Students at Traphagen have fun while diving into hands-on learning
Students at Traphagen School are getting hands-on while learning about a variety of exciting topics in math, science and social studies. Traphagen’s mission of teaching scholars comprehension and literacy allows students to use their imaginations inside the classroom and have fun while doing so.
In Lauren Petrillo’s classroom, first-grade students play a bingo-style game called Near Doubles to find doubles up to 20 and become fluent in math principles. In the library, students in Sarah McElroy’s class were partaking in a digital scavenger hunt, using their laptops to search things up and sharpen their computer skills. Eighth-graders in Vincent Astarita’s science class are testing their knowledge of evolution by playing a competitive whiteboard review game. Important ideas are being exchanged in Nicole Chappas' social studies classroom where they are discussing current events and constitutional rights.
“Traphagen School is committed to fostering student academic achievement by providing a positive environment that ensures all students succeed to their highest abilities,” said Kristen Passarello, Assistant Principal at Traphagen. “Our school emphasizes the imperative that all children become literate, recognizing that literacy allows exposure to the world of the past and provides access to an evolving future.”
After raising them from eggs, Traphagen School first graders released their lady bugs into the wild, setting them free to be in nature. Students studied the lifecycle of a ladybug which includes the egg stage, larval stage, pupal stage and adult stage before releasing the adult ladybugs during class.
Beginning Monday and ending this Friday, students at Traphagen School are visiting the Scholastic Book Fair, taking place in the school’s media center. Colorful displays of books for all ages decorated the media center, and scholars got the opportunity to explore different titles and genres.
Rebecca Challop, a fifth-grade teacher at Traphagen School, recently received a $750 grant from the Rotary Club. Grant funds from the award will be used to purchase new, engaging books for her students to enjoy in the classroom library.
Students at Traphagen School are getting hands-on while learning about a variety of exciting topics in math, science and social studies. Traphagen’s mission of teaching scholars comprehension and literacy allows students to use their imaginations inside the classroom and have fun while doing so.
Traphagen Principal Carol Quinones conducted a professional development session on robust vocabulary instruction on Thursday, January 8, 2025. Faculty read an article titled, “Deepening Knowledge Through Vocabulary Learning by Isabel L. Beck and Margaret G. McKeown. “Six Hat Protocol”, a creative thinking and decision-making tool that encourages group members to approach problems from different perspectives was utilized during the session. The teachers shared their vocabulary instruction and samples of student work.
Traphagen School invited veteran families for its Veterans Day ceremony, "Honoring American Heroes," on Tuesday, November 12, 2024. Students recited poems, sang songs and shared their thoughts about Veterans Day. Veteran family members stood before the audience with their students and introduced themselves. They were applauded for their bravery and sacrifices in service of our country. Click here to view the full ceremony livestream on Facebook.
Scholars at Traphagen School honored historical African American figures during the Harlem Renaissance such as Langston Hughes, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith and W.E.B. Dubois to celebrate important figures in Black history on Friday, March 8, 2024.
Traphagen students celebrated literacy in honor of National Read Across America Day on Friday, March 1, 2024.