Students in Kasey Ascani’s second grade class at Frances K. Sweet Magnet School were able to explore deeper into story structure during a recent field trip to LEGOLAND. Jordin Harper(left) and Madeline Chiong(right) crafted one part of a plot structure which they developed with their small group’s team members.

Staff and faculty mentors at F.K. Sweet Elementary were recently treated to a luncheon compliments of PTO, and hosted by Robin Zabitosky and Barbara Whellams, Mentoring Committee chairs. Mentors give of their time before, after school, or during their lunch, to help students in the areas of reading, math, and writing. The program has grown each year with nearly 90% of the staff and faculty participating. Pictured are Robin Zabitosky, left, and Barbara Whellams.

Students in Mr. Donald Logue’s fifth grade class were marine biologists for the week studying sea turtles. Thanks to the Inwater Research Group’s Traveling Turtle Trunk, they measured, weighed, and inspected “captured” sea turtles for signs of distress. Then they decided to either release their sea turtle or send it to a rehabilitation facility to receive treatment based on the evidence they collected.

Frances K. Sweet teachers and staff support Light it Up Blue for Autism by wearing blue on April 1st.

After listening to informational books about bats, Morgan Haupt’s kindergarten class at Frances K. Sweet Elementary School enjoyed drawing and labeling the parts of a bat. Pictured, from left, are Jordan Dunn, Adryan Mills, Chase Wu and Madeline Chiong.

The F.K.Sweet Elementary School annual kindergarten circus, The Greatest Show on Earth, was a recent crowd pleaser. The audience was highly entertained by clowns, magic tricks, prancing ponies, acrobats, and wild animal acts. The climax of the evening  and a spell binding experience was someone surviving being shot from a cannon. A huge thanks to teachers Morgan Haupt, Kristin Griffin, Kathy Offerdahl, Michelle O’Keefe, Melanie Francisco, and Sandy Picano for their hard work and countless hours of practice. Pictured are some of the stars of the show!

Romari Timothee and Raymond Coburn from Morgan Haupt’s kindergarten class at F.K.Sweet Elementary enjoy working together and comparing lengths of cube trains during math centers. Kindergartners are busy working and learning all of the skills that they will need for first grade.    

The kindergarten students at F.K. Sweet Elementary School have been studying plants and seeds during the season of Spring.  Trenton Hogan, pictured left, was so excited to gather the soil for his cup while Harmony Davis held the bag open to help him as each student prepared to plant sunflower seeds. The students have loved watching the cups each day and oh the excitement when some of them sprouted!  We can’t wait to see how they change into beautiful sunflowers.

Frances K. Sweet Elementary School students Ruben Medina, left, and Olivia Gomez, pictured, in Michelle O’Keefe’s kindergarten class enjoy sorting two-dimensional flat shapes and three-dimensional solid shapes. After sorting, students ate their shapes! Ruben enjoyed the cheeseball sphere and Olivia enjoyed eating the Hershe’s Kiss cone.

After reading “Pizza at Sally’s”, students in Kristin Griffin’s kindergarten class at Frances K. Sweet Elementary helped complete a sequencing map of the story using just graphic clues. After they were finished with the sequencing map, they then used a portion of it to help make their own pizzas. Alex Sgouris, left, and Huberle Syril cannot wait until these little pizzas are cooked and ready to eat.

Kindergartners in Kristin Griffin’s class at F. K. Sweet Elementary School respond to reading while at the reading center. Both Guinevere Sauveur, left, and Jayden Leddy liked their book choices so much they chose to record the books in their journals.

Did the groundhog see his shadow?  Kathy Offerdahl’s kindergarten students at F.K. Sweet Elementary predicted whether or not Punxsutawney Phil would see his shadow.  They made their own groundhogs ‘pop’ out of their ‘burrows’ to share with their families.

September in kindergarten has been such a busy month!  Did you know what you will find if you cut open an apple? Isaiah Brickles-Jackson was pleasantly surprised to find a star!  Students in Melanie Francisco’s class studied apples while learning the properties of matter.  After reading about Johnny Appleseed, students turned apples into applesauce.  They practiced patience while they worked in their classroom all day smelling the delicious aroma.  At the end of the day, they were able to taste it.  The applesauce was fabulous!

During literacy centers, Kira Kim and Adrian Perez from Michelle O’Keefe’s kindergarten class at F.K. Sweet Elementary School had a great time cooperating in the puppet center. They worked hard developing a story with their puppets while friends watched and enjoyed the show. Pictured are Kira Kim, left, and Adrian Perez.

Students in Kristin Griffin’s kindergarten class at F. K. Sweet Elementary love learning about different cultures. After learning about the Chinese New Year celebrations, the students were able to try some authentic Chinese dumplings. After trying out their chopsticks on Fruit Loops, Janya Baptiste, left, and Alex Sgouris were ready for the delicious dumplings.

The kindergarten students at F.K. Sweet Elementary School were surprised with a visit from Kauff’s Towing while studying about Community Helpers. Teachers and students learned all of the responsibilities that the drivers have. Quiana Lundy, from left, Shanyla Osby, Jeffery Stephens, Josiah Fullwood, and Dennis Scott from Melanie Francisco’s class loved listening to kindergarten parent Dennis Scott explain the tools on the huge “wrecker” truck.

After learning about the celebrations that take place during Chinese New Year, Kristin Griffin’s kindergarten class at Frances K. Sweet Elementary enjoyed eating traditional Chinese foods. They feasted on dumplings that symbolize togetherness in the coming year and stir-fried rice that represents harmony and happiness.  Nicole Williams and Terry McQueen show their classmates how to eat withchopsticks.

After a week of studying and comparing fairy tales, kindergartners at F. K. Sweet Elementary