Category: Archive
Seventh graders get tasty lessons on healthy eating
Liberty Middle School seventh grade students recently learned about the health benefits of consuming local foods and the farm-to-table philosophy thanks to Foster Hospitality and its nonprofit, A Single Bite.
This is the second year LMS and A Single Bite have partnered in this program, which is coordinated by Sara Hazlenis, a LCS alumna.
“This program is a great way for students to see different foods that are produced locally, and get them out of their comfort zone by trying new foods that are prepared fresh,” said seventh grade health and PE teacher Rich Feeney.
In January, Kyle Goldstein, A Single Bite presenter and LCS alumnus, visited classes and discussed health and nutrition related statistics for New York state and Sullivan County. Chef Peter Yurasits prepared three “bites” for students to taste and then discuss characteristics of each with their classmates. All ingredients came from different areas of the county, and each student was encouraged to try “A Single Bite” of each snack.
The bites included cheddar cheese on a Granny Smith apple, smoked trout on cucumber, and a potato pancake with applesauce.
Students then took a field trip to Sprouting Dreams Farms in February where they were given the opportunity to explore the grounds with farmer Eugene Thalmann. He discussed goal setting and using resources, as well as conducted a tour of his vegetable farm, which includes three greenhouses that he discussed the purpose for each during the tour. Students sampled a few greens fresh from the garden and enjoyed the company of the farm dog, Loki.
The following week, students were treated to a farm-to-table, family-style lunch at The Arnold House. The meal included fresh salad, roasted chicken, carrots, fingerling potatoes and a lemon honey tart. All ingredients were locally produced and freshly prepared. Students discussed the tastes, smells and textures of the food while enjoying the meal. After each course, the chef shared with the students where the food came from and how it was prepared.
Goldstein returned to the Liberty classrooms mid-February to recap the field trips as well as discuss the difference between real versus processed foods, as well as health benefits. Yurasits prepared three more snacks for the class, and they were asked to once again try “A Single Bite” while describing the food. The bites included parsnip soup, venison summer sausage on a sweet potato chip, and a garlic scape on a roasted carrot.
“It was a great experience,” student Tyler Juron said, “because we learned about local foods and got to eat an amazing lunch.”
Goals are more powerful than wishes
How Liberty schools use goal-setting for improvement
A wish is something we hope happens. A goal is something we make happen. The main difference between wishes and goals are: clear purpose, effort and priority.
Goal-setting is an integral part of the Leader in Me program, which Liberty has instituted in all of its buildings.
This year, elementary and middle school students have begun setting Wildly Important Goals, or WIGs. SMART goals have been a feature at the high school level for several years. In each case, these goals are those determined to be more important than all others. They are specific, measurable and realistic and can be personal or academic.
But setting the goal is only the first step.
Once a goal is identified, action steps are planned to help reach that goal.
For example, an elementary student’s WIG may be to read a chapter book each month. The student decides that goal can be achieved by reading 20 minutes each night. That task, known as a lead measure, can be used to track progress each day. This is habit building.
At the elementary school, goals can be academic, behavioral or social, and generally focus on the individual student. Although the goal may be personalized, the progress is shared with a partner, group, class or building. At LES, there are school-wide, classroom and individual student goals.
Sharing your progress toward a goal is important, according to LES Principal Robert England. “Letting your accountability partners know how you are doing is key. When students know that other people are invested in their daily progress, students are more likely to change their behaviors to achieve their goals. Eventually, these healthy behaviors turn into self-sustaining habits for long term wellness.”
At the middle school, the WIG starts at the building level: ”By May 2023, 80% of grade 5-8 students’ current Student Growth Percentile will be at or above proficiency level (25+) as evidenced by the Spring 2023 STAR Assessment in Reading.”
Each student’s goal is set using the STAR assessment given at the beginning of the year. The assessment breaks down each student’s progress and offers areas on which a student can improve. The students set their WIGs and list at least two things (lead measures) that can be used to help them reach that goal, such as taking notes during daily reading or effectively logging their reading time. Students will be reviewing their new STAR Assessment data from this winter to update their WIGs and Lead Measures.
A
t LMS, time is set aside during classes to focus on the individual WIGs, and the teachers track the time spent. The time spent is compiled by grade on a google form. The tracking also makes it more fun for students, there is a schoolwide scoreboard displayed in the lobby and grade levels are celebrated at the monthly LIM DEAL (Leader in Me Drop Everything and Lead) Assemblies, said LMS Principal Heather Cheh.
At the high school level, goal-setting is done slightly differently, using Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Relevant, Time Bound goals, which encompass the same dynamics of WIGs.
The high school has been using SMART goals since the Professional Learning Community model was introduced a few years ago. Each Content Teacher Team, those who teach the same course, has a SMART goal. Tracking progress is specific to each goal, but is accomplished through common assessments and data analysis.
Each level of goal-setting builds on the others.
When students do better, classrooms do better, then grade-levels do better, and the building does better, and eventually the district, as a whole, will see improvement.
These improvements could be academic, behavioral or social. Improvement in all three helps make for a better community schoolwide.
Character Counts for dozens at LES
Dozens of Liberty Elementary School were honored during the monthly “Character Counts” awards ceremonies held Friday, Jan. 27, in the gymnasium. Both assemblies were livestreamed. The third and fourth grade awards livestream can be seen here. The livestream for the ceremony for the kindergarten through second graders can be viewed here.
The awards, given to one student in each classroom and chosen by the teacher, recognized students who embodied one of the seven habits promoted by Leader in Me. January winners received the “First Place Focus” and “Task Tackler” awards. The awards, named by the students, are based on Habit 2 (Begin With the End in Mind) and Habit 3 (Put First Things First). The students focused on their Wildly Important Goals, or WIGs, in January, by setting their goals (Habit 2), and determining how they can reach them (Habit 3).
The winners of the “First Place Focus” Awards, for setting realistic goals and working to achieve them, were Allison Martinez, David Pineda Monzón, Remaissae Benadim, Elenna Farias, Yasmim Macedo Melo, Jazmin Ramirez Gonzalez, Lucas Kern, Omar Garcia Martinez Jr., Michael Garcia-Vargas, Ana Barragan Velazquez, Emilia Warren, Adriana Colocho Argueta, Grace Wang, Blake Beseth, Mackenzie Beatty, Austin Cuellar Jeronimo, Sophia Lopez Luna, Jordan White, Camden Lake, Ana Hernandez, Cailynn Pate, Willis Gamble Jr., Jamel Smith, Nyjha Miranda, Neviya Cash, Katie Lopez, Dylan Joya Reyes, Farrah Conklin-Degraw, Emma Boyles, Brenda Lucero Andrade, Riley Church-Bradley and Lilliana Garzon Ferrufino.
The “Task Tackler” winners, for working before playing and being organized and managing their time according to their personal priorities, were Valentino Valencia Vasquez, Anastasiia Honcharenko, Rain Mott, Adah Smith Juarez, Emely Aguilera Bonilla, Juan Corona Jr., Sam Martin, Madelyn Gavidia Reyes, Jayden Reyes, Jean Valdiviesio Cajamarca, Ethan Hernandez Mejia, Mia Harrison, Leyvi Eli Banegas Cortes, Eliab Torres Garcia, Aizah Suleman, Emily Portillo, Karrah Atkins, Indigo Love, Jordana Ratner, Keily Martinez Zelaya, Joseph Wilson Jr., Lillian Keating, Nicholas McPhillips, Yarixa Reyes Cardenas, Joseph Geoghan, Savannah Gonzalez, Avery Decker, Kaydence Kalthoff, Denali Owens, Ellis Dilworth, Megan Martinez Gomez, Scarlett Ratner and Anabel Hernandez Fuentes.
Well done, students!
Eighth graders’ trip teaches about technology’s impact
The eighth graders took a trip to the Hurleyville Arts Centre and Hurleyville O&W Rail Trail last month.
Unit 1 of the new Into Literature curriculum poses the essential question: “Does technology control our lives?” To answer this question, the class is reading a variety of texts to formulate their arguments.
As an extension of this, Hurleyville Arts Center provided a private showing of the movie “The Social Dilemma” for the class. The movie focuses on the social and cultural impact of social media usage and the tactics used to modify behaviors as well as the psychological impacts.
To help showcase an alternative to a technology filled world, students visited the Hurleyville O&W Rail Trail walk and ride. There they had an opportunity to explore the historic rail trail and discover the natural world around them.
The students also gathered in small groups to debrief and reflect on what they had learned.
See more photos from the trip on the LCSD Facebook page. and the LCSD Instagram page
LES students honor veterans at assemblies
Decked in red, white and blue, waving American flags, Liberty Elementary School students honored veterans on Wednesday, Nov. 9, in advance of Veterans Day on Friday, Nov. 11.
During two ceremonies, students sang songs, read poems and thanked veterans for their service.
Veterans in attendance were Army veterans Richard Begeal, Chris DaSilva, John Foster, Thomas Harris Lewis, James Kelly, Keith Krauss, Dennis James, Scott Ricco, James Richardson and Joseph Tabacco; Madison Johnstone, from the Army National Guard: Navy veterans Arthur Flynn and Shane Weed; Clarence Kratz from the Navel Air Force; Marines Solomon Conner, Carrado Grant, Kyle Muthig and James O’Connor; and Air Force veteran William Lazarus.
Assistant Principal Brittney Cunningham delivered the opening remarks, in the absence of Principal Robert England who was unable to attend.
“Our students at Liberty Elementary school have been preparing for this day for weeks,” she said. ”Through patriotic songs, we learn about what is important. It is important that they feel they are part of the American family that accepts them and appreciates their value to our community and the nation.”
She also explained what it means to be a veteran, and how important service is to our community and our country.
During the two assemblies, veterans were treated to “See the Veteran” by the pre-kindergarten students, “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” by the kindergartners, and “This Land is Your Land,” by the first graders. All students sang “Grand Ole Flag” to close the ceremony.
Second, third and fourth graders honored veterans in the second assembly with poems, songs and a presentation of donations.
Mrs. Countryman and Mrs. Rubik’s class read a poem that they wrote in honor of the veterans, as did Mr. Conner’s students. Second-graders sang “Thank You Soldier,” followed by the third-graders singing “God Bless America,” and the fourth-graders, who sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The second grade class of Ms. Kristine Kratz presented the collected donations to the veterans that will go to local VA needs.
At the end of both assemblies, veterans lined the doorways as students exited with high fives, hand shakes and thumbs up as a way to thank them for their service.
This annual Veterans Day assembly is made possible by the collective planning and hard work of the LES Building Leadership Team, the Maintenance Department, everyone in the LES main office and every teacher. Finally, a very special thank you to Ms. Kristine Kratz, the teacher who puts her heart, soul and love for our country into every Veterans Day assembly. Thank you, Ms. Kratz for all of your dedicated work to teach our students about honor, service and patriotism.