PROJECT SUCCEED

Where: At Pine Tree School’s Afterschool Program*

What: Ice Cream Social and Games

*If you do not normally attend the Afterschool Program on Wednesdays, and you are joining us on June 15, please bring a note from home so staff members are aware of your after school plans

Fun and Games at Pine Tree’s Project SUCCEED!   Heidi Belle-Isle, Site Director  June 2011 

Spring has sprung and the Morning and Afterschool Programs at Pine Tree School are celebrating the season with outdoor games and activities.  Students have learned and enjoyed the timeless games of jacks and marbles alongside their old favorites: hula-hoop and jump rope!  They are also keeping busy and physically fit with our popular “Capture the Flag” enrichment.  Science explorations are also a hit with the Pine Tree crowd.  During “Design It Explore It” we have been experimenting with circuits to turn on light bulbs.

These young scientists have discovered not only how to turn a light bulb on, but they can control several light bulbs at once, with each light bulb needing its own level of brightness.  They have even wired a “house” and designed a switch that allows the lights in each room to be turned on and off.  Once a week environmental science Enrichment club will

learn about a facet of our environment and then create a craft that coincides with their new knowledge.  Students have discussed topics such as bats, snakes, hummingbirds, tidal pools, Native American art, and the 3 R’s Speaking of “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle,” students are designing extremely creative dollhouses using 100% recycled materials!  Boys and girls are using old magazines, wallpaper books, toothpaste caps, boxes, beads, and more to make their dream rooms!  We are hoping that some of our young electricians from “Design It Explore It” will help these blooming architects and interior decorators wire their rooms so they can have working lights!   As the school year winds down, all of the staff and students at Pine Tree’s Morning and  Afterschool Programs would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for their support.  It takes a   village to raise a child; our  children are lucky to grow up in a village as compassionate as ours!

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Pine Tree has offered a variety of enrichments this year that encompass all 3 of our program goals; to increase academic skills in the area of science, allow students multiple opportunities to feel empowered, and to promote physical fitness for all of our participants.  Here is a sampling of some of the ways we have worked towards these goals.

Team “PANDAmonium” is our popular jump rope club for kids in grades K-6.  Kids practice the single rope skills of jumping forward and backward. They also work on tricks including criss-cross, bell, and skiing.  Long rope activities include a variety of games and skills.

In “Skimmers” students in grades 4-6 aredesigning sails to help their boats skim acrossthe gym floor.  Their goal is to use science and math concepts to create a sail that will allow their boat to travel at least 60 centimeters in a straight line.  This has proven to be a lot more challenging than it sounds!

Pine Tree School’s Green Team is our service learning organization.  They are currently partnering with Tin Mountain Conservation Center to create an outdoor learning environment behind our school.