JumpStart Grant brings New Stage Theater to Van Winkle

The New Stage Theater actors and actresses teach Van Winkle students skills used in acting. Students are enjoying improvisation, exercises for voice and face, and many other wonderful preparations for performing in front of an audience. Students will perform in two plays presented on February 28, for Black History Month. This is part of Ask4MoreArts and the JumpStart GRANT. Thanks to the Ford Foundation for bringing the ARTS into our school!!!



Van Winkle Fourth grade students perform activities with New Stage Theater Actors.




STRETCH YOUR FACE!!! S T R E T C H !!!!


Make a REALLY big FACE!!!!


Mr. Michael demonstrates a technique to the students.




Good JOB!!!


Mrs. Betty, (New Stage) teaches a game!!

WE'RE BACK!!!

DEAR READERS,
I am sorry about the length of time in blogging, but I have had some complications with our SCHOOL BLOG.....a problem with captions on the pictures. ANYWAY, hopefully we have that resolved and this week you will see many new pictures and even some old things from the month of January. Come back tomorrow to see what is happening in Open Doors. Mrs. Land

Black History Month

Students in Open Doors have discussed those in history and present days who have paved the way for peace and freedom. Keep reading this post to find out more.

Mrs. Land talked to the students about rhyme patterns in stanzas in poetry. The students helped Mrs. Land create rhyming words to write a poem for Black History Month. At the end of the day, Mrs. Land took the students rhyming words and wrote a poem.
This poem is placed in the hall by the meditation quilt!!!

Meditating About Black History Month

By

Mrs. Land and the Open Doors Students

A month to remember those so dear,

Who helped us have freedom each day of the year,

Who gave their lives so we can be free,

And opened EYES so that all could see.

We take this month to celebrate and cheer,

And we can do this, possibly, shedding a tear,

Knowing the sacrifices that have been made,

And debts for our freedom that have been paid.

But we have to ask ourselves, if our heroes could see us,

Would they be proud, or would they want to fuss,

Have we done right by all of the sacrifices made,

Are we letting those lessons begin to fade?

Are we living up to the lessons and the fought for legacy,

Do we study their lives daily, do we strive to be:

Diligent, considerate, hard-working and honest,

Role-models, PEACE-MAKERS, our very best?

It takes more than one month to practice the test

Of daily living and doing our best,

To live up to the lessons passed down through the years,

To have dreams accomplished without any fears.

AS you read this poem on our meditation quilt,

And remember those heroes who had such a strong will,

Please tie a knot to help quilt the squares,

Leave a special thought for others to see,

WE are so thankful for PEACE and EQUALITY!!

The person that inspires me is my mom because she loves me for who I am. I love my mom and dad very much. They both inspire me.

God is who inspires me because HE is the one who created me and HE answers prayers that I say to HIM. I am also inspired by my family.

I look up to my sisters because I love them so much. They help me when I am in trouble. I love my mother very much. She is so kind and takes care of me. My mom does very special things for me. She is taking me on a surprise trip. She really inspires me.

The person who inspires me is my dad because he is so much fun to talk to and I feel that he is always with me to talk to me. My mother is so very kind and is so nice and sweet. She is very special to me. My mom and dad inspire me very much.

Putting Math in ACTION with PVC Pipes

Wow!!! What a fun lesson!! Students in the Open Doors classes had fun creating items with PVC pipe. The lesson involved planning,drawing the plans, and putting the plans in action.


An elaborate telephone system!!!


Practicing with Zomes first






Group Dynamics and Communication /Meeting our scope and sequence in Open Doors.

GETTING READY FOR CHESS TOURNAMENT

Students are excited about getting ready for the Chess Tournament. Michael concentrates on each move.


Mr. Jason volunteers to teach students correct Chess moves!!!



Noah is eager to learn to play Chess someday!!!

"Santa Claus is in the House...School House, that is"

Mrs. Land was eager to talk to Santa to tell him how wonderful her students have been.!!

Santa arrived at Van Winkle just in time to hear all of the wishes that each child had for Christmas.

THE CAMERA HAS BEEN FOUND

Dear Students and Parents,
I have been so upset about losing my camera and not being able to post any of the pictures that I have taken for our class BLOG....but deep in a desk drawer at school....sat a tiny little camera with about 450 pictures waiting to be selected to post. SO, please know that this teacher will be very busy uploading pictures for post.

Students excited about S.H.O.P.

Students in Open Doors made Paper Mache' bracelets and Flying streamers to sell at S.H.O.P. The Van Winkle Open Doors class is so appreciative of Mr. Pat Martin for donating "flagging ribbon" for the streamers.

Click on the picture below to view a short video of students using the Streamers!!!

Organization for Parents of the Gifted

Parents, there is now an organization for YOU, parents of the gifted children. This organization, J.A.G.C., Jackson Association for the Gifted, has reorganized and has had two meetings. At the last meeting, the parents and students experienced activities that are being introduced in the Gifted Classroom. The teachers at APAC taught these lessons; and parents, as well as students enjoyed the activities. You will recieve a notice as to the next meeting date so that you can attend. Membership is $5.00 a family.

APAC teachers led parents in actiivities used in Open Doors.

JAGC officers for 2009 - 2010! Ladies will be identified soon.