First Grade Student celebrated being published authors with an ice cream party and book reveal. Each first grade students selected an animal, read, researched about the animal, and wrote a page in the book. The writing was supported with a creative illustration. The cover, dedication page and the contents of the book were created by the students. The book is entitled Amazing Animals. Way to go first grade!
Macallan was the first-grade student of the week April 21-25 and brought his uncle Dr. Wesley Brundridge to school to speak to the class. Due to a late arriving flight and the Inspiring American presentation, we met briefly with Dr. Brundridge and May 7 we got to visit via Zoom.
Dr. Brundridge is a board-certified, fellowship-trained oculoplastic and reconstructive surgeon. He completed his internship in general surgery and residency in ophthalmology at Brooke Army Medical Center and Wilford Hall Eye Center in San Antonio and spent one year at Fort Riley as the Chief of Ophthalmology and Refractive Surgery. Macallan’s Uncle Wesley is double board-certified in ophthalmology and facial cosmetic surgery and is a fellow of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and is the current Associate Ophthalmology Program Director at Brooke Army Medical Center and Wilford Hall Eye Center in San Antonio.
Students learned all about the eye and how certain injuries can be repaired. Macallan’s uncle also shared that he is still active duty in the army and served a tour in Iraq. Students dressed in caps, masks and gloves today provided by Macallan’s Uncle Wesley. Thank you Macallan and Dr. Brundridge for sharing and being willing to Zoom with our class.
Congrats to our retirees!
Freya Hughes is the Helpful Hedgehog for May 5-8, 2025. Freya brought her mom Amy and dad Justin to visit the class. Freya’s dad majored in Folklore in school and shared that Freya is named after a prominent goddess of love and war in Norse mythology. Friday is also named after Freya. Freya’s parents wanted a strong name for a girl. Freya’s dad is in sales and has a company in New York with 80 employees all around the world. Justin shared some really cool magnetic frames that make glasses a fashion accessory by being able to change the look of the original frame. Freya’s mom Amy is a Culinary Arts instructor at OTC. Amy shared that her favorite thing to make is cookies and cakes. She enjoys baking for family’s special occasions. Students got to wear a Chef’s hat and sample a sweet treat, Hedgehog and a Mushroom iced sugar cookies. Freya’s mom said she started cooking when she was little by helping her mom in the kitchen and making cakes.
Freya has 2 pets, a Border Collie named Rudy and a Dachshund named George. She likes the color red, Shushi and loves to play games at home with her family.
A First Grade tradition is writing a summer goal each year the last week of school. After a class discussion and learning about goals students identified a personal goal that they would like to accomplish this summer.
In the fall it is always fun to hear about the wonderful things that students accomplished over the summer vacation.
he First Grade Helpful Hedgehogs have been visited this week by teachers from Arkansas and Texas via ZOOM. Dr. Hammerschmidt’s best friends from college, the University of Central Arkansas, read stories to the first grade students about gardening and music. Mrs. Rebecca Beall lives in Osceola, Arkansas and is a Special Education Instructor and director of Testing for Rivercrest School District. She read the students the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture Book of the year, “The Soil in Jackie’s Garden” written by Peggy Thomas. The main character, Jackie, taught students about gardening, soil and composting in a rhyming book. The students noticed that this book was designed to open like a wall calendar instead of open like a regular book, a fun text feature. Elle, a Goldendoodle F1B, Mrs. Beall’s dog listened to the story with us and fell asleep for a quick nap. She turned over the iPad when Mrs. Beall practiced to ZOOM with us! Elle did wake up to say goodbye when we were done.
Ms. Lorie Shownes lives in Humble Texas and is the Choir Director at Timberwood Middle School Humble ISD. The Varsity Girls’ Choir sang two of their contest pieces, Little Lamb and Kling Glockchen which they received a superior rating for at the contest. The Varsity Choir Students helped read to the first graders were Zaria, Phoebe, and Zori. Ms. Shownes read “Mozart in the Cloud” written by Natalie Chan. Mozart is a rabbit who goes on a wonderful adventure. Mozart tries to cheer up Chopin the cat who is stuck under a gloomy cloud. Mozart and Chopin were joined by Bach, the panda bear and Brahms, the bird. The students loved seeing how Mozart and the other animals worked together to cheer up their friend. Thank you Becca and Lori J
Congratulations to our very own Heather Walters who received the Outstanding Research in the Humanities Award this weekend at Missouri State University's Judith Enyeart Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities Fourth Annual Judy Awards!
The Judy Awards cover a range of contributions to the college, from traditional awards in teaching, research and service, to those that foreground the pillars of the University’s public affairs mission.
This award recognizes an individual in RCASH who has demonstrated research excellence in the humanities.
Winners were nominated either by their peers or self-nominated, then selected by representatives from each academic department serving on the Judy Awards Selection Committee. This is a wonderful honor from the university and we are so proud of Heather Walters!
Greenwood choir students had a great day in Columbia last week at the State Small Ensemble and Solo Festival. Eight choir kids participated in 5 entries. Greenwood came home with three Gold and two Silver ratings! We are incredibly proud of them. We'd also like to take this opportunity to thank Jacqua Garrison for her tireless work accompanying these students. She has put in many, many hours working with them for District and State. We are so grateful for her!
State Ratings:
Silver: Cullen Burch-vocal solo, Gabriel Parada-vocal solo
Gold: Jack Lindsey-vocal solo, Eli Wilson-vocal solo
Miscellaneous Tenor/Bass Ensemble "Hannah and the Boys" -Kelby Agnew, Cullen Burch, Jack Lindsey, Asher Nelson, Gabriel Parada, Hannah Richards, and Eli Wilson
Tatum is the First Grade Helpful Hedgehog Student of the Week for April 28-May 3, 2025. Tatum’s mom, Dr. Jennifer Yates, Assistant Professor in the School of Health Care Professions Department visited the class. Students learned all about different adaptations that can be made for students to achieve success in writing by using special paper and pencil grips. Dr. Yates adapts cars and donates them to children who have mobility issues. Tatum’s mom read All That I Want To Be a positive message to celebrate who you are!
Thank you to Tatum and her mom for the sensory balls and the treat!
Dean Barri Tinkler read Where is Boomer? To the first grade class during Literacy Week. Yesterday, the first grade students took a “brief” walking adventure to see some of the places they heard about in the book. Thank you again Dr. Tinkler for reading to us during Literacy Week.
Some of the places we visited: The Bear, The Wall of Presidents, identified the PSU, the Book Store, the Magers Health Center, the stage, and ventured back to school.
April 17th was Science in the Parking Lot! Students were able to experience Virtual Reality headsets, conduct their own experiment, see a drone presentation, and so much more. It was a fun day for learning and exploration!
Some outstanding 5th grade recorder students shared their playing test selections with the other elementary classes in music this week. They did an excellent job!! The recorder unit is incorporated into the 4th and 5th grade music curriculum throughout the school year.
Dr. Mandy Benedict-Chambers Elementary Science Methods Accelerated Masters students Dr. Melinda Hammerschmidt’s Greenwood First Grade Students collaborated for an end of the year Science project. For their final semester project, Bryleigh, Hannah, Jena, Paige, Alex, and Isabelle, designed and taught lessons that aligned with the Missouri Learning Standards. Students explored:
· What changes can be reversed and what cannot? Utilizing eggs, bread, chocolate, and a crayon first grades examined and discussed why we cannot change some items or objects back to their normal state.
· What do living things need to survive? This group used the playground area where they could examine plants.
· How does heat make some objects hotter than others? This group used heat and spoons that were created from various materials to explore what happens to an object when it is exposed to heat.
· What happens to snow and where does it go? Using plastic bags and ice students discussed what causes snow to form and the effect of warming temperatures.
· How do cactus and Antarctic grass both survive in extreme environments? Students found out that cactus gets water from the rain that does fall in the desert and that grass in the Antarctic has deep roots that protect it from snow.
· How do you get an object to move the farthest?
Students used various materials to explore the distance an object could travel. They found that lighter objects weigh less so they often travel faster.
Thank you, Dr. Benedict-Chambers and Accelerated Masters students, for partnering with Dr. Hammerschmidt’s First Grade Class.
Greenwood had an amazing weekend at MSHSAA State Speech and Debate Championships!
Tristan Khoshyomn was the STATE CHAMPION in International Extemp
Mary Gabriel and Tristan Khoshyomn were the STATE RUNNER UP - 2nd Place in Policy Debate
Laila Ozturk was the STATE RUNNER UP – 2nd Place in Informative Speaking
Ethan Duff and Gyan Grewal - 4th place in Policy Debate
Laila Ozturk – 4th place in Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Mary Gabriel – 5th place in Informative Speaking
Laila Ozturk – 5th place in International Extemp
Overall, the team earned 3rd Place in MSHSAA Class 1 Debate and 5th Place in MSHSAA Class 1 Speech (out of 88 Class 1 Schools that competed in the State tournament).
Let’s Go Jays!
Our 6th graders had an inspiring field trip on Friday, April 26, to the George Washington Carver National Monument! They explored the very place where Carver, a brilliant scientist, professor, artist, and environmentalist, spent his early years.
Students enjoyed a walking tour of the beautiful grounds while learning about Carver’s humble beginnings, his deep love for nature, and how he once dreamed of becoming a painter. They discovered how he walked miles to attend school in Neosho—driven by a passion for learning that never faded.
Inside the museum, students explored Carver’s legacy and even got hands-on with a peanut milk experiment —a fun nod to his groundbreaking work using plants to create over 300 products from peanuts, sweet potatoes, and more.
From art to agriculture, Carver’s genius and perseverance continue to inspire—and our students had a blast!
The First Grade Helpful Hedgehogs read EARTH DAY EVERY DAY written by Lisa Bullard and Xiao Xin. Students discussed what they can do to help the earth. Some of the ways that students felt they could help make a change would be to pick up trash, recycle, plant trees, or trade items they no longer needed or wanted. The theme for Earth Day 2025 is Our Power Our Planet. The Helpful Hedgehogs created an illustration and wrote down what they wanted to do to help our planet.
Second Graders Step Back in Time for Pioneer Day Celebration
Mrs. Flanders’ second-grade students experienced a unique journey into the past as they celebrated Pioneer Day in the One Room Schoolhouse on the campus of Missouri State University. This year's event held special significance as it marked the 20th anniversary of the One Room Schoolhouse, a collaborative project with the College of Education that celebrates a "Legacy of Learning."
The day transported the students back over 100 years, allowing them to immerse themselves in the learning environment of a bygone era. They participated in a variety of activities reminiscent of traditional pioneer education, offering a hands-on understanding of how children learned in the past.
Adding to the enriching experience were special guests Katherine Marler (retired SPS teacher), Dr. Barri Tinkler (Dean College of Education - MSU), and Michelle Oliver (Greenwood Librarian), who shared their expertise and insights, further enhancing the students' understanding of pioneer life and education.
One of the highlights of the day was the hands-on butter-making activity. Students enthusiastically shook cream into butter and then savored the fruits of their labor by enjoying the freshly made butter on biscuits, providing a delicious taste of pioneer ingenuity and resourcefulness.
The Pioneer Day celebration at the One Room Schoolhouse not only provided a fun and engaging learning experience but also fostered an appreciation for the history of education in Missouri. As the One Room Schoolhouse marks its 20th anniversary, it continues to serve as a valuable resource for students and educators alike, preserving and celebrating the "Legacy of Learning" for generations to come.
Senior Spotlight! Mary Gabriel will be studying Law Politics & Society and International Relations at Drake University. Thank you for being part of our Bluejay family, we can't wait to see all the amazing things you accomplish!
Thank you to Sarah Allen with Springfield-Greene County Library System for coming to talk to our K-5 students about their Summer Reading program..."Color Our World." The #1 way to avoid "Summer Slide" (the decline in academic skills and knowledge that students experience during the summer break when school is not in session) is to take part in a summer reading program.
Second Graders Break a Leg (and Fairytales!) in Hilarious Annual Production
For the 19th consecutive year, the talented second-grade class delighted audiences with their rendition of four fractured fairytale plays. The young thespians took to the stage on April 16th for an afternoon performance, captivating parents and fellow elementary students alike with their creative twists on classic stories.
The plays, which included “Live, It’s Fairytale News,” “Reading, Writing, and Little Red Riding Hood,” “Cinderella and the Glass Slipper," and “Two Pigs, A Wolf, and a Mud Pie,” were not only entertaining but also served as a vital component of the second-grade communication arts curriculum. Under the guidance of Mrs. Janelle Flanders, the students focused on honing their articulation and fluency skills. Each line was delivered with newfound confidence and clarity, showcasing the hard work and dedication they poured into their performances.
"This annual tradition provides our students with a fun and engaging way to develop essential communication skills," explained Mrs. Flanders. "By focusing on articulation and fluency within the context of these playful stories, the children gain confidence in their speaking abilities while bringing laughter and joy to the audience."
The event was a resounding success, with audiences praising the students' enthusiasm, creativity, and impressive command of language. The second-grade fractured fairytales have become a beloved tradition at Greenwood, celebrating the power of performance and the importance of communication skills.
