Tag: #ESFInTheNews

From Jen Borella and Jeremy Levin, SP 4th grade teachers: Our Poetry Podcast Day was a huge success.  Their journey began weeks ago in reading as we started talking about poetry, looking at elements of poetry and reading poetry to understand meaning. 
Last week our class began writing their own pieces and then shared them with their 8th grade EHS poetry coaches, with support from Ms. Cecere, EHS English teacher.  Our students and the 8th graders collaborated through google doc to support the editing process. This was a valuable experience and we saw the excitement as they were given feedback from someone other than their teachers! 

8th graders made the trip by bus to Seely Place to support our students with the poem layout and recording of their podcast.  Watching this collaborative process was extremely rewarding for both myself and Mr. Levin as we saw our vision come to life from the grant we wrote this year. 

The Edgemont School Foundation purchased the high quality microphones we used for this project in order to support our creative and “think outside the box” approach to learning. 
Student Quotes: 
4th Grader Maya Fenyves:  “The podcast experience was so cool.  Having the chance to use the microphones was a once in a lifetime opportunity. They made my voice louder and were so exciting to use.  I loved making my own Podcast, my dad listens to them so it was fun to make one.” 

4th Grader Mason Rothman: “The microphones made my voice louder and let me put my poem sound better and more quality to my poem.” 

8th Grader Gabriel Hwang: “My poetry podcast experience was a blast! It was great to bond with and help out some fourth grade students. The whole process of recording and editing was such a wonderful journey! I would totally recommend this for future eighth and fourth graders! It was spectacular.”

8th Grader Celina Spearing: Our 8th-grade field trip to Seely was just as you’d expect! The 4th graders were eager to meet us. We helped them revise/edit their poems as well as helped them record. Everything was perfect as both we and the 4th graders were on their best behavior. Ms. Borella was also an amazing hostess to us and helped answer any questions we may have had. Overall, this was a great experience and I would definitely sign up for it again!

Please use this link to read the poetry podcasts themselves!

The Edgemont School Foundation is proud to have granted the Seely Place 6th grade with a new library with more advanced topics, reading levels, and genres for their reading groups.

“I can’t thank The Edgemont School Foundation enough for helping to purchase new book sets for our sixth grade book clubs. The students were excited to have a voice in the book sets that we were requesting, and couldn’t wait to dive into our new cycle of book clubs once the books arrived. During this cycle of book clubs, I was able to offer students high-interest book options that spanned a greater variety of genres that they were interested in compared to what I was able to offer before. The hardest part for many of them was having to choose just one book to read during our book club cycle, and many of them asked if they could borrow some of the other choices just to read for pleasure. The new books that we received have allowed the students to have deep discussions within their book clubs that focused around topics of diversity, inclusion, and equity. Students have been more motivated, engaged, and are having some of the most thoughtful, deep discussions with their peers thanks to the new book sets. Thank you again for considering our grant and for helping to make such an impact.” – Olga Jubinville, SP 6th grade reading and ELA teacher

Quotes from students: 

“I love Book Clubs and I feel we should do them more often. These books are amazing not only because they are new and high quality, but because the stories are so interesting and fun to follow. I love doing the jobs and discussing the books and I feel that thay make me a better reader as a whole.”

-Liv D.

“I think this cycle of Book Clubs is very motivating and enjoyable thanks to the new book choices. I really enjoy our book choice, The Breadwinner. The plot is very specific and unique, and the characters are dynamic. I have really enjoyed book clubs so far!”

-Kimaya B.

“I find that this cycle of Book Clubs is exciting. This is because I have to constantly socialize with new people and try things that I usually might not do. I really like my book club’s new book. It is called The Breadwinner and really makes sure kids like us don’t see the world through rose colored glasses.”

-Alex L.

“I really like the set of books because I love to read historical fiction and there were a lot of those types of books. I know most of the people in my book club also love to read historical fiction, and A Night Divided was really good and we all really enjoyed it. I also really like book clubs in general because it helps me focus on a book and really think about the book deeper than I normally do”

-Isabel W.

“I feel that this cycle is better than the last cycle because the new books are better. The books were way more interesting even though they were longer. I like the idea of book clubs and being able to discuss what we read with other kids in class.”

-Bailey M.

Thank you to all who attended the Seely Library Ribbon Cutting Event. We hope you enjoyed the presentations and learned about how your donations impact all students in Edgemont. A special thank you to our presenters: Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Hamilton, Seely Place Principal Eve Feuerstein, Greenville Assistant Principal Michelle Ring, Seely Place librarian Caroline Piazza, 7th grade math teacher Amanda Ruderman, and EHS Co-director of Phaedrus Cory Karpf.

To view the presentations please see below:
ESF Welcome Presentation: Click here
The Library Presentation: Click here
The 7th Grade Math PBL Presentation: Click here
Phaedrus Presentation: Click here

In the 2019-2020 and 2021-2022 school year the School Foundation donated three flexible-use classrooms to EHS. The classrooms were designed by 7th grade math students, who went through a rigorous presentation process with three designs being ultimately chosen and brought to fruition. The flexible furniture allows the students freedom to move around, sit in various group sizes, and work to the best of their abilities. The Foundation is incredibly proud of the students who put together presentations and advocated with graphs, surveys and research for their designs to be chosen. None of these classrooms would be possible without the strong relationship that the Foundation has with the teachers and administrators in Edgemont. Please continue to support us and your students!