What Do You Like Best About Karigon?

In 2025, Karigon students in Grades 3-5 were asked,

 "What do you like best about Karigon?"

My Favorite Subject is...

• • art because I love being artistic - drawing, making things out of clay and painting.  I love making beautiful masterpieces and doing gallery walks and leaving positive sticky notes on their artwork.  It is very peaceful and I can let my imagination grow.

  • social studies because I get to learn about history and our world.

  • math - it is challenging and so fun and you get to learn all the ways to do math.  Math is a lot like solving puzzles and I love puzzles!  I like to challenge my brain and do calculations.  I like to use numbers and equations to find answers to tricky questions.  Math will help me in my dream job.

  • P.E. - I love all of the activities and all the sports.  Running all around is so fun!  I like the soccer unit and am still trying to learn to rainbow flick.  I love that we get to get our energy out at school.

  • science because this year I got to work with pill bugs, and also because I love discovering things.  We also got to work with fossils and I love all of the interesting facts you can learn.  We get to do do lots of experimenting, and get to make new substances.  I like learning about the solar system and gravity.

  • reading - I love DEAR time (Drop Everything & Read) - I just love it.

  • word work - I love writing because I always get swept away by what I'm writing (I find evidence and elaborate on it).  I like to write stories using similes and metaphors.

  • music class because we have records and they are SO MUCH FUN!  Orchestra is great too - I love playing my instrument.

  • computer time.

  • STEM activities.

  • lunch 😄

My Favorite Karigon Event is...

• • the swimming unit in 3rd grade was fun and I loved learning how to swim.  You can also learn new strokes like the elementary back stroke.

  • The Fun Run was a blast - it's so fun to run with our friends and do races!  We also loved having popsicles after the run.  If we get a certain amount of money we get to make Mr. Jones into an ice cream sundae.

  • The Ice Cream Social and Literacy Night - free ice cream with Stewart's toppings!  You can sit next to your friends and also pick out the ice cream flavor that you like.

  • Trunk or Treat because I saw a lot of my friends and I got to play with them and eat candy.  I loved the creepy wall!

  • Our Grinch party was so fun!

  • Field Day is my favorite day at Karigon - we have so much fun and it's really fun that the parents can come and watch.

  • It was really fun to be a part of the musical, Annie Jr., this year.  You can show off your singing talents.

  • The dances are fun because I get to have fun with my friends.  There is always so much energy and music, that makes it really fun.

  • I like the Welcome Back Picnic.

  • Immigration Day was a fun and social event and I like that I learned about the past.

  • The Polar Express Day at Karigon.

  • Veteran's Day when my Dad comes to the Karigon celebration.

My Favorite Field Trip was...

• • the zoo in the 1st grade.

  • going to Mabee Farms.

  • going to the UAlbany basketball game.

My Favorite Place at Karigon is...

• • the art room because I love making crafts and designing things.  It is also very relaxing in there and has chill vibes.

  • the gym because you are moving your body, and running around and playing with your friends.  I play sports and I like that we get to play a lot of different things like sports and games.  the gym gives out sporty vibes.

  • on the playground because that means you're at recess where you can run and play in the fresh air!  You can even play with friends from other classrooms.  I especially like the swings in springtime.

  • the cafeteria because I get to eat food and talk with my friends.  It also changes into a cafetorium where you can watch movies or performances all in the same room.

  • the library because you can get smarter and you get to choose what you want - the library has every book in the world that I know!  It is also such a peaceful place, very comfortable and cozy.

  • my classroom because it is very relaxing and my teacher puts on calm music when we are working hard.  I can see my classmates and my teacher there, and we get to do fun things like math.  My classroom is decorated nicely.

  • the lobby because there is usually art and books in there.

  • looking out of the windows.

  • the field where we do the Welcome Back Picnic, Field Day & the Fun Run.  Sometimes we even run track there.

My Favorite Memory at Karigon is...

• • swimming in 3rd grade.

  • having fun with my friends.

  • my first day at Karigon and meeting my friends.

  • finding out about press start books.

  • watching Mr. Jones and Mrs. Stein get slimed after the Fun Run.

  • spending time with my friends because they always make me laugh, be positive and help me up when I am down.  No one is rude, mean or selfish here.

  • when I got a certificate for doing a good job.

  • all of the fun parties.

  • having very nice people like our principal, Mr. Jones.

  • when my team won the most games at Field Day.

  • when I played "Seven Nation Army" on stage with my band.

  • making new friends at Karigon.

  • having fun with my friends at the school dances.

  • the inside jokes I make with my friends.

  • building gingerbread houses.

  • when my brother came into my kindergarten class as a mystery reader.

  • making it into the art show.

  • when we have special assemblies like the Echo Dance Team.

  • enjoying the Polar Express Day with my class.

  • when we have comfy cozy (spirit) days.

Other thoughts on being a student at Karigon...

• • I love Karigon I feel safe every day and I always want to go to school.

  • Being at Karigon is so fun.

  • I love every teacher I have had in all my years at Karigon.

  • I love when we have Fun Fridays.

  • Overall this school is so loving and great I would love to stay here forever if I could.

  • The staff is so kind.

And we love our teachers and staff members!

• My teacher plans everything fun for us and even lets us sit next to who we want!

• My teacher is funny, caring and kind.

• I can't choose, they're all my favorite.

• My favorite staff member helped me so much when I needed it.  I was sad at the end of the school year, but now I see her in the hallway and say hi.

• My teacher welcomed me to her grade and classroom, and was really nice too.

• Our counselor lets you just go and talk about what you are feeling.

• My teacher was always very kind and understanding.  She helped whenever I got confused and always treated everyone fairly.

• My teachers care about me and my education.

• My teacher helped me get through a hard time and she's really funny.

And some responses from our younger students...

• I like my teacher, and I like having choice time.

• I like that we have chickens in Kindergarten.

• I like doing song breaks, my favorite is Danny Go "Mini Game Mansion."

• I like learning new things, also going to the playground and having choice time.

• I like going to the gym and learning math.

• I think my teacher is nice and I love recess.

• I like the school and I like learning math.

• I love going to art and doing lots of fun activities!

• I like being with my friends and teachers.

• I like when my Mom comes to help.  You know who helped with tie dye?  Miss Mom!

~These were answers from former years' 3-5 (2022-24) Grade Karigon students when we asked "What do you like about Karigon?"~

My Favorite Subject is...

• • Math - it feels like a puzzle and I like that! & I like math because I love to challenge my brain. & I really like my accelerated math class.  We even got to do graphing this year.

  • Art - I love going to art class, and because I get to be creative!

  • Gym / PE because Coach has a lot of fun exercises to do! Every year I look forward to the same cool games.  I'm going to miss Coach Decker's fun activities when I go to middle school. Also, the swimming unit was so fun!

  • Science because we can do fun experiments in class, and I love experimenting!

  • Social Studies because I really like history.

  • Reading...I love reading workshop.

  • Writing and word work.

  • Recess! Outdoor recess is the most fun.

  • Time on our Chromebooks and STEM activities.

  • lunch 😄

My Favorite Food in the Cafeteria is...

• • chicken nuggets and fries.

  • popcorn chicken.

  • Bosco Sticks (yummm!).

  • the meatball sub.

  • chicken patty sandwiches.

  • all of it - the lunch ladies work extremely hard to feed the school.

  • that steak sandwich - It's so tasty!

  • pizza!

  • when they serve thanksgiving Dinner. 

  • mozzarella sticks.

  • grilled cheese.

  • hotdogs.

  • my favorite lunch at Karigon is the tacos. 

  • mac & cheese!

  • Bosco sticks because they are cheesy and delicious!

My Favorite Karigon Event is...

• the Back to School picnic.

• the Ice Cream Social.

• the Trunk or Treat event in October.

• the Polar Express Day at Karigon.

• the annual dances (like Valentine's Day Dance or the Spring Blossom Dance).

• being with my class at Field Day.

• when we have spirit weeks - I love crazy hair day!

• being part of the Karigon Musical.

• all the activities at Karigon like Field Day are always fun and exiting! I also like all of the plays that we go to or perform at..  They are all really fun like the play "Benjamin Franklin Lives" and the "Wizard of Oz" play too!

• 4th Grade Immigration Day was so fun!

• The Polar Express Day is always fun, and the week before Christmas is ALWAYS amazing! 

• Field Day is AWESOME!

• the Karigon Literacy Night! 

My Favorite Field Trip was...

• • seeing the "Benjamin Franklinstein Lives!" play.

  • I liked all of them!

  • either the aquarium or zoo - and will probably soon be the Great Escape one.

  • to the pumpkin patch!  We got to pick out pumpkins and bring them home!!

  • in the 1st grade when we went to Animal Kingdom.

  • going to Mabee Farms (the butter crackers were so good!)

  • going to the NY State Capitol (I even got to see my Dad there!).  This was a favorite field trip among many students. 😀

  • 5th Grade Great Escape Day!

My Favorite Place at Karigon is...

• • I love the library, its a cozy and quiet space that I love to spend time in. 

  • My favorite place in the school is the gym, we play fun games!

  • the playground. I don't actually play, but I talk to my friends about life. 

  • lunch because you get to talk and eat lunch with friends. 

  • the fish tank in the lobby or my home room class.

  • the dome on the playground.

  • the gym - playing basketball and more!

  • the art room - that's where I belong.  Our art teacher lets us talk to her about anything.  It's so peaceful and you can express your feelings on the page.

  • the library because I love the variety of books.  I have checked out many books over the years and read lots of book series.

  • the tree next to the 4-Square box.

  • being on the stage, it makes me feel at home.

My Favorite Thing to Do at Karigon is...

• play kickball at recess.

• be a part of basketball intramurals.

• play Gaga Ball!

My Favorite Memory at Karigon is...

• • meeting my best friend in 4th Grade.

  • favorite memory from 2nd grade is when I moved here. 

  • hatching chicks in Kindergarten!

  • going outside on nice sunny days in the 5th Grade.

  • making a sock snowman in Kindergarten.

  • having free choice time in Kindergarten!

  • getting to go outside for Fun Friday.

  • My favorite was the memories in 4th grade. 

  • all of the fun times!

  • having fun with all my friends.

  • running the relay race on Field Day.

  • so many Fun Fridays!

  • going to the 3rd Grade Picnic.

  • when we had Beach Day in 1st Grade.

  • when I get to help my kindergarten teacher sometimes.

  • making my best friend in 1st Grade, and making another great friend in 4th grade.

  • making my teachers laugh.

  • when we got to be a part of Immigration Day in the 4th Grade.

  • when we had Book Buddies in 1st Grade.

Other thoughts on being a student at Karigon...

• • My favorite thing about Karigon is the people at the school.

  • I like doing orchestra at Karigon.

  • My favorite thing about Karigon is all the nice people that surround me.

  • I love all of the specials classes.

  • I like going to the morning program and singing our Karigon song.

  • I really love doing READO!

  • I remember writing my very first paragraph.

  • This school is the best!

  • I liked visiting the middle school because it gets you excited for next year!

And we love our teachers and staff members!

• My favorite teachers is all of them - they're all my favorite, I can't choose! 

• Our school nurse is great! If I'm injured or not feeling well she always helps. I appreciate all that she does. 

• Everyone is so nice at Karigon including the teachers and the substitutes! 

• My teacher is the fun and funniest teacher ever!

• My favorite teacher taught us a fact every day.

• I love my teacher because we do fun things like crafts.

• My favorite thing about Karigon is how nice the people are.

• My favorite person is my teacher!

• Our art teacher brings us so much joy!

• The Karigon teachers are so kind.

• My teacher is awesome - she does fun math games, lucky ducks and tells us lots of good jokes.

• My teacher always comforted me.

• My teacher had a baby this year and a guinea pig too.  She will always be in my heart.

• My teacher is the best - she is extraordinarily funny.

And some responses from our younger students...

• I like my teacher, and I like having choice time.

• I like doing Tech Time, and I like going to the playground.

• I like playing with my friends.

• I like morning work, doing the pledge and mostly the chicks - I'm so excited to see them!

• I like math and using the blocks to do math, mostly when we do plus to plus (addition).

• I like math, and I like Pirate Shaw, and I like riding the bus.

• I like going to gym and having choice time, and centers.  My favorite project was making the chick.

• I like my teacher and playing with my friends.  I really liked doing the "Very Hungry Caterpillar" project.