SWS NEWSLETTER
VOLUME #6 2026 October 5-9, 2026
6th Grade PAWS Leaders Classroom Visits
Our 6th Grade PAWS Leaders, Violet Csencsits and Connor Brown, visited every grade level classroom to hear what each class is learning and how students are modeling respect. Here is what they found.
PK-A – Ms. Agar: Violet and Connor kicked off their visits in Ms. Agar's PK-A classroom, where our youngest learners are building early reading skills with Heggerty phonemic awareness lessons. When asked how they show respect, the PK-A friends had their answers ready: they help each other, clean up, and listen. Great start, PK-A!
PK-B – Ms. Krygoski: In Ms. Krygoski's PK-B class, students have been exploring the season by learning all about leaves and trees. Our PAWS Leaders captured how many ways this class shows respect, both at school and at home: cleaning dishes, feeding pets, cleaning up, and keeping their classroom tidy. Way to take care of your spaces, PK-B!
Kindergarten – Mrs. Donaghy: Mrs. Donaghy's kindergartners have been busy learning about the life cycle of pumpkins, working with the numbers 0 to 5 in math, and creating directed drawings. When Violet and Connor asked how they show respect, the class shared that they listen carefully to their teacher and clean up their center stations. Nicely done, Kindergarten!
Grade 1 – Ms. Greene: First graders in Ms. Greene's class have a full plate this fall, studying the season itself, reading and writing poems, practicing doubles in math, and learning about animal traits. They show respect by helping their classmates and being kind to their friends, a lesson that fits perfectly with our PAWS values.
Grade 2 – Mr. Huarte: In Mr. Huarte's second grade classroom, students are strengthening their reading skills with vocabulary words, new sounds, trick words, and reading full sentences. This class had plenty to say about respect: they help their teacher, use kind words, are kind to their friends, and help a friend up when they fall. Thank you for looking out for one another, Grade 2!
Grade 3 – Ms. Hutnick: Third graders in Mrs. Hutnick's class are diving into data, learning how to read and create picture graphs and bar diagrams. Our PAWS Leaders learned that this class shows respect by cleaning up, keeping their eyes on the teacher, and not talking while the teacher is talking. Those are great listening habits, Grade 3!
Grade 4 – Mrs. Wesighan: Mrs. Wesighan's fourth graders are covering a lot of ground: capitals and clauses in writing, the book The Invisible Boy, a study of New Jersey, and even hydroponics in science. When it comes to respect, this class focuses on listening and thinking before they speak. Those are skills that will serve them well for years to come.
Grade 5 – Mrs. Tarbell: In Mrs. Tarbell's fifth grade class, students are expanding their vocabulary and learning to multiply by powers of ten in math. They show respect by cleaning up, helping each other, and raising their hands before speaking. Keep up the great work, Grade 5!
Grade 6 – Mrs. Yanecko: Violet and Connor wrapped up their tour in their own grade, where Mrs. Yanecko's sixth graders are tackling exponents and working with fractions that include exponents. This class models respect by being quiet when it's time to listen, raising their hands, and participating in class. A fitting finish for our PAWS Leaders' home grade!
Counselor’s Corner
This month in Counselor’s Corner, Mrs. Watt's is keeping the Respect conversation going, and adding a new ingredient to the mix: gratitude! To put that thinking into action, each class is creating its own gratitude chain over the next two weeks. Every link holds something a student is thankful for, and as the chains grow longer, so does our appreciation for the people, places, and little moments that make each day special.
🏃🏻♂️Health & PE with Mrs. Deckert👟
This month in PE grades K-6 are preparing for the upcoming Pumpkin Run to Kick off Red Ribbon Week. This is our first year using a program called "Marathon Kids". The Marathon Kids program allows me to track student progress in their running challenges. Our goals for this unit are to improve our cardiovascular fitness and develop the mindset skills of perseverance, goal setting and positive self-talk. Watch for your kids to come home with shoelace charms tied to their efforts! Pre-K continues to learn fundamental movement skills through fun games, station activities and playground time.
In health, 6th grade is beginning to learn about the structure and function of the human cell. 5th grade is learning about the different parts of the brain, neuroplasticity and how the Central Nervous System works. 3rd and 4th grade are learning about mindset skills including: a commitment to learning, perseverance and respect. Ask them about their invisible backpack and how they can take these skills into their future to help them be successful. Grades K-2 are learning Fire Safety this week through station play in PE.
🪕Music with Ms. Shultz🎼
This month in music, students explored the fundamentals of music through a variety of engaging activities, games, and movement. Our main topics included steady beat, rhythm, solfege, and pitch. Students practiced these skills through singing, listening, dancing, and hands-on musical activities.
We also explored American music and culture by learning about Dolly Parton and experiencing the Virginia Reel, a traditional American folk dance.
Looking ahead, next month we will continue developing our foundational music skills, with a focus on music reading, rhythm, and musicality. Students will also explore music, dances, and traditions from a variety of cultures and traditions around the world!
