PLUS: Thirteen wrestlers placed in the Top 6 in their weight class! AMAZING! Well-done to all!
Champions
--- Keira Filip, 114-pound weight class
--- Jaida Macaluso, 165-pound weight class
Second Place
--- Sara Pauls, 126-pound weight class
--- Treven Costello, 152-pound weight class
--- Caitlin McIlroy, 165-pound weight class
5th Place
--- Aubrey Weed, 138-pound weight class
6th Place
--- Calista Vargas, 100-pound weight class
--- Makenna Matone, 107-pound weight class
--- Amelia Patzelt,120-pound weight class
--- Paris Deslandes, 126-pound weight class
--- Avery Wingen, 132-pound weight class
--- Olivia Miller, 138-pound weight class
--- Brooke Besson, 152-pound weight class
WELL-DONE! The varsity girls and boys indoor track & field teams were busy over the recent break, competing in three invitational competitions:
At the recent Jim Mitchell Invitational, held at the Armory Track & Field Center, Minisink Valley collected one program record and event win, a trio of runner-up finishes, and a number of top-10 finishes:
•In the field events, junior Ella Michelitch won the individual title in the girls high jump, clearing a new program best bar of 5'10". Michelitch and teammate Delila Kronimus also earned second-place finishes in the girls long jump and pole vault, respectively.
•In the 4xMile relay, the boys quartet of Santiago Martinez, Luciano Palacios, Carter Rossi and Landon Straw produced a runner-up showing in 19:15.70.
At the recent Ocean Breeze Holiday Festival, Minisink Valley collected two event wins and five podium finishes:
•Delila Kronimus was victorious in the girls pole vault, continuing her strong start to the young season with a win at 11'6".
•The quartet of Robert LaBarbera, Angel Mendez, Stetson Terpak and Maximillian Wickrath closed out the meet as champions in the 4x400 meter relay with a time of 3:29.18, with the 'B' lineup of Jeremiah Alexis, Logan Cohen, Chase Lattimer and Michael Moran taking fifth place.
•The boys distance medley relay team of Daniel Oenga, Luciano Palacios, Carter Rossi and Elijah Zittel earned a fourth place finish in 11:30.77; and the girls 4x400 meter relay squad of Lyla LaBarbera, Salma Samdaoui, Danica Martinez and Jerlivia Frederick nabbed the final podium position in 4:20.33.
And at the recent Ocean Breeze Freedom Games:
•Delila Kronimus earned her second consecutive win at 11'6" in the girls pole vault event.
•In the boys 4x400 meter relay, the quartet of Robert LaBarbera, Stetson Terpak, Maximillian Wickrath and Angel Mendez were runners-up in a season best 3:26.27.
•In the girls 4x200 meter relay team of Kessler Hirsch, Ferrah Hill, Chloe Beck and Ella Michelitch produced a strong showing in the preliminaries in 1:46.29 and finished fourth in the finals in 1:47.31.
See more photos on the district's Facebook page!
Minisink Valley returns to the track at The Armory tomorrow, Jan. 7, looking to advance the 4x400 and 4x800 meter relay teams to the prestigious Millrose Games.
As part of their work, students represented their thinking by using drawings, objects and number sentences to model each problem. They also solved “how many more” comparison problems, demonstrating their understanding through visual representations and equations with unknowns.
This important math work ensures students can effectively model and solve one-step word problems using both addition and subtraction. This also helps students to them build a foundation for understanding comparison and equality in mathematical situations.
Kindergarteners learn about 3D shapes because it builds important early math and spatial-thinking skills in a way that matches how young children naturally explore the world. We all interact with 3D objects constantly,having these little ones learn the names and features of these shapes helps them connect math to everyday life as well as how things look from different angles. Learning about 3D shapes also builds problem-solving and critical thinking and starts to prepare students for more advanced math in their academic careers!
Marshmallows and toothpicks are popular in kindergarten STEM projects because they're simple, safe, hands-on building materials that help young children explore engineering and geometry. Marshmallows are soft and non-sharp and toothpicks provide structure but are still manageable for young students with supervision. They’re perfect for building because marshmallows act like flexible connectors while toothpick mimic rigid beams. Together, they’re perfect for little students to build 3D models.
Long division is a step-by-step method for dividing large numbers by breaking the problem into smaller, manageable steps, involving a repeated cycle of Divide (D), Multiply, (M), Subtract (S), Bring Down (BD) digits from the dividend to find the quotient and any remainder, using a special bracket to organize the process…and then Repeat (R) the process….or D M S BD R.
Like all district fourth-graders, Elizabeth Sirico’s and Susan Green’s IS fourth-graders have been practicing long division during their math lessons. Their students were reminded to write the letters D M S BD R on the side of their papers to help guide their work through each step of the math problem. Some students even demonstrated their strategies and explained who they arrived at their answers, which helped reinforce understanding for the class.
Long division is important because it's an efficient method for dividing large numbers, it serves as a foundation for more advanced math concepts like polynomials and calculus, and it teaches valuable problem-solving skills such as precision, attention to detail, and breaking down complex problems into smaller steps. It is a useful tool for tasks requiring exact answers, even when a calculator isn't available or the user needs to understand the underlying process and verify the result.
Students predicted which cookie would dissolve into the milk first. They then started a timer and carefully recorded their observations. After testing an Oreo, a Chewy Chips Ahoy and a regular Chips Ahoy, they discovered that the regular Chips Ahoy dissolved the fastest. Why? Because cookies that are dry and crumbly dissolve faster in milk than cookies that are soft and chewy!
To conclude this interesting lesson, students were tasked with a hugely fun STEM activity: Creating a Polar Bear Den! Students, functioning as engineers, were tasked with helping a polar bear survive in the Arctic by building a den using marshmallows (as snow/ice) and toothpicks (as supports), that can protect their polar bear from cold and wind. It was a great classroom activity giving students an opportunity to build their growing engineering, science, teamwork, creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills! Plus, who doesn’t have fun working with marshmallows?
What made it even more memorable was that after the show, the director, cast, and crew members took some time to participate in a "talk back" with students, who asked all kinds of questions and were given an understanding of the skill, athleticism, and the vocal training necessary to garner professional roles.
The children who were cast in the show were also in middle school, and everyone connected and commiserated that they had to make up school work when they weren't at school for a performance...or a field trip!
“The students worked hard and earned this field trip,” said Drama Club Advisor Teresia Parker, who thanked the parent/staff/faculty chaperones, middle school administration, Transportation and Food Services teams for their support. “I'm so very proud of this club. These students are exceptional.”
CONGRATULATIONS AND WELL-DONE! The work of 15 High School student artists from Jenna McElroy’s Drawing & Painting and AP Art classes was part of SUNY Orange’s recent and annual “An Artist’s Response to Human Rights” exhibition.
Seniors Jenna Bartels, Audrey DeFazio-Schultz, Melanie Jans, and Madisyn Nunez-Troy; juniors Sadie Lambro, Zoey Wagner, and Josephine Witherow; and sophomores Vitalia Carlucci, Sabrina Listwon, Gianna Miller-Bianchi, Addison Sacco, Ava Schoenleber, Zoe Schultz, Elsa Suen, and Mia Whiting had work on display at SUNY Orange’s Orange Hall Gallery from Dec. 3 through 15.
Students were challenged to create a work of art that illustrates, educates, or raises awareness about one of the articles from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is an international document adopted by the United Nations in 1948 that lists the basic rights and freedoms every person should have, such as the right to life, freedom of speech, education, and fair treatment. It applies to everyone, everywhere, and is meant to guide countries in treating people with dignity and equality.
The document’s basic rights and freedoms include:
• Right to life, liberty, and security
• Freedom from slavery and torture
• Right to equality before the law
• Right to a fair trial
• Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion
• Freedom of opinion and expression
• Freedom of peaceful assembly and association
• Right to privacy
• Right to nationality
• Right to marry and have a family
• Right to education
• Right to work and fair wages
• Right to rest and leisure
• Right to an adequate standard of living (food, housing, healthcare)
• Right to participate in cultural and public life
Team results:
Minisink vs. Shaker 39–25
Minisink vs. Granville/Whitehall 47–17
Minisink vs. General Brown 41–21
Minisink vs. Utica Proctor 66–5
Minisink vs. Coxsackie 54–5
Minisink vs Glens Falls 49–16
Individual highlights:
MOW: Keira Filip, 6–0
Sara Pauls, 6–0
Avery Wingen, 5–0
Jaida Macaluso, 5–0
Kenzie Welch, 5–0
Amelia Patzelt, 4–0
Olivia Miller,4–0
Cait McIlroy, 4–0
Treven Costello, 4-0
Poetic imagery is language that appeals to the senses and helps students understand how a poet creates mood and tone, why a poem conveys meaning beyond its literal statements and why poetry may feel different from prose.
Like all district fifth-graders, Alexa Covais’ IS fifth-graders are in the midst of their Amplify CKLA poetry unit. One of their discussions includes the imagery a poem may invoke. In a seasonal connection, students read a poem called “My Sweater Tells a Story.” They were tasked with highlighting the poem’s imagery and in an art component to the lesson, created the sweater based on what they pictured when finding the imagery in the poem.
Fifth graders learn about poetic imagery because it helps them understand how poems create meaning and emotion, not just what the poem says on the surface. This helps students with abstract thinking, reading, writing and future literary analysis skills. Take a look at their sweater creations and how they align with the poem’s imagery!
The three alumni returned to the high school during their semester break to speak to interested students in a question and answer format about their college experiences. Students submitted questions in advance and later were part of an open discussion with the panelists. The three college students answered questions regarding initial homesickness; how easy or difficult it was to make new friends and take advantage of all that their schools offered; how they “found” their roommates; and if they were transfer students, how was their transfer experience, among other important topics.
Ms. Hauck attended SUNY Orange, transferred and now attends SUNY New Paltz; Ms. Rodriguez attends SUNY Ulster; and Ms. Guido attends the University of Connecticut.
“All the panelists all have very different college backgrounds so they all provided unique insights,” said counselor Bryana Sewell. “We're hoping this will be a yearly event.”
•Gingerbread houses are associated with Victorian houses because of a mix of architectural style, decoration habits and 19th-century culture.
•In the Grimm Brothers’ “Hansel and Gretel,” the children discover a house made of bread, cake, and sugar, with windows of clear sugar. The story never explicitly says “gingerbread,” but it does describe an edible house made of baked goods and sweets. Over time, people naturally imagined this as gingerbread, because it was one of the few sturdy sweet breads that could realistically form walls and roofs.
YUM! It was Gingerbread Day for Cynthia Muccari’s Otisville second and third-graders yesterday, Dec. 18…and the day did not disappoint!
To begin the day, students created their own Gingerbread houses with milk cartons, frosting and all kinds of candy with the help of trusty, little milk cartons.
Later, students colored their own Gingerbread man to represent Germany, which is part of their “Holidays around the World” Social Studies unit. As part of this, they were tasked with writing some things they learned about Germany.
Lastly, students joined in on Third-Grade Teacher Bryon Imbarrato's “Gingerbread Math Mystery,” where everyone had to figure out who took Acting Principal Nikachi Griffin's batches of Gingerbread cookies! They watched testimonies of special area teachers and Principal Julia Downey and listened for clues to try and solve the case. Added in was special math fun which included arrays, number bonds, and tape diagrams of Gingerbread men to represent batches. Students had to use their multiplication or repeated addition skills throughout the activity. What a fun, seasonal and tasty way to reinforce important math and social studies work!
Brendan McGann’s College Biology and College Forensic Science students did just that in their recent gel electrophoresis lab. The separated (by size) DNA fragments allowed students to analyze genetic differences, which is useful to track evolutionary ties and observe genetic similarities for a variety of reasons.
Students prepared an agarose gel, carefully pipetted their DNA samples into wells and applied an electric current across the gel. Because DNA carries a negative charge, the fragments migrate toward the positive end, smaller pieces move faster and farther, while larger pieces lag behind. After the run, the students viewed the separated fragments as distinct bands, each telling a piece of the DNA story.
Not only did students see how DNA can be separated by size, they had the opportunity to practice scientific skills such as micro measuring, pipetting and preparing reagents; apply biology concepts; and have a better understanding of real-world biotechnology tools. These gains in experience allow them to grow from learners into capable young scientists in the fields of genetics, forensics, biotechnology and microbiology research!
Jessica Kahn’s and AnnMarie Guido's Otisville kindergarteners recently gathered for a wonderful afternoon learning about Hannukah, the Festival of Lights! Roberta Kahn, Mrs. Kahn’s mother-in-law, visited and read Chris Barash’s "Is It Hanukkah Yet?" to these little students. After the read-aloud, the students shared what they learned about Hanukkah and asked questions.
The elder Mrs. Kahn also demonstrated how to play the dreidel game and students were partnered to play it. Dreidel is a Hanukkah game where players spin a four-sided top, with each Hebrew letter (Nun, Gimel, Hey, Shin) dictating actions with a central pot of tokens (gelt, nuts, etc.). Players start with equal pieces, add one to the pot to start. Nun (Nothing) means do nothing; Gimel (All) means take the whole pot; Hey (Half) means take half; Shin (Put in) means add one piece to the pot. The last player with pieces wins.
Later, students sang Hanukkah songs and snacked on homemade latkes with sour cream or applesauce. Latkes are traditional Jewish potato pancakes, crispy on the outside and tender inside, made from grated potatoes, onions, eggs, and flour or matzo meal, pan-fried in oil until golden brown. They’re a staple food during Hanukkah.
“These activities provided a wonderful opportunity for the students to come together, learn, and appreciate different holiday traditions,” the younger Mrs. Kahn said.
No one could say to him: “You’re a mean one Mr. Grinch” because his heart had already grown three sizes!
Do you remember what the associative property in math is? We’ll help: The associative property in math is a rule about how you group numbers when adding or multiplying. It says that the way numbers are grouped doesn’t change the result. The associative property is all about grouping (parentheses), not about the order of the numbers. And as these (and ALL) third-graders know, you always solve what’s in the parentheses first!
In math, properties are rules or characteristics that remain true for numbers and operations, providing a consistent and reliable framework for solving problems. These fundamental rules, like the commutative, associative, and distributive properties, allow for the rearrangement of equations without changing the outcome, and they apply across various mathematical fields.
