Students at Traphagen use math to plan menu for party

Traphagen School proudly celebrated its third-grade Honor Roll recipients during a special assembly on Monday, May 11, recognizing scholars for their hard work, dedication and achievements in the classroom. Ms. DeSalvo and Ms. Sansevera honored each student with thoughtful remarks that highlighted for the unique strengths and accomplishments they have demonstrated as learners.

Traphagen celebrated mothers and mother figures with a special breakfast. Our moms delighted in sharing this memorable experience with their children, filling the room with smiles, laughter, and pure joy. They also enjoyed time together painting pots and planting flowers —It was a morning to remember, made even more special by the love and warmth shared between our students and the incredible women in their lives.

On Friday, April 10, third-grade Traphagen School students from Ms. DeSalvo’s and Ms. Sansevera’s classes enjoyed an enriching and memorable visit to the Luangisa African Museum and Cultural Arts Center. During their visit, Ms. Luangisa – along with her community of friends – warmly welcomed the classes and immediately made both students and teachers feel comfortable and engaged. The students explored a variety of authentic artifacts, deepening their understanding of African history and culture. A highlight of the trip was participating in African drumming through song, where students experienced rhythm and tradition in a hands-on and engaging way.

Traphagen students enjoyed an exciting evening of fun with numbers, hands-on learning activities and games for the whole family last Wednesday at Family Math Night!
 

Math is everywhere, even when you’re throwing a party! Rebecca Challop’s fifth-grade students at Traphagen School were engaged in a collaborative math lesson last week in which they created a party menu using an itemized list of party supplies. Students applied multiple math operations to develop and manage a budget while working together to make decisions. Throughout the activity, they practiced collaboration by compromising, justifying their choices, and explaining the mathematical reasoning behind their decisions.

Families bonded through basketball during Traphagen School’s March Madness Family Game Night last Thursday. The event, hosted by the Traphagen PTA and Parent Liaison Shanygne Belfor, allowed students to play, compete, and learn basketball with their families and friends.

Ms. Genie Ernst, a kindergarten teacher at Traphagen School, conducted a hands-on math lesson last week in which students demonstrated their understanding of comparing greater numbers. Using math tools such as number paths and ten frames, students worked collaboratively to solve problems, listened attentively to one another, posed thoughtful questions, and explained their reasoning. The lesson highlighted both student engagement and the development of strong foundational math skills.

Mr. Shane Davanzo, a sixth-grade teacher at Traphagen School, is teaching his students about theme and how readers determine the theme of a story by examining several key elements of the text. He used Pixar short films as an engaging instructional tool to model how themes emerge through characters, conflict, and resolution. Students then worked in small groups to identify the themes of the Pixar clips, applying the strategies they learned during the lesson. They are now using this understanding to analyze the theme in "The Lightning Thief" and will continue to apply these skills in their independent reading books.