Date: Fri 04-Sep-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: MICHEL

Quick Words:

schools-Sandy-Hook-mail

Full Text:

Sandy Hook School Gets Mail From Its Fans

(with photos)

BY MICHELE HOGAN

Postcards from the deepest caves to the highest peaks in America, from

peaceful sunsets to hair-raising water rides, adorn the cafeteria walls at

Sandy Hook School.

Who are they from? The students, of course.

This year, Sandy Hook School received hundreds of postcards from across the

country, and even some from Europe.

The postcards cover the length of the cafeteria wall, and are displayed on

three maps, one of Connecticut, one of America, and one of the world.

Sandy Hook lead teacher, Cathy Mazzariello said "it looks like we'll have to

do something about the size of Massachusetts! We can't get all the postcards

to fit. Cape Cod was a big summer vacation destination for our students this

summer."

Mrs Mazzariello was surprised to get only one or two cards from Disney World

this summer, but noted that water-theme-parks are very well represented.

A great conversation piece, the postcard-covered wall gave students something

to talk about with new classmates. They all wanted to point out the postcards

that they had sent, and share what they did, as well as see the other places

they could visit one day.

Sending a postcard to the school is only one of 25 suggested activities for

Sandy Hook students during each summer month. The activities are arranged in

five rows of five, with the postcard assignment in the middle of each "bingo

card."

Students who complete a full row on both the July and the August bingo sheets

(a minimum of ten assignments) are treated to an ice cream sundae. Those who

complete two rows each month, a minimum of 18 assignments, get the sundae and

lunch with Mrs Page, the school principal.

This year the assignments spanned reading, writing, math and science to

encourage students to keep their minds active in the summer. The assignments

are also designed to be fun.

Children read folk tales, created scrapbooks with pictures and stories,

collected and graphed loose change, worked out the phases of the moon, and

even wrote to Mrs Page with a compliment and a suggestion for the school, to

name a few.

Although bingo sheets are still coming in, Mrs Mazzariello is already very

pleased with the response, especially from the upper grade levels.