Indoor Recess.....AGAIN!?!?N

I was summoned to the K-1 recess.  What an amazing group effort!  Do they look proud?

The aftermath....not sure which is more fun, building it, or knocking it down!?!

Specialists' Open House at EES

The Specialists' Open House is another example of just how wonderful EES really is!  This much anticipated evening features activities put on by each of our talented Specialists.  This year Mrs. Doherty showcased her students creative artwork in the halls throughout the building.  I am amazed at the talent of some of our students!  Ms. Carancho presented a video montage of conversations, games, singing, and dancing from weekly Spanish classes.  Nurse Smith has been working with students on reducing stress levels.  She shared the basic practice of mindfulness, and the powerful effect of focused breathing.  Mrs. Collins and her third grade students demonstrated how we GET FIT at EES. They impressed parents with their agility, strength, and endurance by rotating through fitness stations that prepare them for the National Physical Fitness Test.  Mr. Carpenter worked with Daisy Nell in teaching students folk songs and they enjoyed an evening of dancing with their parents.  Mr. Bodmer-Turner and Mrs. Hardy presented information to parents about their Glogging to Colonial America project with fifth graders.  As always, the evening culminated with the fifth grade students ballroom dancing in the cafeteria.  I never get tired of watching how young ladies and gentlemen emerge on this impressive evening.  Enjoy these photos and thank you to our specialists!

Essex Elementary School Core Values

The Core Values at EES are very important to our school culture.  Students learn these core values in kindergarten and are exposed to them throughout their years at EES.  We hold whole school meetings to promote these values.  At each of our school meetings we focus on one core value and different grade levels perform in ways that best represent these attributes.  Our own Mrs. Randall made a bulletin board display of an outline of EES in the cafeteria, and at each school meeting we recognize students who demonstrate a core value with a brick (with their name on it).  Our goal is to fill the school with bricks by the end of the year.  Students love looking for their name on the wall during lunchtime.  Teachers find ways to incorporate the core values into their classroom each and every day.  Finally, when a student is sent to the office for an infraction the first thing we discuss is the core value that they might have broken.  It is amazing to me that every student can immediately tell me which one they were not mindful of when "getting in trouble".  This is a great way to frame the conversation to turn it into a learning experience.  Ask your children their thoughts on the core values at EES!

Happy Holidays!

This would have been a great week for me to post pics of all the wonderful festivities at EES, but I am unable to do so as I have been down with the flu.  I was so disappointed to miss the holiday concert and so many other festive happenings around the school.

Before we sign off for the break, I wanted to take the opportunity to wish all of the EES families and staff a joyous holiday!  Enjoy this time with your loved ones!

To a happy and healthy 2014!  

W.I.N Movement Groups are underway! Thank you to all our wonderful parent volunteers!

Thank you to Linda Collins for putting these 2 carts together for parents to use for Movement groups.  The children (and parents) are having so much fun!  Ask Mrs. Corrao to "skip it" for you!  She has some serious skip it skills!  

Friday Fun!

Friday afternoon was action packed at EES!  Students were able to shop at the Book Fair sponsored by the PTO, participate in the Cake Walk, and make their own gingerbread houses.  Enjoy the pictures from these wonderful events!