby polling place and handed out "I voted" stickers afterward. Then the fifth and sixth graders opened the ballot box and became the tellers and recorders. Finally they experienced the Electoral College process.
Photo by Mrs. Amy Seuntjens. Thanks, Amy!
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At the end of each quarter the students at Anthon Oto-Maple Valley Middle School have acknowledged students who have reached the 500 point accelerated reading milestone. This year, they are honoring those who reached a variety of Accelerated Reading milestones. After a student reads an Accerelated Reading (AR) book, he/ she takes a test to analyze his/ her comprehension of the story. As the books increase in difficulty, so do the points. As students pass 100, 200, 300 etc. point milestones, they earn gifts from the school. The top 10 readers accumulated the most AR points during the quarter.
Here are the milestones and awards from the first quarter.
Photos by Mrs. Ann Cox. Thanks, Ann!
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At the end of each quarter the students at Maple Valley Elementary gather to honor those who reached Accelerated Reading milestones. After a student reads an Accerelated Reading (AR) book, he/ she takes a test to analyze his/ her comprehension of the story. As the books increase in difficulty, so do the points. As students pass 100, 200, 300 etc. point milestones, they earn gifts from the school. The top 10 readers accumulated the most AR points during the quarter.
Here are the milestones and awards from the first quarter.
Healthy Choices Every Day was the theme for Healthy Choices Week, October 27-30, 2008, at Maple Valley Elementary School. Students participated in activities and had some special events that promoted healthy choices we can make each day. Sponsored by the guidance department, Healthy Choices Week was full of fun and useful information.
Dress up days reminded students of the week’s theme. On Monday, students wore slippers and crazy socks to be reminded to “Slip into Healthy Habits.” High school students involved in the Just Eliminate Lies (JEL) group made a special presentation in each classroom. The high school students also went to lunch with the class and talked about healthy choices. Monday was also the kickoff for the canned food drive to support the Mapleton Food Pantry.
On Tuesday students were encouraged to dress up in the career of their choice. The elementary school was filled with doctors, nurses, farmers, hair stylists, and more! Students were also encouraged to get out and be active. Healthy choices include physical fitness. Each individual classroom got an extra recess for this week to get out and play. Students were reminded to try to get at least 60 minutes of exercise each day.
Wednesday is the traditional Red Ribbon Day. Mrs. Mallory spoke with guidance classes about the importance of choices that keep us healthy and drug free throughout the week. Also on Wednesday, the students celebrated the end of the quarter with a Read-In. The Top 10 Readers of the quarter were announced as well as awards for students reaching reading milestones in Accelerated Reader points. Classes worked together to decorate paper monsters, too. Reading is one of many healthy choices that last a lifetime.
School Spirit Day on Thursday wrapped up Healthy Choices Week. The lunch line was filled with parents, friends, and special guests of students on both Tuesday and Thursday. We were excited to have over 80 special guests having lunch with the students this week, Children were reminded of the caring community that surrounds them and how those community members support “healthy choices”.
Healthy Choices Week is an opportunity for the school, parents, and community to highlight the importance of making healthy choices every day for a healthy life. The hope is that this week will prompt some thinking and discussion for everyone about our daily choices for a healthier lifestyle.
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Woodbury County Deputy Tony Wingert, sister of Danbury Catholic teacher Amy Seuntjens, and his K-9 partner Chewbacca, paid a visit to the school for Red Ribbon Week. Chewy, who was named by Deputy Wingert's children, is 18 months old and is newly certifiied. He is used to search for drugs and also assists Tony if needed.
During his visit to the school, Deputy Wingert hid drugs in the gym and let Chewy find them, which he did right away - inside a closet under the stage. Deputy Wingert also put a sleeve on his "volunteer" Matt Seuntjens to demonstrate Chewy's attack skills.
After answering a bunch of questions from the kids, the group went outside and looked at the squad car. It has a screen on one of the back windows for Chewy, no backseat so that Chewy can ride in the back, and, the favorite of the kids, is the button Deputy Wingert has on his shoulder that will open the back door of the car if Chewy is needed by his partner but is too far away to get him out of the car. The group was allowed to see how the button worked. The children were reminded how important it is to never walk up to a K-9 car without the officer's permission because the dog is trained to protect its car.
The fifth and sixth graders at Danbury Catholic spent the first quarter of school learning the effects of drugs on their bodies, skills to resist peer pressure, decision-making, and have pledged to say "No" to drugs.
Deputy Kevin West declared the group graduated from D. A.R.E.(Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program on November 5. Each student received a T-shirt, a certificate and a red bracelet.