MLK Assembly
National holidays at Glebe Street Elementary School are not just another day off for our students and staff; we prefer to call them “Days On.” This January, as we celebrated the ideals and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we remembered that a day off in his honor is an opportune time to promote an understanding of why we commemorate this great American. The month was devoted to the character trait of fairness, with social studies lessons focusing on the importance of MLK, civil rights and justice for all.

The entire school also participated in a micrography project, whereby each student and staff member signed their name and thoughts to a piece of paper, which, in the end, came to be a resemblance of Martin Luther King. It hung near the stage as the entire school came together for an assembly, with music, readings and presentations illustrating the importance of freedom, justice, equality and anti-racism. Mr. Frenyea, Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Raspanti put together a beautiful and touching slideshow with music; Mrs. Tyler helped all of our students to prepare a fitting musical tribute, with third and fourth graders singing the strains of “‘Let There Be Peace on Earth,” while our fifth and sixth graders made posters and composed poems and readings appropriate for the day’s mission. Mr. Nicolas Morales, Deputy Director of Centro Civico in Amsterdam, was our keynote speaker. He spoke to students and staff on the level about their rights, treating others with fairness and the importance of tolerance for others. In an important tradition at Glebe, parents and family members made up a part of the audience, as all are welcome to celebrate and commemorate these special holidays with us. A terrific sense of community results when we all share special occasions!
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PTA BINGO
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Relaxing Before the ELA Assessment
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Square of Life
As part of their computer lab studies, Glebe Street students are currently participating in a collaborative on-line project called “Square of Life.” Each class investigates a specific square of life area, as marked around the school, using progressive drawings, data collection and discussion. Further research through a combination of books and Web sites helps them to identify the things they find in these environments. This information is shared online with students from other schools around the nation, through the “Square of Life” blog. This is just one example of the great experiences to be had by integrating technology with other curricular areas, such as science and art.
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Rumpelstiltskin
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