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School hosts career
day
JUNE 2006—On June 1, 2006, students got a taste of what it would be
like to be a detective, an army officer, a teacher's assistant,
a fire fighter, an electrician, among other professions, as part
of career day at the school.
Career day gives students an
opportunity to meet with various local professionals in the
Middletown area to get information on various careers that
they may one day want to pursue. This is the eighth year
that the school has hosted the event.
Elementary schools make the grade
Schools recognized by the state for high performance
MAY 2006—Three
Middletown elementary schools made the state’s list of "high
performing/gap closing" schools this year. Schools on the
list met all state standards in English and math in 2004-05
and showed Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and higher
performance during two consecutive school years.
In late spring, students
and staff at Chorley Elementary, Maple Hill Elementary and
Mechanicstown Elementary received congratulations from
Commissioner Richard Mills as well as a
certificate recognizing their school's achievement.
“These schools and
districts are leading New York forward to accomplish our
dual goal of increasing student achievement while closing
the gap in student performance,” Mills said.
Students and staff pitch on Arbor Day
APRIL 2006—Students
and staff in Middletown planted trees
in celebration of Arbor Day—a nationally celebrated
observance started in 1872 that encourages tree planting.
Classes at Maple Hill planted two large Maple trees in
front of the building in celebration (trees were donated by the Shade
Tree Commission of Middletown).
At
Left: Students plant a Maple tree with the help of
Maple Hill Assistant Principal Alan Lewis.
 Author
visits Maple Hill
APRIL 2006—On
Monday, April 3, 2006, Maple Hill students got a visit from
children’s author Chris Williams (pictured at right), author of One
Incredible Dog: Lady (published by Moo Press in
Warwick, NY). Williams read to students and also
brought “Lady,” a blonde German Shepherd, and the
subject of his book, to the school for a visit.
“We’d like to thank the Maple Hill PTO for this
wonderful opportunity,” said Mary Margaret Green,
librarian. "It certainly brought a lot of joy to our
students.”
Williams'
inspiration for writing One Incredible Dog: Lady
came after 9/11, when he learned about the courageous
deeds therapy dogs did to bring comfort and healing to
those involved in the attacks and the recovery operation.
Networking locally, he met a nursing assistant, Kathy
Miller, and her therapy dog Lady. After spending time
with Kathy and Lady, Chris sat down and wrote the
book.
Chris has
wrote several children’s eBooks
including Walter the Trolley, Eddie’s
Fabulous Fables and The Real Adventures of Glip
and Ha, and has numerous published short stories.
School raises $4100 for
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
MARCH 2006—Maple Hill Elementary
School raised about $4,100 for the Leukemia and
Lymphoma Society by participating in the Pasta for
Pennies campaign from March 6-24, 2006. The Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society, headquartered in White Plains, NY,
is the world's largest voluntary health organization
dedicated to funding blood cancer research and
providing education and patient services.
The campaign, which began in 1994 in the Society's
Central Florida Chapter, is sponsored by the Olive
Garden and the funds students raise can make a lasting
impact on their friends and neighbors in need. All of the
money raised remains in our local community to support
a wide range of services for patients of leukemia and
lymphoma, and their families.
The class that collected the most, Mrs. Sgandurra's
fourth graders, will receive a pasta party to be
delivered to their classroom by our local Olive
Garden. "We are very proud of our students and staff,"
said Carrie Bishopp and Sheila MacKay, Pasta for
Pennies Co-Chairs at Maple Hill.
Parents & students listen to music on computers. |
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Maple Hill celebrated
Family Music Night on March 16—event
a success
MARCH 2006—On
March 16, 2006, the school hosted Family Music Night as part
of Music in Our Schools month. The Maple Hill PTO and the Maple Hill
Music Department co-sponsored the event, which
was filled with musical learning for families
to enjoy together.
Many students and
parents got the chance to participate in
one of four music-related workshops during the
evening. Workshops focused on playing the recorder;
instruments and
drumming; computers and music; and a "make your own rain stick"
workshop was held. After the 45 minute activities were
complete, participants
gathered in the cafeteria for a snack and a group
sing-a-long.
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Above: Officer Rojas speaks to graduating fifth
grade D.A.R.E. students at Maple Hill Elementary as
district and school administration look on. |
Fifth
graders say no to drugs and yes to
success
About 280
students graduate from program
FEB. 2006—On Feb.16,
2006, about 280 Maple Hill fifth graders graduated
from the school's Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.)
program.
On hand for the event were D.A.R.E. Officer Rojas, members
of the Middletown Police Department, Principal Paula Amaditz, Assistant Principals Alan Lewis and Marlene
Gaynor and Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Eastwood. Parents
also watched on as students graduated from the program.
As part of the D.A.R.E. program, which has been offeredat
the school for over 10 years, students learn about the
dangers of drugs and alcohol, as well as how to build
strong friendships and handle peer pressure.
"These students worked very hard, and learned a lot over
the past several weeks, and had fun in the process,"
said Officer Rojas. "They are now more powerful,
stronger individuals because of what they have learned."
Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Eastwood congratulated the group and
asked them to "have the guts" to say no to drugs and
alcohol. He urged students to remain drug and alcohol
free and wished them much success for the remainder of
the school year.
A fifth grader from Ms. Bishops class summed up the
D.A.R.E. experience best. "The D.A.R.E. program has taught
me a whole lot of skills," he said. "It's taught me many
lessons to help me make wise decisions in the future."
Students
donate $700 to Habitat for Humanity
DEC. 2005—Fifth graders in the Maple
Hill Elementary School chorus were thinking about others
in need and donated $700 to Habitat for Humanity’s
Operation Home Delivery Program, which helps victims of
Hurricane Katrina build new homes.
According to chorus teacher Antionette Depasquale,
students raffled 25 theme baskets filled with goodies at
their winter concert in December 2005. “Raising this
much money on your own might be hard,” Depasquale said
to students. “But together, it was easy.”
Pauline Bealle, of the Greater Middletown Chapter for
Habitat for Humanity, was on-hand Dec. 23, 2005, to
accept the school’s donation and talk to students about
the Operation Home Delivery Program. Their donation,
said Bealle, will be put toward paint, flooring and
fixtures for homes in the Gulf Coast. “It’s going to be
a hard holiday for those affected by the hurricane,” she
said. “I’m impressed with the students’ generosity and
thinking of others.”
Assistant Principal Alan Lewis gets book
published
FALL 2005—Believing he had a story
to tell, Maple Hill Elementary School's Assistant Principal Alan Lewis decided to write a children’s book
about his childhood growing up on a local farm in
Middletown. With the ever-increasing numbers of houses
being built in place of farms, Lewis felt the life of an American farmer
needed to be preserved for future generations. I
Grew Up On A Farm, with illustrations by local
artist Bob Fletcher, is now on shelves and was published by Keene Publishing/Moo Press Inc. of Warwick, NY.
“I started
writing the book about five years ago and have been
working with the publisher for the past year to bring it
out,” said Lewis. “The idea for it came to me one sunny
morning as I was driving to work and I had been thinking
that I am lucky to have grown up about a mile away from
where I now work and have come back to the area. I
thought about all of the students that I work with, many
of whom never have been on a farm and how could I share
my experiences with them.”
Lewis is a graduate of Middletown High School, and after
serving in the Navy during the Vietnam War returned home
to pursue a teaching career. He received his B.S. in
Elementary Education from SUNY Oneonta, and later
completed his M.S. in Education Supervision
and Administration at SUNY New Paltz. He is a 16-year
veteran of the district.
Maple Hill aids
Katrina victims
FALL 2005—Maple Hill
Elementary students, under the guidance of fourth grade
teacher Dana Phillips, helped Katrina victims
by participating in the Hope-in-a-Box program, sponsored by Ferncliff
Presbyterian Camp.
The Hope-in-a-Box program
asks donors to create a kit that includes a backpack,
school supplies as well as toiletries, and toys for
children who were affected by the disasters in the Gulf
Coast. Kits were sent to Arkansas, where the second
largest number of Katrina evacuees in the country are
housed, and distributed to those in need.
“The Maple Hill
community really joined together to help the young
victims of Hurricane Katrina,” said Phillips. “We hope
these kits help children who have been impacted by this
disaster." Approximately 100 kits will be donated by the
school. |
