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Dinosaur Unit at Phillips

Dinosaurs sparked the imagination of kindergartners at the Phillips Avenue School in this special unit taught by RHS students taking AP Biology. This science unit had several stages that started with reading and learning about dinosaurs in the classroom and culminated with a hands-on event in the cafetorium. A few students from the High School AP Biology class travelled to the Phillips Avenue School to teach kindergarten students about dinosaurs. Each of the AP Bio students coordinated the studies in a series of learning stations.

Kindergartners went from station-to-station where they put together huge dinosaur and small dinosaur puzzles, went on an archeological dig for dino bones, listened to stories about dinosaurs, did dinosaur math, and more. >See Slideshow

PHILLIPS AVENUE DOESN'T CLOWN AROUND WITH READING
Each spring, the Phillips Avenue Elementary School celebrates reading during a week-long celebration called READING WEEK. The week begins with the Reading Week Kickoff Assembly where Phillips Avenue Principal Thomas Payton makes his Reading Challenge to the students and lets them know what he'll do if they meet the Challenge. (The first year, Mr. Payton had his head shaved during an assembly. Next, he dressed as a chicken and did the Chicken Dance. Last year, he allowed the class that read the most minutes turn him into a Human Sundae.)

This year Mr. Payton increased the number of minutes and challenged his students to read for at least 85,000 minutes (outside of school.) Mr. Payton promised that if the students met his challenge, he would dress as a clown and ride a tricycle around the auditorium during the final celebratory assembly. >More

The 2nd Annual Math Bee
Phillips Avenue hosted its Second Annual Math Bee on Monday, November 24th. Each grade level had its own Math Bee contest. Students qualified to compete in the Math Bee by taking their grade level 5-minute test. Each class had the top two students from their class compete with the other contestants in their grade level.The 5-minute test was copied and given to teachers to administer the week before the Math Bee to determine who the two representatives from each class in the Math Bee would be. The top two students were the ones who completed the most correct answers on the 5-minute test. This year’s Math Bee was only on basic facts. >More

October is Fire Safety Month
Like clockwork, each October the Riverhead Fire Department visits the elementary schools to promote fire prevention education and to teach children what to do in case of a fire.

The students participate in a fire safety poster contest, visit the smokehouse, watch a video on fire safety, learn how to exit a smoke-filled room, learn how to call the fire department, make and practice an exit plan and learn the importance of installing and checking smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in their homes. (Pictured left is an exercise on "community heroes." Monea wrote, "My Hero is a firefighter because they put out fires.") >More

The Block: A Kindergarten Collage
A brightly colored Kindergarten Collage from the Phillips Avenue School currently decorates the lobby of the District Office. Read about this creative effort. >More

Spooky Science at Phillips Avenue
Solids, liquids and gas were the concepts taught in a recent spooky science lesson that used steaming cauldrons of dry ice and a Halloween theme. The district’s new K-12 Science Director, Lois Etzel, teamed with STAR Academy teacher/facilitator Peter Huszagh and STAR students Nicole and Kaniesha (pictured in Mrs. Boscola’s first grade classroom at the Phillips Avenue School) to teach this science lesson. These science wizards fully engaged all the kindergarten and first grade students at Phillips in a giggle-inducing science lesson that used rocks, colored liquids, balloons, ice cubes, dry ice and a little teaching magic to help these tiny scientists embrace critical thinking and begin their study of science. >More

The Third Annual Reading Week. . .

This year Mr. Payton challenged his students to read for at least 75,000 minutes (outside of school.) Mr. Payton promised that if the students met his challenge, he would allow the class and teacher who read the most minutes to turn him into a human sundae during the final celebratory assembly. >More

The First Annual Math Bee . . .
"The intention of the Math Bee was to provide motivation for students to learn their Math Facts and have a chance to earn the title 'Math Bee Winner' --as well as prizes," shared the Phillips Avenue Math Coach Theresa Curry. "All contestants were treated to a pizza party. Math Bee Winners earned gift certificates, got their picture in the newspaper, and will be treated to a winners luncheon with a special guest. We also worked in a sense of teamwork by having each class make signs to encourage their contestants. I was very happy with the results." >More

Phase III of Phillips Playground . . .
It was a cold and windy November day, but the eager students at the Phillips Avenue School cheered enthusiastically as Principal Tom Payton called on them to thank all of the parent association (PAPA) volunteers who worked so hard to raise the funds for the final phase of their playground. Another cheer went up for John Trent and the district's maintenance workers who assembled all of the equipment. Yet another cheer went up for Superintendent of Schools Diane B. Scricca, who congratulated the school on working together to ensure "that our students have a fun and healthy place to play." >More

The First Day of School, the Boo Hoo Breakfast and PAPA . . .
It’s 8:45, September 6th, the first day of school at the Phillips Avenue School, and the principal, Mr. Tom Payton, is eagerly waiting at the curb for the first bus to arrive. Mr. Payton's first order of business is to greet all of the students as they come off the bus. Some children spontaneously hug him as soon as their feet hit the pavement. Then he's off to the "Boo Hoo Breakfast," which he instituted upon his arrival in the Riverhead School District two years ago. >More

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2004-05, 2006-07

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