SENSORY PATHWAYS
GES has introduced several new sensory pathways throughout the hallways to allow students an outlet to release excess energy, take brain breaks to help refocus, de-stress, and find healthy ways to cope with different emotions. Sensory pathways can also help students develop motor skills, including balance, hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness. Plus, they are beautiful and super fun! A special thank you to Jean Wannall, Allyson Wilkins, Beth Fitts, Nick Darling and Krystal Brown for making this possible!
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LEGO ROBOTICS
We are thankful to have the help and expertise from Cornell freshman, Samantha Fountain, to start our very own Lego Robotics club at GES. Fountain has a decade of experience with FIRST Robotics and hopes to eventually turn our club into a competitive team to compete in the FIRST Lego League. FIRST stands for,
"For Inspiration & Recognition of Science and Technology."
There are multiple components to FIRST Robotics competitions including small 'missions' to build and program robots to complete simple tasks (ex. pick up an object), a technical presentation explaining the thinking that went into the build and programming, a research piece and a teamwork challenge. Fountain hopes that this program will help kids become "critical thinkers and more well-rounded people." Currently, there are a dozen 4th & 5th graders that meet after school on Mondays. They are working on building a Lego Mindstorms robot following the instructions and working together. After the build, students will add attachments and then begin programming the robot. But this club is about more than just playing with legos... it is about thinking creatively, solving problems, listening, leading, and most importantly, engaging in something you are passionate about! If you are interested in joining see Mr. Maslin.
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READ2GROW
Literacy Coach at GES, Erin D'Antonio, recently held a Read2Grow event at the newly designed Wonder Space at GES. The event was designed for 2 year-olds registered in the Read2Grow Program. It focused on the book,
You Are My Sunshine
, and each child received a copy of the board book for attending. Additionally, Art Teacher, Julianne Costa offered a sunshine art project for the children, while Instrumental Music Teacher, Elizabeth Fuller introduced the song and taught movements to accompany the singing. Corinne Roma, a student at Cornell University, engaged parents in conversation about the importance of literacy engagement beginning from a young age. A parent event, in conjunction with Ms. Roma, is being planned for the future. More information will follow!
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STUDENT-LED WRITERS' WORKSHOP
5th graders celebrated the conclusion of their informational writing unit by hosting a celebration for any student at GES to attend to learn more about their topics of study! 5th graders were stationed throughout the cafeteria, ready and waiting to talk about both their topic and the writing process with students from Kindergarten through 4th grade. Students were able to speak to each other individually and showcase their writing skills in the genre of informational writing. Being considered the expert on their topic, students were able to answer questions and point out interesting information to younger students. It was a great way for students to practice their presentations skills while making new connections with other students and serving as positive role models!
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LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!
STEAM students in the Communications & Media Arts course have switched gears and are now learning about digital video production, specifically, the three phases of production: pre-production (storyboarding), production (filming), and post-production (editing). Students are being introduced to video editing and sound through two online platforms: WeVideo and Soundtrap. Both offer opportunities for collaboration among class members. Students have completed two projects: The first used stock footage and B-roll from a variety of sources to create a local commercial for a traveling carnival. The second project had students creating a tourism video in which they took us all over the world, from Washington D.C and California to Italy and Switzerland. The students learned how to find royalty-free stock footage, avoid copyright infringement, and storyboard a one-minute tourism video to entice individuals to vacation in their focused location. The short films will be shared, rubric-evaluated, and edited for adjustments. The next endeavor will teach students how to collect their our own footage.
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TRIVIA TEAMS ASSEMBLED...
The FFA Trivia Night dinner was a huge success! There were over 130 guests including regional farmers, Ag industry professionals, Groton alumni, and current staff, parents and community members. A special thank you to Melissa Hill and Callan Space and other members of the Ag Advisory Board for spearheading the planning of the event. Four of our current FFA students also assisted with the event management duties: Jackson Slade, Robert Houston, Kennedy Mayo and Rachel Houston. Over forty local businesses donated items for the silent auction, and 14 local farms and businesses also made monetary donations. The support has been incredible! Thank you to all that continue to help us provide amazing opportunities for our students and community!
Congratulations to the FFA Trivia winners: Fuller Farm & Friends!
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PLANNING AHEAD...
Scheduling meetings for 9th-11th graders will begin next week to plan coursework for the 2020-21 school year. Parents that are interested in being part of these meetings should contact Jordan Campo, Counselor grades 10-12, (jcampo@grotoncs.org or ext. 2428). Friendly reminder to parents of current Juniors...
Thursday, April 16th is the Junior Parent College Night
.
Upcoming tests dates
:
SAT - May 2nd and June 6th
ACT - April 4th and June 13th
8th grade parents, if you haven't already, please schedule a meeting with Patti Cortese, Counselor grades 6-9, (pcortese@grotoncs.org or ext. 2421) to map out your child's schedule for next year and draft a 4-Year Plan. Learn more about the amazing programs we offer including our STEAM programs and the Early College High School program!
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READY TO RUMBLE...
Under the leadership of Head Coach Greg Rotunda, Assistant Coach Jeff Brockway and Volunteer Assistant Coach Brian Negley, and through hard work and dedication from members of the team, the Groton Varsity Wrestling Team won the IAC League Championship for the second year in a row. Seven Groton wrestlers placed at the IAC tournament: Kyle Willard - 1st, Anthony Rotunda - 2nd, Jeter Neff - 3rd, Isaac Allen and Demetri Brooks - 4th, Shane Smith - 5th and Donny Mitchell - 6th.
Recently, the team competed in the Sectional Qualifier. Once again, many of our wrestlers did very well. Kyle Willard had another 1st place finish. Kris Willard and Isaac Allen took 3rd place, Jeter Neff and Anthony Rotunda both placed 4th, and Joe Bishop took 5th place.
At the Sectional Tournament, Kyle Willard took 2nd place. He is seeded 6th for the State Tournament that will take place in Albany on February 27-28.
Congratulations to all our wrestlers and coaching staff! Good luck Kyle!
GOOD LUCK TO OUR VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL IN THE SECTIONAL QUARTERFINAL GAME THIS FRIDAY VS. GREEN (@ GREEN @ 6PM)!!!
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GIVING THAT BRINGS MUSIC TO OUR EARS...
The benefits of music education are well-researched and support the development of the whole child. The district is accepting donations of gently used instruments to help build up our library of instruments so that our music program is inclusive of ALL students. We want all children, regardless of whether or not they have the funds to purchase or rent an instrument to be able to participate in our music programs. If you have a gently used instrument that you would like to donate (tax deductible), please stop by the district office between 7:30am-4:00pm. We appreciate your generosity!
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THE DENTIST COMES TO GROTON
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Tammy Vona, the Dental Hygienist for the mobile dental program visited GES to educate students about dental hygiene and also share information about our amazing new dental program that provides FREE, convenient cleanings for our students in our school! Dental services will begin on March 9, in the nurse's office. If your student is interested in setting up a cleaning, please send back the green dental form that went home this week. If you have any questions, please call or stop into the main office at GES.
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BEST PRACTICES:
CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR
In NYS schools today, the expectation is that we utilize progressive discipline. Progressive discipline is using our professional knowledge, skills, and abilities to impact student behaviors in a way that improves conduct and leaves students with a positive perspective of the school and the adults who work with them. Progressive discipline is not punishment. School personnel should be working their way through the strategies and techniques at our disposal to build positive, structured, and supportive relationships that develop the willingness of students to work within the appropriate structures and routines of classrooms and the school at large.
There are many strategies and resources that building leaders use to try to interrupt student behavior patterns. The goal is to aid students in de-escalating intense emotions and build their capacity to manage emotions and peacefully exist in the classroom. We encourage parent participation in the development of student-specific plans to help students be successful in the classroom.
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THE LITTLE MERMAID - COMING SOON
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Disney's
The Little Mermaid
is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and Groton High School will be performing the musical version of
The Little Mermaid
on March 20 - 21, 2020, with show times at 7:00 pm. on both Friday and Saturday with an additional matinee on Saturday at 1:00 pm. This will be the 15th musical hosted on the Groton stage. The underwater adventure features Ariel (Morgan Dittman) and her companions Sebastian (Elijah Griep), Flounder (Jaiden Mitchell), and Scuttle (Alyssa Fennimore) along with her amusing Mersisters (Brooke Brecht, Chloe Conger, Madison Howell, Deanna Nino, Averie Roberts, and Mandy Wolchetsky), and Ariel's father King Triton (Evan Carlo). Ariel falls in love with Prince Eric (Sam Young), a human, who was raised by Grimsby (Darian Mitchell) and is captivated by Ariel's voice when she saves him from drowning in a shipwreck. In an attempt to thwart the power of the King of the Sea, the sea witch Ursula (Michaeline Lauchle) makes a deal with Ariel to swap her voice for a pair of legs, allowing Ariel only three days in which to get the prince to kiss her. If she fails to do so, she will be imprisoned by Ursula forever. This is a story of love and adventure of oceanic proportions!
Tickets are on sale now in the main offices of both buildings. See Kelly Bishop in the high school office and Lorri Hunter in the elementary school. $8.00 for regular admission and $5.00 for children under the age of 10.
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REMINDERS & UPDATES
CENSUS 2020
The United States population count only happens once every ten years and is the driving force behind the distribution of federal funds across communities all over the country. Federal assistance to schools, including Title I aid, the National School Lunch Program, and special education grants to states are all determined by the census. In addition, the census is used as the basis for distributing over $675 billion in federal funds annually to states, counties, and communities to support resources beyond schools, such as hospitals and fire departments. There are other benefits for a complete count of every person living in the United States as well. In New York State, the number of representatives we have in Congress, as well as the redrawing of congressional district boundaries, is determined by the results of the 2020 census.
Starting in March, the public can begin responding to the 2020 Census online at 2020census.gov. The Groton Central School District will be of providing access to computers for one hour prior to each of the showings of the musical
The Little Mermaid
for those families in the community who have limited access to the internet. Please be looking for notification from the US Census Bureau for more information on how to be counted!!!!
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GROTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
WWW.GROTONCS.ORG
400 PERU ROAD, GROTON, NY 13073
(607) 898-5301
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