Two special guests at Old Kings Elementary School demonstrated Friday that they were able to speak with authority to the students about poetry.
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Cmdr. Philip Reynolds and Cpl. James Miley responded to a call for "Poetry Police" during an event marking Poetry Month. On the scene, they read a variety of poems to the children, who responded by reading some of their own verse.
The event was for budding Robert Frosts and Emily Dickinsons in kindergarten through grade six and was the idea of media specialist Kim Weeks. It had the ambiance of an actual poetry jam setting, with students dressed as poets and everyone snapping their fingers rather than clapping.
“These students were so talented, and it was amazing to see their original talent shine through,” said Weeks. “They were proud of themselves as they approached the mic to share their original works of art.”
Old Kings students are celebrating Poetry Month throughout April at various makerspace stations set up in the school’s media center. They can select a poem from the “Pick a Poem for Your Pocket” wall and have added their poetry works of art to the “Showers of Poetry” wall.
Students have also added poetry to the Poet-Tree in the center of the library. This is essentially a Christmas tree for which the children have created ornaments with poems written on them.
Circle of life
This spring Rymfire Elementary students have been examining the life cycles of plants and animals and, according to media specialist Melanie Tahan, with much excitement.
To meet the state standards in science, students must be able to observe and recognize the major stages in life cycles from the two kingdoms. Second-grade teachers have provided opportunities for students to observe the processes in real life – not just on paper.
Real flowers, butterflies, chicks, snakes and more are studied at the school to compare and contrast the differing life cycles. The students are keeping journals, writing paragraphs, watching a live web cam and more to keep track of the changes with each stage.
Tahan said she was impressed when checking with teacher Robin Jaques’ classroom and an excited student wanted her to know the “nitty-gritty” details immediately. He enthusiastically explained that the chirping babies were chicks, but the eggs still in the incubator were still only embryos.
The chick cam will continue for a little while longer until the chicks find a new home in which to live and grow. Readers can check on the chicks’ progress at resroadrunners.com/res-events.
Americanism contest winners announced
First Baptist Christian Academy students took part in the VFW Auxiliary Americanism Coloring Contest, and the school’s winners have been recently announced.
The contest and annual “Salute to Youth” evening were sponsored by the Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8696.
The contestants were to color their choice of four pictures: a top hat, a picture with USA letters, an eagle in front of the American flag or a picture of soldiers. The school’s winners were:
Presley Thomas, $15; Aubrianna Torres, $10; Axel Dragstedt, $5; Riley Donato, $15; Ella McHone, $10; Eleanor Snedeker, $5; Xavier Ortiz, $15; Sophia Snedeker, $10; Bryson Harrison, $5; Nicole Rojas, $15; Andi Ressler, $10; Isabella Wanerka, $5.
First Baptist Christian Academy is a K-12 private school in Bunnell.
Send news of activities and events involving Flagler County schools or students to Shaun Ryan at shaun.ryan@news-jrnl.com or contact him at 386-283-5658.