- School News -
Book Fair
Shopping for books to support the school.
By: Aubrey, Patriot Press Staff Writer
The Book Fair is an event where students shop for books they are interested in. The Book Fair took place at Mylan Park Elementary September 23-27. The Book Fair was located in the school library.
Mrs. Osecky, Mylan Park Elementary Librarian, ran the Book Fair. The Book Fair started in the gym during Grandparent’s Breakfast. Over 700 Grandparents and students shopped the Book Fair together during the Grandparents Breakfast. Autumn (a fourth grader) said “The Book Fair is fun because there are books for all ages.”
In order for the Book Fair to run it needs volunteers. The volunteers at the Book Fair this year were parents or grandparents of students. There were 10 volunteers at the book fair.
According to Mrs. Osecky, “We have a Book Fair so we can raise money for other library books or projects”. The Book Fair is important to provide students with new reading materials.” Avarie (a fourth grader) said “I like to shop in the book fair because I like to see the books and shop for them."
Choir
A formal club filled with joy.
By Emma, Patriot Press Staff Writer
Choir has been around for a long time. But choir has been a club for 4th and 5th grade students at Mylan Park for four years. Mrs. Jackson, the choir/music teacher at Mylan Park believes that “Choir makes a difference in many lives” which is why she is the music/choir teacher. She loves to inspire kids to love music as much as she does.
According to Mrs. Jackson choir was invented by a large group of people or a church. That was over 1,000 years ago. Choir was invented before the treble clef. A man named Guido De Aretzzo [a monk] who sang in a choir decided to figure out a way to write music on paper. This allowed music to be shared and performed.
Mrs. Jackson has worked at Mylan Park Elementary for 4 years as the music teacher. Mrs. Jackson received a great musical upbringing from her mother, a pianist. Mrs. Jackson’s first choir competition was in Martinsburg PA as a member of Morgantown High Choir. As she continued to be the choir teacher at Mylan Park, her passion for music continues.
Choir meets twice a week during club time for fourth and fifth grade. Fifth grade choir meets on Mondays and fourth grade choir meets on Wednesdays. Recently, the choir has been working on techniques like singing a measure with a high beat then the next measure singing in a lower beat. The choir is also preparing music for the Holiday Program and for an upcoming field trip.
Every year choir members have the opportunity to audition for All County Choir. Choir members from all over the county meet at the Met Theatre and perform as a whole group. Students participating in All County Choir meet once a week for a month to prepare the 4-5 songs for the performance. Paige (5th grader) performed last year with All County Choir. When she was on stage, she stated “ It made me feel proud and important.”
Choir is a club that provides musical opportunity and joy to all who listen.
Photos by Reaves 2019.
Innovation Lab
Mylan Park’s New Tech Lab!
By: Taegen, Mylan Park Patriot Staff Writer
In the 2018-2019 school year Mylan Park unveiled a new Innovation Lab. The Innovation Lab includes virtual reality, fun tables, new lessons, and lots of fun activities for the students to participate in.
In the lab, students work with virtual reality with Google Expeditions. With the new virtual reality equipment in the lab “classrooms have no boundaries” as quoted by the Google Expeditions website. Students in grades through 2-5 went into the Innovation Lab to try out this new activity for the first time. “I like the Innovation Lab because it fosters the creative thinking and problem solving” said Ms. Dieringer (4th Grade Teacher).
Some of the lessons learned in the lab are basic coding, coding vocabulary, engineering design, green screen, etc. Codi (5th grade student ) said “Something I like to do in the Innovation Lab is to build things because I like to create.”
“My goal for the innovation lab is to create a space where students are able to create, think outside the box and experience new technologies together” said Mrs. Reaves Technology Integration Specialist at Mylan Park. This is just the beginning for Mylan Park’s new Innovation Lab.
Articles below are from the 2019-2019 edition of the Patriot Press.
The 2019 County Spelling Bee
Mylan Park students compete in county spelling bee.
By: Olivia, Patriot Press Staff Writer
On February 5th at 5:30pm Monongalia County Students competed in the County Spelling Bee at South Middle School.
What is a spelling bee? A spelling bee is where students are asked to spell a word. If the contestant gets the word incorrect they are out. If the contestant gets the word right they move onto the next round and it continues until there are 4 contestants left.
Two Mylan Park students competed in the County Spelling Bee, Abigail and Olivia. One student from Mylan Park was out in the first round and the other student made it to the second round. “The words in the spelling bee were quite hard” said Olivia.
The winners this year were 4 middle school students from Suncrest Middle School. The 4 winners will compete at Fairmont State University to see who will be the 2019 West Virginia Spelling Bee Champion.
Lunch Behind The Scenes
Do you know where your food comes from?
By: Cameron, Patriot Press Staff Writer
The Mylan Park Cafeteria serves food twice a day to 500 students. The staff that cooks and serves the food is made up of Head Cook Betty Neer, Kathy Neer, Vicky McBee and Monica Fox. They work hard to make sure the students get what they need every day.
The staff get up at 4:15am to get to Mylan Park by 6:00am to make the food. Karen Ghiardi makes the menu every month. The cooks make the food that is on the menu that day. Once the cooks are done making breakfast they have to get right to lunch. They have to make a second meal by 10:30 am to start serving to the students at their lunch times. After lunch, the cooks prep food and clean up the kitchen for the next day.
Mrs. Betty is the Head Cook at Mylan Park Elementary. She has been the Head cook for Mylan Park for 11 years and have been a cook for the schools for 22 years. She is in charge of ordering the food. She orders the food from Paragon and Gordon Food Services also the USDA and the Team Nutrient Department. Mrs. Betty says her favorite part about being a cook is “seeing the kids every day” and she also said she also “likes to cook for the kids here at school.
Lunch is important to Mylan Park because it fuels our bodies and our minds.
Pictured: The Mylan Park Kitchen. (Cameron, 2018).
Pumpkins All Around
All about the Storybook Pumpkin Patch Competition.
By: Grace, Patriot Press Staff Writer
The Storybook Pumpkin Patch started on October the 1st and ended on the 15th. The Storybook Pumpkin Patch is a competition where students pick their favorite book and create a pumpkin to go along with one of the character in the story.
Students in grades Pre-K through 5 participated in the competition. On October 16th, Mylan Park Teachers voted on the pumpkins to choose a winner. The storybook pumpkins were judged based on what the teachers liked best and who was more creative. Each grade had a First, Second and Third place winner. There were also three overall winners.
The winners were announced on Friday the 19th at the annual Mylan Park Fall Festival. First place overall winner was Lilly in Fifth Grade with her “Pigeon Pumpkin.” Second place overall winner was 4th grader Dakota with her “Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog” Pumpkin. 3rd place overall winner was 1st grader Isabella with her “Ninja Chicks” Pumpkins.
Mrs. Osecky created the competition because “it is fun, and to develop an interest in different book characters.” This competition has been going on for 2 years. The Story Book Pumpkin Patch Competition started last October 2017.
Pictured: Winning Storybook Pumpkins (Reaves 2018.)
Lulu in Mrs. Mattern's Classroom. (Mattern 2018.)
Lulu’s Belly
The incident with Lulu.
By: Maya, Patriot Press Staff Writer
Lulu is a rabbit in Mrs. Mattern’s class. She is a black and white rabbit who is a very loved class pet. Lulu is 1 ½ years old.
Mrs. Mattern adopted Lulu from another family in June of 2017. Brileigh (2nd Grade Student) said “ Lulu is a good class pet because she has a lot of spots.”
This summer Lulu was hopping around on Mrs. Mattern’s house floor when she got caught on a floor vent. She tried to hop away and cut her belly open.
Mrs.Mattern rushed Lulu to her veterinarian at Paw Prints. It took a week for Lulu’s belly to heal. Sadly, Lulu will have a scar for life. Mrs. Mattern said “ I was so heart broken when it happened.”
Today Lulu is back to being her old self and is doing great. Mrs. Mattern’s class is happy to have their favorite class pet back in the classroom.
Grandparents Breakfast. (Lilly 2018).
Grandparents Breakfast
A time to eat with your Grandparents
By: Lily, Patriot Press Staff Writer
Grandparents Breakfast was on September 20, 2018 in the cafeteria. The breakfast was a place to have breakfast with your grandkids. Students ate with their grandparents in the cafeteria. They had waffles, eggs, muffins, milk and juice. Emma (Pre-K student) said, she liked “when I sit with her [my Grandma].’’
After breakfast students could take a picture with their grandparents. Photographers were here from LifeTouch to take pictures.
The Book Fair was also open for grandparents and students to shop. Shopping at the Book Fair support the school. “I got a dragon book’’ Carly 4th Grader said.
At the end, students left to go to class to start their school day.
PE Club
PE Club Returns in 2018.
By: Shyann, Patriot Press Staff Writer
PE club is a special fitness organization to help students stay strong and help build muscles. PE club has a lot of fun activities to help students stay physically fit.
Students picked what club they wanted to join on August 22, 2018. Students could choose from PE Club, Book Club, Choir, Art Club, Journalism Club and Spanish Club. Each club started on August 29, 2018.
Ms.McCarthy runs PE club. They meet in the gym each Wednesday during club time.They build relationships with Pre-K students and build strength.
“We are working together with Pre-K students to help build role model behavior and increase our activity time” said Ms.McCarthy. “ The kids are crazy, but fun” said Carly (4th Grader).
PE club is a place to exercise and get your muscles moving!
Students participating in PE Club. (McCarthy 2018)
Content Below is from the 2017 Edition of the Patriot Press.
(Photos by John 2018.)
Smile!
Picture Day at Mylan Park.
By: John, Patriot Press Staff Writer
Picture Day is every fall and spring and on picture day students dress up fancy. Picture day at Mylan Park was on April-16-18 in the gym. Pictures taken on picture day are used for the yearbook every year.
There are different types of poses you can do like you shoulder together or a pretty smile. When your picture is taken there are different backgrounds. Some are spring in spring time and some are fall in fall time. But in the spring time there are many choices like next to a pond or even a pretty garden. After you take your picture you wait until the other kids are finished with their picture and then head back to class. Mrs. Morris 3rd grade teacher said “picture day was really organized and on schedule this year,I feel it went really well.”
In the spring, there is also a class picture taken on the bleachers in the gym. There are a couple pictures and one of the pictures can be silly. Kids can purchase a class picture to keep to have memories of their class
Madison 3rd grader said “It was a great picture day and hope next year is even better.”
We’re all Wonders
Your your own type of Wonder.
By: Tacy, Patriot Press Staff Writer
In February grades K-2 and 3-5 participated in a book club reading the book “Wonder.” K-2 read the book “We are all Wonders” and grades 3-5 read the book “Wonder.”
The book “Wonder” is based on a boy named August Pullman. It was his first year of Middle School at Beecher Prep. He was going in to the fifth grade that year. Auggie/August was going to a school for the first time ever because he was homeschooled because he had facial differences since birth. He had a total of 22 surgeries. The book is split up of different people in Auggie’s life. Like Via, Auggie, Summer, Jack, Justin, Miranda.
All grades worked on growing a Kindness Chain in the cafeteria. Students earn “kindness links” by doing kind things for people in the school. “A lot of people do not take time to be kind, so it is a pleasure to observe when they do” Mrs. Little fourth grade teacher said.
The book “Wonder” was read along with Kindness Week activities to show kindness and showcase the book “Wonder.” “ I liked kindness week because I got to sign a poster with my friends and I liked the kindness chain in the cafeteria” Kylin third grader said.
(Pictures from @mylanpatriots twitter page.)
We're all Ears!
Choir takes their voices to new heights.
By: Jaylynn, Patriot Press Staff Writer
4th and 5th graders choose a club to join twice a year. The choices are spanish, art, music, and tech club. In music/choir they learn new songs to perform in concert. They meet in the music room with Mrs. Jackson twice a week.
In music/ choir they are starting to learn new songs for the spring concert. They might work on 2-3 songs at a time. The song they are currently working on is called “My America.” The part they are working on is called “My Country Tis Of Thee.”
Their next event is the All County Choir on May 4th, 2018 at the Met Theatre. The choir members will be singing with students from all over the county. It will all be happening at 7:00 pm.
The final performance of the choir will be at the Spring Concert. At the concert the choir, the school band, the strings and 4th and 5th grade will be performing. The concert will be on May 10th 2018 in the Mylan Park gym.
(Pictures by Jaylynn, 2018.)
Trampas Efaw and Stefan Page donate blood at Mylan Park Elementary. (Baker, 2017.)
One Pint at a Time
Mylan Park hosts first Pint Sized Hero Blood Drive.
By: Macen, Patriot Press Staff Writer
On Monday, January 29th 2018, Mylan Park Elementary sponsored a blood drive. The blood drive was located in the gym at Mylan Park Elementary. The blood that was donated, was given to local hospitals to help sick people. The blood drive was hosted by The American Red Cross.
At 1:00 PM, the blood drive started. Only people above the age of 16 were allowed to donate. So students recruited their friends and family to donate on their behalf as a "Pint Sized Hero." Donating a pint of blood can save up to 3 lives.
When someone gives blood they have to follow a series of steps. First, the patient signs in. Then the phlebotomist (flo-bot-oh-mist) takes the patient behind the curtain and takes their complete history. Next, they take they take the patient’s vitals (blood pressure and heart rate) then the phlebotomist does a finger stick to the patient to check iron levels. If everything turns out good, the patient is shown to a table and the phlebotomists takes a pint of the donor’s blood.
The whole process takes about an hour. Once the patient /donor is done with donating blood, they receive a snack and a drink. “My husband and I donated blood, and we felt good about saving 6 lives” said Mrs. Clark, 5th Grade Teacher.
Since 39 people donated blood, they gave 39 pints that saved 117 lives in our community. This exceeded our 25 pint goal. Way to go Patriots!
(Photo from Mon County Schools Arctic Academy, 2017)
Arctic Academy
How to count a school day without being at school!
By Macen, Patriot Press Staff Writer
There may be days our Superintendent, Dr. Devono will call for an Arctic Academy day. On these days you will have work to do assigned by your teacher.
What is the Arctic Academy? The Arctic Academy is where kids do work online on days there is snow or it is too cold to go to school. These days do not have to be made up at the end of the school year.
Where can kids get it? Well, on Google Classroom, you join a classroom and teachers send a link to some work you do on Arctic Academy days, and kids download them. You have to download Day 1, and when they call an Arctic Academy day, you’ll be ready to access your folder of assignments.
Other grades without Chromebooks will have work assigned by your teacher. These will come home with special instructions.
Remember don't complete Arctic Academy assignments unless Dr. Devono calls for an "Arctic Academy Day."
Good luck on the Arctic Academy!
Student works on i-Ready. (Reaves, 2017)
I-READY CAN BE FUN!!
All about i-Ready.
By: Jerrod, Patriot Press Staff Writer
i-Ready can be fun but is also really important. i-Ready is what can help you move on to the next grade level by learning new skills.
i-Ready is fun because of the characters and games. i-Ready teaches math or reading skills through games and activities. It is good practice for grades 3-5, because in the spring they have to take the Smarter Balance Test.
Samuel 5th grader at Mylan Park Elementary said “i-Ready will help me progress to the next grade.” Nicholas 5th grader at Mylan Park Elementary said “i-Ready is really fun!”
The games i-ready has are really fun. i-Ready has Galaxy Sprint, Wizard Pinball. To play these games you have to get a good grade on your i-Ready tests at the end of each lesson. Then once you pass the test you can collect your coins to spend in the arcade.
And don’t forget you will have a growth check three times each year. This is so you can always be on your correct learning level.
It is important to get 45 minutes in each week for reading and math.Once you have your minutes each week you can go to the arcade and have some fun!
i-Ready is fun and important for your education.
Photo By: Chloe (2017)
Our Vice Principal
An interview with Mrs. Pack.
By: Chloe, Patriot Press Staff Writer
A principal can tell you what to do. She or he can rule the whole school. She can say what we do everyday. But, a good principal and vice principal listen to the students and staff to make our school better everyday.
The Vice Principal follows the Principal. The Vice Principal is important too. She has us following the rules so she can do her job. Our Vice Principal is Mrs. Pack.
Mrs.Packs job is different than Mrs. Lupo’s. She works as a team and assists Mrs. Lupo. She works on attendance and she hands out Terrific Kid certificates. They both handle discipline. Mrs.Pack does not do finances but she does have a lot of other responsibilities.
Mrs. Pack builds relationships with students, and helps with car-rider bay. She helps with friendship problems with students. She is the principal when Mrs. Lupo isn't here.
She meets in PLC’s weekly. PLC’s are where teachers meet up with the principal and the vice principal while you are in specials. The teachers meet up with Mrs.Pack to go over I-Ready. She looks at I-Ready to see if you have all your minutes and how many lessons you’ve passed or failed. It's important to do your best or the teachers and principals will push you to do better.
Mrs.Pack also works with a group called the Leadership Team. It is made up of Mrs. Lupo, Mrs. Reaves, Mrs. Golden, and herself. They work to make the school better.
Mrs.Pack is important to our school.
A Piggy Bank. (Photo Courtesy of Google Images 2017.)
Pennies For Polio
One penny can change someone's life.
By: Annalyse, Patriot Press Staff Writer
Pennies for Polio is a program that the Rotary District released in 2010. It is a fundraising campaign that communities and schools raise money for. Each year the organization goes school to school collecting money for the medication, food, and water these sick people need.
According to the CDC, "Polio is a crippling and potentially deadly infectious disease. It is caused by the poliovirus. The virus spreads from person to person and can invade an infected person’s brain and spinal cord, causing paralysis (can’t move parts of the body)" (CDC Website, 2017).
The money raised in the US is not to be used here. Thanks to the polio vaccine, it is mostly wiped out. They money is always sent to other countries in need that do not have access to the polio vaccine.
Here is how you can help.
Your teacher has been given a large counting jar that holds coins like Pennies, Nickels, Dimes and Quarters. But those coins don't just appear in the jar. The coins are donated from you!
One week is set aside for a competition between each class. The class with the most money collected gets a special reward!
So, even if you can only give one Penny, it can save a life. Consider donating to Pennies for Polio today.
Pumpkin Dressed as Book Characters In The Library (Macen 2017)
The Pumpkin Competition
A contest to carve pumpkins to look like a book character.
By: Macen, Patriot Press Staff Writer
On October 9th-18th, 2017 you can bring in pumpkins for there a pumpkin decorating competition. You will have to decorate the pumpkin to make it look like your favorite book character. Prizes will be awarded for pumpkins in grades K-5.
Winners will be announced on the fall festival which is October 20th, 2017. All pumpkins must be picked up by Mrs. Osecky by October 31st. So you better get a pumpkin!
“I think the pumpkin competition is fun and great to show opportunity to show your creative side!” Said Lydia 5th Grade. “I think it’s a good opportunity for kids, and I think it could them an opportunity to be competitive and happy.” Said Chloe 5th Grade.
You better get ready for the competition! It already started!
Storybook Pumpkin Patch Winners!
Congratulations to Overall Grand Prize Winners:
1st - Charlotte B., Kindergarten
2nd - Lauren B., 5th Grade
3rd - Daveion P., 2nd Grade
Tailgate, Tailgate read all about it!
All about the tailgate.
By: Jerrod, Patriot Press Staff Writer
Student runs through the tunnel to the Tailgate (Reaves 2017)
Before you can go to the tailgate, you have to do a summer project. This year the project was to do twenty math problems, and nine book projects. Also this year the tailgate was on the 7th of September, 2017.
We had a assembly before the tailgate which was new. We found out our book for our school wide book club, "The World According to Humphrey." Then it was time for the big tailgate!
The students that got to go to the full tailgate went out first. They spread out on the playground and played games, got books, saw the Dance Team perform had popsicles. A little while later the students that completed half the work came out to join the fun.
Macen 5th grader said “The tailgate was pretty fun. But I’m sad that it will be our last tailgate.” “The tailgate was fun” said Annalyse 5th grader.
The tailgate was fun for all.
Back To School!!!
All About The First Day Of School
By: Mylee, Patriot Press Staff Writer
Students arrive on the first day. Lupo (2017)
The first day of school was on August 17, 2017. On the first day of school students learned new things and made new friends.
There was fresh new paint on the walls. The paint made the halls brighter. Destiny 4th grader said, “The paint last year was white scratched up and now the walls are nice and pretty.”
The Students had new teachers.They were ready and excited! The teachers were nervous and excited also. Mrs. Brun said, “I was excited and ready to meet my new students and to see my old students”.
Pre-K started the following Monday. The older students showed them how to be Patriot Leaders when walking in the halls, in the lunch line, during dismissal.
This year to help the younger student there are bus buddies. They help the Teacher with the younger students when there are bus riders. They make sure they have the students that go on that bus and help load them onto the bus.
The students are thankful for what the teachers did to get ready for the first day and are looking forward to a great year.