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Mrs. Constantinides's Third Grade Class |
Classroom NewS
Our class toured Lansing Manor and the Blenheim-Gilboa Visitors’ Center at The New York Power Authority. The Lansing Manor, once part of a typical dairy farm, is a nineteenth century country estate that has been restored. John Lansing, who was a New York State delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention, built it. The house was restored by The New York State Power Authority in 1977 and is operated as a museum in conjunction with the Schoharie County Historical Society.
The third graders had studied about the fundamentals of electricity, and the exhibits were a great culminating activity for the children. The youngsters viewed the Visitors’ Center and interacted with the hands-on computerized displays. The students were able to watch a video about how our power is made and how it is used. They learned that the Blenheim-Gilboa pumped-storage project is New York’s biggest energy storage system. Video and computer technology were used to explain the science of energy and electricity to the children. The youngsters learned how electricity is made and they had an opportunity to learn more about energy conservation.
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U.S.S. Slater
Our third grade classes went to Albany to tour the U.S.S. Slater, a Destroyer-Escort ship that now serves as a naval museum. The students were able to experience a true Destroyer-Escort fitted with the equipment and armament of the day, to see and feel how the crew lived in the limited space aboard a small ship and to learn how the Destroyer-Escort carried out its role as a warship and fought under difficult circumstances. The trip focused on U.S. naval history and heritage regarding these specially designed Destroyer Escorts and the men who sailed them through World War II, Korea and Vietnam. A heartfelt thanks is extended from all of us to these brave veterans and their families. The third graders were also able to enjoy a picnic lunch at the nearby Corning Preserve, and some students purchased mementos of the U.S.S. Slater trip at the souvenir booth.
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Gardening is Fun
The third graders are participating in Bonnie’s 3rd Grade Cabbage Program. The students brought home their cabbage plants to grow in their own gardens. Once the plant reaches maturity, the student can take a photo and bring it to me in September on the first day of school. I will select a winner based on the size of the cabbage and its general appearance of the photo. I will send the class winner to the contest. Bonnie will give one student from each state a $1,000 scholarship. The winner is selected by random drawing. Good luck WAJ gardeners! I love gardening and I hope my students develop a love of gardening, too.
Happy Memorial Day
The third graders were excited when Skylar arranged for Sgt Ed Rose to come to our class. Sgt Rose talked to the third graders about the Black Hawk helicopter. Sgt Rose is presently in the Albany Reserves and will be active in June. His talk reminded us of all our troops - land, air and sea - in Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan and all around the world. We hope they are protected as they protect us. Thank you, Sgt Rose!
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Welcome, Logan!
A new baby is so special! Liam was a proud big brother when his little brother, Logan, came to school one day. It was fun for the third graders to meet Logan and welcome him to WAJ.
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HOORAY! FIRST PLACE!!!!!!
Divison #1
17th annual I*ma*GREEN*nation Celebration 2008
Sponsored by the NY State Senate
The second and third grade classes at Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School participated in the I*MA*GREEN*NATION Celebration sponsored by the New York State Senate. In this statewide competition to celebrate the environment, each grade won first place. This is the fourth year that the third grade class has won! This year across the state of NY there were more than 700 entries and 1200 students who participated.
The third grade class won first place in Arts and Crafts. The third graders constructed a large mosaic of the New York State seal to encourage people to recycle. With the help of Mrs. Quinn, art teacher, the students used secondary materials to create the mosaic. In class the students worked together to do this project. The second grade class won first place in Literature. As part of a unit on environmental awareness, the second grade classes worked together to compose poems to display on a POET-TREE. Both of the winning entries will be on display at the WAJ School Library.
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Crochet Your Way to Wellness
The children in our class love to learn new things! I talked to the children about my love of crocheting. They unanimously agreed to try this in our third grade classroom, and they asked me to help them. Dr. Lorette Meske, a Lakewood WA physician, says that all forms of needlework are like meditation. Meditation may reduce your blood pressure and heart rate and help you relax, and may improve your immune system. Crocheting can divert your mind during stressful situations. It is special for our third graders to undertake this new challenge of learning how to crochet their way to wellness.
Happy Easter!
The children always enjoy incorporating art activities into their curriculum. They demonstrated lots of creativity painting Easter eggs!
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Math Nightmare
We thank Jangmu and Rene for being guest readers in our third grade class. The third graders enjoyed the special math book, Math Nightmare, that the girls wrote. What a creative idea! The students especially enjoyed all the math challenges that were posed as the book was read. The problem solving activities fit right into the third grade math unit. It was fun to have the fifth graders read to our class. Thank you, Jangmu and Rene!
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Getting Ready!
The third grade classes worked together to create a book explaining their I*ma*GREEN*nation Celebration entry for the New York State Senate contest that promotes environmental awareness. The students are excited about their upcoming May 20th field trip. They will go to the Legislative Office Building to see their project on display!
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Parents As Reading Partners
Thank you to Mrs. Spear and Mrs. Coughlin for organizing the Parents As Reading Partners event for WAJ this year. The third graders were delighted to have Mrs. Valerio as the surprise Guest Reader for our class. Thanks, Mrs. Valerio!
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Math Club
Thanks to all the students and families who showed their enthusiasm for the English Language Arts and Math Clubs. The third graders were able to hone their skills during these special after school learning sessions. We appreciate the support of Mrs. Scarey, Mrs. Baldner, Mrs. Pelham, Ms. Thiessen and Mrs. Verhoeven.
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Wounded Warriors
The third and second graders were back by popular demand for the fourth annual “Support Our Troops” event at Windham Mountain. The children sang patriotic songs for wounded veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. The children were a bit hit!
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Merry Christmas!
Christmas in third grade is fun! It was kind of all the families to help with our Christmas projects and the party, too. We could not do all these wonderful activities with the students if there were not so many supportive families to lend their helping hands. Thanks to all our families who helped make our projects successful!
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Windham Chamber of Commerce
In cooperation with the Windham Chamber of Commerce and local businesses, the WAJ elementary students decorated the Christmas trees on Main Street. The third graders had a wonderful time contributing to the festive feelings in town!
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Reading Club is spelled F-U-N!
Our third grade READING CLUB had 100% participation from our class and was a HUGE success! The time flew while the children were all engaged in reading activities. Thanks again, dear parents, for all your support with your children’s learning.
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Mrs. Constantinides Earns Distinction of NBCT
Mrs. Constantinides has earned National Board Certification, the most prestigious credential a teacher can earn. Mrs. Constantinides was honored at a party given by her students and their families. A hearty thanks to Mrs. Frondelli, class parent, for organizing this celebration!
Congratulations, Mrs. Constantinides!
Very Thankful This Thanksgiving
Captain Doerr and his platoon of 24 Soldiers returned home from a 15-month tour in Iraq. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Captain Doerr’s knowledge and expertise as an electrical engineer helped him earn the Bronze Star Medal and the Iraqi Campaign Medal for his outstanding performance. Captain Doerr was welcomed home by his wife, Laura, and sends his best wishes to his third grade friends at WAJ!
Congratulations to Mrs. McCullar!
Post Commander, Ron DeLong, of Sgt. James F. Carty D.S.C. Post 1545, Windham, NY, has announced that Mrs. McCullar, WAJ Second Grade Teacher, is the recipient of the local chapter’s National Citizenship Education Award. Mrs. McCullar is dedicated to education and is a teacher who cares deeply about America and its children. We are fortunate to have Mrs. McCullar here at WAJ!
Veterans Day Surprise from Iraq
The third graders in Mrs. Constantinides’ class at Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School discussed life for the U.S. troops serving in Iraq far from home. The third graders took a look at how soldiers eat, sleep and work. The students in the third grade class received a very special mail delivery this week. The children were excited to receive a package all the way from Iraq! It was from Captain Matthew Doerr, U.S. Army, who sent the children an MRE to try. Meal-Ready-to-Eat is what the soldiers in Iraq eat. It is an instant meal that comes in 24 different varieties and it is what the U.S. military provides for the soldiers. We tried the MRE in our classroom and the children were quite impressed. Thank you, Captain Doerr!
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Thank you, Rotarians!
The Windham Rotary Club participates in a nationwide dictionary project that gives English dictionaries to students. Rotarians visited our school to distribute the personalized dictionaries to the children in our third grade class. A big thank you to the Windham Rotarians for understanding that literacy is the key to the future.
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Happy Halloween!
Winners of BOCES Fire Safety Essay Contest
In our third grade George and Anthony were chosen for writing the BEST FIRE SAFETY ESSAYS. Congratulations! Great writing, boys!
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Westward Ho!
The third graders are learning about pioneers. They have discussed the various foods that pioneers used to eat during their trips westward and after they settled in the new frontier. Thanks to Mrs. Doerr, the children sampled a type of Johnnycake, which was also referred to as journey cake. They listened to the recipe in rhyme, which made it easy for the pioneers to remember. The "Indian" is cornmeal, and the "wheat" is white or whole wheat flour.
Two cups of Indian, one cup of wheat,
One cup of sour milk, one cup of sweet,
Two good eggs, that well you beat,
Two tablespoons of butter new,
Salt and soda, each a spoon,
Mix up quick and bake it soon,
Then you have cornbread complete,
The best of all cornbread to eat.
With Mrs. Doerr’s help, the third graders even made their own butter, just like the pioneers. While the pioneers used to churn cream into butter, the third graders took turns shaking cream in a jar. What a fun activity to help the third graders better understand the lives of pioneers! Thank you, Mrs. Doerr!
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Fire Prevention Week
"Practice Your Escape Plan!" is the theme of Fire Prevention Week 2007. It's not enough to have a home fire escape plan. To escape safely, each family needs to make sure that everyone in the home has practiced the plan. We extend our thanks to the Hensonville Hose Company for coming to our class on Wednesday for Fire Prevention Week. We learned important fire safety practices.
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Creamery Millwork Field Trip
The third graders had a wonderful time on their trip to the Creamery Millwork wood shop in Lexington. Constructing the bat houses reinforced what the children learned about these useful mammals. A hearty thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Berger for making this possible!
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Open House
It was great to meet so many of you at Open House last night. Every year each class is a different adventure and the third grade program is always changing and evolving. New federal and state standards, curriculum, input from other sources (especially parents), and a great deal of hard work and reflection make each class unique and special. I always welcome feedback about our class procedures and activities. I care about your ideas, so please feel free to let me know what you think. Thanks for your support!
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Butterflies and Beetles
In third grade, we are studying life science and we learned how to classify organisms into five kingdoms. The two third grade classes joined together to do a science lesson on classification. We divided into cooperative learning groups and did some scientific research. It was fun to be with Mrs. Scarey’s students!
The most familiar biological kingdoms are the plant and animal kingdoms so we focused on these kingdoms in our class studies. We are learning the characteristics of life and how to distinguish between living and nonliving things. The children have been studying about life cycles, and we learned that many insects pass from egg to larva to pupa to adult as they go through complete metamorphosis. We have butterflies and beetles hatching in our classroom!
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International Peace Day
Under the direction of Mrs. Baldner, WAJ Elementary Counselor, all the elementary students celebrated International Peace Day. The third graders made pinwheels to participate in the worldwide movement to create a global ceasefire and a day of peace and nonviolence. All the students wore white to school that day, too.
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HOMEWORK
RESOURCES
