3D Printer Club

As part of a grant from the Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative, which awarded Epernbeck with a new Polar 3D printer and the resources to begin a new 3D printing club, they attended a gathering with other schools at UC to share their work over the past few months. With some student work on display and having an opportunity to give and receive ideas for expanding the reach and impact of the club, EES won the drawing to receive an additional Polar 3D printer and supplies to help expand the current program to more students and teachers!

Last year at this time a mountain of bottle caps began to emerge at Florence Elementary and continued to grow. Why? Under the direction of Amanda Byrd, the STEAM Lab teacher at Florence Elementary, what started out as a lesson on recycling quickly became a cooperative service learning project. During this unit study, students realized that humans produce so much waste that landfills are overflowing, trash is polluting our natural resources, and garbage is littering our neighborhoods. They wanted to do something about it, so Mrs. Byrd and the students came up with a plan: recycle plastic bottle caps and plastic lids to make a bench for the school's playground!

The benches will be a wonderful addition to the playground and will keep bottle caps from filling our landfills. This project reinforced the idea that kids can make a difference by simply saving bottle caps: a cleaner world and someday enough caps for three benches!  

The Tooth Fairy visited the first graders at Florence Elementary School in February to celebrate National Children Dental Health Month.  Hebron Family Dentistry sponsors Pat Miller, who is on a quest to reach as many children as possible, educating them on dental care.  

The Tooth Fairy stressed the importance of brushing after meals and snacks to fight against tooth decay caused by plaque, sugar and starchy foods.  Some of the more common culprit's items are milk, bread, cookies, candy, soda and juice.  We have to fight off the attack with our salvia which contains minerals, fluoride from toothpaste and water.

Valerie Watson, dentist and owner at Hebron Family Dentistry, donated toothbrushes and floss which allowed the tooth fairy to pass out these keys components to help ensure good dental habits.  

On March 2nd, Florence Elementary celebrated Read Across America to honor the one and only Dr. Seuss.  Leading up to this day of honor, staff members were caught reading a book when they should have been working.  Some staff members created a "Reading Rainbow" style book review, answering the ever popular question, "What's your favorite children's literature book".  The NKU practicum students joined in on the action and made mini-posters of their favorite book that were displayed in the corridor going toward the cafeteria.

The Artome (Art to me) company partnered with Florence Elementary and Art teacher, Amber Raap.  Throughout the year Miss Raap collected a sample of each student's artwork to be presented in the art show.  The illustrations  showed a wide variety of media, such as string, texture rub, tempera paint, crayons, oil pastel, color pencils, watercolor, and markers to name a few.  Some of the drawings were either still-lifes, landscapes or portraits.  Artome added the finishing touch to make our student's work a true showcase by framing and using a double mat.  That really made them 'pop'.  The masterpieces were then displayed on uniform racks covering the gym floor. 

At the KNIGHT OF ART the students and their parents participated in a scavenger hunt in search of various pieces of artwork.  The students hunted high and low.  Some laid on their belly for a better perspective to complete the challenge for a chance to win a prize.  One student took a photo of his artwork to capture his creative flair and to preserve the moment.

 

Two teams from Goodridge Elementary competed in the State Odyssey of the Mind Tournament at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky. 

Furs, Fins, Feathers, and Friends includes Brooklyn Anderson, Sophia Collins, Evalyn Daniels, Cameron Frank, and Shawn Kayley Sullivan placed 3rd in Division 1, Problem 5.  The team is coached by Goodridge teacher, Dee Beers.

As Henry Clay, Mr. McGee shared with the students the history of Henry Clay from being a toddler to adulthood in our nation's capital. He also shared how he played a large role in the history of his country, which he served as a senator, speaker of the house, and secretary of state. "Mr. Clay" enacted and explained the reasons why he was involved in duels as they related to the history of our country.