Phonics Manipulatives Project
In the pivot to reading instruction based on Orton-Gillingham strategies and UFLI Foundation Lessons following the Science of Reading, MES teacher Katie Kelder is receiving magnetic orthographic mapping boards to support instruction. These are phonics-based literacy programs that are being used in our schools to help all students gain mastery of phonics and spelling patterns to be successful and life long readers and writers.
United Nations Field Trip for 6th Grade Students
Culminate their Human Rights Curriculum studies, all sixth grade students at Rondout Valley Middle School will take an experiential field trip to the United Nations on April 16th.
As explained by Ms. Kishel, “The objective of this project is to raise students’ awareness that athough young, they too can be change makers. The Human Rights Workshop provides a modern-day context to teaching about a variety of issues. For example. case studies covered in the curriculum address child labor, debt bondage and indentured servitude (modern-day slavery) around the world (e.g., children working in commercial agriculture picking fruit in the United States and Latin America, in mines and cocoa plantations in Africa). Historic struggles of Harriet Tubman, John Brown and Sojourner Truth to the contemporary social justice work of Malala Yousafzai, Greta Thunberg and Leymah Gbowee raise students awareness that often the most meaningful and consequential fight against injustice starts at the grassroot level.
This visit to the United Nations Headquarters will help students, in part, see that dreams of creating a peaceful world is shared by millions of people around the globe, transcending borders, working together, and creating communities of peace.
Graduation Cap and Gowns
On the lighter side of education, the graduating class of Kerhonkson Pre-K will be wearing cap and gowns, purchased through a RVEF grant, when they perform a song and dance concert for their families at graduation. (The last few years Ms. Bartle has used a gown in her possession to photograph each child individually!)
Cap and gowns will be used in the coming years for our future achievers!