- April 25, 2024
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A sea of students sat in the media center at Wadsworth Elementary School Thursday, Oct. 18. As the image on the slideshow changed from a pigmy seahorse, one of the smallest sea creatures, about the size of a fingernail, to a Goliath grouper, one of the largest animals in the ocean, the crowd of first- and second-grade students shrieked with excitement.
The images were just a few of the underwater creatures shown to the students by photographer and children’s book author Michael Patrick O’Neill.
“He did a great job,” said media specialist Marilee Palot. “He had the presentation leveled for the different grade levels, and the kids were really engaged. Just watching the kids’ faces, you could tell that they were excited about the animals.”
O’Neill did a presentation for all grade levels at Wadsworth, in addition to interacting in a literary luncheon with 14 fourth-grade students. He also visited Old Kings Elementary for two days this week doing workshops with students.
“Hopefully this will get them engaged in science,” Palot said.
Other animals included in O’Neill’s presentation were the arrow crab, cleaner shrimp, starfish, squid, spotted dolphin, Australian sea lion, puffer fish, blue spotted sea robin, frog fish, rock tail sting ray and several sharks.
Panther progress
Plants and irrigation will be planted next week to surround the future home of the panther statue that will be installed at the entrance of Wadsworth Elementary School.
This year marks the 25th birthday of Wadsworth, the oldest elementary school in Palm Coast, and Principal Robin Dupont hopes that the panther project will be an outward representation of the beauty of what the students are doing inside the school.
To date, the school has raised $8,500 towards the project but still needs to raise $25,000 more for the project to be completed.
Dupont is asking the community for cash donations to make the sculpture, created by local artist Paul Baliker, come to life.
To donate, call the school at 446-6720.
CLASS NOTES
+Firefighters visit Indian Trails for safety week
When Lt. Kyle Berryhill and firefighter Mike Chandley came to Indian Trails Middle School, their major purpose was to educate the students about the dangers of fire and some of the methods of basic fire prevention. But due to the interactive nature of the presentation, the students were treated to far more than a lecture.
While Berryhill described what happens on a typical call to action, Chandley chose a volunteer student from the class to put on most of the firefighter's weighty and cumbersome equipment.
Along with demonstrating how each piece of equipment protects the firemen from harm, the two men also answered questions from the students about how to protect themselves if a fire breaks out and what to do to prevent fires from starting in general. They related stories about the dry summer conditions of 2011, the fires that resulted from those conditions and the dangers of fireworks and matches.
Finally, while wearing the full oxygen mask, Chandley did an impression of Darth Vader from "Star Wars," impressing upon the students that although firefighters might look like scary villains in their uniforms, they are indeed heroes who might someday save their lives.
Bunnell Elementary to offer workshops for parents
Starting in January, the Bunnell Elementary School guidance counselors will be offering the "How To Talk So Kids Will Listen" workshop series. Parents are invited to attend the series of workshops Thursday evenings from Jan. 31 through March 7.
The workshops will be held 6:45-8 p.m. in the Bunnell Elementary School Media Center, on the dates listed below.
If interested in attending, or for more information, contact the Bunnell Guidance Office at 437-7533.
Jan. 31: Session 1: Dealing with Children’s Feelings. Learn three specific skills for accepting feelings.
Feb. 7: Session 2: Engaging Cooperation. Learn six methods for engaging cooperation that invite children to assume responsibility.
Feb. 14: Session 3: Alternatives to Punishment. Explore alternatives to punishment; learn five specific skills, including how to help a child make amends.
Feb. 21: Session 4: Encouraging Autonomy. Learn specific skills that encourage autonomy, including how to not rush to answer questions.
Feb. 28: Session 5: New Ways to Praise. Learn specific skills that enable children to praise themselves.
March 7: Session 6: Freeing Children From Playing Roles.
