A Glimpse Inside Our Schools

Do you often wonder what goes on at your child’s school? I have twins in fourth grade. One tells me everything and the other tells me nothing. If you have one of those kids who keeps you in the dark, I thought it would be nice to fill you in on some positive things that happened at our elementary schools as the month of March came to an end, roaring like a lion.

Literacy in Action at New Albany School
Faces lit up on Wednesday, March 30 as aspiring authors read their original works of art to captivated first graders at New Albany School. Project Challenge students in third, fourth and fifth grade worked diligently over the past couple of weeks to create and illustrate books to share with the younger students. Topics included dinosaurs, space, friends and even a book to teach simple Chinese words. 

In early March, Project Challenge students enjoyed a presentation and workshop from writer Dar Hosta who writes and illustrates her own books. Their teacher, Ms. Kelly, asked her students to apply what they learned from the workshop and write imaginative stories to share.

Mrs. Garbett, supervising teacher at Rush School, joined Ms. Kelly at New Albany School for this worthwhile literacy event. Classrooms were also visited by Cinnaminson’s Assistant Superintendent Ms. Terry Luxenberg and New Albany’s principal, Ms. Deborah Banecker.

The writers beamed with pride as their books were read and recognized by teachers and administrators. The first-graders watched and listened in awe and many of them shared their writing with the older kids as well. One of the students told me a first-grader kept inching their way closer until they were sitting on her lap listening to her story. How cute is that? What a positive and valuable learning experience for all.

19th Annual Brain Drain Games
On the other side of town at the Memorial School, the Western Burlington County Regional Consortium for Fine Arts/Gifted and Talented held its 19th Annual Interdistrict Brain Drain Games presented by Charles Stewart and Gerry Gasperini. Brain Drain Games originated in Western Pennsylvania in 1996 and focuses on communication, teamwork and problem solving.

Ten districts in Burlington County participated in this unique experience. The event was coordinated by Cinnaminson’s own Elaine Mendelow. As many of you know, Mrs. Mendelow retired last year as our district’s Project Challenge teacher. It was heartening to see some of her former students run up to hug her as soon as they saw her. I heard her affectionately say to those around her, “Some of these students used to be mine.” Mrs. Mendelow remains involved in this worthwhile program as the district consultant for Project Challenge. 

Ms. Kimberly Kelly took the reins from Mrs. Mendelow as Cinnaminson's elementary school Project Challenge teacher and is doing an incredible job. Her fourth grade students attended the event along with students from Delran, Hainesport, Maple Shade, Pennsauken, Palmyra, Riverton, Mt. Laurel and Moorestown.

Students from different districts were grouped together and asked to work as a team to design team flags, come up with team names and play various games. Challenges included building a weight-bearing bridge using only drinking straws, their wrappers, two chairs and imagination; passing around and identifying 20 small items while blindfolded and then recalling the items in sequence; and passing Skittles from one person to the next using only large candy canes that were hollow in the middle and then depositing into a bucket at the end of the line. At times, I felt like I was watching Fear Factor or Survivor, without the gross bugs and food.

In addition to the challenging activities, the children and adults thoroughly enjoyed Mammal Mania, a funny and educational wild life presentation by Travis Gale from Eyes of The Wild Center in Warren County, New Jersey.

Check out eyeswild.com for more information. On this website, children can blog with the animals and learn about wallabies, skunks, porcupines, snakes and many other friends from the wild.

The traveling zoo performance included a chinchilla, a skunk and a wallaby with a baby hiding in its pouch. It was educational and hilarious especially when the students thought the skunk had sprayed them.

As it was Ms. Kelly’s first Brain Drain Games, I asked her what she thought and she said, “The kids had a blast and the day went very well considering how many schools/students were involved. I think it was a really neat experience!”

Unity Day – A fun-filled cultural celebration
Locking, popping and breaking are types of hip-hop that students at Rush School learned about on Friday, April 1. Unity Day was celebrated with a schoolwide presentation from Illstyle and Peace Productions, called Become Your Dreams, A History of Hip-Hop. This Philadelphia-based performing group lead students through the history of hip-hop with a comical and athletic show. They ended with a gymnastic breaking finale that blew the audience away. The theme of their production was “Think It, Do It, Become It,” a universal idea for children everywhere and quite fitting for Unity Day at Rush School.

Students from Rush School’s Unity Club and a few others (including teachers) graced the stage to show off their moves. Several Rush students wowed us with gymnastics and stunts of their own.

Mrs. Jennifer MacNeal and Mrs. Jennifer Hanna, teachers at Rush School and Unity Club advisers, spent many hours organizing and coordinating this interactive event for the students and faculty.

It was informative, inspirational and so much fun! Student’s eyes were glued to the stage and they were locking and breaking in their seats.

After words by Dr. Illuzzi, Cinnaminson's superintendent, and Mr. Porco, Rush School principal, the performance ended with Rush students singing The Beatles' “All You Need Is Love,” a song that expresses a sentiment that people of all nations and cultures understand, especially children.

Students returned to their classrooms to feast on cultural cuisine. The halls smelled of Italian, Mexican and Indian food. Irish, Polish and German baked goods were passed from room to room. Classes discussed family trees and talked about the different foods they brought in to share as well as personal family heritage.

On this day, students focused on the fact that everyone is different yet we all come together with our unique talents and ideas. We accept and help each other achieve our dreams. It doesn't matter what our background is; unity, peace, harmony, dreams, and love are all we need to become the kind of people and community we want to be.

So, there it is in a nutshell, some great things that happened at our schools this week and believe me there are many more. This mom around town thinks Cinnaminson does have some great things to offer if we look for them!