Students in Mrs. Pepka’s third grade class
at Whitehall reviewed their Geometry terms for the
PSSA by using PowerPoint in Instructional Technology
taught by Miss Petrilla. As the first of two PowerPoint
projects they will create this year, the students
reviewed skills learned in second grade in addition
to learning how to draw with AutoShapes. In April,
the students will begin a virtual field trip around
the city of Pittsburgh in correlation with one of
their Social Studies’ themes. Each student
will investigate a Pittsburgh topic on the Internet,
create a PowerPoint, and use their oral communication
skills by presenting their project to the class.
The students enjoy working independently on the
Pittsburgh project because they get to express their
creative sides and demonstrate their computer skills!
Posted
4/9/07
MES
- Bicycle Safety
Think First, a bike and helmet safety program
sponsored by Children's Hospital, visited McAnnulty
Elementary. The first and second graders saw how
a cantaloupe was protected by wearing a helmet.
They also learned that the brain is the most important
part of the body, as it makes everything else work.
Posted
4/9/07
MES
- A Special Visit
Mr. Cain, who is presently serving in Iraq, made
a visit to his son’s second grade class at
McAnnulty. Jesse Cain was very proud to have his
father share his experiences with his fellow classmates
in Mrs. Milsom’s room.
Posted
4/9/07
PES
- What is it?
Students in Ms. Brooks’ fifth grade class
at Paynter used microscopes to observe unidentified
objects. They were able to reveal more about the
objects by using different magnifications to change
the “field of view.” After drawing what
they saw, students then made a hypothesis to identify
the mystery-objects. They were newsprint, human
hair, a rose petal, salt, sugar, and seeds.
Posted
4/9/07
MES
- Alligator Word Game
Mrs. Weisbrod’s Kindergarten students at
McAnnulty are sure to remember their high-frequency
words so that the "alligators" don't bite
their ankles as they try to jump over them!
Posted
4/9/07
MES
- Spring Fever
Spring is in the
air at McAnnulty Elementary! The snowmen are
packed away, and flowers and bunnies are popping
up everywhere!
Posted
4/9/07
MES
- Accelerated Reader Pizza Lunch
The McAnnulty PTA provided a pizza and movie lunch
to the students in each first and second grade classroom
who passed the most Accelerated Reader tests over
the past nine weeks. Congratulations and keep reading!!!
Posted
4/9/07
MES
- The Three Little Pigs
Ms. P, from the letter people, brought some friends
and her favorite story The Three Little Pigs to
kindergarten. Students listened to the story, acted
it out, and then became a fourth little pig. Each
child was given a First Grade buddy to help build
their house out of cards. After construction on
their house was done, the Big Bad Wolf also known
as the blow dryer came to McAnnulty and attempted
to blow their houses down.
Posted
4/20/07
MES
- Salvation Army's Bounce for Bundle-Up
Forty-eight students from McAnnulty
Elementary participated in the Salvation Army's
Bounce for Bundle-Up. These students raised
$2,356.45 for this program. McAnnulty's top
participant raised $310. Way to go!
Posted
4/20/07
MES
- Western Day
School spirit was in full force on Friday, April
13th. We celebrated Western Day at McAnnulty Elementary.
Students and teachers enjoyed dressing in their
favorite western outfits!
Posted
4/20/07
MES
- Reading Retelling Strategy
Learners in Mrs.Bruder's Busy Buddy Bees classroom
practice reading comprehension by retelling the
weekly story using story commercials! After a class
story, learners decide if they would recommend the
weekly story to a friend by completing a story script.
Then the fun really begins when the class presents
their story commercial scripts in a mock TV show
format with a real microphone! Lights, camera, action!
Posted
4/20/07
MES
- Surprise Visitor
A Surprise Visit:
Miss Anderson's Allstars had a special Fireman
visit their classroom and share Safety Tips.
The students had a chance to ask Mr. Kail
questions and learn fun facts about Firefighting.
He also helped us with our map skills by showing
us the fabulous places his job has taken him
all over the world!
Posted
4/20/07
MES
- Title One
Mrs. Szymkiewicz is engaging the Title 1 students
in a word building activity which enables students
to learn to decode and blend individual sounds in
words. It allows students to practice manipulating
sounds in order to gain automatic familiarity with
the patterns of sounds in words.
Posted
4/20/07
MES
- Book Buddies
During the week of April 9th, the fifth grade
students from Whitehall Elementary School visited
the first grade students at McAnnulty Elementary
School. Each fifth grade class "buddied"
up with a first grade class. The teachers from each
school worked together to plan an activity for the
students. It was fun to see the "big"
kids from Whitehall back at McAnnulty. The children
worked great together. The fifth graders had a lot
to offer the first graders. The first graders thought
it was really "cool" to work with the
big kids. In May, the first graders will visit Whitehall.
Posted
4/20/07
MES
- I Found a Pot of Gold
To get ready for St. Patrick’s Day in Kindergarten
room 110 we listened to the story Clever Tom
and the Leprechaun. We discussed what we would
do if we found the leprechaun’s pot of gold
like Clever Tom looked for in the story. We wrote
about what we would do with our pot of gold. Some
kindergarteners’ thoughts were: I would “hide
it,” I would “go to Toys R Us,”
and I would “buy Star Wars.” We then
made our own pot of gold to attach to the end of
our rainbow on our writing assignment. To decorate
our room and stay with the St. Patrick’s Day
theme we made shimmery shamrocks to hang from our
ceiling. Stop by to read our writings and take a
look at our festive room! Happy St. Patrick’s
Day to you!!
Posted
4/20/07
MES
- Children's Hospital Think First Program
Excitement filled McAnnulty Elementary cafeteria
when the Children's Hospital Think First program
returned on April 17th to award over 40 students
with new helmets and one lucky winner received a
new bike.
Posted
4/20/07
PES
- Math Olympics
Mrs. Jeffers and Mr. Kobistek have math Olympians
in their classes! These 4th grade students “competed”
in various math events like the Paper plane Discus,
Cotton ball Shot-put, One-handed Marble Grab, One
Leg Long Jump, Drinking Straw Javelin and the Sponge
Squeeze. The purpose of each activity was for students
to estimate the distance, weight or capacity first
and then to measure the actual amount. Points were
earned for the closest estimates.
Posted
4/23/07
PES-
Think First
Baldwin-Whitehall Council of PTA’s provided
a Safety First assembly for grades 1 through 3.
Students watched a video emphasizing the importance
of “thinking first” to help stay safe.
Two speakers from Children’s Hospital used
models of a brain and spinal column to show how
important it is to care for and protect our bodies
by using a bicycle helmet EVERY TIME we ride and
to buckle up EVERY TIME we go anywhere in a vehicle.
Posted
4/23/07
PES
- Science Fair
Friday, April 13th was a lucky night to be at
Paynter Elementary. It was the annual Science Fair.
Over 80 students participated with many creative
projects. Mrs. McWilliams, Mrs. Zamboni, Mrs. Buglar,
Ms. Toki, and Ms. Reinhart allowed students to complete
hands on science experiments from the Asset modules
as their entries. This was a great culminating activity
for the Science: It’s Elementary grant. The
highlight of the evening was a presentation by the
Carnegie Science Center called Fasten Your Seatbelts.
Students and their families were enthralled to see
different modes of transportation and the scientific
principals behind how they work. Airships, rocket
propulsion, hot air balloon, and the combustion
engine were shown. Thank you to PTA chairperson,
Mrs. Linda Ihrig, and all parent and teacher volunteers
for a successful and learning-filled evening! Also,
a big thank you goes out to Mr. Kobistek for helping
staff and students prepare for this wonderful evening
of Science.
Posted
4/23/07
PES
- I Scream for Ice Cream!
Paynter PTA sponsored it's annual Paynter Social
on April 26, 2007. More than 400 Paynter children
and their families came out for a fun-filled night
of dancing, sweet treats and socialization. DJ Steve
from Rockin' Bob's DJ Service was on hand to teach
the crowd the latest dance moves. Sugar and Spice
diligently scooped ice cream and yogurt for the
hungry crowd. Let's not forget, the wildly popular
Rebecca, feverishly twisting away, creating amazing
balloon creations! Congratulations to the door prize
winners! Hope everybody had a good time!
Posted
4/23/07
Administration Building, 4900 Curry Road,
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
