St. Peter's Episcopal School

St. Peter's Sprouts Have Their First Meeting!

2011-10-09T15:18:00.000-07:00

A Great Day to Dig in the Dirt :)

A huge "Thank You" to the Sprouts who came out and helped clean out the old and bring in the new for our garden. The students worked extremely hard pulling out old plants, shoveling and turning soil, and planting our new fall vegetables.

Our fall garden is filled with lettuce, kale, collard greens, broccoli, cauliflower, and swiss chard. We will also be adding carrot seeds to one of our raised beds so that our students can enjoy munching on hummus and carrot sticks when harvest time rolls around!

We are really looking forward to our next Sprout's meeting!

2011-09-25T16:46:00.000-07:00

St. Peter's Art Gallery

Many thanks to Mrs. Lockrow for taking her time over the summer to add a little more color to our wonderful school. The teachers were looking for a special way to display their students' art pieces, and decided that an art gallery would be the perfect idea. Mrs. Lockrow created a beautiful gallery that allows our students' art to shine and connect our two buildings!

St. Peter's School Director of Advancement Job Opening

2011-07-21T10:12:00.000-07:00

Please click here to view the complete job description for the Director of Advancement position.

Resumes may be sent to the attention of Kathy Lanza, Head of School at stpetersposition@gmail.com through Monday, August 8, 2011.

How does your garden grow?

2011-06-15T11:44:00.000-07:00

With peppers, tomatoes, squash, corn and herbs, of course!

HATS OFF to Ms. Schlosser's third grade students and our SPROUTS for creating a bountiful summer garden, which is growing strong!

Pictured are "zephyr" yellow squash, bell pepper, "Cherokee" tomatoes, dill and two varieties of basil, all fresh for cooking and eating, straight from the SPROUTS garden at St. Peter's School. Have a safe, healthy summer!

Teacher for A Day

2011-05-24T06:18:00.000-07:00

Students thoroughly enjoyed being teacher of the day last week. These students' parents were the highest bidder on this "privelege" at the Episcopalooza auction and some students really got in the groove!

There was a "Headmaster" of the day, "faculty meetings" for our budding teachers and lots of special priveleges that the students and teachers thoroughly enjoyed.

Kindergarteners study Eric Carle

2011-05-23T11:15:00.000-07:00

After watching a video showing how author/artist Eric Carle creates his books, the Kindergarten classes decided to try their hand at creating pictures from several Eric Carle books. Each student chose his or her favorite animal from books such as "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," "The Grouchy Ladybug," and "Dragons, Dragons."

The technique involved layering colored tissue paper onto construction paper, then cutting out shapes to create their own unique design. Check out their beautiful, colorful creations on the first floor of Carson Hall by the staircase.

Special Guest in First Grade

2011-05-11T08:04:00.000-07:00

Ms. Hughes' first grade class had a special treat with visitor (retired teacher) Ms. Janis Scoville, who came to do a very special art project with them. Their project focused on symmetry and self portraits for Mother's Day.

Dooby, Dooby, Dooby, Moo!

2011-05-11T08:02:00.000-07:00

HATS OFF to Preschool students and teachers Ms. Bo, Ms. Beth, Ms. Wendy, Ms. Sandi, Ms. Tracy and Ms. Carol for a wonderful production of the original play, "Dooby, Dooby, Dooby, Moo!"

K2 in the air!

2011-05-09T11:59:00.000-07:00

K2 "flew" to Australia this a couple of weeks ago with their "passports." The Air Mabry pilot gave an overview of the country. We learned about some of the animals and talked about new vocabulary words. When we landed, our passports were stamped by Ms. Dana and the children were allowed to enter the country for a few weeks.

Preschoolers study American history

2011-04-19T08:05:00.000-07:00

Please visit preschool's “American Landmarks” display in the St. Peter’s lobby. You will see replicas of the Washington Monument and the Liberty Bell.

We began our study of the Washington Monument by practicing building with 1” cubes. We then worked our fine motor skills by moving on to building with a smaller component - the sugar cube. It was fun for the students to once again see the obelisk and pyramid shapes that were introduced in our Egyptian unit in January.

We decided to make our Liberty Bells by reusing/recycling plastic bottles. This served as a reminder to all of us of our school motto “Go Healthy, Go Green”. The students began construction of their bells by applying several coats of a variety of acrylic paints. The next and most fun part for the kids was determining where and how big to make the crack in their Liberty Bell! They then used scissors to cut and design a crack in their bell. A final coat of gold paint was then applied.

Young Southern Writers Conference Winners

2011-04-07T07:49:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to our fourth and fifth grade winners of the annual Young Southern Writers Conference!

Fourth graders Kristopher Kennedy and John Starnes are pictured with fifth grade winners Josh Martin and Tatiana Poggi. Tatiana won in both prose and poetry categories. They are pictured here with teachers Pam Gallagher and Carol Lockrow.

Don't Stop Believin'

2011-03-30T11:37:00.000-07:00

K2 Irish Mystery Readers

2011-03-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

HATS OFF to parents Pete and Telky (Lanza) Murphy, who read Irish tales to their son Burke's kindergarten class in honor of St. Patty's Day!

GO STORM Basketball

2011-03-30T10:55:00.000-07:00

HATS OFF to preschool parent Alexis Bogo, who recently coached a St. Peter's preschool STORM basketball team.

She is pictured here with proud teammates, including her son, Blake, of Ms. Tracy's class.

Luck of the Irish in First Grade!

2011-03-30T10:45:00.000-07:00

First graders enjoyed a fun St. Patrick’s Day with activities aligned with their current Core Knowledge curriculum. They began the day with a study of inventor Thomas Edison. First grade teacher Michelle Bailey presented them with their own opportunity for invention—creating their own leprechaun trap!

Using their imagination, students picked items from a table full of supplies and separated to design and build their own secret traps! Afterwards, they wrote about their projects, either detailing why they built their trap or how it would work. With traps “set” in the hallway, first graders were excited to return from lunch and see gold glitter dust at each of their traps--- their work had obviously peaked the leprechauns’ interest!

After lunch, each got a chance to show off their imagination by reading their “essay” in the author’s chair and presenting their traps to classmates for validation. Students were also quizzed that if traps were creative enough, they could be issued their own “patent,” just like Thomas Edison.

The fun continued with dancing to an Irish jig and discovering the story of the Blarney Stone, rumored to give you the gift of gab! Students went on a “rock hunt” and decorated their very own blarney stones in rainbow shades or the colors of the Irish flag. While outside, leprechauns really went crazy, visiting each student’s project and leaving them a gold coin!

Episcopalooza 2011 is coming!

2011-03-08T11:16:00.000-08:00

SAVE THE DATE! Friday, April 15 is the annual St. Peter's School Auction and it promises to be a rockin' time! Make plans to attend this fun event, featuring silent and live auctions, live musical entertainment from the official Journey cover band, Frontiers, delicious food and drink and much more!

Visit here for more information about the event or to purchase tickets and don't stop believin'!
Like this link? Email it, share it, or post to your facebook page!

Fat Tuesday Celebration!

2011-03-08T11:14:00.001-08:00

Second graders celebrated Fat Tuesday with a traditional King Cake. Creighton was the lucky student who found Baby Jesus in his slice of cake. Thanks to the Arringtons for providing this wonderful treat to begin the season of Lent.

Tonight's the Annual Pancake Supper at St. Peter's Church (Bracewell Room), from 5-7. Donations are welcome; all proceeds benefit the St. Peter's Church youth group. Come hungry!

Third Graders Reach Out to Others

2011-03-03T11:15:00.001-08:00

St. Peter’s Episcopal School third graders celebrated Valentine’s Day with a special project to benefit the Children’s Home/Chambliss Shelter (CH/CS). In lieu of a huge Valentine’s party for their class, students and their parents collected toiletry items for girls and boys that benefit from CH/CS programs. All total, they assembled 40 bags of full-size toiletry items for use at the CH/CS program and emergency shelter.

CH/CS Director of Volunteer Services Paulette Acord says of the students, “We appreciate [them] working as hard as [they] did to collect these items for the children enrolled in our Childcare Program and they boys who live at the shelter. You did a great job!”

St. Peter's Celebrates "Read Across America"

2011-03-03T10:26:00.000-08:00

On Wed., March 2, students participated in NEA's Reading celebration to honor the creator of Dr. Seuss (Theodore Gisel) on his birthday.

Ms. Wendy's preschool and 1st through 3rd grades created pinwheel book reports and then enjoyed snacks and books on the lawn.

March Fruit of the Spirit is Gentleness

2011-03-03T10:25:00.000-08:00

Our Fruit of the Spirit this month is Gentleness. The 3 year old class handed out cotton ball sheep to both grade school and preschool students after chapel this week to remind them to be gentle.

Two prize sheep were among the flocks. They were GREEN. If you had a green sheep let Miss Bo know. The winners will receive a can of Fruit Cocktail to celebrate Fruit of the Spirit.

PINK DAY IS FRIDAY!

2011-02-15T08:09:00.001-08:00

Make plans now to join us this Friday, February 18, for our annual
PINK DAY to celebrate the life of precious Emily Ransom.

Students and faculty can come in red and pink dress for a $2 donation. Silicon bracelets, heart beads and handmade red and pink scarves will also be available for donations, all of which benefit Emily's namesake foundation, "Emily's Power For A Cure," (EPFAC) which supports research for neuroblastoma and provides support for local families with neuroblastoma.

Save your coins to make donations through the end of the month in special heart-shaped containers in your child's classroom and help St. Peter's THINK PINK and support "Emily's Power For A Cure" with this special February community outreach project.

February TrailWise teaches survival skills

2011-02-11T08:36:00.000-08:00

This week, second through fifth graders got to experience the "art of stalking" with TrailWise instructor Mark Warren.

The students began their session with an extensive discussion about the origins and "art" behind hunting and stalking. Warren explained that the snow on the ground yesterday simulated the perfect conditions that Cherokee Indians may have experienced; with little to no vegetation growing, they were forced to hunt and stalk for meat. They also faced the additional challenge of stalking in the snow, which can be very noisy.

Warren explained the three elements of a good stalker: strength, balance and patience. The patience proved to be very trying for several students, as those who had trouble being patient during the game had a bell placed around their neck, making it all the more difficult to be quiet!

Kudos to St. Peter's teachers and students

2011-02-11T08:34:00.000-08:00

Last week, preschool through fifth grade students and teachers presented a special Core Knowledge Exhibition Night, “A Passport to Adventure.”

Current parents and students, faculty and prospective parents roamed the school halls collecting “stamps” for their passport. Along the way, they experienced preschool’s history display of Egyptian pyramids and progressed to Kindergarteners’ study of animal habitats and American symbols. First grade’s study of animal habitats and American symbols went even deeper, as they used creative writing and poetry to describe the bald eagle and liberty bell.

The second and third grade hallway was filled with painted displays, stories and artwork depicting civil rights heroes and ancient cultures. Many fourth and fifth grade students worked as “docents,” describing various cultures, ranging from ancient Rome to China. Additionally, student docents re-enacted science experiments related to their study of matter and the human body.

Core Knowledge is an advanced liberal arts curriculum designed for preschool and elementary grades which guides teachers to cover advanced topics in an understandable way at an early but appropriate age. By clearly specifying content in language arts, history, geography, math, science and fine arts, the Core Knowledge Sequence presents a step-by-step approach to subject matter. Each classroom experience builds on one that came before and leads to one yet to come. Students begin to make necessary connections between skills and subject matter, and consequently, enjoy many “Aha!” moments.

New Photos Posted in our Gallery

2011-02-10T11:37:00.000-08:00

Check the photo gallery (right column) for three brand new photo albums--

First graders' exploration of habitats, pollution and a Reader's Theatre of the Boston Tea Party!
Core Knowledge Night 2011 exhibits
February TrailWise program featured survival skills, with students learning to "stalk" for food during winter

More details and photos can be found in these albums via Flickr. Enjoy!

Winter 2011 Elements available online

2011-02-10T07:35:00.000-08:00

Visit http://shade.keeptrees.com/publications/834/Winter%202011%20Elements/ to see the latest issue of "Elements" online, or send along to friends and proud grandparents!