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More fun with words

7 Jan

So, did you have a little fun on Sunday trying to guess those idiom sculptures?  How did you do?

Yesterday morning at school, Webster Thomas art teacher Sue Toomey showed me a handful of other sculptures which weren’t part of the original collection because they were on display at District Office.  So to be fair, I figured I’d better post a second blog with the additional sculptures.

Once again, each sculpture is a physical representation of a a common idiom. Your challenge is to figure out what that idiom is. Each artist’s name is shown in the caption. Once you make your guess, scroll your mouse over it to check your answer.

If you didn’t see the original 16 photos I posted on Sunday, click here to go directly to that blog. Have fun!

 

by Jessie James

 

by Natalie Montoya

 

by Dan Brown
by Megan Ziegler
by Jamie Menaldino

 

Fun with words!

5 Jan

OK, I thought we all deserved to have a little fun today. So I present you with this mind-teaser.

You will find below a series of photographs of sculptures created by students in Sue Toomey’s Sculpture class at Webster Thomas High School.  Most of them were crafted this year (and so I know the artists’ names), but a few are from last year’s class.  Each one of them is a manifestation of a common idiom or phrase.  For example, the first one below, by Jaycob Sanchez, depicts the phrase “Mind on my Money.”  There are 16 different sculptures; your challenge is to see how many of them you can figure out.

Each artist’s name (if known) is shown in the caption.  After you’ve made your guess, scroll your mouse over the photo to see the sculpture’s title and check your answer.  Be forewarned: some are harder than others.  Good luck!

Jaycob Sanchez
Artist unknown
Veronica Speer
Madison Goodwine

 

Katelyn F-Thompson
Ally Bilow
Austin Deuschle
Artist unknown
Hailey Frank
Artist unknown
Nicole Meynadasy
Artist unknown
Marley Morrill
Kelsey Chippero
Alexa Cunningham (the word surrounding the knight is “SOMEONE”)
Aubrie Isaac

Good things DO happen

30 Dec

Today’s blog, which I’ve had in the works for several days now, takes on special significance given the tragic events of yesterday morning in Webster. It’s a reminder that good things really do happen in this world, and good people still inhabit it.

For starters, I want to bring you back to a blog I wrote earlier about how the Sandy Hook, Connecticut PTA has requested that people make snowflakes to decorate the school the students will be returning to after Christmas break.  Several days ago I posted a photo of the letter the PTA wrote requesting the snowflakes.

The response to that photo was overwhelming.  To date, that photo has been shared 145 times, which is very cool. But even cooler than that was hearing about some actual snowflake-making efforts.

Jen Sander, who works with 10- and 11-year-olds at Mary Cariola Children’s Center in Rochester, sent some photos of the snowflakes her kids made.

Some of the snowflakes made by the children at Mary Cariola Children’s Center.

I also heard from my daughter Sara, who teaches second graders at Buffalo Public School #76, Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy. Her kids knew about what had happened, so Sara explained to them that the snowflakes would be used to decorate the new school the kids would go to so it wouldn’t be scary.  The kids really got into the project, and didn’t want to stop. “It’s probably a big school so we need to make more,” they told her.

Students at the Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy in Buffalo show off their snowflakes.

Next, remember last week, after the horrible events in Newtown, CT, when Ann Curry proposed that everyone do a random act of kindness in memory of everyone who lost their lives?  I actually learned about the challenge from my friend Jane Laskey, who noted in her email that “I know two people that had their coffee paid for, someone who received flowers on their car while in Wegmans’ parking lot, my kids are making more and more Christmas goodies and plan to hand them out, and a meal paid for.”

I encouraged others to let me know if they had received or gave a random act. I heard back from a few people. My friend Lyndsay Maier wrote,

I heard this morning from a co-worker that she went to Dunkin’ Donuts drive thru this morning and the person before her in line paid for her order… Apparently one person about 15 cars before started this chain reaction and they had about 20 cars that kept on the chain… Every car paying for the person after them… the people at Dunkin’ were impressed that it kept on for so long.

Others told me that they regularly try to do random acts, and encourage their children to do so as well. Kurt Johnson has even set up a Facebook page on which he encourages people to report their random acts of kindness. You can see it here.

Merry Christmas, my friends. Hug the ones who are close to you.

Merry Christmas from Webster Thomas High School

22 Dec

The approach of the holiday season (and a week off!) is a giddy time at every school, but Webster Thomas always seems to find unusually entertaining ways to celebrate.

All day yesterday, carolers and musicians brought Christmas cheer to Webster Thomas students and staff. The day started with a performance by the Brass Choir, led by Paul Van Horn. During the day, Thomas Bertrand’s chemistry students strolled into classrooms, singing Chemistry Carols, and the Select Choir, led by Brenda Nitsch, performed carols in the front hall as students were leaving for the day.

I didn’t get film from the Brass Choir performance, but below are a few photos our principal, Glenn Widor, snapped.  After that is a YouTube video featuring the Select Choir, followed by two versions of “Deck the Lab With Rubber Tubing.”  Enjoy.

Paul Van Horn directed the Brass Choir

 

Click on the photo to see a video of the Select Choir and the Chemistry Carolers.

Dear Santa: Please no mugs. Love, teacher.

13 Dec

It’s funny, but I can still remember how excited I got every year when it was time to buy a Christmas gift for my grade school teacher. I always took the task very seriously, and chose very carefully, knowing full well that my gift would be her favorite by far.  One year in particular stands out in my memory, because I had found the the most perfect gift ever: a plastic statue with the inscription “World’s Best Teacher.”

Of course, now that I am older and wiser, and three times a mother myself, I recognize how silly that gift was. I’m certain my teacher accepted it graciously and made me feel like it was, indeed, the best gift she had ever received … and then tossed it in the trash that night.

Because, let’s face it.  You can only have so many “#1 Teacher” nick-knacks, hand-made photo frames and “World’s Best Teacher” coffee mugs. (Frankly, most of the teachers I know would rather get a pint glass or wine glass, but that’s beside the point.)  And from a parent’s perspective, it’s kind of hard to figure out what a teacher would really want for Christmas, let alone convince a young child that a practical gift is a viable option.

Which is why I think the Teachers’ Christmas Wish List at Klem North Elementary is an inspired idea. The idea was hatched by the Klem North PTSA, and I found out about it from the Klem North Star blog.  Most of the items the teachers have included on their lists are things they need for their classrooms which they normally have to purchase themselves (you know how school budgets are these days). Many of the requests, therefore (like hand sanitizer and ziplock bags), might not be as much fun as a coffee mug, but will surely be a heck of a lot more useful.

Klem North families can check out the bulletin board in the cafeteria to see if their favorite teacher has posted a wish list, or you can click here to see the list online. But even if you’re not a Klem North family, you might want to look at the lists anyway, because they’re chock full of great gift ideas that teachers will really appreciate.

 

 

Willink singers will be on the radio Friday

12 Dec

The Willink Middle School “Simply Select” and “Stuck in the Middle” choruses, directed by Michael Roller and Tiffany Polino, will be the featured guest performers Friday morning on WBEE radio, 92.5 FM.

The choruses – comprised of about 55 students from grades 6 through 8 – will visit the WBEE studios Friday morning, where they’ll get a tour of the station and perform two holiday songs. Their performance will be aired live between 9:45 and 10 am, and recorded for later use during the holiday season.

Not only that…

While they’re in the studio, the kids will also perform and record their rendition of the National Anthem. They received a special invitation to do so after one of the station employees heard them perform it at an Amerks game last year, and thought it would be perfect for the station’s daily recognition of veterans and troops serving our country, which airs at noon. What an honor that is.

So tune in to WBEE 92.5 FM Friday between 9:45 and 10 am to hear the kids live, then listen for their performances to be aired regularly over the next few weeks. You can also listen live on your computer by visiting the WBEE website, but I had a hard time getting that to work.   (Hint: It seemed to work better on Internet Explorer than Mozilla, and I had to re-load it several times.)

Last call for Oak Tree Award nominations

10 Dec

Do you know an awesome teacher? There’s still time to nominate outstanding educators for the 2013 Oak Tree Award.

The annual Oak Tree Award is sponsored by the Webster Teacher Association and Webster Central PTSA, and recognizes teacher excellence at both elementary and secondary levels. Any Webster Central School District resident or district employee (including teachers and administrators), student or parents may nominate teachers. Two winners are chosen every year.

Click here to see the nomination criteria and download a form.  But do it soon; nominations are due by this Friday, Dec. 14.

 

Thomas student follows his passion — despite his challenges

10 Dec

D&C photo by Jamie Germano

Today I was going to blog about something rather boring, but instead I’d like to draw your attention to a very nice article in the D&C this morning. It’s about former Webster Thomas High School student Mark Houppert. It’s on the front page of the sports section, or you can click here to read it.

Mark has been struggling with early-onset Parkinson’s disease since he was three years old, but that has not dampened his love of sports — basketball in particular. When I knew him at Thomas, he served as manager for the varsity basketball team. I was pleased to see this morning that as manager of the St. John Fisher basketball team, he is still following his passion.

Once again, you can read the whole story here, and also check out the nice sidebar about when Mark met his basketball hero, Kobe Bryant, back in 2010, courtesy of the Dream Factory.

email me at missyblog@gmail.com

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Thursday Mailbag

5 Dec

The second of Webster’s three Fabulous Festive Fridays (I just made that up) is tomorrow, when the Village Band presents its annual Holiday Concert.  It’s the band’s annual holiday gift to the community, thanks for all the support they’ve received this year.

The concert begins at 2 pm at Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Road. There is no admission charge. Click here for more information and to see some photos from last year’s concert.

Looking ahead, next Friday the village continues to welcome the holiday season with the Lighting of the Lights from 4-8 pm, at Hank’s Ice Cream and Taylor Rental on North Avenue.  More details to come, but click here if you can’t wait.

* * *

The folks at Henderson Ford are partnering with the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program, and challenging their staff, customers and the Webster community to help fill a 2013 Ford Escape with toys

New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off through December 10 at Henderson Ford, 810 Ridge Rd., Webster, or at any of the following participating locations:

A Different Point of View, 2920 Monroe Ave, Pittsford
Design Pool & Spa, 7244 Palmyra Rd., Fairport
Dixon Schwabl, 1595 Moseley Road, Victor
Edge Advertising Group, 6 North Main St. Suite 220, Fairport
JNCS, 1387 Fairport Rd Suite 900J, Fairport
Omero’s Clothes, call 585-392-2939 to schedule a drop off

* * *

On Sunday December 16, Music at Immanuel will present A Service of Lessons and Carols beginning at 7 pm.  The event is free and open to the public.

Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church is located at 131 West Main Street in the Village of Webster, at the corner of Daniel Drive. Parking is available behind the church accessed from Daniel Drive. More information at http://www.immanuelwebster.org or through the church office 585-872-5180 ext. 12.

* * *

This note is from Plank North Elementary, which is hosting its Share the Season night tomorrow night.  The email I received about it yesterday said there are so many kids in the Plank North chorus now that they can’t all safely squeeze onto the stage for their annual performance.  So instead, they’re planning a family sing-along. “Ms. King will play piano,” the email said, “accompanied by a special guest mandolin player.”

It made me giggle. The “special guest mandolin player” is my son Sean, Plank North Class of 2001.

* * *

Finally, the school district has sent out notice about their Emergency Preparedness Early Release Drill, which they do every year to test the district’s plan for early dismissal of students. (I never have understood how letting students go 15 minutes early tests that plan, but hey.)  I seem to recall that in previous years they’ve done this on the day before Thanksgiving Break. This year, it’s happening on Friday December 21, officially kicking everyone out of school for Christmas Break.

All Webster schools will dismiss early that day.  Here are the times:

Schroeder and Thomas High Schools: 2:10
Spry Middle School: 2:15
Willink Middle School: 2:25
Klem North and Plank South: 3:05
Dewitt, State, Plank North, Schlegel and Klem South: 3:15

District report recommends full-day kindergarten

20 Nov

Webster residents have spoken, and they overwhelmingly support full-day kindergarten.

That fact among all others stands out most clearly from the Full Day Kindergarten Final Report which was presented to the Webster Board of Education earlier this month. The committee which compiled the report — comprised of more than 60 people including administrators, teachers, parents and other community members — met monthly from March through November, researched the subject, went on site visits, and distributed an opinion survey. They presented their findings to the Board of Education on November 8 in an 80-page report buoyed by more than 200 pages of supporting materials.

Basically it all boiled down to one decisive statement, presented right off the bat:

It is the recommendation of the Full Day Kindergarten District Advisory Committee that the Board of Education pursue the implementation of a Full Day Kindergarten Program for Webster students, beginning in the 2013‐2014 school year.

Click here if you’d like to read the entire report for yourself.  There are a lot of charts and graphs and talk about core standards and curriculum requirements, if you really want to slog through all that. But what I found most interesting were the results of the opinion survey.

More than 1200 people completed the online survey, including a lot of people who don’t have children in the schools, and even some non-Webster residents. On the question of whether Webster should institute full-day kindergarten, the results were clear: 78% said yes, 22% said no.

The comments were also quite interesting. The two main reasons people gave in support of full-day kindergarten were to 1) allow more time for instruction and social/emotional development, and 2) offer a more manageable schedule and lower daycare costs for or parents who work full-time.

Typical comments in this section read:

Hopefully a longer day will not only encourage academic growth but also allow time for children to ‘think outside the box’ and be creative and learn through play!

Webster cannot continue as an academic power house without full-day kindergarten. We have to get on board, as the stakes are too high with all these new standards.

and of course,

For children who need care outside of the half day hours. It is too much shuffling around to bus to school then day care then home.

On the other side of the argument were diametrically opposite comments:

Let our kids enjoy their youth. They have plenty of years to spend all day in the classroom. 6+ hours is too long of a day for 5 and 6 year olds.

I am primarily concerned with what’s best for the children developmentally at this age, not just the cost or the convenience for working parents currently needing daycare for their children.

Judging from the response to the survey and to the initial call for community participation on the committee (80 people showed up), it’s clear that community interest in this topic is strong. And even though the committee has recommended that the district adopt full-day kindergarten next year, they don’t have the last word.

You do.

District administrators are now asking for community feedback about the proposal. They’re hosting an informal conversation with members of the Board of Education on Thursday, November 29 beginning at 7 pm at Spry Middle School, 119 South Avenue.

So if you haven’t had a chance to express your opinion, or would like to do so again, take a look at the committee’s report, attend the meeting and join the conversation.

Click here to see the whole report.

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