EXCELLENCE IN ACTION
St. Thomas School is a beehive abuzz with activity for students and parents, from visiting artists and educators to creative projects developed by our own students and faculty. On the "Excellence in Action ” page of the STS website we are proud to present highlights of current and recent “goings-on.” For more information about events, activities, and programs at St. Thomas School, please call 425-454-5880, or email to info@stthomasschool.org.
KCLS Global Reading Challenge
The Novel Readers, our STS team, is at the table next to the stage, just left of center.
Representatives from the King County Library System again visited St. Thomas School on Friday, February 26 – this time to conduct the Bellevue West round of the Global Reading Challenge.
St. Thomas School was ably represented by our school champions -- the “Novel Readers.” Our STS team faced off against other elementary school teams from Clyde Hill, Enatai, Medina, Sacred Heart, Stevenson, and Woodridge. After three rounds of tough questions, Sacred Heart’s team emerged as the winner. They will represent Bellevue West in the next round of competition against teams from other parts of Bellevue. Ultimately, a winning team will be crowned for all of King County.
We’re proud of all the students who worked so hard for this competition and to all of their classmates, teachers, and parents who supported them.
First Grade Invention Convention
The lower plaza in the Elementary Center was populated with visitors from home, community, and other students as the First Grade classes presented the Invention Convention. There was an astonishing variety of solutions to many problems from the practical to the fantastical.
Congratulations to STS First Grade students for their ingeniously creative inventions!
First Graders were available to explain the intricate
workings of the inventions they created.
3rd Grade’s Fish out of Water Projects
Hats off to the Third Grade for their extraordinary desert creatures! Students presented their imaginative and informative “Fish Out of Water” projects this past week to the school and parents. Fish such as the puffer fish and flying fish, as well as sea animals like the blue octopus, were all part of their exploration as students combined scientific research with a real world hypothesis. How can a creature from another biome adapt and survive when placed in an alien habitat? Students pondered, researched, and adapted a fish or other sea animal to live in the desert. They considered physical and behavioral adaptations that would be essential for survival and applied what they knew about the adaptations that desert animals must use to beat the heat, find food and water, and acquire shelter. Then, it became necessary to create a model of this new and fantastic animal in its new habitat, labeling the adaptations made. Applying previous knowledge, synthesizing information, problem-solving, and numerous other learning experiences combined to make a wonderful, worthwhile project.
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Representatives of the many terrific projects
6th Graders Lead Successful Fund Drive
In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, 6th Graders stepped forward to provide leadership in raising funds for the relief effort. Guided and supported by faculty member Julian Edelman, the 6th Graders challenged each class in the school to come up with an inventive and creative way to raise funds to help people in Haiti in their hour of need. In Chapel on Friday, January 22, the 6th Graders described the urgency of the situation and provided inspiration for fundraising projects.
Thanks to the creativity of students and teachers working together, the Haiti Relief Fund Drive has met and continues to meet with great success. As of Thursday, Feb. 3, $3,294.51 has been raised. All monies are being contributed to the ClintonBushHaitiFund, which is guaranteeing that 100% of all donations will go directly to relief efforts in Haiti. Donations are still being accepted; please, only checks (made out to the ClintonBushHaitiFund) or cash — no more coins.
Thank you, STS community, for supporting our students as they serve, lead, and participate in the global community!
Walking in My Shoes
An article featuring Walking in My Shoes: Interdisciplinary connections across cultures appears in the national publication, School Arts February 2010 issue.
We are proud of the work done by Ms. Salia as the Coordinator for Interdisciplinary Subject Coordinator, the team of Specialist teachers at STS, and, most importantly of course, our Fifth Grade students.
STS Fifth Grade students of school year 2008-2009 at work on their
Walking in My Shoes projects.
Samples of Fifth Grade’s art work
Yale Alley Cats at STS
The Yale Alley Cats on stage (mostly) in The Commons
Planned months in advance, Tuesday morning, January 5, began with a performance by the Yale Alley Cats. Their appearance had been arranged by a STS alumnus, Alexander Oki ’02, who is both a performer in the troupe and one of their road managers.
It takes a lot of talent and wow-factor to keep the STS assembled student body, Prep-6th Grade, entertained first thing in the morning. With a repertoire that ranged from traditional chorale arrangements through a medley of Beatles’ songs, and the performance of some non-traditional stage antics, STS students were merrily entertained. For many the high point of the performance occurred when Alexander Oki came off the stage and sang a rousing song directly to his teacher when he was a Primary student at STS, Anne Kearney.
The performance was followed by a short question-and-answer session with the Alley Cats and the STS students. The Yale Alley Cats said they had never before received such articulate and focused questions at any school, let alone a preschool and elementary school.
Christmas Concerts 2009
At well before 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 16, the line of waiting families queued outside the entrance to St. Thomas Church. By 7:00 p.m. and the beginning of the children’s processional up the center aisle, every available seat in the church in the nave and both transepts was taken, and the side aisles were filled with standing witnesses to the traditional Christmas Concert of 2009, “We’re in a Holiday Mood!”
Student performers at Wednesday morning rehearsal
The first ever Early Learning Center performance took place in the Commons on Friday, December 18, 2009. To say that it was well attended would be a dramatic understatement. To keep an intimate feeling to the space and not overwhelm our youngest performers, the partition between the Commons and the Gym was kept in place. Parents, grandparents, friends, and faculty filled all chairs and every available space to watch this historic show. The Early Learning Center completely charmed the audience as they sang, danced, and enacted the Nativity to the delight of all.
Many thanks go to Matt Turner, music teacher, and Tamara Bell Steensgaard, movement and music teacher in the ELC, for directing the children of St. Thomas School in splendid seasonal programs. It seems to have, really, put everyone in a holiday mood.
ELC performers begin the show. ELC angels prepare to go on stage.
Local Filmmaker Visits St. Thomas School
Steve Edmiston, a Seattle area filmmaker, visited St. Thomas on Thursday, December 3 and shared his expertise with the Fifth and Sixth Grade students. Mr. Edmiston brought his passion for digital storytelling to the students by showing them clearly how a life event, a funny idea, or even a moving poem can serve as the kernel of a story that one can turn into a film. Using The Princess Bride as an example, Steve had the students read an excerpt from the book, then read the script of the same portion, and then follow the script while watching the same portion from the film. It was an “ah-ha” moment in the classroom.
Filmmaker Steve Edmiston in the classroom
Students were able to ask Mr. Edmiston many questions about how he develops his ideas. They learned about passion for your work, perseverance, and how to combine several seemingly disparate ideas into an exciting and compelling story. Students left better understanding how they can find the story in an event and turn it into an interesting film. Learn more about Steve's films The Day My Parents Became Cool, A Relative Thing, and Crimes of Past.
Book Friends Forever
Book Fair Week 2009 finished with a bang! The week included:
- Amazing story performances in chapel – including a modern day adaption of Frog and Toad’s The Button by our Sixth Graders that had the whole school rolling in the aisles
- Pajama Day and school-wide DEAR time
- Awesome assemblies with author Derek Munson – including the creation of real “enemy pies”
We celebrated reading all week, including a reading-minute goal of 20,000 minutes. Our students met and exceeded that goal by reading 27,975 minutes – thus earning a TBD surprise from Dr. Wheeler.
Of course, the Book Fair itself is the centerpiece of the week. Thanks to all of your support, we grossed over $20,000 in sales (net $18,667). Wow! St. Thomas School’s share of the proceeds (20%) will help to purchase new library books and support other curricular needs in the school. As a community, you also helped to purchase and donate over 100 new “birthday” books for the school. These books are a double-bonus — they will be immediately added to our library collection!
2nd Grade Naturalists at the Seattle Aquarium
On Wednesday, November 18 our 2nd Graders found themselves at the Seattle Aquarium. Our local STS naturalists explored the rich biological diversity of the Northwest coast, becoming experts on regional coastal wildlife. This was the culminating activity of a science unit on this theme, leading our children into a deep appreciation of what animal and plant life surrounds us in the biological richness of this region. Many thanks to Mrs. Zwang and Mrs. Neville for leading this trip, and to all the parents who helped chaperone this trip on reptiles shortly.
Students enjoy touching and feeding tide pool animals. An octopus poses with a 2nd Grader.