Staff Writer
Fourth-graders at Teague Park Elementary School are looking forward to summer vacation and to stepping up to a new school in the fall.
Stephanie Currie, who will enter grade five at the middle school next fall, shares her silhouette with Mom, Betty. The decoupage silhouette is made up of Stephanie’s favorite things, some hopes and some dreams for her future. The student said she was a little nervous about changing schools.
A Celebration of Learning was recently held at the school during which, following several vocal selections from the soon-to-be alumni of the grade school, the students had an opportunity to give their friends and family a tour of the hallways which were covered with academic works, decoupage silhouettes depicting the likes and dreams of the students,
The fourth-graders have been studying the country of Japan during their last weeks at the grade school with the studies combined in each of their core classes which include language arts, science, math and this year Steve Austin, physical education teacher decided to combine his class as well.
While the students were learning about various geographic points of interest, the fascinating cultural differences, the water life and food chains, they were also walking to Japan.
It is 6,495 miles from Caribou to Tokyo and with the help of donated pedometers, the fourth-grade students along with several staff members are keeping track of their steps during school hours, in hopes of reaching Tokyo before the end of the school year.
Austin noted that approximately 2,000 equal a mile. “We started this project April 29, I tracked the distance going west and right now we are somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.”
Austin said he thought this idea would encourage a healthy lifestyle of more activity, if the kids were aiming to complete the distance before school ends.
“It started out with most every one being excited about the possibility, some of students have gotten away from the idea somewhat, while others use extra time in the gym to increase their number of steps.
The PE teacher stated, “Regardless if we actually reach Japan, it’s been a beneficial activity goal for the students.”
Other projects on display during the Celebration of Learning evening posted by the students included Haiku, a form of Japanese poetry and writings in which future plans and goals were penned.
Aroostook Republican photos/Barb Scott
Eden Howell and Mom, Tina wandered the hallways at Teague Park which were covered with artwork, poetry and other projects. The event, which drew a large crowd was the school’s Celebration of Learning, highlighting the fourth-grade students who will be leaving the halls of the elementary schoo , taking the next step of their academic careers, becoming students of the Caribou Middle School next fall.
Faith Peterson points out her schoolwork on display at Teague Park School to Mom, Dawn, recently during the Celebration of Learning event. The evening featured academic projects by the fourth-grade students, who will be moving on to the Caribou Middle School in the fall. Faith noted she was really ready to move on to the fifth grade.
