Patches Of Friendship

By Katherine Aiello and

Candice Woods

With a box of crayons, a bunch of friends, an idea and a bit of imagination, Mrs Wyslick’s first grade class made friendship quilts right in their classroom. In the olden days, women made friendship quilts of embroidered fabric. Since the class’ reading theme was “Good Friends, Good Time,” it fit perfectly. The newly made friendship quilts are hanging in the hallway. The idea came from Mrs Gallo, the principal of the school. The students had a wonderful time creating them.

Switching Grades

By Mia Malin and

Kim Nezvesky

Mrs Anderson was teaching second grade last year. This year she moved her “stuff” to kindergarten. In her new class, she has seen big differences in the way the day works. She has to give the students directions one at a time and slowly, for them to understand. Mrs Anderson also finds that kindergarten is a lot different than 22 years ago by having a different curriculum. Her aide, Mrs Lockwood, does a lot for the class by helping the students.

The students recently learned a new song called the “Tooty-ta.” The students have a great time singing and dancing to the music. The students are not just learning the “Tooty-la,” they learn many new songs like “Brown Round Tree,” “Monkeys and the Alligator,” “Macarena Months” and others like “Wally Acha,” and “The Cool Bear Hunt.” They will learn many new songs as the year passes! These songs not only are fun but teach concepts too.

Mrs Anderson treats her students every month with a celebration depending on the holiday. In December they had a party during which they sang, danced and had a great time.

One student said, “I am learning so much, but I haven’t really realized it because I am having so much fun.” Everyone in Mrs Anderson’s class is having a great time!

A Brand New Server

By Taylor Boles and

Zach Richter

There is something great and brand new to all students and staff at Middle Gate School. It’s a server for our computers. A server is a place on the computer network where students and teachers save their documents. All students and teachers have a password to enter the server. Teachers say it’s easy to use. Students say it’s fun to use passwords and it’s easier to use because you save to only your own folder. Each student’s work will be saved and can be transferred to their teacher’s folder for the next school year. This server is easier to use because it has a duel processor to speed it up. It can handle more users and has a larger capacity for storage. It will serve our needs for a while.

Chris Parker, a fifth grade student, says, “It’s better than the first one and it’s fun to use a password.”

Wow! The teachers and the students love it. This is going to be great fun!

Who Is The New Teacher In Middle Gate?

By Carly Doherty and

Jennifer Tichon

Mr McGuire is the new teacher at Middle Gate School. This is Mr McGuire’s first year of being a third grade teacher. He had four jobs before he became a third grade teacher. One of his jobs was a co-owner of a bakery. Another one was as manager of a restaurant. If that’s not enough, he was also a painter and an electrical apprentice.

Mr McGuire plans to spend many more years in teaching. He is enjoying working with the other third grade teachers – Mrs Beers, Miss Diana, and Mrs Adamek. He likes when teachers share ideas with him and he hopes to repay them with some of his own ideas.

Mr McGuire loves to teach because he enjoys helping students succeed.

Let’s Go Band!

By Katie Aiello and

Candice Woods

Mr Nolte, the band conductor and instructor, is proud to say Middle Gate Elementary School performed on January 17 at the Newtown High School. This band includes an oboe, clarinets, saxophones, a French horn, trumpets, drums, flutes, a trombone, and bells. Both Melissa Dowd (percussion) and Kelly Lindell (French horn) agree that “Band is fun!”

Some songs performed at the concert were as follows: “Au Clare de la Lune,” “Country Walk,” “Lightly Row,” “Good King Wenceslas,” “Jolly Old St Nicholas,” “Old McDonald Had a Farm,” “Mary Ann,” “Crusaders March,” “Jim Along Jose,” “Skip it Lou,” “Minute Man March,” “Jingle Bells,” and “Frere Jacques.”

Mr Nolte said, “They did a good job.” In May students will be performing again as a school as well as in a townwide concert with 190 band students. It will be a booming experience.

Japanese For A Day

By Kathleen Brown

Wouldn’t it be great if students could live like the people they study in school? If you are a fourth grade student at Middle Gate you can! Every year the fourth grade students at Middle Gate study Japan. Students dress like Japanese children would and do many activities such as paper folding, or more commonly known by the Japanese as origami.

Japan Day is a big help for students who don’t understand the Japanese culture because the students are expected to act just as the Japanese would. They had to leave their shoes outside their classrooms, and be very polite. They tasted Japanese foods and they even learned and used some Japanese phrases! “Something that the children and I enjoyed the most was when Mr Huitt came in and taught us a lot of Japanese songs,” said Mrs Schmidt, a fourth grade teacher at Middle Gate. Japan Day has been happening every year at Middle Gate for about five years. The idea for it came from books that encouraged teachers to let their students experience what they were studying. Fourth grade students at Middle Gate really enjoy getting a taste of Japan!