Thursday, October 1, 2026
An autumn surprise
Wilson Elementary School students got an extra special treat on Oct. 25 when they were greeted with a pumpkin patch on the front lawn of the school for an“Autumn Surprise.” During this event each teacher brought their students out to the patch to pick a pumpkin, get an apple and receive a mini lesson outside that was related to the season.
Home sweet home
Students from Sacred Heart Academy helped to build a home in Mineola on Oct.15 as part of the Habitat for Humanity program, the fourth house students from the school have worked on since 2006.
“I’m ecstatically proud of these girls,” said Mark Trolio, theology instructor and SHA Habitat for Humanity coordinator. “They roll up their sleeves and they work.”
Why the caged bird sings
This year, South Side Middle School’s eighth grade students were asked to look at poetry in a new way. Because poetry is such an art form in itself, English teachers believed it would be a fun, engaging way to assess the students’ understanding of themes in poetry by displaying it as an art form. Students used photography, acted in films, created oil paintings, and choreographed dances to display the theme of a favorite poem.
After reading and analyzing the poem, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou, Sofia Tavella, Analise Polinsky and Tara O’Hagan displayed the powerful theme of discrimination in a thoughtful collage. Hidden behind the bars of a cage were photographs of Holocaust victims, Civil Rights activists and others who have been persecuted throughout history. These young students conveyed the message of their text beautifully and raised their peers’ awareness in the classroom about how harmful hatred and prejudice can be. Their eighth grade ELA teacher, Kristen Ryan said she was quite proud of their interpretation and creativity.
