HMS Limo Lunch

Mrs. Schaffer’s second grade class from McAnnulty Elementary are shark experts thanks to a unit recently taught by student teacher, Miss Lisa Heintz. The students learned about shark facts and used this information in their art, music, language arts, and math lessons. At the conclusion of the unit, the class used their "Shark" knowledge in a game of Shark Jeopardy.

Learning math can be easy and fun, especially when playing games. At McAnnulty Elementary, Mrs. Urban's first grade students are sharpening their math skills with games, such as alligator subtraction, addition lotto, cave subtraction and spin and win. Parent volunteers help the students play and learn.

The junior team was victorious over the senior team, winning the Powder Puff football game 14 to 12. All proceeds from the game benefit the junior and senior classes.

Speaking clearly, loudly and with expression, Ms. Shatlock's second grade students at McAnnulty Elementary performed their Thanksgiving plays to appreciative student audiences. The students made their props and learned their lines with the confidence of experienced stage performers. In the first play, the young actors described life for the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving shared with the Indians. The second play was about the American Bald Eagle and the turkey, which included the debate and history of the selection of our National Bird. In this play, not only did the students perform their lines, they also sang.

Paynter Elementary fourth and fifth grade students participated in three performances of a musical entitled, “Music Around the World,” a revue studying the cultures and music of various countries. The students performed for the younger children in the school, as well as teachers and staff in the morning and for the public in the afternoon and evening. Mrs. Linda Adams, daughter of Dr. W. Robert Paynter, attended the afternoon performance. Dr. Paynter was a former Baldwin-Whitehall School District superintendent and the namesake for Paynter Elementary School.

There are many little blessings and reasons to give thanks in the kindergarten classrooms of Mrs. Mervos and Mrs. Corrigan at Paynter Elementary School. The "Pilgrims and Indians" enjoyed the Thanksgiving activities that ended with a feast provided and served by parents.

Mrs. Siler’s third graders at Whitehall Elementary know quite a bit about Native Americans thanks to their student teacher, Ms. Saylor. Ms. Saylor is a student teacher from Penn State University. She developed a unit based on a chapter in the third grade social studies book. The students were able to identify the different cultures and customs of the Plains and Anasazi Tribes by participating in several different activities. In order to make this unit complete, a Native American Day was planned. The students made vests, head dresses, listened to stories, shared their “wall-painting” summaries of a story they had read in groups, and had a feast of “native” foods. Several parents donated food and joined the celebration!

Whitehall Elementary students were ready with their shopping list as they entered the Holiday Gift Shop. They found a variety of items available to select the perfect holiday gift for their family and friends. Thanks to the efforts of the Whitehall PTA, this one-stop holiday shopping was easy and fun.

Mrs. Walsh, Mrs. Laslo, and Mrs. Larson's fourth grade students at Whitehall Elementary learned the meaning of giving during this past holiday season. The students made applesauce and cinnamon ornaments and Christmas cards for soldiers of a New Kensington-based Army unit stationed in Kuwait.

Paynter Elementary PTA volunteers and co-chairs Jennifer Pacella and Tina Rothremel converted the auditorium into Santa's workshop and filled it with a wide variety of holiday gifts that the students could purchase for their family and friends. The students shopped under the watchful eye of Santa as he took time from his busy schedule to visit with the students.

Learning the traditions and customs of America is an important part of the English As A Second Language student’s experience. On November 25, 2003, Paynter Elementary ESL students had the opportunity to understand the true meaning of Thanksgiving due in part by a special visit made by the Seton La Salle High School International Club. The club organized a book drive at their school to help create lending libraries, giving our ESL students greater opportunities to have reading materials at home. The International Club students also volunteered to give of their time to participate in a special Thanksgiving lesson with some of our K-2 ESL students. The high school students were each paired with an elementary student. The pairs participated in a choral reading of the story ‘Twas The Night Before Thanksgiving using puppets. Then the International Club members helped the students make delicious turkeys using cookies and candy .

Thanks to the efforts of McAnnulty PTA, the students at McAnnulty Elementary had the opportunity to do their holiday shopping at school for family and friends. The shoppers had a wide variety of items to choose from while picking thoughtful presents for their holiday gift giving.

With the ASSET science unit on Motion, Mrs. Gelzheiser's fifth grade students at Whitehall Elementary explored the idea of balanced versus unbalanced forces on a vehicle. They tested different weights by using washers, and noted the effects the number of washers had on the movement of the vehicle. They then logged their information and had to use what they knew about forces to draw a conclusion about the effects of weight on the motion of the vehicle.

Baldwin High School seniors understand the meaning of giving back to the community by donating blood and becoming a lifetime donor. Every unit of blood may save three lives. One hundred six units of blood were donated by Baldwin High School seniors during the Fall Blood Drive held in the auditorium lobby. The next blood drive is scheduled for March 9 and 10.

The food service classes at Baldwin High School took part in the annual making of gingerbread houses. Under the direction of Mrs. Brennfleck, the students worked in teams to design and construct their houses.

"Decking the Halls" at Whitehall Elementary for the holiday season was done with the artistic talents of members of SOAR (Students Organizing and Achieving Results), under the direction of art teachers Mrs. Snee and Mrs. Cooley. Decorations consist of a giant tissue wreath, banner, and 6 feet tall nutcrackers. The SOAR students who worked on the front lobby are Dori Gorczyca, Andy Moog, David Barth, Cody Golon, Cassie Sakmar, Rudy Hazen, Emilee Zeiler, Hannah Dobos, and Chad Zalewski.

The Little Highlanders, led by Baldwin High School basketball coach, Kyle DeGregorio is a program for kindergarten through third grade students that stresses the FUNdamentals of the game of basketball....dribbling, passing, ball-handling skills and low-organizational games. The program runs mid-November through mid-January and meets every Sunday in the high school gym. This year, 140 Little Highlanders received a junior-sized ball, shirt, and a pair of shorts that are used when they perform at two Baldwin Varsity Basketball games. Along with Coach D, the Little Highlanders are assisted in developing their skills by Brian Suchy and Stewart Ayers, both 2003 Baldwin graduates, and the junior varsity and varsity basketball players.The next performance of the Little Highlanders is January 30 at a Baldwin basketball home game.

McAnnulty Elementary second grade students of Mrs. Hareras learned about the country of Greece and its culture. With this unit, they studied the history of the Ancient Olympics which was celebrated in honor of Zeus. The class also learned about the different events and compared them to the Modern Olympics. During a gym class, the students participated in a mock version of the Olympic Games. They used frisbees as the discus, peacock balance feathers as the javelin and fleece balls for the shot put. In preparation for their Olympics on Tour presentation, in which they shared the knowledge they gained from this unit with other classrooms, the class made t-shirts with the help of Mrs. Thompson in art class. She designed their shirts using the Olympic torch and 5 circles to show the 5 Continents.

Mrs. Walsh's fourth grade students at Whitehall Elementary are continuing to spread the joy of the holidays. Mrs. Crompton and her daughter, Katie demonstrating the art of stamping. The students enjoyed designing and stamping cards for their families.

One of the community performances of the Baldwin High School string orchestra included a concert for the residents of Overlook Green. Under the direction of Mr. Gary McKeever, the musicians played 45 minutes of holiday music.