Students! What do you want in YOUR library? In a recent exclusive interview with The Fox Point Times, Mrs. Stambler disclosed news of an upcoming upgrade to the school library. Plans include some normal things you might expect in a library, such as magazines, Kindles, and already installed computer lab and a SMART board. Mrs. Stambler wants to hear directly from students about what they want in their school library, and asked the Fox Point times to encourage students to e-mail her at Susan.Stamber@ppsd.org

with their ideas.  So here's your chance, Smart Foxes! What should you be able to do in our library? Should we be able to access digital print or will that distract from real books? What equipment or supplies do we need to make that happen?Should magazines be the standard or would thesauruses and dictionaries prove more educational? How does the library become more of a Media Center? Think big...or small...no idea is too off-the-wall, and no detail is too tiny...it's all good! Let your voice be heard! E-mail Mrs. Stambler at Susan.Stambler@ppsd.org

  

  

  

Now click here to see everybody's favorite feline, by Maya!

Maya

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Ms. Sylvia  

  

  

  

  

  

Dylan

A land of learning like no other! Vartan Gregorian Elementary School at Fox Point (or simply VG) isn't simply a school: it's a foundation where wee children walk in and savvy, prepared-for-life, ready for middle school youth walk out. It's a place filled with learning, happiness, and digital boards. Plus, VG has incredible teachers who are always ready to help! As for the school days, themselves, excitement and education are to be found abound. There's also lots of hi-tech learning devices: Smart boards, digital boards, Elmo devices, and Dell computers. But the best thing about the school is that so much learning goes on but everyone has lots of fun at the same time. Teacher Mrs. Fish says the reason the school is wonderful is because "Our families are great." As The Wizard of Oz's Dorothy might say, "There's no school like Gregorian!" When you read this E-Newspaper you will be reminded of just ho wonderful this school is. From the after-school soccer club and interviews with the teachers to otherworldly lands of ducks, princesses, and explosions, get ready for one thrilling E-Newspaper! Enjoy and may the fox be with you!

Meet the Staff of The Fox Point Times: Fall 2012                             

Anera, Alexis, Grace, Julian, Kiley, Max, Maya, Nevaeh, Songhan, Sydney. Facilitated by Mary Morgan of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence, with  help from Martha Nichols. Thanks to guest speakers Kate Bramson, Fred Galpern and Jim Bush.

The Fox Point Times staff meets Dr. Gregorian                             

It started with a simple letter. When Sasha M. of The Fox Point Times needed more information for an article she was writing about Vartan Gregorian (see below), she wrote him a letter. Dr. Gregorian wrote back to Sasha, offering to meet with her and the e-Newspaper staff during his visit on June 18 for the Grade 5 Clap-Out and Graduation. In a wide-ranging interview with the spring staff of The Fox Point Times, Dr. Gregorian described his childhood, his love for books and the way they sparked his imagination, and his early teachers' influence on his own passion for learning, which would later develop into a world-renowned career in education, university leadership, writing and philanthropy. Sasha even discovered that she and Dr. Gregorian both love borscht! One statement from Dr. Gregorian tells you so much about what he values: he said that of all the awards he has received, having our school named after him is his most cherished honor.

  

Check out our video interview with Dr. Gregorian!

Spotlight on Mrs. Stambler                             

Mrs Stambler with The Fox Point Times Editor Dylan and Reporter Kiley-photo by Monee

Ms. Stambler became the principal of Vartan Gregorian at the beginning of this school year. She was happy to sit down with reporters from The Fox Point Times for two interviews. This Question and Answer session with Kiley provides a glimpse of our new principal. The excerpts from her interview (below) by Dylan and Kiley take us more in-depth.

 

Q: What was your happiest moment?

A: When I became a mom.

 

Q: What was your saddest moment?

A: When my dog died.

 

Q: Where did you grow up?

A: Elmont, New York.

 

Q: What's the best vacation you've ever had?

A: A cruise to the Caribbean.

 

Q: Where would you most like to travel?

A: Europe.

 

Q: Why would you want to go there?

A: To meet other people, to experience another culture, and to taste other foods.

 

Q: What is your ideal day?

A: Spending time with good friends, walking on the beach and going out for lunch.

 

Q: What words do you think best describe you?

A: Honest, friendly, good sense of humor.

 

Mrs. Stambler also shared some of her favorite things:

Movie:  Mr. Holland's Opus, about a music teacher who has a son who is deaf.

 

Book: The Box Car Children.

 

TV Show: Law and Order.

 

Sport: Olympic gymnastics.

Here are some excerpts from Dylan & Kiley's interview with Mrs. Stambler:

  

  

  

  

Spotlight On Ms. Fish                             

Interview by Grace

Mrs. Fish, 'Fishie', or Jacqueline - a truly kind lady and teacher, a wonderful woman, and a nature-loving person at heart. Here is a look at her personal fancies, favorites, and fun.

Have you ever wondered why Mrs. Fish became a teacher? Well, she used to work with, as she says, 'child-like behaving adults'; she has always believed that people should act their age, so she came to work with children, who, being children, have an excuse to - act like children!  Also, the job came with health-care insurance, and she, not being able to afford health-care insurance at the time, thought it a good 'bonus'.

Asking Mrs. Fish if she thinks that the rules of VGES are appropriate, she answered as so - "The rules are OK, they are just basically normal school regulations, but they are not always enforced." A related question asked was if the students of VGES follow those rules well; her answer was - "The majority do, but those who do not probably will never; it's just something in them."

Mrs. Fish thinks that there is too much pressure on the teachers and students of VGES: "They don't get enough 'lingering time' to really get what's being taught!" I, personally, agree with her...in my own words, no one gets a fair amount of time to understand what they're being taught, and if they don't understand, and are too rushed, they may as well not come to school at all!

Mrs. Fish loves, adores, and idolizes - reading, animals, nature (though the day she was interviewed really did not display the most beautiful weather), children, and, although, as she said, "It may sound corny," learning. Taco Bell is one of her top favorite restaurants to go out to, and her most beloved park is Hyde Park, in London (though Roger Williams Park & Zoo is a closer favorite).

Mrs. Fish has been to Bali, Indonesia, which she says is a wonderful place! Her favorite actor is Robert Duvall, and her favorite actress is Helen Mirren.She was born at Roger Williams Hospital, in RI.

Asked what place, thing, moment, or memory is most important to her, she was quite undecided about what to answer, but she finally settled on a simple, yet beautiful thing-

The beach.

A truly nice and sincere person, this is a little personal info on a reader, nature-lover, and teacher-Mrs. Fish.

 

On a Roll with Duke                              

  

Ever bored by your mundane, everyday life? Well, with this super cool marble course, boredom will be no more!

  

5th grader Duke B. (11 years old, Mrs. Fish's class) makes marble courses. So how does it work? You put a marble down a track. Then you sit back and enjoy the amazing splendor of this invention. The marble rolls down a track, making its way past obstacles, including loops, twists, drops, trampolines and more! Of course, it doesn't always work. The first time you make one you'll probably have to push the marble a bit, just so it finishes the track.

  

So, how do you make these contraptions? First you'll need recyclable household items: boxes, spoons, and a "whole lot of tape, any tape." Then you can piece them together to make the contraption. For a smaller version, you might even be able to make the course out of a shoebox!

  

Duke also says, "I have made a lot of marble courses, already. I've made orange ones, green ones, ones for Halloween, the portable box marble course, the loopdey-loop coaster, and the coaster with all the mini courses combined."

  

What's up next for Duke and his marble courses? "I'm in the process of making a new, huge marble course. It'll be the best one yet and I'm always open for ideas." So start building your own and show it to Duke, and always remember: Have fun!!!

-by Kiley

Ms. Celio was the best student teacher ever!!!  She worked this fall in Mrs. Clark's kindergarten classroom. One student in Mrs. Clark's class, Jonah, said the class loved Ms. Celio. (The students really love Mrs. Clark, as well, Jonah said.)

Nicole Celio, who grew up in North Providence and is now 26, said her mother has influenced her the most. She also said when she was in school she had a hard time and had supportive teachers who helped her. Because of their help, she wanted to make a difference and support students. That's why she has become a teacher.

Ms. Celio just graduated from Rhode Island College on May 18, 2013.  This summer, she will work at Bright Horizons, a child-care center, in the infant and preschool classrooms, where she has worked since 2008.

Everyone made her feel welcome at VG, Ms. Celio said. When The Fox Point Times asked to interview her, she said the request "made her day." She told the E-Newspaper that her favorite color is pink, her favorite food is tortellini and stuffed cheese pasta, and her "comfort food" is pizza. She has two dogs, Cody and Riley. When asked who she'd like to meet the most, she said the actor, Brian Austin Green.

This fall, Ms. Celio plans to work as a substitute teacher. We at The Fox Point Times hope that means she'll sometimes be a substitute here at Vartan Gregorian Elementary School. We'd love to see her again in our classrooms!  

  

 Click here to see Jonah's drawing of Ms. Celio's classroom!

Oz-tastic!                             

Movie Review by Dylan

Are you looking for a terrific film to see? Oz the Great and Powerful is your film. It's exciting, funny, and everything else you want in a movie. But before you see it remember to watch The Wizard of Oz, the original 1939 classic. Back to the new film...the movie tells the story of a cocky, mean magician who performs at run down carnival shows. He wants to do something bigger with his life. And then he's whisked into the magical land of Oz. He is declared the Wizard but can only claim the throne after he defeats the Wicked Witch. Embark on the adventure of a lifetime with this film. It's filled with action, suspense, surprises, and more. The cast does an amazing job as does director Sam Raimi, who gives the film a sense of wonder, humor, and action. What about the special effects? They're as visually astonishing as you might hope! There are also some enjoyable references to the original movie. My favorite was when the film turns from black and white to color as Oz finds the land of Oz. Believe it or not, you might learn a little about Thomas Edison and some awesome inventions during the movie. However, the film is PG so check with your parents before you see it. But if you are allowed to see it you'll be skipping out of the theater with joy when the movie is finished.

  

Meet Ms. Clark                             

  

Ms. Clark is (as she puts it) energetic, busy and always happy. If you do not know Ms. Clark, she is a Kindergarten teacher in Room 11. Ms. Clark became a teacher because she loves working with children. She loves watching children grow and get challenged along the way. She says her teachers influenced her a lot while growing up, and that inspired her to become a teacher. Ms. Clark started her  teaching career at VG in 2006. Her hobbies are yoga, reading and running.

Room 7 tells it like it is!

The Fox Point Times Reporter Julian C. took a different approach to the interview process. Instead of interviewing one individual, he sat down with the students of Ms. Fish's Room 7 for a group interview. Here's what he discovered and uncovered:

  

Q:What types of activities do you do as a whole class?

A: Math and Social Studies.

  

Q: What kinds of tasks do you do in small groups?
A: Write papers, read chapters of novels.

  

Q: When you have a conflict, how do you resolve it?

A: Talk it over, or get mad and cry, or don't know what to do about it.

  

Q: How do you assist each other as a class?

A: When we need help, we get it.

  

Q: Please tell me your favorite activity in this class.

A: Reading in small groups.

  

Q: Please tell me one adjective to describe this class.

A: Funny.

  

Q: What is your favorite subject?

A: Math.

  

Q:What are you learning in science?

A: Cells.

  

Q: What is your favorite thing about VG?

A: Gym.

  

Q: How long does it take you to complete homework?

A: 1 hour or 45 minues.

  

Q: How long do you read every night?

A: 40 minutes.

  

Q: What subject is most difficult?
A: Math.

  

Q: Are you excited about going to middle school?

A: Yes, because we want to become someone in the future.

  

Q: What will you remember about VG?

A: Friends.

  

Once upon a time there was a princess. Her name was Ice Cream Princess, but her friends called her Icey. One day she was in the flower shop when she tripped. Right before she fell, a handsome prince caught her. He said his name was Candy Prince. On their first date they went to Chocolate Gardens. They were having a great time until the Candy Prince fell in love with Whipped Cream Princess! One day the Ice Cream Princess saw Candy Prince and Whipped Cream Princess walking into the sunset. She wanted to follow them, but she knew she would melt. She did not care. She followed them, but right before she could scream at them, she felt hot. Oh, no!  She was starting to melt. The Whipped Cream Princess decided she wanted to be with somebody else. She broke up with Candy Prince. Then, Candy Prince found Icey and took her to his castle. They married and  lived happily ever after.