Pre-kindergarten registration dates set

Canajoharie Central School District will make pre-kindergarten registration packets available beginning May 12, 2008 – May 23, 2008. Interested parents may pick up a packet at the East Hill Office Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

For a child to enter Pre-Kindergarten in September of 2008, he or she must be a district resident, and at least four years of age on or before December 1, 2008. Parents must bring the child’s birth certificate, an immunization record signed by a doctor, and proof of residency.

Students will be placed in the program based on need. If additional slots are available, the children will be placed in the program through a lottery system.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Sherri Hodge at the East Hill Elementary School at 673-6310.

Kindergarten registration and screening dates set

Canajoharie Central School District will be conducting Kindergarten Screening and Registration on April 23-24 in the at the East Hill Elementary School library. This is for children entering Kindergarten in September.

New York State Education Law requires that every child entering Kindergarten be screened for possible handicapping conditions which may have an effect on their education. For a child to enter Kindergarten in September 2008, he or she must be at least five years old on or before December 1, 2008. Parents must bring the child’s birth certificate, social security card, proof of residency (tax bill or letter from your landlord), an immunization record signed by a doctor, a completed school entrance record and registration cards with them when they register the child.

Parents of eligible students are requested to contact
Mrs. Sherri Hodge at the East Hill Elementary School at 673-6310 to schedule an appointment.

Phys. Ed.—it's not just kickball anymore

Just because it is cold and snowy outside doesn't mean physical education has to be the same old thing every day! Thanks to elementary phys. ed. instructor Ellee Fichthorn and the PTA's generous contribution of snowshoes to our school, many East Hill students had the opportunity to brave the winter and learn a new skill. On this chilly day, Mrs. Dopp's fifth grade class showed how much fun you can have in gym class!

What was it like 180 years ago?

What was is like in our region in 1800s? And how do you make it real to students? You let them experience it in person at the Farmers' Museum in Cooperstown!

East Hill's fifth grade classes traveled to the Farmers' Museum for a winter workshop that focused on life in the mid-nineteenth century. Students took part in the workshop, toured the museum, and took time for lunch with their classmates.

No, it's not Halloween! It's social studies!

As part of their social studies unit on the early Americas, fifth graders created their own versions of ancient Aztec ceremonial masks. Each student selected his or her own colors and designs that they applied to a basic template. The final products were as unique as the students who created them.

The Aztec civilization flourished in central Mexico through the 14th and 15th centuries. They built the magnificent city  of Tenochtitlan on an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco. They constructed complete roads, giant temples, complex dams, and even a causeway (land bridge) to connect the city to the mainland. At it's peak, over 60,000 people lived in Tenochtitlan. The Aztecs culture was ultimately destroyed by the Spanish conquistadors led by Hernando Cortez in 1521.

Technicolor snowmen?

Who wants plain white snowmen? Certainly not this bunch of fifth graders!

Taking a break from their studies, Mrs. Kolodziej's class decorated the front of the East Hill School with colorful snowmen. Armed with water and food coloring, unclaimed hats from the lost and found, lots of creativity, and tons of energy, they added a little pizzazz to the white winter landscape. Thanks for sharing your talents! (more photos)

By George!

It was "By George" by Duba for East Hill students in February. Mrs. Duba's class presented a performance of interested facts about our nation's first president George Washington in celebration of his birthday. East Hill media specialist Jody DeJong video recorded the event and edited into a 14-minute presentation. We had to break it up into four parts so you could view it on your computer.

• By George part 1 (4 min. 22 sec.)

• By George part 2 (4 min. 8 sec.)

• By George part 3 (3 min. 30 sec.)

• By George part 4 (2 min. 59 sec.)

Ribbon cutting in Appleton

It was a big day when community officials recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of the Appleton School Supplies Store. Mayor Melissa Del Ra presided over the event with fellow Appleton dignitaries Madison Crouse, A.J. Sullivan, Christopher Yarush, Aiden Dilorenzo, and Jessie Hogan.

Wait! Why would Canajoharie Elementary School students and parents care about a place called Appleton? Because Appleton is the name of Mary-Jean Chapple's second-grade classroom community!

In second grade, Canajoharie students are introduced to civics—the study of the rights and duties of citizens. Each second-grade classroom is its own community with its own name and own local government. Students file petitions to run for offices like mayor and justice, hold elections, and then spend the remainder of the year fulfilling their terms. Everyone has an important role to play to keep the community running effectively.

The Appleton students contributed items such as pencils and markers to stock their store. Throughout the year, the citizens collect an imaginary paycheck which they use to purchase school supplies from the store.

Poets published

Brice Buccolo, Somer Timerman, Rebecca Custer-Slater, Ari Boslet, and Zachary Ouderkirk each have works published in the current Garden Clubs of New York's poetry anthology.

Like many of life's accomplishments, it often takes time for someone to be recognized for his or her efforts. Each spring, fifth grade teacher Joan Kolodziej submits her students' poems to the Garden Clubs of New York. The following fall, the organization notifies the school which of the works will be published. The former fifth graders are now in sixth grade.

The students wrote a variety of poems, from free verse to haiku, on a topic that related to the garden club theme. The honored students received certificates, a copy of the anthology, and a selection of pens and pencils to encourage future creative writing efforts.

Halloween pizza?

Instead of celebrating Halloween with traditional cookies and cupcakes, Mrs. Kolodziej’s fifth graders celebrated with pizza at Gabrianna's in Palatine Bridge.

The group boarded the bus for a short ride over the river to Gabrianna's. Adriana Gomez, one of the fifth-graders making the trip, saw very familiar smiles ready to greet her and her classmates as they exited the bus. Adriana's dad and grandmother were there to welcome them all to the restaurant.

After the group devoured as much pizza and soda as they could hold, Grandma Gomez made the group fried dough with sugar. Mr. Gomez passed out candy bars to the group to top off the meal.

When the group returned to classroom at East Hill they made Halloween mummies out of four of their classmates Jordyn Logan, Krissy Gloskey, Ariannah Logan, and Adriana Gomez. After the mummies were completed, Mrs. Holly James, the students' math teacher selected Jordyn and Krissy's mummy designs as the first and second place winners. The winning teams received prizes.

Fifth grade and the beanstalk

What happens when you mix empty two-liter soda bottles, potting soil, bean seeds, and a group of fifth graders? You wind up with beans stalks—lots of them. read more