Author: WENDY MUNAO

First grade students at Mariposa Elementary School were recently challenged to dress as a US President as a way to learn more about Presidents in the past and those in the future. Pictured, Steven Reinosa poses as future President of the United States, and his costume was so impressive, he won the contest for his class and was awarded a set of mechanical pencils instead of feathered quills.

More than 70 students and their parents braved inclement weather to attend Mariposa Elementary’s Math Night. Students were engaged in meaningful, real world problem-solving as they walked grocery store aisles. Pictured, from left to right, students Joshua Locklar, Tyshon Crawford, Paul Lesser, and Shane Lesser, observe as parent Don Lesser shows the students about the stacking of oranges (spheres). The families enjoyed the problem solving activities. It was a great evening enjoyed by all who attended.

At Mariposa Elementary, Cynthia Deal in Maria Nunez’s fourth grade class was engaged in finding 12 different types of angles. The activity included having a great deal of fun during the learning process. Cynthia used mini-marshmallows and wooden toothpicks to create these various angles.

Students and staff at Mariposa Elementary School recently enjoyed an assembly with remarks presented by the esteemed international Strength Team, rated #1 in the nation for school assembly programs. The group’s presentations promote anti-bullying, anti-peer pressure, anti-drugs, and anti-alcohol, while respecting others and academic excellence. A great morning was had by all with this motivating message on making the right choices and was received with applause, laughter, and cheering. Pictured is one of the team members addressing a question from the audience.

Second grade students at Mariposa Elementary School have been working since September with students from the Port St. Lucie High School drama department, playing drama games and learning about performing in front of an audience. Each class recently presented a Reader’s Theater for parents and families. Pictured are students from Leslie Reddinger’s class, from left, Kiki Hayward, Arrielle Jocelyn, and Kiarrah Jean-Baptiste, performing “The Tale of the Lazy People: A South-African Fable.”

Students at Mariposa Elementary recently invited local veterans, firefighters and police officers to a Hero’s Breakfast in their honor. After the breakfast, students honored the local heroes through songs from the Mariposa chorus directed by Mary McCartney, a “Thank You” presentation from Michelle Smith’s first grade class, poem readings from second grade students and thank you cards from the entire school. The heroes were thrilled to receive the hugs and thank you cards from the students! Afterwards, the local police and fire department invited students outside to view the emergency vehicles and learn about safety. Pictured are Jonah McCrory, from … Read More

The students in Kristin Almy’s fourth grade class and the kindergartners in Kari McIntyre’s class at Mariposa Elementary School have joined together as reading buddies. The older students designed lessons that involved reading, writing and art that related to bats and spiders. Raelynn Lanni, lieft, and Gabriela Prado, pictured, were paired together to complete the activities. The kindergartners then performed “The Very Busy Spider” by Eric Carle for their buddies. The students had a great time learning from each other!

Students in Maria Nunez’s fourth grade class at Mariposa Elementary School have been exploring their senses and how to describe what they interpret with them. Pictured, from left, Anthony Serrano, Joshua Pierre, Devon Barbour, Joslyn Patterson and Faith White were presented with four centers:  listening, smelling, touching, and seeing. The students had to describe the objects using ONLY their senses. It was an enthralling activity that will help them both in writing and science. Students were engaged and so excited about tying in science lessons previously taught and applying them to their writing.

Kindergartners in Linda Auciello’s class at Mariposa Elementary used their new knowledge of shapes to create some crazy shape monsters. They were given a brief discussion and example, but then they were required to cut the paper into the shapes by themselves and put the shapes together to form some sort of crazy monster! The students really came up with some fun ideas and every one of them was different because they had to use their own creativity and design! After they finished, students counted how many shapes they used all together to make their monster and how many different shapes … Read More

Students in Maria Nunez’s fourth grade class at Mariposa Elementary are studying matter. Pictured, from left, Joslyn Patterson, Sydney Luppens, Faith White, Taline El-Khoury, Alanna Riverahad were asked to measure the  volume and mass of objects. Each station had a different activity exploring matter. For example, at one station, students had to find the volume of an irregular object using water displacement. Students were engaged and learned how to work as a team.

At Mariposa Elementary, fifth grade students are applying their knowledge of the tools of measurement. Student scientists in Kathleen Guntow’s class are learning to use measuring tools. Pictured, David Diaz, left, and Ludwica Romero work together to measure mass with a spring scale and are applying their new knowledge to a spray water bottle.