SS IN THE NEWS

The final countdown

For most students, the last day of school is June 20. But for second-graders at Sandshore, the last day of school is “Z.”
 
Second grade classes are counting down the last 26 days of school, not with numbers but with letters of the alphabet. Each day features activities and assignments related to the letter du jour which reinforces skills they’ve learned during the school year.
 
“It gets them excited and keeps them engaged,” said teacher Marieke Hopp. “They look every day to see what we’re doing and it’s a little surprise for them.”
 
The countdown began with Appreciation Day. The students made thank-you cards for staff members to show their appreciation for all they do.
 
“H” was for Hawaii. Students learned about the state and practiced a few words in Hawaiian. While wearing plastic leis, students also learned to hula. Teachers purchased the leis in an assortment of colors from a discount store.
 
“M” was celebrated with “Me Day.” Students created Google drawings about themselves and used their measuring skills to measure their height and length of their arms and legs.

Kindergarten and first grade classes also did their own countdown versions. 

No more hanging around

They are flying free. The butterflies raised by Jennifer Day’s first-graders emerged from their hanging chrysalis exoskeletons and were released into the great outdoors.
 
The project was part of a science unit about animals and living things. The caterpillars arrived in the mail from an educational science company. In a plastic cup, the creepy crawlers spent about 10 days munching down on plant-based food before each formed its own chrysalis. The chrysalises were hung upside down on the roof of a netted tent as the pupa continued their transformation. After about two weeks, the adult Painted Lady butterflies sprang out.
 
The butterflies were nurtured with orange slices until they were ready to spread their orange and black wings outside. They’ll soon continue the life cycle by laying eggs of their own.
 
“The kids loved it,” said Day of the project. “They loved seeing the different stages of life. Every morning the second they walked in, they went to the cage to see if there was any change.”
 
All first grade classes participated in the project and witnessed Mother Nature’s magical handiwork firsthand. Each class released its butterflies separately on the Sandshore grounds.

Brooke Abromson shows off her book, "Into the Woods"

Student complete personal projects

Sandshore students in Aspire, the district’s elementary gifted and talented program, presented their passion projects to their parents and peers. Done over the course of about eight weeks, the projects spanned every subject area and included topics such as trains, the Warsaw Ghetto, coding, the solar system, and climate change.

Fifth-grader Aryan Patel worked with his friend Liam Rosania on a presentation about the Iron Curtain and the Cold War. The project included a comprehensive Google slide show of key facts such as the rise of communism and the Cuban missile crisis, as well as hand-build models of an ICBM nuclear missile and a tank.

“We thought it would be good because not many kids know a lot about it,” Aryan said. “I’m really interested in history and I thought it was an interesting topic.

The young historians also used the 3D printers in the library to create the NATO logo and the hammer and sickle logo of the Soviet Union.

Since Aspire harnesses the personal interests of each student, projects on display included the creative works of students.

Fifth-graders Surya Yanumula and Raymond Rosa  both love manga, the popular Japanese comics which span a broad range of genres. The students wrote and illustrated their own sci-fi/samurai manga. Their story follows three kids who become hosts for the consciousnesses of aliens and grow up to be samurai.

Brooke Abromson, an avid reader, wrote her own book. The story tells the tale of two brothers who seek help for their parents injured in a car crash. The brothers, normally at odds, venture into the woods and experience a series of adventures that causes them to bond.

The 31 Sandshore Aspire students meet once per week afterschool. Second- and third-graders meet on one day and fourth- and fifth-graders meet another day. Library media specialist Roberta Giusto serves as adviser and walked the students through every stage of project development, from concept and research to planning and presentation.

Aryan Patel worked with Liam Rosania on this presentation about the Iron Curtain

Milaine Gonzales and Angel Anyangwe hold their presentation board about the solar system

Young entrepreneurs

Dog treats and jewelry.
Soap and slime.
Comic books and keychains, pillowcases, and art.
 
These were just some of the handmade products available during the recent TREP$ marketplace – the grand finale of the TREP$ entrepreneurship program. The school gym bustled with activity as family, friends, and staff members came to support the 75 fifth-graders who participated in the popular afterschool program.
 
TREP$, which stands for entrepreneurs, teaches students very concrete business fundamentals over the program’s two+ months. The students met weekly and learned a different business skill each week. For example, one week students wrote business plans and identified their target customers; another week they learned about marketing and effective advertising, and another it was salesmanship and customer service. They also learned the process of cost analysis – a key to deciding which product to manufacture for sale.
 
“If I do make my own business, I’ll know what to expect,” said Chloe Hung, about her impetus to participate in the program. Chloe sold healthy dog treats made with all-natural ingredients.
 
Entrepreneurship has always been a hallmark of America’s growth and history. But with reality shows such as “Shark Tank” and entrepreneurs such as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg regularly in the news, students have never been more interested in innovation and business ownership.
 
Some young entrepreneurs found their motivation closer to home – and by looking inside their wallets.
 
“I wanted to make a lot of money,” said Jackson Reidinger, who credits his entrepreneurial spirit to his mother who runs her own home business. Jackson made Mount Olive-branded bookmarks, magnets, stickers, and keychains. “Selling is a lot of fun to me. The pride you feel after you sell an item is great.”
 
Third grade co-teachers Devon Marques and Lauren Pederson served as advisers. This was the second go-round for Marques and the first for Pederson.
 
“We’re both passionate in showing kids that they can do anything they set their mind to, so that's why we wanted to teach TREP$,” said Marques. “We believe that kids can change the world and do great things.”
 
Principal Jennifer Curry introduced TREP$ to the district in 2015 when she was instructional supervisor of CMS. The program quickly spread to the other elementary schools.