Math is movement too

MONTICELLO, NY — It looked like any other normal day on the playground at the George L. Cooke Elementary School. Students laughed and jumped, did their best dinosaur impressions, and chanted in unison.

But for the second-grade students in Joana Dutcher and Danielle D’Agata’s class, this is all part of learning important math skills.

Over the summer months, Dutcher and D’Agata, along with Cooke staff April Lasky and Irina Natale and Dutcher’s daughter, Maura (a student at Robert J. Kaiser Middle School) spent hours painting a 100s chart on one of the Cooke playgrounds.

A 100s chart displays the numbers from one to 100 from left to right in rows of 10. It’s a time-honored tool that helps build foundational math skills in students, a Monticello spokesperson said.

While the charts are typically displayed on a classroom wall or are used on worksheets, the chart the group painted at Cooke is located outdoors. That allows students to integrate fresh air, sunshine and movement into math class.

After a season of success during the school’s summer academy, the group once again came together to add a second chart on another Cooke playground.

“Lots of research shows that incorporating physical activity into learning helps students learn,” Dutcher said. “It works well in all subjects, but it’s particularly useful for math.”

Recently, the second graders demonstrated how their class has been using the charts. Students identified and then raced to stand on particular numbers as Dutcher called them out. The kids pretended to be dinosaurs as they marched across the playground, counting loudly in unison, and stopping to roar at every third number.

“It can be used to help with basic number recognition, identifying odds and evens, place values and so much more,” Dutcher said. “It’s flexible for all grade levels, and the students love seeing the bright colors and spending time outdoors.”

Greater Pike donations aid pre-K, STEM

MILFORD, PA — The Greater Pike Community Foundation can help defray the cost of pre-K tuition and enhance STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs for Delaware Valley high school students.

The donations, which came from area banks and businesses, were made to Greater Pike through a PA community and economic development program that offers tax credits in exchange for educational program support. The donations were made specifically for these programs.

Delaware Valley School District students will get a leg up in science and technology, a Greater Pike spokesperson wrote, thanks to donations from Weis Markets, the Dime Bank and the Honesdale National Bank.

Families of pre-K students have received tuition assistance with donations from the Dime Bank, UGI Utilities and HM Life Insurance.

The emphasis on technology in the classroom is more important today than ever before for the future success of students.

Pre-K programs provide children with a stronger start for kindergarten. Without the donations, Greater Pike would not be able to provide support to the families.

“We are very grateful for our partnership with Greater Pike and the community banks and businesses,” said Jayson Pope, Delaware Valley High School principal. “Their generous contributions will ensure the continued growth and development of our STEM programs.”

For more information on Greater Pike, call executive director Jess Zufall at 570/832-4686, or email jesszufall@greaterpike.org.

A family poses for a photo at a recent harvest festival, hosted by EPIC.

Kids showed up in costume for the harvest festival at the St. John St. School.

The Harvest Festival costume contest included a prize for the scariest costume. Could this one have won?

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A ‘gourd’ time was had by all

MONTICELLO, NY — The St. John Street Community Preschool Center held its first harvest festival in October.

The event was hosted by EPIC, Every Person Influences Children, and the turnout was remarkable, a district spokesperson said, with over 120 families and seven community agencies present.

Attendees included EPIC, Fidelis Care, MVP, Sullivan County Attain Lab, Nesin Cultural Arts, Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Sullivan County Department of Public Health.

The festival kicked off with activities for families as part of the event’s “Trunk or Treat.” Preschool teachers greeted students with candy and Halloween treats as they arrived with their families.

Inside the building, fall-themed activities awaited the families. At the food art table, students made pumpkins out of celery sticks and mandarin oranges. At the literacy table, students put together Halloween-themed words, such as “cat,” “bat” and “boo,” with cut-out letters, and then glued them onto cardstock.

And at the math table, students competed for a chance to win a large pumpkin and carving kit by counting how many pumpkins were in the room—all part of a “Halloween hunt.” Students also enjoyed a Halloween story time, which was provided by Cornell Cooperative Extension and featured guest reader Sue Ann Boyd.

Winners in the costume contest took home prizes.

The costume contest consisted of four categories: funniest costume, most original costume, cutest costume and most frightening costume. The four winners took home backpacks filled with books and treats; the packs were provided by EPIC.

The night concluded with a family take-home project, supplied by EPIC.

“The project is one of the best ways for expanding family participation,” said Jane Sorensen, EPIC family-engagement program manager.

Tim Lever heads admin services at SUNY Sullivan

LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — Tim Lever, the former executive director of budget and planning at Mercy College, is SUNY Sullivan’s new vice president for administrative services.

Lever has extensive experience working for SUNY, according to a press release. He has served as senior budget analyst with the SUNY system administration office and as the associate vice president and chief financial officer at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ.

“I believe that the role of the community college is more important now than ever in today’s perpetually changing higher education landscape,” Lever said.

The vice president for administrative services guides faculty, administration, staff and the college’s governing structures in making decisions related to planning, resource allocation, program and curricular development, among other tasks.

Lacawac Sanctuary has received a grant to support its work with schools. Pictured are Jamie Reeger, director of environmental education, left; and …

Lacawac Sanctuary receives support for school programs

LAKE ARIEL, PA — The Lacawac Sanctuary Environmental Education Center was recently awarded a $7,000 community-needs grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation for Academic Enrichment science program (AES).

AES is used by local school districts to address the youth science-literacy crisis through hands-on, learner-centered strategies, according to a press release.

The program gives students—particularly low-to-moderate-income youth at risk for academic failure—the chance to learn more about science.

It “support[s] academic enrichment with opportunities to participate in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) projects and hands-on experiences,” said sanctuary president Craig Lukatch. It partners with colleges, universities and local businesses.

Lacawac Sanctuary is a nonprofit association founded in 1966 to protect a gift of the original Connell Park lands, and to facilitate environmental education and research.

For more information visit www.lacawac.org.

Recognizing BOCES Career & Technical Education Center students

LIBERTY, NY — Recently, 39 students in the career and technical education program at Sullivan BOCES were honored for their work ethic in school.

Each of the nominees was selected by his or her instructor for his or her attendance record, character, attitude and respect.

 “We are so proud of these students,” said Jeffery Molusky, executive principal. “What each of the students has demonstrated throughout the marketing period is a reflection of their dedication and drive to succeed.”

The ceremony was attended by family members, students and staff.

For more information about the program offered through the Career & Tech Center, visit www.scboces.org/CTE, like it on Facebook, or follow it on Twitter or Instagram.

The list of students includes their trades and their home districts.

Allied health

Olga Gonzales-Reyes (Fallsburg)

Animal science

Xaira Sennett (Sullivan West)

Steven Gil de Lamadrid (Liberty)

Alexandra Cogswell (Liberty)

Amelia Edwards (Sullivan West)

Auto body

Samuel Olivares-Reyes (Liberty)

Nicholas Thompson (Tri-Valley)

Auto tech

Daniel Omogba (Monticello)

Robert Donnelly (Sullivan West)

Jacob Harrington (Monticello)

Matthew Klein (Tri-Valley)

Broadcasting/music production

Selina Fritz (Roscoe)

Diego Gaona Quintanar (Sullivan West)

Construction

Junior Bonilla Ordonez (Fallsburg)

Darren Watkins Tejada (Monticello)

Cosmetology

Sara DePace (Monticello)

Kerensa Howard (Eldred)

Jade Baker (Roscoe)

Alexandra Barnes (Tri-Valley)

Culinary arts

Adrian Flores (Monticello)

Kailan Odell Schreier (Fallsburg)

Andrew Tejada (Fallsburg)

Alexus Parisella (Liberty)

Early childhood

Stefany Sandoval (Liberty)

Krysta Hallock (Livingston Manor)

Health occupations

Isabella Francisco (Roscoe)

Erin Lenihan (Livingston Manor)

Jordanna Martinez (Monticello)

Kaitlyn Lamantia (Liberty)

Innovative design

Lauren Kiefer (Monticello)

Kylie Feeney (Eldred)

Natural resources

Robert Buck (Roscoe)

Nicolas Carroll (Monticello)

New Vision Health

Matthew Chigbundu-Obiokoye (Liberty)

Pre-tech

Mathew Flores (Tri-Valley)

Public safety

Holly Mcfarland (Monticello)

Mackenzie Carlson (Livingston Manor)

Welding

Christopher Brush (Monticello)

Robert VonGerichten (Sullivan West)

Students of the month at Sullivan BOCES

LIBERTY, NY — Each month, students are chosen from the Alternative and Special Education programs at Sullivan BOCES. Their accomplishments are celebrated, a spokesperson said, and their names are placed on a bulletin board in the main hallway of the Rubin Pollack Education Center.

The students also have lunch with the principal.

The following students were selected based on their academic achievements, character, attitude, respect for others and attendance. The students are listed with their home school districts.

September

Elementary students

Karissa Dinger (Monticello)

Francis Ren (Eldred)

Matilda Morecelo (Monticello)

Judith Altman (Tri-Valley)

Gerald Stanton (Sullivan West)

Kameron Crawford (Fallsburg)

Lucas Cox-Odell (Port Jervis)

Maximus Scoyni (Monticello)

Leah Talmadge (Monticello)

Bailey Callender (Fallsburg)

Messiah Liles (Monticello)

Alexander Brown (Tri-Valley)

Geovanni Carlew (Ellenville)

Secondary students

Joshua Slater (Liberty)

Devin Brady-Jones (Monticello)

Arisbeth Padilla Leon (Monticello)

John Taurino (Tri-Valley)

Hailey Shaw (Roscoe)

Shane Lopez (Tri-Valley)

Vincenzo Huffman (Ellenville)

Mathew Flores (Tri-Valley)

Ricki Jones (Ellenville)

Dakota Vaile (Fallsburg)

Quincy Alexander (Monticello)

Zak Jones (Ellenville)

Robert Stubbs (Monticello)

Riley Schreibel (Eldred)

Emily Sherwood (Eldred)

Jayden Quick (Monticello)

Albert Brown (Tri-Valley)

Emily Walter (Eldred)

Ronald Finkel (Monticello)

Serenity Diaz-Wilks (Monticello)

Ju-Juan Drayton (Monticello)

Mark Sanchez-Gomez (Liberty)

Olivia Tagliamonti (Monticello)

October

Elementary students

Jaden Rodriguez-Cortes (Fallsburg)

Jahdel Arroyo (Monticello)

Evelyn Goodin (Monticello)

Abdiel Reyes-Dubon (Fallsburg)

William Bryant (Sullivan West)

Devon Tolbert (Livingston Manor)

Paul Beluli (Try-Valley)

Markus Metheny (Monticello)

Malik Bush (Fallsburg)

Alanna Reyes (Roscoe)

Trevor Donohue (Eldred)

Levi Wright (Downsville)

Ashan Anderson (Fallsburg)

Kameron Crawford (Fallsburg)

Justin Worden (Sullivan West)

Judith Altman (Tri-Valley)

Secondary students

Niel Patel (Fallsburg)

Delya Alger (Roscoe)

Zaniyah McKaney-Roberts (Livingston Manor)

Paul Tsoucalas (Ellenville)

Darius Duplessi (Monticello)

Nicholas Di’Chiara (Liberty)

Arisbeth Padilla-Leon (Monticello)

Eric Simmons (Livingston Manor)

Kami Simmons (Livingston Manor)

Vincenzo Huffman (Ellenville)

Dallas Curry (Roscoe)

James Bensimon (Fallsburg)

Sean Koskey (Liberty)

Julius Grosse (Liberty)

Dorian Keillor (Sullivan West)

Ricki Jones (Ellenville)

Carter Feeney (Roscoe)

Jamila Suarez (Monticello)

Ryan Whitted (Tri-Valley)

Albert Brown (Tri-Valley)

Semaj Daily (Monticello)

Jeremy Jackson (Liberty)

Joshua Jackson (Liberty)

Toni Phillips (Roscoe)

Rahmel Harris (Monticello)

Hayley Dunn (Sullivan West)

Ju’Juan Drayton (Monticello)

Elizabeth Totten-Mitchell (Monticello)