Greenwood Friends School

Primary students studied magnets and their properties by making a record of items they found throughout the school that were and were not attracted to magnets.  As part of a study of feelings and emotions in social studies, students have a new "peace table" in the classroom.  The table is a tool to help children take “TIME” when there are issues to work out with friends. TIME is an acronym for “Take turns”, use “I messages”, “Make suggestions and compromises” and “End with a handshake.”  Mick Myers, longtime Primary classroom volunteer, fascinated students by describing what it is like living with different abilities.

 As Intermediate students wrapped up their eight week unit on US government, they participated in a mock vote on Election Day.  Students received lists of the presidential candidates’ positions on a variety of topics, with the lists marked only “A” and “B,”  studying the issues before voting for a presidential candidate.  In journal entries, students justified their choices.  They learned the  identities of the candidates at the end of the simulation.

The Greenwood Players, made up of all of Greenwood’s fifth through eighth grade students, made their debut in “Sandy Scarecrow’s Halloween” as part of Greenwood’s Literary Day celebration on the 31st of October.  All of the younger students and many school parents made up the audience for this one-time only performance.

Greenwood’s Head of School Brenda Boggess began a library project for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.  The project begins with students reading and exploring past winners of the Caldecott Award and Caldecott Honor.  Students will discuss reasons why some books have been chosen to receive the coveted awards for best illustrated children’s books.  Next in the project, the children will select their favorites from the picture books published this year, and in December they will hold a Greenwood Friends School Mock Caldecott election.  They will compare their results with the American Library Association's choices, announced in mid-January.

Greenwood Friends School students from preschool through eighth grade celebrated Halloween by dressing as their favorite characters from literature.  Joining the students in dressing in costume were many of the faculty and staff.  Characters parading around the school included princesses, superheroes, wizards, witches, dogs, cats, turtles, and assorted monsters ordinarily only found in books.

Preprimary students are exploring all things pumpkin.  Their teacher, Barb Golder, cut some pumpkins open.  The children scooped them out, rinsed off the seeds, and prepared them for drying so the seeds can be baked and eaten.

After exploring traditional fairy tales with teacher Sue Rockwood, Primary students enjoyed the "twisted fairy tales" Prince Cinders and Princess Smartypants by Babette Cole. Intermediate students studied City of Ember by Jeanne Duprau. 

Barb Golder and Preprimary students made their biannual visit to Montour Preserve.  Students walked some of the trails and looked for signs of fall, including falling leaves, colored leaves, and signs of animals burrowing in the ground for winter hibernation.