Students from the Future Teachers of America program at Connetquot High School led an inspiring lesson on kindness for first and second graders at Cherokee Street Elementary.

The lesson began with a reading of “How Full Is Your Bucket?”  by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer. In the story, Felix, the main character, learns that every interaction he has throughout the day either fills or empties his “bucket.” As Felix discovers, positive actions not only make others feel good, but they also f his own bucket with happiness. The story served as the perfect foundation for a discussion on how small acts of kindness can create a ripple effect.

Following the reading, the first and second graders participated in an interactive “bucket-filling” activity. Each student was given a cup, and as they complimented one another or shared kind words, they added a pompom into another student’s cup. By the end of the activity, the cups were filled with colorful pompoms, visually representing the positive impact kindness can have.

The students then completed a reflection worksheet that asked questions such as, “What was the nicest thing someone said to you?” and “How can you fill someone’s bucket outside of school?” This reflective exercise encouraged the students to think about the importance of kindness not just in school but in their everyday lives.

Click here to view the CHS Future Teachers of America share the power of kindness with Cherokee Street slideshow.

Date Added: 12/9/2024

On Nov.7, Cherokee Street Elementary hosted a special breakfast to honor veterans in the community. To kick off the morning, Mr. Innace’s orchestra students, along with Ms. Isleman’s and Ms. Scrom’s chorus students, performed inspiring musical pieces for the veterans in attendance. After the breakfast, the veterans were invited to visit classrooms where they had the opportunity to share their experiences in the armed forces. This special interaction allowed the students to learn firsthand about the sacrifices and courage of our veterans.

Click here to view the Veterans Day at Cherokee Street slideshow.

Date Added: 11/15/2024

Students in Señora Rothmeier and Señor Bedell’s second through fifth grade classes at Idle Hour, Bosti and Cherokee Street elementary schools embraced Mexican culture by learning about Día de los Muertos through crafts, authentic activities and age-appropriate videos. Additionally, at Bosti, Mrs. Kimball read a Día de los Muertos book in Spanish to third grade students. Here’s what each grade created:

Fifth graders crafted vibrant Alebrijes, colorful animals inspired by artist Pedro Linares. Fourth graders made papel picado, a traditional perforated paper decoration. Third graders completed a collaborative calavera “skull” poster, while second graders drew calaveras and La Catrina, the iconic “lady in a fancy hat”, designed by José Guadalupe Posada. Students also had the opportunity to share their work on the ofrendas, remembering and honoring those who have passed.  This tradition is rooted in indigenous practices and connects the living with the ancestral past.  

This hands-on approach helped students explore the rich traditions of Día de los Muertos in a creative and engaging way.

Click here to view the Idle Hour, Bosti and Cherokee Street celebrate Día De Los Muertos slideshow.

Date Added: 11/15/2024

On Friday, November 8, Connetquot students took part in special assemblies, put on inspiring musical performances, gave dedications, made donations, recited poems, listened to veterans share their experiences and wrote letters to honor our community’s veterans. As a school community, we would like to thank our veterans for their service today and every day!

Click here to view the Veterans Day in Connetquot slideshow.

Date Added: 11/8/2024

Date Added: 11/5/2024