BROWN SCHOOL
ELETTER ~ MARCH 8, 2015
Read Across America ~ Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss
by Cyndi Hoffman
To honor Dr. Seuss and his role in promoting children’s literacy, Brown School is celebrating Read Across America. Dr.
Seuss did not begin his career as a children’s author. Prior to writing his first children’s book, Dr. Seuss illustrated
advertisements and drew cartoons for magazines, such as The Saturday Evening Post. During World War II, Dr. Seuss
discovered the art of animation and created animated training films for the Army, featuring Private Snafu.
Contrary to popular belief, The Cat in the Hat was not Dr. Seuss’ first book. He had written And To Think That I Saw It
On Mulberry Street twenty years earlier. In 1956, he was asked to write a children’s book using only the words on a list of 225
vocabulary words. He had a difficult time coming up with an idea for the book until he decided to use the first two rhyming
words that he found on the list. Thus, Cat in the Hat became the main character.
After World War II, writers realized that children’s literature had the potential to disseminate good and evil. Dr. Seuss
wanted to nurture the good. He not only wanted to teach children to read but also to think. All of his books carry a message.
This is particularly true of his books written after World War II, such as The Lorax and The Butter Battle Book.
Dr. Seuss was born March 2, 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts, a mere two hour drive from Albany. Today, Springfield
boasts a sculpture garden dedicated to Dr. Seuss. Larger-than-life sculptures of his characters adorn the park, which was
dedicated in May of 2002. The art and poetry of Dr. Seuss’ books encourage us to think creatively, participate in society, and
do what we can to make the world a better place.
This week, Brown School students were encouraged to read nightly and return their completed reading logs to school
on Monday, March 9. The classes reading the most minutes per student will earn a reward. The March Birthday Bulletin Board
sports a Dr. Seuss theme and classroom doors throughout the school are decorated with the students’ favorite children’s
books, some of which are pictured here. How many can you identify?
2
5
4
3
6
1
10
9
7
8
11
12
13
14
15
Page 2
Middle School Science Bowl
This Saturday, March 7, ten students from the 7th and 8th grade
represented Brown School in the New York State Capital District
Regional Middle School Science Bowl, the regional competition of the
U.S. Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl. Our students
competed against other local schools in two competitions: A model
car race and fast-paced questions in science and math. This year’s car
race challenge was to propel a model car across a track powered only
by the dropping of two kilograms of mass. Using the force of gravity
alone, the students had to find a solution to not only move the vehicle
along a track, but doing so faster than the opposing teams. During the
question-based competition, students were given mere seconds to
answer challenging questions from various fields of science and math.
Results will be posted soon!
Upcoming Dates
Tuesday, March 10
• School Wide Photo Day - Wear Brown
School Clothing OR maroon and white;
5th-8th graders bring sports jerseys
Friday, March 13
• Faculty/Staff and Family Open Mic Night 6:30 p.m.
Friday, March 20
• No School/PLUS Open - Professional Day
for Faculty
Wednesday, March 25
• Little Folks Musical (Grades N-4) 8:45-9:45 a.m.
Friday, April 3
• No School/PLUS Open - Good Friday
April 6-10
• No School/PLUS Open - Spring Recess
The children in Mrs. Achtyl and Mrs. Smith's class are having fun making
different puppets for their Nursery Rhyme Unit. Baa, Baa, Black Sheep, Monday , April 13
made out of a sock, is a favorite. Watch out for those singing Baa, Baas! • PALS Meeting - 6:30 p.m.
Day of School
Friday, April 17
• Upper School Social - 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 21
• No School/PLUS Open - Parent Teacher
Conference Day
Wednesday, April 29
• Fine Arts & Music Fair
Please visit the Events page on our website for a
full calendar of events.
Report cards will be mailed out mid-March. Remember to bring good
report cards to First New York Federal Credit Union to receive $5.00
in your student account. Note: the amount has changed from $10.00
to $5.00 due to budget cuts. Please bring report cards to the bank in
a timely manner. There is a short window of opportunity for this. Join us for the Faculty/Staﬀ and Family
Open Mic night at the Art and Music Café,
Friday, March 13 beginning at 6:30. To
reserve stage time and seating please
contact Mrs. Salvatore at
[email protected]
Suggested donation $3.00
Page 3
Continent Projects
Second Graders created a piece of art to
represent each area as they have studied
the continents of the world.
Kindergarteners have been
busy celebrating Dr. Seuss’
birthday with a pajama day,
stuffed animals
and Oobleck.
They also built
incredible
structures in
the block room!
The Three Little Pigs
Recently there was an assembly in our gym. The show was called The Three
Little Pigs. It was a very nice program with four actors and a musician. They
used a scarecrow, bricks, books, straw, sticks, and wooden swords as props.
Guess what? The show was an opera. An opera
is a play that is sung. From the expressions of
the audience, they were impressed. The
performers only learned the play in three days!
I thought that the show was enjoyable. By A.P. - Grade 4
Thank You, Mamma Mia! Honorary Committee
Thank you to all the members of our Mamma Mia! Honorary
Committee. We are so grateful for your support. •Anonymous
•Felipe Paez and Patti de Paez
•Martha and Edward Asselin
•Lisa Perrone and Ray Lipani
•Susan Bardack
•Susan Youmans Place
•Joan and Tom Brooks
•Alec and Gretchen Platt
•Roger and Phyllis Chericoni
•Earl and Marna Redding
•Jeff Corbin and Janette Schue
•Drs. Jill and Joseph Salvo
•Drs. David and Micheline Ford
•Fardin Sanai and Michele Susko
•Mary Frawley
•Kelli and Mark Smachlo
•Bob and Debbie Geer
•Dan and Catherine Smitas
•Krishna Govindarajan and Helen
•Tom and Suzanne Smith
•Michael and Carolyn Sterthous
Hanson
•Hugh Graham and Tina Sciocchetti
•Hon. Paul D. Tonko
•Pamela Hoeffner
•The van der Veen Family
•Gregory Jabaut
•Hon. Vincent and Tina Chericoni
•Prof. Bernhard Kuhn
Versaci
•Shane and Kristen Mahieu
•Elizabeth Vinciquerra
•William and Beth Massmann
•Dr. & Mrs. Salvatore Vitale
•Sue and James McClymonds
Interested in joining the Honorary Committee? There is still time. Contact
the Main Office to purchase your tickets or download this form. Regular ticket sales will begin mid-March. Look for the Mamma
Mia! invitation to arrive in mailboxes in 2 weeks and return the reply card
to purchase regular tickets. Read Across America Classroom Door Answers:1-ish by Peter H. Reynolds, 2-Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola, 3-Hop on Pop
by Dr. Seuss, 4-The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, 5-Eloise by Kay Thompson, 6-Matilda by Roald Dahl, 7-Green Eggs and Ham by
Dr. Seuss, 8- Elephant and Piggie by Mo Willems, 9- Clifford by Norman Bridwell, 10-Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes,
11-Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss, 12-The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, 13- Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse
Rosenthal, 14-Yertle Turtle by Dr. Seuss, 15-Hickory Dickory Dock
Page 4
Poetry Centers
Students in 4th and 5th Grades have been working together to complete a series of Poetry Centers, where they have been
learning about elements of poetry, visualizing poetry, and exploring and writing different types of poetry. Some of the poems
they have been learning about include found poems, Kennings, shape poems and rhyming poems. Students have also
participated in a literature discussion about the book Love that Dog by Sharon Creech. Students have been working on
writing additional types of poetry within their own classrooms as well. We hope you enjoy our poetry collection!
Kennings Poems
A Kenning is a two word phrase describing an object
often using a metaphor. A Kennings poem is a riddle
made up of several lines of kennings to describe
something or someone.
loud roarer
fierce scratcher
fast runner
predator approacher
long tailer
by Sallie
no sound
long neck
eats leaves
tall animal
long legs
by Chehyun
hooting menace
flying ace
mice catcher
nocturnal snatcher
egg saver
food craver
midnight prowler
animal chaser
meat devourer
master sniffer
sheep tamer
free runner
meat hunter
sharp hearer
cliff leaper
wolf packer
running lover
by Nathan
brother harasser
parent annoyer
food stealer
toy taker
Nerf-gun shooter
helpful player
by Noah
by Addison
Book Spine Poetry
Students use book titles to create a new poem
Down, Down, Down
Incredible Sea Creatures
Sharks!
by Owen
Mistakes Were Made
Catching Fire
Beyond the Grave
We Meet Again
by Augie
Dear Dumb Diary,
Smile
It’s Great to Be Eight
by Sofia
Visualizing Poems
After reading a classic poem, students drew their
interpretation of the meaning.
Hope is a Feathered Thing
by Megan
Dusty Snow
by Thomas
Shape Poem
Pencil
by Will
eraser
eraser
eraser
metal
metal
wood
wood
wood
wood
wood
wood
wood
wood
wood
wood
wood
wood
wood
wood
lead
lea
d
Found Poems
Students used only interesting
words that they had found in
their environment to create a
found poem.
Scorpion
The villainous scorpion
The gigantic scorpion
The happy scorpion
Crawling towards a kinkajou
by Gage
Penguins and Koalas
fun
awesome
koalas
rejoice
rejoice!
slow
walk
penguins
rejoice
rejoice
koalas
and
penguins
rejoice
rejoice!
by Asa
Page 5
Rhyme Poems
After exploring the rhyme patterns of different poems, students tried writing
their own rhyming poem using their favorite rhyme scheme.
I saw a worm,
It liked to squirm,
He had awesome hair,
With some flair.
by Natalia
Dog
I see a dog walking,
I see a dog barking.
The dog caught a bone,
And came back with a stone.
by Arjun
Monsters Eating Ice Cream
Monsters eating ice cream,
Can’t believe they fly.
They are very chubby,
And they’re very tubby.
by Peter
I always put my candy in a bowl,
Unless I see a mole.
I have no idea why
I’m done with candy,
Now I’m going to eat pie.
by Devin
Bear
I am a bear,
I’m so cool, yo.
I live in a fair,
I love fro-yo.
by Amanda
I was eating my candy in a bowl,
then I saw a butterfly on the roll.
It was so light,
It looked like a moth for it was white.
by David
Flying swiftly all around,
Lands gently on the ground,
Spreads its wings and holds its head up
high,
I stare in awe as it flies toward the sky.
by Eva
Ice Cream Truck
What’s that magical sound?
It’s the ice cream truck.
Everyone’s rushing all around.
Mom says yes, just my luck.
by Katie
My friend had a ball,
She threw it at me.
I would rather be at the mall,
But I need glasses to see.
by Morgan
Opposite Rhyme Poems
After writing rhyme poems, students tried writing a 2 stanza
poem about a pair of opposites using the same rhyme
scheme for both stanzas.
Up and Down
When I go up I feel like I’m flying,
I certainly don’t think I’m dying.
When I go up I feel free,
So won’t you go up with me?
When I go down it’s such a bore,
Let’s not do this anymore.
Going down it’s not real fun,
Just like going on a run.
by Emilio
Sweet Tooth Am I
I like candy so much I could die
I will eat it all my life
If I'm ever told no I will fight
Candy is so sweet I will eat all in my sight
Candy, candy is so yucky
It will rot all my teeth
I will say no to candy
Candy is so un-dandy
by Isabel
Up vs. Down
Up high in the sky,
it’s where the planes fly,
The peaks of the mountains,
the arcs of fountains.
Where it likes to snow, instead of rain,
Far above, our dusty lane.
Down in the underwater caves,
deep below the ocean waves.
It’s cold down there,
but we don’t care.
Because the caves hold lots of wonders,
thousands and thousands of really high
numbers.
by Charlie
Ocean and Land
Ocean, ocean big and bright,
Ocean, ocean big and light.
Ocean, ocean home to fish,
Ocean, ocean swish, swish.
Land, land long and flat,
Land, land like a mat.
Land, land home to peoples,
Land, land home to steeples.
by Olivia
Bookworm?
I am crazy as a little fly
and my energy doesn't ever die
I'll never sit and learn some words
When I want to run and eat some
nerds
I will never sit down and read a book
because what's the point, it won't
change your look
What's up with that little guy
She just thinks she's as smart as a fly
but I'll be the better one and read a
book
and that will be the better look
because when mom walks in right
through the door
she'll look at me and I'll be the most
adored
by Mia
Page 6
2014-2015 Annual Appeal Update
We are very grateful to the following people for their donations. The total gifts and pledges to date to the 2014-2015
Brown School Annual Appeal are $34,230. When you support the Annual Appeal, you make an investment in the educational quality of the school, enriching the
academic curriculum and enhancing student activities. The uniqueness of a Brown School education, with its tradition of
academic excellence and musical and artistic richness, is only made possible by the equally strong tradition of giving by the
Brown School community.
Gifts to Brown School are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Platinum Level Donors:
($2,500 and above)
Jose and Kirsten Almeida
Silver Level Donors:
($500-$999)
Dr. and Mrs. Michael Burke
Jeffrey Corbin and Janette Schue
GE Foundation
Pamela and Doug Hoeffner
Greg Jabaut
Chris Kelly and Kris Lowney
Sue and James McClymonds
Principal Investments
Jill Salvo
Art and Joan Storey
Maroon & White Level
Donors: ($100-$249)
Anonymous
Anonymous
Susan Arnold and Edward
Muhl
Gold Level Donors:
Dr. James and Dr. Lynn Boler
($1,000-$2,499)
Jim and Lucy Cesare
Anonymous
Scott and Linda Curtis
Janet and Allen Barnett
Myron Dytiuk and Areta
Lara Turney and Frank Coon
Pidwerbetsky
David and Micheline Ford
Marie and Michael Fariello
Krishna Govindarajan and
Mary Ann and Tim Frame
Helen Hanson
Anna and Jason Gabree
Bronze
Level
Donors:
Hugh Graham and Tina
Thomas and Cynthia
($250-$499)
Sciocchetti
Goodman
Anonymous
Beth and Bill Massmann
David and Sheila Griffin
Tom
and
Joan
Brooks
Scott Powhida
Sharon Kielty
Carlo Cioffi
Michele Susko and Fardin
Jim and Emily Klotz
Jim
and
Mary
Frawley
Sanai
Erika Koutelis
Robert
Gach
The Sandvik Family
Teri and Carmen Lomonoco
Robert
and
Debra
Geer
Kelli and Mark Smachlo
Joan Mahieu
Mohammed
and
Rae
Haouaoui
Tom and Suzanne Smith
Denise Martin
Dawn
and
Michael
Przekurat
Michael and Carolyn Sterthous
Carla Mastriano
Kevin
Rosenberg
and
Natalie
Vincent Versaci and Tina
Rob and Betsy Messenger
Lopasic
Chericoni Versaci
Donna Mitchell and Ronald
Lotfi
Sayahi
Salvatore and Patti Vitale
Tys
William and Karen Smith
James Noviczski and Jonina
Arend van der Veen and
Wilkins
Christine Clark
Lisa Perrone
Maureen Vinciquerra
Lauren Pine Bernstein
Liz and Joe Vinciquerra
Thomas and Evelyn Read
Kathryn West and John
Christine Richardson
Ciovacco
Nancy Sciocchetti
Tom and Sandra Smith
Wayne P. Smith
Karen and John Spinelli
Friend Level Donors:
(Up to $99)
Patricia Achtyl
Cheryl Ackner
Anonymous
Jason and Nina Benway
Pat and Jim Boler
Teresa Burke
Stephen and Elizabeth
Girolami
Evelyn and Steven
Greenstein
Jeffrey and Jessica Hladik
Amanda Keil
Michael and Maryellen
Koutelis
Melanie McGann
Pamela and Timothy
McLeron
Doulla and Brian Mertik
Linda and Gerald Mossey
Karen Muhl
Frank and Mary Salvatore
United Way
William and Nancy Winkler
Katie Zerega
Lei Zhang and Ye Ding
Updated Mar. 4, 2015
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