Fourth grade students in Ms. Pinelli’s class at Slocum recently embraced the empowering motto, “I can do hard things,” during their weekly yoga session. Through their practice every Wednesday, Ms. Pinelli aims to teach her students the physical and mental benefits of yoga, while fostering resilience.

Each week, Ms. Pinelli leads her class through various yoga poses, such as half-moon and crow, helping students build strength both physically and mentally. Referring to a difficult pose, Ms. Pinelli shared some inspiring words with her students, saying, “You didn’t shy away from it, you kept working towards it even when you toppled over. That mindset on the mat is what helps us in life off the mat. Those moments allow us to get better.”

Through these sessions, students are learning valuable lessons about perseverance and the importance of maintaining a positive attitude even in the face of challenges.

 

Click here to view the Slocum students build resilience with weekly yoga practice slideshow.

Date Added: 1/17/2025

Fifth grade students from across the district in the C-Quest Enrichment Program chose a word that either defined them or chose a word to set a goal for the year.

After choosing their one word, they explored the outdoors, looking for the letters in their word. Using iPads, they photographed the letters then edited, enhanced through filtering, cropped and uploaded them to Google Slides. The slides were then printed, and the letters were cut out and put onto a poster, spelling their word in their environmental print! During their poetry unit, students wrote a free verse poem using their word in their poem.

Click here to view the 5th Grade C-Quest students’ One Word project slideshow.

Date Added: 1/14/2025

To start off a unit about structures, fourth graders across the district in the C-Quest Enrichment Program studied the Fire Island Lighthouse. Students visited the lighthouse on a field trip, climbing the tower of 182 steps up and down. They also went on a nature walk to learn about the area, saw the Fresnel lens and participated in a United States Lifesaving Service presentation.

Afterwards, students created non-fiction, informational posters summarizing what they learned on their visit. They also took part in a culminating activity on electrical energy, building a model of the lighthouse which included a working electrical circuit.

Click here to view the 4th Grade C-Quest students visit Fire Island Lighthouse slideshow.

Date Added: 1/14/2025

Ahead of the winter break, students in Ms. McGuinness’ first grade class at Slocum embarked on an exciting journey, learning about holidays celebrated around the globe. The students explored the customs, traditions and celebrations of Australia, Germany, Ireland, France, Mexico, Italy and America!

To make the project even more engaging, each student created their own passport as they traveled through these diverse holiday traditions. The students’ enthusiasm and curiosity grew as they discovered the unique ways different cultures celebrate the season.

Date Added: 1/6/2025

Ms. Pinelli's fourth grade class at Edith L. Slocum Elementary School recently engaged in a meaningful activity designed to help them start the new year with purpose. Rather than making traditional New Year’s resolutions, which are often easily forgotten, the students explored the concept of setting intentions, using a single, powerful word to guide them in 2025.

The activity began with a discussion on the difference between resolutions and intentions. The students learned that while resolutions are often specific and short-term, intentions are broader and can encourage ongoing growth. With this understanding, each student chose one word that resonated with them and had the potential to inspire positive change throughout the year.

To kick off the process, the students reflected on their accomplishments and challenges from the past year, identifying areas where they had succeeded and areas where they felt they could improve. This self-assessment helped them brainstorm words that would inspire personal growth, happiness and success moving forward.

Following the brainstorming session, the students illustrated their chosen words, which were displayed both in the classroom and at home as constant reminders of their intentions. These visual cues will serve to guide them in making thoughtful, intentional decisions every day.

In addition to creating the visual representations of their words, the students wrote reflections on why they chose their word and how it will help them grow in 2025.

 

Date Added: 12/19/2024