Students Begin SHOP Projects with "THE JEWELRY LADY" Mrs. Margaret Ryals

Olivia and Kamri are so appreciative of the lessons from Mrs. Ryals.

It is that time of year again! Open Doors Students all over Jackson are beginning to think about the service projects that they will do for SHOP (Students Helping Others Planetwide). The Van Winkle students want to partner with Genesis Food Bank to provide food and non-perishables to those in need. Van Winkle students in the fifth grade were honored to have a local small business owner, Mrs. Margaret Ryals, teach them the art of jewelry making. Students were challenged not only in learning the skill in making quality bottlecap necklaces, but were also taught lessons in presenting their products in the most creative ways. The students were taught lessons in selling their products and skills in dealing with all kinds of customers. Math lessons were also practiced and drilled as students worked with Mrs. Ryals on the variety of ways that the products can sell. This was a very interesting day for these studnets. Mrs. Land and the Open Doors Students were very excited about all that Mrs. Ryals presented. The students also found out that Mrs. Ryals was a classmate of Mrs. Land when they were in High School....a few years ago.

Alex decides which bottlecap necklace she wants to try to sell.

Alex helps to straighten the designer bottlecap on the magnet for Jendaya.

Mrs. Ryals directed the students to make sure the necklace is straight before the customer leaves their stand.

Madison and Keyanna have never seen anything like this kind of jewelry.

Mrs. Ryals is delighted with the response of the students.

Hmmmm! Which one do I want to wear?

"I promise you, you will be able to do this!"

Mrs. Ryals has a large selection of original bottlecaps.

Students who had earned all of their points through PBIS were able to earn a "uniform free" day on Friday. This was an extra treat as they learned to make jewelry.

Kamri thinks that this is going to be a "sell-out" project for Van Winkle and that we will be able to provide prizes for the classrooms who bring in the most cans of food.

"Am I doing this right?" Selah is very excited about this project.

Look at all of the bottlecaps that Mrs. Ryals has made. WOW!!!

Mrs. Ryals is so patient as she works with the students.

"Not too much MOD PODGE ladies! It only takes a DAB!!!"

Olivia thinks that this is a skill that she will enjoy for a long time.

Leadership Project

Open Doors Students in the fourth and fifth grade will begin a Leadership project. Students will learn character traits of leaders and will study the traits of different leaders throughout the years. Students will create a portfolio of their research. Some of the students are pictured below and more will be coming later.

Madison enjoys her time in Open Doors.
Robin enjoys drama and acting. She also enjoys caring for her younger sister.
Michael is very much into engineering and problem solving.
Jordan is wonderful with words and will compete in the Scrabble tournament.
Amaya enjoys everything from academics to being active in outside sports.
Jendaya is very eager to do the projects in Open Doors.
D'Aubriney loves to do creative projects.
Students begin to work on their leadership portfolios.

Signs are made to go on the Word Wall.
Jordan is really concentrating as he makes his portfolio cover.

Jendaya and Amaya .....Hard at work designing their cover for portfolios.

More of the PTA Program/ 10/17/2010

Patriotism was in the air as the second and third grade Music classes, directed by Mrs. Elaine Williams, presented a program for parents,staff, and the community. The "Show Choir" also presented a great medley of patriotic songs. WHAT A WONDERFUL PROGRAM that motivated all who attended with a special pride in our country! The students shined as they smiled and sang at the top of their voices. Kudos to Mrs. Williams and your classes on a job WELL-DONE!!!!!

Students Practice Geometry Skills through ART!

Students looked at a variety of art work to see the different geometric shapes. Students studied the art work of Jean Ware, a native of Mississippi, who now resides in Texas. Mrs. Land was able to purchase a picture of Forest, MS that was painted by Mrs. Ware. Mrs. Land was excited about the picture because she grew up in Forest and the picture was a reminder of those early days in Forest. The students were challenged to think of elements of design in the picture and create their own picture of a "made-up" town.


Zamaiya is very excited about the town that she has created.
Georgia has some of the same buildings as the artist, Jean Ware.
Squares, Triangles, Rhombus, and Parallelograms, WOW!!!

I see a Rhombus, a Trapezoid, and a Parallelogram!!!
Shibrena's picture is as neat as she is.
Jordan gets a better look. Mrs. Land takes very good care of her prized picture!!!


Having fun as we learn!!!


KeShawn wants to know if this is a fence or a railroad track????

Mrs. Ware did a wonderful job painting this picture of Forest, MS. Mrs. Land is very proud of the picture. She remembers shopping in some of the stores in later years.


Trevaughn smiles as he discovers a special truck in the picture.