ARONIMINK IN ACTION

Check out the amazing pictures of 5th graders delivering holiday cards to the Aronimink community.

Mrs. Woodbridge's 5th graders enjoyed an afternoon filled with winter activities before break!

Students have started our fourth module in Science, Earthquake Engineers. The unit starts with students examining the phenomenon of earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis. Students look at patterns of when and where these disasters occur. By examining these patterns students can look at the causes and frequency of these events. Students will track and document earthquakes all over the world.

In Math, students have worked on problem solving techniques the past few weeks. They have moved on to learning about solving true equations. Students are learning the order of operations or PMDAS (parentheses, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction) to solve these equations accurately.

In ELA, students are reading and writing about heroic characters. Students read about Perseus and how he conquered Medusa with the gifts from the gods. Students also spent time working identifying elements of drama and learning how stage directions add actions to the dialogue that drives the storyline of a play.

Mrs. Knapp's third graders spreading holiday cheer in the Aronimink Community with help from the amazing Mrs. Davenport. Mrs. Davenport brought the fun and carols to create an amazing afternoon for the students and the neighborhood. Every year the students design holiday cards with the help of Ms. Pagano in art class. These cards are then delivered to the Aronimink Community by the students. This was the brain child of our very own Mr. Dunn. Mr. Dunn created this incredible Aronimink tradition that is looked forward to every year by both the students and the community!

Mrs. Knapp's class would like to thank Mr. Dunn, Ms. Pagano, and Mrs. Davenport for helping us create amazing memories and fun!

This past month in second grade has been a busy one! We are continuing to explore the world of 2 digit subtraction in math and are practicing our strategies including the hundreds chart, open number lines, breaking apart and compensation. Students have been learning about different kinds of communities in social Studies. We have continued working on spelling, learning to spell words with different y sounds and suffixes. They continue to learn about central idea, characters and other concepts in reading with the introduction of exploring the theme of a story. Students enjoyed participating in fun winter activities the week before break.

The EL Bilingual Buddies met to read fairy tales to their younger buddies in December.

Happy New Year! The Reading Team is excited to welcome students back and kick off a fresh start to learning in January. This month, we will be continuing to build strong reading skills through targeted instruction, practice with comprehension strategies, and engaging literacy activities.

Benchmark Testing Reminder
Please note that benchmark reading assessments will take place throughout the month of January. These assessments help us measure student progress and guide our instruction to best support each learner. We encourage students to get plenty of rest, arrive at school on time, and do their best.

Thank you for your continued support at home. We look forward to a great month of reading and growth!

In the Aronimink Library, students are learning about award-winning authors and illustrators. We have been exploring several important children’s literature awards, including the Caldecott, Newbery, Coretta Scott King, and Geisel awards. Through these lessons, students are discovering high-quality books and gaining a deeper appreciation for outstanding storytelling and illustration. In the new year, students are also being encouraged to try new genres and authors, helping them broaden their reading horizons and discover books they might not have chosen before.

Spotlight on 1st & 2nd Grade Art!

Our 1st grade artists explored color mixing by combining the primary colors to create secondary colors. They then decorated their paintings with expressive emotions, choosing feelings they felt best matched each color. This activity helped students connect color, emotion, and creativity!

In 2nd grade, students learned how artists create value by blending white chalk pastel with a color of their choice. Using careful smearing and blending techniques, they gave their light bulb drawings a bright, glowing effect while experimenting with color and texture. This lesson encouraged experimentation and careful blending to create visual impact.

4th and 5th grade students did a fantastic job in December performing in the Aronimink Winter Concert! Some hard working 5th grade students also learned how to play Auld Lang Syne on recorder. This January, 1st and 2nd grade students are playing new games to learn new solfege syllables. The 3rd grade homerooms are eager to play their recorders, and the 4th and 5th grade students are doing a review on rhythm reading. By the end of the month, 5th grade will have started their baritone ukulele unit!

The Challenge Corner January

(Gifted Support Team: Ms. Cleary and Mrs. Donahue)

Riddle of the Month:

What do you have in December that you don’t get in January? Answer here:

Click to the right for submission form and more details.

The STEM 2026 Engineering Challenge is coming soon! Click the STEM CHALLENGE link above to sign up for The Science Buddies Newsletter to find out more information.