Kearny and Geo Kids

Last year our Kearny kids participated in the program established within our partnership with the Wagner Free Institute of Science. What a cool place!

Click to visit.

From the Wagner website here is some information on the program: Geo Kids is a partnership between the Wagner Free Institute of Science and four local schools: Meade Elementary School, Kearny Academics Plus, Reynolds Elementary School and Gesu School. It was founded in 1992 on the belief that children have a natural curiosity about many topics in the earth and life sciences and that study of these subjects at an early age can be an effective vehicle for increasing student interest in science as well as learning in general. The program brings authentic science learning to hundreds of elementary students each year. Led by Institute Children’s Educators, GeoKids classes participate in yearlong natural science units that are hands-on and content rich. In 2002, the Institute began a partnership with the Biology Department at Saint Joseph’s University to enhance and expand the GeoKids program. Funded by a GK-12 grant from the National Science Foundation, the GeoKids LINKS collaboration brings undergraduate and graduate students in biology and environmental science into GeoKids classes to help develop and implement curriculum. Additionally, Saint Joseph’s professors are part of the LINKS team, contributing to the development and delivery of real-life science experiences for GeoKids classes. The partnership has enabled the Wagner to bring the program to many more students each year. In 2005, the National Science Foundation awarded the GeoKids LINKS program a five-year renewal to continue this successful collaboration.




Last year, Action News Channel 6 visited the Wagner for the Geo Kids end of the year Scavenger Hunt Party. Kearny children are featured prominently in the newscast. Here is a link from Action News Channel 6 from this newscast.

President Bush must have heard about Kearny...

...because he came to visit!

Yesterday our school was THE place to be in town.

President Bush along with his wife, Laura Bush, and many other dignitaries, (lots of important people that care about education), came to see what we do at Kearny. The children behaved amazingly well. They wore their school uniforms with pride, they had to go through scanners on their way into the building, and then they stayed in their classrooms the entire morning.

The president visited some of the classes. He answered some questions the children posed. Some questions were really funny: How many bathrooms in the White House or where did he and Mrs. Bush get married?.

NO! Not our Ms. Bush, his Mrs. Laura Bush!








President Bush collected letters the children wrote and then gave a speech in our auditorium. The auditorium looked beautiful! In fact, the entire school looked beautiful. We really need to thank our Kearny crew who worked so hard to make everything spic and span.

So much more happened but we'll let some of the students tell us more.

Here is what Kenae wrote:


President Bush came to our school and gave a very influential speech. I could relate to what he was saying as it related to No Child Left Behind. During his speech he said that teachers should determine where children should be placed according to their reading level. He also said that testing is very important in finding out students' reading levels, and in areas where they are struggling.

President Bush thanked Dr. Ackerman for taking a stand and supporting the idea of No Child Left Behind. He also thanked Ms. Spagnola, all of the skilled teachers that teach us, and the students for coming down to hear his speech.

By
Kenae Willoughby
7th Grade Rm 305

Mrs. O'Brien's and Mrs. Ginsburg's Kindergarten classes took a trip to

The Wagner Free Institute of Science of Philadelphia.

They read books about what it takes to be a scientist,
and how animals prepare for winter.

They also got to be scientists, carefully observing specimens such as
a squirrel hide (very soft), a feather and a Monarch butterfly.

It was interesting and fun,
(even if the old building was a little creepy).

We all want to go back!

SUPERHEROES

Can you identify these superheroes??

You may have seen us in the hallways...

We are part of the Superhero league known as ...

"Ms. Malkowski's Magnificent Seven"!

8th Grade Graduation Committee

Here is some information from the 8th grade graduation committee:

With the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving and soon after Christmas, the graduation committee has been diligently working to reduce the 8th grade dues. With the success of the Candy Apply sale, the elimination of the Graduation Pictures from the budget, and a sale on the caps & gowns, the dues were reduced! The original price of $145 has been reduced to $111. It is very important to support all of the Home & School fundraising activities.



During an assembly with all 8th grade students, the details of the graduation activities, which included the dues, were presented. Since there will be changes, there will be another assembly in January to present any updates.



Calling all DJ’s! The committee is currently looking for a DJ for the 8th grade Valentine’s Day dance. Please forward the names of any DJs to the committee.



We are sure that there are graduation activities not yet mentioned. Please feel free to bring them to the forefront through one of the committee members.



Anyone interested in joining the committee, please feel free to sign up. New members are welcome.

IMPORTANT DATES!!

Here is a list of important dates for the month of December. Please mark your calendar.

December 11th: deadline for our Candy Fundraiser

December 15th: Kearny School Choir will perform at the Bourse at noon

December 16-17th: Book Sale at school

December 19th: Holiday Concert @9AM


See you there...

CANDY SALE!! Deadline coming up...

This Thursday, December 11th, is the deadline for our Candysale Fundraiser. Please give this effort a last push. All students who participate in the sale will receive something special packed in with their order and there will be a gift for the three highest sellers.
If you need a form, please see Ms. MacGruther or Orna Willis (of Home & School).