School Notes: Kenilworth Elementary knows the power of friendship By Sandy Stewart
Kindergarten and first-grade classes will present their spring program, "Be My Friend," Tuesday, May 20, at 7 p.m. Students, under the direction of Katria Kuzmowycz, will perform songs that feature themes of love, kindness and being a good friend. Admission is free. For information, call 301-805-6600.
Career Day, organized by counselor Ronyl Williams, was recently held at the school. Some of the occupations students learned about included a chef, physicist, entomologist, art therapist and magician. Some students were able to decorate and then eat a cake while others listened to what's involved with being a chef and then received a chef's hat. Bowie Mayor Fred Robinson visited and shared some of the responsibilities he faces daily. Thanks to all the parents and guests who made this day both educational and fun.
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POINTER RIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
will hold its annual Family Fun Night Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. Pizza, hot dogs, chips, popcorn and sodas, games, a moon bounce, inflatable obstacle course and more will be featured. Tickets are required for games and food. Children under 18, unless volunteering, must be accompanied by an adult.
It is time to order your yearbook which includes color photos of all classes, faculty, special organizations, clubs and autograph pages.
The school will continue the Before and After School Extended Learning Program for the coming year. Registration will be held Tuesday, May 27, from 5 to 7 p.m. Enter through the gym door at the back parking lot.
Congratulations to April Students of the Month: Caitlynn Paige, Taylor Gardner, Christopher Stewart, Jordan Badger, Julian Hernandez, Calen Green, Savannah Johnson, Christopher Calloway, Jomar Brown, Christian Haynes, Queen Ayafor, Carrington Kirby, Savion Davis, Zyna Egbe, John Bacheller, Delphine Halle, Bria Stewart, Brittany Cathcart, Sierra Clinton, Jayson Taylor, Chidinma Ogbonna, Nadja Gibson, Keenan Connley, Antanaisa Colvin, Preston Coleman, Calvin Barnes, Olakunle Foncham and Jaryn Gessesse.
Thanks to everyone who came out for the recent successful Scholastic Book Fair. Also, thank you to the volunteers: Karen Badger, Gertie Crawley, Michaeline Gandolph, Sandra Harris, Keturah Mitchell, Tanya Ogunduyilemi, Miriam Reynolds, Sandra Rhynes, Nancy Roderick, Deborah Sumlin and Deedra Whatley, who along the fourth- and fifth-graders, helped make this year's fair a successful "Reading Road Trip."
The annual Career Day was held recently and the school thanks the many parents, school officials and community members who participated and shared information about their careers, educational backgrounds, qualifications, duties and items of interest with the students.
The school had two first-place winners in the Prince George's County Write-A-Book competition. Congratulations to Keona Kyler in Mr. Riley's class for the second-grade individual poetry book, Keona's Book of Poetry, and to Mrs. Nelson's first-grade class for the class-produced poetry book, Alpha Friends Alliteration.
Congratulations to third-graders Ayrris Johnson and Dante Moncriezze for having their artwork included in an exhibit held at University Town Center in Hyattsville for the Prince George's County Public Schools Youth Art Month 2008.
Instrumental students Brooke Sullivan and Dominique Green recently participated in the Prince George's County Solo and Ensemble Festival at Kenmoor Middle School. They performed a duet classified as difficult and both earned a superior rating for their performance.
The "Oldies but Goodies" talent show, featuring music, dress and performances from the "Roaring '20s" through the "Exciting '80s," will be held Friday, May 30. Gymnastics, oral speaking, drama skits, magic, cheerleading, martial arts, instrumental music, poetry, stepping, pantomiming, sign language, family acts, yodeling, folk dancing, lyrical dancing, whistling, juggling, comedy, acrobatics and more will be featured.
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HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL
Explorer classes learned about the life cycle of the butterfly. Over the past few weeks, they watched caterpillars grow from tiny larvae to large chrysalises on the roof of their observation jar. The class transferred the chrysalises to a butterfly net and the students are waiting patiently for the butterflies to emerge from the cocoons. Students were fascinated by the concept of metamorphosis so they wore antennae and wings and "flew away."
Kindergartners made special workbooks and recorded how much they learned this year.
Fourth-graders enjoyed a trip to Camp Wabanna as part of the Outdoor Education Program. Students did group problem-solving activities, climbed a rock wall, enjoyed the high swing, and explored wetland plants and food chains. As part of the program, students were involved in a service project. Prior to the trip, students held bake sales to raise some money to purchase plants. Each fourth-grade homeroom sponsored a bake sale and parents donated items to sell. Students were responsible for taking the items to the various homerooms, collecting money and making change. The amount raised was $436. The groundskeeper at Camp Wabanna bought lots of plants and students worked while they were there, weeding, planting and mulching. The flower beds looked great and the students were quite proud of what they had accomplished.
The fifth grade is producing poetry books that include haiku, cinquain and free verse poems among others. They enjoyed sharing their creative pieces with each other. In an interactive science/technology unit, fifth-graders performed virtual dissections of a cow eye, while sixth-graders dissected a starfish, squid and frog. This special unit made learning about anatomy a lot of fun and was very instructive.
The sixth-grade language arts class is learning about the Middle Ages. They read Catherine, Called Birdy, and are collaborating on two major projects - a research paper on a specific Middle Ages topic and the creation of a personal coat of arms.
Congratulations to the middle school drama club for its recent performances of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." The performances, under the direction of Mrs. Firmani and Mr. O'Malley, were outstanding. The production involved more than 100 students in grades five through eight, both on stage and behind the scenes. Even some alumni returned to help.
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School representatives should send information for School Notes to Sandy Stewart via e-mail at sstewart@bladenews.com or via fax at 301-464-7027.
