ClassCandy The Award Winning Monthly Newspaper For Kids
September 2014 • Vol. 4 • Issue 1
New Columns More FUN!
Student, Teacher, & Parent Approved!
Smiles BACK TO SCHOOL
In This Issue: School Updates From The Summer • KidScoop Puzzles • Trivia
• Informative Articles • Back To School SMILES • & MORE!! News In Education For Pre K - 8th Grade
Danville Reads in association with Danville Mall are excited to partner with local elementary schools. For more information how to become involved contact Katie Keatts @ 434-792-0400x53 or Email: kkeatts@hullstoreygibson.com © 2014 by Vicki Whiting, Editor
What will you do after you finish high school? There are lots of choices. For students 18 or older, the companies on today’s Kid Scoop page offer classes that can lead to some very unusual careers. Then why not go to a school where clowning around is the way to make the grade? At Mooseburger Clown Camp, students study Beginning Balloons, Face Painting, Comic Movement and Hospital Clowning. For more information on the school that makes you laugh, go to www.mooseburger.com.
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Students at Mooseburger Clown Camp learn that some surprises can make people laugh. Connect the dots to find out what is on top of Lulu’s head. Standards Link: Life Work: Students learn information about different careers.
Cover KID Meet ClassCandy’s Cover Model, Lincoln, son of Lauren and Landon Horne.
Lincoln, when not being a Cool Kindergartener at Southside Elementary School in Pittsylvania County, enjoys reading, playing soccer, and going to the beach. We Totally Agree With Him! Front Page & Photo to Left - Photography Credits:
Kim Rakes of mackenzie mae photography
MAKING THE GRADE! TIPS & TRICKS FOR SUCCESS
+ STUDYING
A
Let’s face it, no one likes to do it. We’d rather be doing something else... like, playing video games! :) BUT! Have you ever wondered how a video game comes to life? A Video Game developer had to go through countless hours of studying technology based codes and scripts to come up with the perfect theme for that perfect game. So, just like the creator of that favorite game of yours - a way of learning, growing and knowing - we must study! Let’s get to it!
“Open an account and join the URW Kidz Club today! Take part in contests, prizes and fun events for kids all year long! URW Community Federal Credit Union supports financial literacy in our schools and community!”
314 Lowes Drive 539 Arnett Blvd 142 South Main Street (DRMC) www.urwfcu.org • 434.793.1278
1. Know What You’re Studying: Keep your subjects and notes for each, ledgible and organized. Highlight the improtant stuff, especially any area of the subject topic that you may have questions about. 2. Communicate With Your Teacher: Ask questions and share thoughts. Write down any responses that may clarify a topic you feel uncomfortable with. 3. Create A Study Schedule & Keep It: Pick a time during the evenings each day after school that you can make time to study. Don’t waver from this schedule. Make it a habit. 4. Find A Comfortable, Well Lit Study Spot: Now don’t get too comfy where you might find yourself snoozing unexpectedly. Make sure your area has good lighting and comfortable enough that you’re not squirming for the right position. 5. Remove ALL Distractions: Yep! This means the phone, tv and any other outside noise that may catch your attention. Don’t panic, though! Some soft, melodic music IS ACCEPTABLE! It’s been proven that music with a constant tone actually stimulates the studying process. Now, don’t get crazy and put in that heavy metal or rap. Find a happy medium, turn it down low, and let the studying flow. 6. Tale A Break: Studies show that a constant 45 minutes of study time helps improve the retaining and comprehension of information... but that’s with a couple of 5 minute breaks thrown in. If you’re going hard at learning, take a couple of minutes to yourself to recompose and let it all sink in. Go for a walk, have a little snack or take a small nap... SMALL. Don’t forget that you’ve got to get back to your work though. 7. Test Yourself: Give yourself little quizes on all the information you’re taking in. Practice Makes Perfect! High five yourself for the answers you get right and write down the ones you happen to miss. 8. EAT & SLEEP WELL: This is key! Eating a balanced diet throughout the day as well as sleeping the recommended 8 hours a night, is great for your memory and overall wellbeing. Your brain is constantly going, but even it needs some slow down time. 9, Don’t Overdo It: When you just can’t study another word, topic or date... STOP! After an acceptable amount of time (45minutes) of studying, it’s okay to stop. It’s been proven that a person can, in fact, study too much. Doing this may lead to confusion and forgetfulness of certain important things you’ve worked so hard to remember. This all goes back to #8 on this list of tips and tricks. Eat & Sleep Well! 10. DON’T CRAM: A big test is coming up and you’ve not put in one bit of study time. It’s not healthy to cram any information the night before. Yeah... yeah... you may remember it for a night or even the test the following day, BUT, what about for a life time? Studying isn’t just something teachers ask you to do, just to get through school. They ask you to do it for LIFE! So, do it the right way!
BACK TO SCHOOL
Smiles
Isaiah Younger, 2nd Grader at Park Avenue Elementary flashes his mom a big smile before his first day back to school.
STRONG, STABLE, SOLID... Looking Back With E.A. Gibson Elementary June 24, 2014 Written by: Kim Agnor, Principal Greetings from E. A. Gibson Elementary School! The Home of the BULLDOGS!!! This was a year of change and new beginnings for all of us! We were charged with creating and building a new school! Parental and community involvement was tremendous and we are looking forward to growing and learning together as a Gibson family! We were the recipients of many gifts of school supplies from Danville Regional Medical Center, Bridgetown Church, River Oak Church, Fasmart and countless individuals. Pre-service teachers from Averett spent a total of 16 weeks tutoring our students. The Averett writing resource center provided a writing workshop to our 5th grade students. The generosity of our community is overwhelming. We were thrilled to have the Master Gardeners working with us to create a fantastic learning environment in our greenhouse. Our goal is for this greenhouse to benefit not only our students but the community as well. Students in all grade levels had the opportunity to experience lessons in the greenhouse taught by the Master Gardeners who gifted us with their experience and knowledge. Our first tomatoes were harvested in February! Each class had a raised garden to plant. Vegetables are still being harvested! Plants are available for purchase by the community and profit the students of E. A. Gibson Elementary School. Parental involvement is key to the success of our students and school! Some of our many activities included a Grandparent’s day celebration, Parade of Fitness, Fall Festival, Snuggle Up and Read, Career Day, Mother’s Day Tea, and Dads and Dr. Seuss. Parental attendance and support was phenomenal. Our school has an open policy for parental visitors and all are invited to join us for lunch whenever possible. All of our students experienced field trips this school year. Grades 2, 3, and 5 attended Galileo’s production of Peter Pan, kindergarten visited Owens Farm, grade 1 visited the Danville Science center, and grade 2 visited the Greensboro Science Center. Our 4th grade students were the recipients of a grant that provided an all expenses paid trip to Monticello. The students learned a great deal about our founding fathers and the history of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the USA. Our students participated in several community service projects including a canned food drive for God’s Storehouse and collecting personal items for residents at PineCrest Adult Home. Our teachers lead our students by example and teach service to our community. Mrs. Rhonda Harris, a teacher of exceptional children, was awarded the Jane H. Friend Award for service to community and special education contributions. Mrs. Heather Nidiffer was recognized as Gibson’s Teacher of the Year. We were honored to be selected by the City Beautification Committee and the Danville Council of Garden Clubs to receive a beautiful dogwood tree in observance of Earth Day and Arbor Day. Through our greenhouse program and work with the Master Gardeners we want to instill in our students the importance of taking care of our environment. Join us on what promises to be a phenomenal journey of educational excellence and lifelong learning experiences! We have set our goals high! We are striving for success for all students in all areas of academics and the arts! We are Learning Today….Leading Tomorrow!!
Asiah Thomas, 2nd Grader at Gibson Elementary shows off her excitement for a back to school pic.
Rae Anne Hudgins anxiously waits to get to school as she starts Kindergarten at Gibson Elementary School this year.
Find great deals on gently used kids items!
Sept. 11-13, 2014
Thurs., Sept. 11 10am-7pm Fri., Sept. 12 9am-7pm Sat., Sept. 13 9am-3pm
Location:
Market Square Shopping Center 3303-B US Hwy 29 (beside Food Lion)
DKC Women’s & Home Sale
Sept. 24-27 www.danvillekidsconsignment.com
DID YOU KNOW? • A hummingbird weighs less than a penny.
I’ve Been Saying BLUE This Entire Time!
• Aside from their weight differences, men are actually stronger than a horse. • Slugs have 4 noses... must be the reason why they’re so slimy. • Owls are the only bird that can see the color Reflecting blue. July 7, 2014
On The 2013- 2014 School Year At Westwood Middle
Written by: Mrs. Christie Dawson, Principal The 2013-2014 school year was a year full of challenges, opportunities, success stories, and growth. We welcomed new students, parents, faculty, and staff from Gibson Middle School. As principal, I can honestly say Westwood is a better place for the infusion of new faces, talents, and gifts. Speaking of gifts, we received much needed school supplies from River Oak Church of God. Through their Pack the Bus Campaign, we were given boxes of supplies. Our PTA was active during the school year. We had a family fun night and free spaghetti dinner. Our book fair was a great success. We held our annual Fall Festival and stew sale. The festival brings out the child in all who attend-some even managed to survive the Haunted Hall. Westwood has an exemplary sports program. We had students participating in all available programs. This year for the first time we had a step team. The step team performed during half time at our basketball games. Our students learn each day that they must also be an academic athlete to wear our colors. Academics take priority at Westwood. We are so proud of all of our students. Each student demonstrated growth during the school year. Caleb Adams did an outstanding job representing Westwood as our spelling bee champion and runner up in the city spelling bee. In October we had a Wear Pink Day to raise funds for the Danville Cancer Society. Our students, faculty, and staff bought ribbons to show our support to find a cure. Ms. Brittany Fuller, Ms. Lakisha Brandon, Ms. Morgan Atchley, and Ms. Tammy Dowling worked very hard making and selling the ribbons. Many faculty and staff members were recognized throughout the year for their accomplishments. Ms. Tia Hairston, Autism Teacher, received a grant to take our students to the Science Center. Ms. Amy Baynes, Ms. Jordan Godfrey, and Ms. Alicia Hightower, math teachers, received praise and recognition from Virginia Tech for their work in mathematics. Mr. Joe Foisy, social studies teacher, worked tirelessly to get companies to donate items to our students for going above and beyond. We are so thankful to the American Legion and Steve Padgett Honda for their generous donations. Ms. Yolanda Hicks, special education teacher, was named Westwood’s Teacher of the Year. Our music program is outstanding, or in the ratings from the judges at performances the term would be SUPERIOR. Ms. Lee Ann Sheridan, chorus teacher, Ms. Dawn Hudson, orchestra teacher, and Mr. Demond McNair, band teacher, worked hours after school helping our students master their instruments or piece of music. We had two concerts this year and both packed the building. We changed our mascot and colors this year from the Rockets with yellow and gold to the Tigers using black, orange, and white. While we experienced changes and challenges, some things stayed the same – the passion and commitment of our faculty and staff members. Everything extra done at a school generally depends on the faculty and staff members staying after school, coming in on weekends, and taking time away from their own families. Westwood faculty and staff go the extra mile because we are family. That feeling spills over to our students and parents. We may not look like a traditional family, but we are family all the way! GO TIGERS!!
BACK TO SCHOOL
Smiles
During Southside Elementary School's Open House on August 7, 2014, representatives from the Pittsylvania County Public Library were on hand to issue library cards to children and adults. Over 60 cards were issued! Southside is encouraging all students to read, read, read! PICTURED: Pittsylvania County Library Representatives Janet Barber and Luther Watts Family - Jade Mason former Southside student, A.J. Jones second grader, and Angela Mason mother signing up for a card.
This is Megan White. She attends Gretna Elementary school and is in Pre-K.
Donna Duncan 1st grade, Tyrone Stockton 1st grade, and Aniya Duncan 5th grade at Stony Mill Elementary School.
Calleigh Cunningham, Kindergartener and big sister Trinity Cunningham, 3rd grader, share the stage this year at Southside Elementary.
Elks Lodge donates 100 pair of Safety Glasses to the STEM Academy. Pictured: From Left to Right, Billy Clark; STEM teachers - Jacob Taylor, Tommie Evans, Melissa Cassell; and Walter Hodges
Brothers, Cole and Tyler Spencer were ready for their first day in Kindergarden and 2nd grade at Stony Mill! If you do not see your lil one’s face in this month’s ClassCandy, do not fret! We had a tremendous flow of smiling faces sent in to us and will be using the photos in later issues. Thank You So Much For Your Support !
Hersheys Hand Scooped Ice Cream We serve Ice Cream Cones, Milk Shakes, Sundaes and Banana Spilts
Purchase 1 Item at Regular Price and get 1 Kids Cone FREE!! (offer expires Sept. 11, 2014) Open 7 days a week and find us on facebook https://www.facebook.com/fattysshakesandcones 2001 Westover Dr. • Danville, VA 434-822-0067 Same building as T.J.’s Big Boy Toys
Class
TEACHERS HAVE
The Human Resources staff stands ready to welcome new employees. (L to R) Shari Dudley, Executive Assistant for Human Resources; Janet Hancock, Clerk of the Board; Dr. Lillian Holland, Assistant Superintendent for Administration; Monica Glass, Administrative Assistant for HR; and Colleen Hardy, Administrative Assistant for HR.
New PCS teacher, Beth Goard, receives new employee packet from HR personnel.
New teacher, Daniel Jones, waits for his badge photo to be taken
Dr. Lillian Holland presents opening comments to new staff.
Division Superintendent, James McDaniel, presents an inspirational message to staff.
Well... Katelyn was definitely prepared for her first day as a Cool PreSchooler! And so was Aiden Davidson, Kindergartener at Twin Springs
We’ve MOVED!! Our new address is 825 Piney Forest Danville Va 24540
© 2014 by Vicki Whiting, Editor
Carlisle School • Danville Campus What will you do after you finish high school? There are lots of choices. For students 18 or older, the companies on today’s Kid Scoop page offer classes that can lead to some very unusual careers. 14 13 12 11 15 16 10 17 9 18 19 7 8 21 20 6 22 5 23 4 3 24 2 1
Students at Danville’s Carlisle School didn’t miss out on the opportunity to challenge their Principal - who challenged the rest of the faculty & staff - to the ALS Cold Water Challenge. What A Great Way To Start Off A New Year In Their New Facility!
Swim Tryouts September 10th & 11th, 2014 6pm At Hargrave
“Students, today your assignment is to bake a cake.” How would you like to hear those words come out of your teacher’s mouth? If you are a student at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City, this is exactly what you could hear.
Boys & Girls • Ages 4 & Up
434-432-2681 Brian & Tina Foisy 434-713-4301 Callands, VA 24530
Splash Party Rentals
School Scavenger Hunt
Find each of the following in today’s newspaper: • The name of a school
Nathaniel Kelly, 4th Grader at Epiphany Episcopal School, takes in his surroundings while posing for a first day of school pic.
• An example of something you do at school • Three numbers that add up to your age • Something you wish you could have at school Standards Link: Reading Comprehension: Follow simple written directions.
This school serves up training for people interested in working in restaurants, catering, sales, marketing and other food-related careers.
How would you like a diploma in pastry and baking? That’s one of the tasty degrees the Institute of Culinary Education cooks up! Can you find the tasty treats that match? For more information, visit www.ice.edu. Standards Link: Investigation: Students discriminate between similarities and differences in common objects.
How To Help Kids Find The Right Extracurricular Activity Today’s kids are busier than ever before. Be it the increasingly competitive nature of scholastic life or the increase of two-income households where kids need something to do other than come directly home after school, children today are much busier than their school-aged counterparts of yesteryear. While it can be fun and beneficial for kids to participate in extracurricular activities, finding the right fit isn’t as easy as it sounds. When helping kids find an extracurricular activity, it’s best to consider a host of factors. Especially keep in mind that not all kids are the same with respect to interests. And what was enjoyed by their parents won’t necessarily be enjoyed by them. Getting Started The best place to start is to speak to kids about their interests. Just because Dad loved playing football doesn’t mean Junior is destined to be a gridiron great. Kids have their own interests, and those interests can be cultivated with the right extracurricular activity. For example, a creative child might enjoy an after-school art class a couple of times per week. Parents should also consider extracurriculars that can help kids grow as people. For instance, a child who’s shy in public but loves hamming it up at home might embrace an after-school theater program. Once options have been discussed with kids, take in a session or two before committing to anything. The shy youngster might visit the local theater program and enjoy it thoroughly, or he or she might decide against it. Either way, a visit will give kids and parents a sense of what the program is like and whether or not it’s the right fit. When visiting, observe the nature of the program. Is it an encouraging, vibrant environment? Do the adults and kids involved appear to be having fun? Get the 411 Parents want their kids to be as safe after school as they are during it. When looking for an extracurricular activity, inquire about the staff-to-child ratio and about the staff’s professional background. Any staff-to-child ratio that is greater than 12:1 likely indicates a program that is understaffed, which could mean kids won’t get the attention they need. Also, ask for the staff’s references and work history in the field of child care. If certification is necessary or recommended, make sure the staff meets all requirements. Parents should also inquire about program costs. Though many programs are upfront about fees, some have hidden fees that can add up. Such fees can be for uniforms, equipment, class trips, etc. Extra fees don’t have to exclude a program from consideration, but it’s better to know about them in advance than have them come as a surprise. Consider a Child’s Grade Level A child’s age and grade level should also be considered when choosing an extracurricular activity. Consult teachers about finding an age-appropriate extracurricular activity. For example, less competitive activities that emphasize fun might be more appropriate for kids in kindergarten and the first grade. For second graders, activities not offered at school, like learning to play an instrument, can help cultivate a child’s interest in a noncompetitive environment. As kids reach third grade and beyond, consider more rules-based activities, including team sports, as kids at that age are more capable of understanding rules and handling losing than younger kids. As children get older and move on to middle school, look for activities that reinforce learning and help develop a young person’s character, including their ability to interact with others. When looking for an extracurricular activity for kids, parents should consider a host of factors, including the child’s interests and age.
RAINBOW CRAFT FUN!! Materials Needed:
Fruit Loops or a similar cereal Paper Glue Markers or crayons Cotton balls Method -Begin by having kids draw the outline of a rainbow on their paper. If your children are younger you can draw the rainbow outline for them similar to the angle in the picture, above. -Have kids cover the rainbow lines in glue, and then the real fun can begin! Give them a bowl and tell them to go for it! -This craft is great for reviewing colors & color sorting, and you can sneak in a bit of early math concepts, too! -Once the rainbow is complete-you can glue some cotton balls to the end to create clouds :)
Parent
Finding Humor In The Beautiful Chaos
Corner
Lately I’ve realized something about myself (the process of parenting teaches you more about yourself than any sabbatical in Europe ever could) and it shocked me. I have always thought of myself as a lighthearted, easy going person who could find humor in just about any situation. That is, until I found myself about to pull my hair out one day in the midst of the chaos that comes with raising adventurous three year old twin boys, and a six year old girl who is already wiser than I ever dreamed of being. These children are the light of my life, I love them with every fiber of my being, but some days they have the incredible ability to have me searching for the first exit that can lead me to a round padded room. In the middle of one of the many situations that arise with little ones I found myself in recently (I can’t be 100% sure-but I think it had something to do with all three children, a light up tennis shoe, a flashlight, and a Chuck E Cheese blow up guitar) anyway-a question floated through my mind: Where has my sense of humor gone? When I’ve got three little ones needing my attention all at once-all the while I’m trying to send an email for work, pulling day-old fruit snacks out of the carpet AND trying to figure out why the ceiling fan won’t stop making that noise….THIS is when I need my sense of humor the most, and it’s no where to be found! Granted, it makes an appearance every now and then-but it’s usually long after the kids are in bed and my husband and I are able to catch our breath and re-visit the situation. I want my kids to see me handle these stressful situations with a chuckle and my sanity intact-because that’s what I want for them. I want them to embrace the craziness that is life, to take life’s curveballs and knock them out of the park! Some situations require coming a little “undone” because sometimes that helps in the “handling” process-and that’s ok, it’ll keep you on your toes-but most “stressful” situations don’t have to be stressful at all. It’s all about our attitude towards it! “No use crying over spilled milk!” Or the gallon jug, right? :) So-I’m making some changes, and I’d like to document them. I hope you’ll find a spare minute (HAHA) each month, grab your favorite coffee cup and fill it up, and read along as I find humor in the beautiful chaos that is motherhood. - Michelle Freeman - Staff Writer - Piedmont Shopper & ClassCandy - MOM
T h a n k Yo u To O u r Sp o n s o rs DIAMOND
PLATINUM
GOLD
Candy Crush Saga Review Say hello to every stay at home mom’s favorite game. Play a game that consumes your whole life in one minute of playing. It is truly a masterpiece but copied from a TON! of other games. You will enjoy this time consuming game where you swap candy to get a match and win the game just like bejeweled. I didn’t see why this game was such a great hit but it was very addicting. I really hope this game gets more famous so we can look back and laugh at it even harder. All In all this game was a
7/ 10
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