Ms. Pinelli's fourth grade class at Edith L. Slocum Elementary School recently engaged in a meaningful activity designed to help them start the new year with purpose. Rather than making traditional New Year’s resolutions, which are often easily forgotten, the students explored the concept of setting intentions, using a single, powerful word to guide them in 2025.

The activity began with a discussion on the difference between resolutions and intentions. The students learned that while resolutions are often specific and short-term, intentions are broader and can encourage ongoing growth. With this understanding, each student chose one word that resonated with them and had the potential to inspire positive change throughout the year.

To kick off the process, the students reflected on their accomplishments and challenges from the past year, identifying areas where they had succeeded and areas where they felt they could improve. This self-assessment helped them brainstorm words that would inspire personal growth, happiness and success moving forward.

Following the brainstorming session, the students illustrated their chosen words, which were displayed both in the classroom and at home as constant reminders of their intentions. These visual cues will serve to guide them in making thoughtful, intentional decisions every day.

In addition to creating the visual representations of their words, the students wrote reflections on why they chose their word and how it will help them grow in 2025.

 

Date Added: 12/19/2024

On Dec. 13, guest Chef Hal visited Slocum Elementary students during their lunch periods to deliver some nutritional education. Chef Hal first prepared the students’ pizza before sharing a special, healthy snack with them. While trying the delicious foods, Chef Hal spoke to the students about the importance of healthy eating.

 

 

Date Added: 12/17/2024

In order to save Thanksgiving, fourth grade students in Erin Mackin’s class at Slocum Elementary School had to work together to solve five different math puzzles. In a concept similar to an escape room, the students worked to unlock a series of locks based on their mathematical answers – the final one being the lock on the “oven” which had the Thanksgiving dinner inside. Each puzzle reviewed math concepts they have learned so far this year including place value, word problems, multiplication, and division.

Click here to view the Unlocking-Thanksgiving slideshow.

Date Added: 11/26/2024

Edith L. Slocum Elementary kindergarten through third graders hosted a parade to celebrate the end of their Secret Stories unit.

Since the beginning of the school year, students have been learning how to master phonics rules using a tool called Secret Stories. Each day, a “top secret” envelope was dropped off at the primary grade-level classrooms containing that day’s Secret Story.

Secret Stories makes learning to read more fun and engaging by turning tricky spelling rules into “secret” stories or characters. In English, words don’t always sound the way they’re spelled. For example, “ph” sounds like an “f”. Instead of memorizing these patterns, Secret Stories uses creative stories or characters to explain why certain letter combinations make certain sounds.

For the parade, each student either dressed as their favorite Secret Story character or held posterboards, presenting their favorite Secret Story. The students marched around the gymnasium singing the Secret Stories “Better Alphabet Song” for an audience of their older peers.

 

Date Added: 11/13/2024

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