Kyler Hernandez, a third grader in Mrs. Judy Fitzpatrick’s Delaware Valley Elementary School class, is pictured giving the school’s nurse Mrs. Donna Polanis Snowman Soup before the recent holiday break.
Students and staff at Delaware Valley Elementary School continue to receive letters of appreciation for a project that they were proud to be a part of. At the end of last school year, everyone at DVES was asked to save infant and children’s shoes, which they may have outgrown and no longer needed. This fall, they brought in dozens of pairs of shoes as part of an amazing shoe collection drive organized through Blue Ridge Communications TV-13 anchor Marie Johns, which was immediately and wholeheartedly embraced by DVES Principal Kim Butaitis. The shoes were picked up by Johns, accompanied by a delegation of Army personnel who visited regional schools this past fall.
Each DVES student and staff member who participated later received a surprise folder in the mail, containing certificates, thank you letters from the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Army, medals, badges, and other gifts and salutes from the United States Army Freedom Team.
Most recently, a letter and a beautiful certificate from the United States Department of Defense was sent to the school recognizing DVES for support of the men and women who serve American in the National Guard and Reserve.
While rewards were not expected and were certainly not the reason for supporting this outstanding project, the students and staff of DVES are proud to be included and recognized as a school that supports its military and servicemen and women. Pride in America’s brave enlisted men and women has always existed in the school and will continue to be prompt support toward important citizen projects in the future.
Pictured proudly holding their citations from the U.S. Army, with the school’s project coordinator/principal Mrs. Kim Butaitis, are children who donated shoes throughout the project’s collection period.
By grade level they are: Kindergartner Nicholas Moglia (Amy Ardler’s kindergarten), First Graders Michelle Andia, Mark Cavallaro, Jordan O’Connor, Zane Papula, Makayla Santise, Shona Stocklas (Mrs. Colleen Hiller’s first grade), Brittany Conklin, Aiden Fean, Ian Ingram, Rebecca Jorgenson, Joseph Ropke (Mrs. Tria Mason’s first grade), Second Graders Gabrielle Lee, Eryn Petrovsky, Matthew Studsrud (Mrs. Maryann Connolly’s second grade), Ethan Aeberli, Clorinda Petrillo, Luke Stevens (Mrs. Mandi Lambert’s second grade), Joseph Casella, Korianne Moore, Aedan Walter (Mrs. Joyce Thiele’s second grade), Third Graders Daniel Krisanda, Jorge Rios (Mrs. Jean Krisanda’s third grade), Hannah Lee, Matt Seger (Mrs. Carol Navitsky’s third grade), Fourth Graders Ronald Davis, Rachel Hinkley, Juliette Pampalone (Ms. Gail Atchison’s fourth grade), Chloe Gawel (Mrs. Kathy Gonzalez’s fourth grade), David Bell, Katelyn Casella, Madeleine Walter (Mrs. Kathy Thompson’s fourth grade), Fifth Graders Alexa Butaitis (Mrs. Ann Connell’s fifth grade), Maecy Chlebowski (Mrs. Tammy Curtis’ fifth grade), Matt Cavallaro, Emily Gelormino, Beth Martel (Mrs. Paige Fean’s fifth grade), Sixth Graders Michael Bell, Lexi Fean, Chido Rwakonda (Mrs. Cindy Roa’s sixth grade).
King Ryan Corwin celebrated his very special seventh birthday in Mrs. Tria Mason’s first-grade class at Delaware Valley Elementary School. He wore his crown all day and was treated royally by his friends. It’s good to be King!
Kenny Lee, a kindergartner in Mrs. Diana Kudrich’s Delaware Valley Elementary School class, had lots of fun making circle patterns with his class.
The Delaware Valley Elementary School Student Council sponsored a contest to have students guess how many candy corns were in their special jar. The cost of guessing was 25 cents a guess, with all proceeds raised to benefit DVES.
Some of the classes in the school actually make contests like this an educational project through which they apply lessons learned in estimating, measurements, and other skills.
Brandon Love, a fifth grade student in Mrs. Ann Connell’s class, had the closest guess to the 1,650 candy corns in the jar. Brandon’s guess of 1,599 won him the jar and all the candy to take home.
Third grade teacher Sarah Casey, Rotarians Art Ridley, Tom Finan, John Wroblewski, Kim Smith, Tom Murante, DVES Principal Kim Butaitis with Sarah Casey’s third graders.
Besides involving Delaware Valley Elementary School and a special food drive they took on to help others, the Rotary Club also came to DVES to give each third grader his or her very own dictionary. The students love their dictionaries and enjoyed the visit with each of the Rotary Club members. Thank you, Rotary Club, for the special gifts.
Reading together at Delaware Valley Elementary School is always great, no matter where one gathers to do so. Pictured with Joshua Shearer and James Dzichko, is DVES Instructional Assistant Debbie Gilmour, reading in section of their classroom. In the second photo, Mrs. Gilmour is reading with second graders from Mrs. Joy Thiele’s class in a reading corner of their hallway.
Dominique Dunn, a third grader in Mrs. (Judy) Fitzpatrick’s class at Delaware Valley Elementary School, took her frog to school. She wanted to show her frog to her class. They are studying about animals, and she wanted to show her classmates an amphibian.
Students in Mrs. MaryAnn Connolly’s second grade class brought their smiles to picture day at Delaware Valley Elementary School. Pictured with their teacher are Lukas Altaville, David LaForge, Saqoya James, Connor Sullivan, Gabrielle Lee, and Joshua Chadwick.
Kindergartners at Delaware Valley Elementary School had mixed reactions about having their school photos taken for the first time. Pictured (left to right): Nicholas Moglia, Andrew Worthington, Matthew Worthington, and Andrew Waska are look great as they wait their turn for an individual photo. The boys are students in Mrs. (Amy) Ardler’s kindergarten.
