Mrs. Leigh Castle, Mrs. Kelly Hainsey, and Mr. John Howanski’s classes are reaching high heights in Physical Education class. All PE classes climbed the rock wall to work on upper body and grip strength, as well as learning bouldering/traverse wall climbing. Students have also been playing 4 square which generates eye-hand coordination and concentration, as well as developing proprioception and directional awareness.

In health class, Stacey Zelesnick came in to talk to all classes about keeping our teeth healthy and clean. The students get a kick out of Flossy.  Mr. Flossy’s advice, “Brush your teeth at least twice a day to keep the dentist away.”

Mrs. Rozsits’ first grade class is learning about the many December holidays. We are reading and writing about Las Posadas, Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa. For each holiday we read a passage or a book and make a project to match the holiday. We made these beautiful poinsettias for Las Posadas after reading The Legend of the Poinsettia. The first graders love to learn about the many different ways we celebrate in the month of December.

Third grade recently read the story “Aero and Officer Mike”. This story is about a police officer and his K-9 partner. It describes the events in their day, the training they incur and how they work together as a team. The book came to “life” for the students when Corporal Mendenhall and his K-9 partner came to visit Bancroft. The dynamic duo is from the Chester County K-9 Sheriff Department. Corp. Mendenhall talked to the children about his job and how he helps people. However, Nero stole the show when he demonstrated his amazing K-9 abilities. Everyone enjoyed their demonstration!

Mrs. Gabriela Stephens Moyer’s Spanish classes working hard on many different activities. The 3^rd grade classes are presenting their skits about Columbus meeting the Tainos who were the inhabitants of the Caribbean islands where Christopher Columbus first landed. The 5^th grade classes are learning about the first inhabitants of Mexico the Mayas and Aztecs. The students created a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting the two. In 1^st Grade the students are finishing books describing their families and presenting it in small groups. The 2^nd graders are working on a poem about the jungle in Costa Rica and using our 5 senses to describe it. Lots of beautiful drawings and creative work going on! 4^th Grade completed a unit about the geography of Bolivia and made some 3-D maps with playdough. We also made sidewalk chalk maps outside on a beautiful day!

Mrs. Urglavitch’s 3^rd, 4th, and 5^th grade students have been learning about musical elements and what to listen for in music. They have created individual music listening journals that will keep track of their monthly listening examples and information pertaining to the genre/style of music. Our upper grade levels also continue to focus on our Orff instruments and various arrangements each month in music class. Students have been sharing their work in the hallway for students and staff as they pass by. 1^st and 2^nd grade students have also been working hard at playing the xylophones and learning about note names and playing techniques. They have come so far in such a little amount of time!