February 13, 2014 Newington, CT
It's Showtime!
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Fun Fact: February 14, observed in honor of St. Valentine as a day for the exchange of valentines and other tokens of affection.
Pen Pals
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Feeding our town
By Caroline Lynch
Our 2014 Winter Choral Concert was awesome! The music sounded great, and we earned a lot of food for the Newington Food Bank. Audience members were asked to bring a
non-perishable food or pet food item to donate, and many people did! At the end of January, Miss Bocola, Ms. Costa, and a few MKMS students, including myself,
went to Town Hall to donate the food. We filled at least 8 large wagons with food, and all of it will help people who are hungry. Thanks to everybody who helped!
Our 2014 Winter Choral Concert was awesome! The music sounded great, and we earned a lot of food for the Newington Food Bank. Audience members were asked to bring a
non-perishable food or pet food item to donate, and many people did! At the end of January, Miss Bocola, Ms. Costa, and a few MKMS students, including myself,
went to Town Hall to donate the food. We filled at least 8 large wagons with food, and all of it will help people who are hungry. Thanks to everybody who helped!
What you Said!We asked and you told us! Here is what our readers
like the most in the school news. Data Collection and Graphing By Caroline Lynch
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Quick Science Fun!Got some milk, dishwashing liquid, food coloring, and free time?
Try this quick science experience. It will mesmerize you! Produced by Ryan O, Grade 7
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Lending A HAND
By Caroline Lynch
In language arts, the 6th graders are participating in a “Making a Difference” project. Each student chooses a cause, such as the Red Cross, or the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. They research their cause, and then make up a plan to try and help that organization, too. For example, you could have a bake sale, or sell bracelets or t-shirts. I am helping the Humane Society, and I am planning on baking cupcakes to sell and I am making little bead sculptures of animals, flowers, and things like that. Also, I am making and selling bracelets. I really hope this project makes Newington a better place to be. I can’t wait to start my fundraiser!
In language arts, the 6th graders are participating in a “Making a Difference” project. Each student chooses a cause, such as the Red Cross, or the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. They research their cause, and then make up a plan to try and help that organization, too. For example, you could have a bake sale, or sell bracelets or t-shirts. I am helping the Humane Society, and I am planning on baking cupcakes to sell and I am making little bead sculptures of animals, flowers, and things like that. Also, I am making and selling bracelets. I really hope this project makes Newington a better place to be. I can’t wait to start my fundraiser!
STUDENT ARTIST SECTION
Check out some of the outstanding student artwork created in Mrs. Podgorski's art class here at Martin Kellogg!
Featured Teacher: Question-answer with Mrs. Batista-YzaGuirre
1. How long have you been teaching? What subjects/grade levels have you taught?
By June, I will complete my 8th year of teaching the World Language of Spanish. I have taught pre-k through 8th grade students.
2. What is your favorite part about teaching?
My favorite part is making cultural connections through conversations, projects and music with my students. But most importantly, helping my students open many doors of opportunity.
3. What is your favorite activity to do outside of school?
My favorite activity outside of school is to spend time with my family.
4. Where is the one place you would like to travel to or travel back to?
I would like to travel back to France and spend more time at the Louvre. I would also like to visit the ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru and Tecnochtitlan in Mexico and learn more about the people that build those cities.
5. Do you have any pets?
Yes, we have a 4 year old Bichon Frise/Shih Tzu. He’s very playful and always follows me around.
6. What is your favorite food?
My favorite Spanish foods cooked by mother is rice, beans, and pork chops. My favorite American food is pizza.
7. What is the most amazing thing you have ever witnessed or been part of?
Aside from my children coming into this world…I have witnessed the beauty of nature such as sunrises and sunsets.
8. If you could be any animal, which one would you be?
A bear in the winter so that I could hibernate until spring, and a hummingbird in the spring so that I could taste different flowers.
By June, I will complete my 8th year of teaching the World Language of Spanish. I have taught pre-k through 8th grade students.
2. What is your favorite part about teaching?
My favorite part is making cultural connections through conversations, projects and music with my students. But most importantly, helping my students open many doors of opportunity.
3. What is your favorite activity to do outside of school?
My favorite activity outside of school is to spend time with my family.
4. Where is the one place you would like to travel to or travel back to?
I would like to travel back to France and spend more time at the Louvre. I would also like to visit the ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru and Tecnochtitlan in Mexico and learn more about the people that build those cities.
5. Do you have any pets?
Yes, we have a 4 year old Bichon Frise/Shih Tzu. He’s very playful and always follows me around.
6. What is your favorite food?
My favorite Spanish foods cooked by mother is rice, beans, and pork chops. My favorite American food is pizza.
7. What is the most amazing thing you have ever witnessed or been part of?
Aside from my children coming into this world…I have witnessed the beauty of nature such as sunrises and sunsets.
8. If you could be any animal, which one would you be?
A bear in the winter so that I could hibernate until spring, and a hummingbird in the spring so that I could taste different flowers.
RITACCO: BAKING CHAMPION
By Mrs. Baylock
(Teacher Submission)
(Teacher Submission)
December 19, 2013 wasn't just an average school day. Teachers walked into the building, plates and platters in hand, ready to battle...many just ready to eat. It was the teacher bake off; the holiday cookie contest. As the plates and platters rolled in, the participants checked out the competition. Visions of bragging rights and shiny cookie trophies danced in their heads.
And so it began: the official tasting. Pumpkin Bites, Coconut Macaroons, Monster Cookies, Arizona Snowballs and many more; the smells of the holiday filled the teacher lounge. I took my judging responsibilities seriously. I tasted every one of those cookies (some more than once, but don't tell anyone). They were beyond delicious! Then I stopped on one particular sweet treat. It was a chewy, chocolaty, bite of pure scrumptiousness. I devoured it. I even went back to sneak another later in the day, but to my dismay they were all gone. It wasn't even my own cookie contribution, but I was SURE it was the winner. So I put my vote in for the Mocha Crumble Bars.
After school that day, the drum rolled in the media center as teachers stood, bellies full and satisfied, awaiting the announcement of the Cookie Champion. It was a three way tie for second place with Mrs. Tyler's Coconut Macaroons, Mrs. Kutniewiski's White Chocolate Macadamia Nuts, and Mrs. Gauger's Chinese New Years all sharing that title. But it was no surprise to me that the winning entry was Mocha Crumble Bars. The winning baker of those delectable treats was none other than Mrs. Ritacco! Congratulations to Mrs. Ritacco. You will find her recipe for Mocha Crumble Bars below. If you like baking (and of course eating), you should definitely try them for yourself. Don't simply take my word for it!
And so it began: the official tasting. Pumpkin Bites, Coconut Macaroons, Monster Cookies, Arizona Snowballs and many more; the smells of the holiday filled the teacher lounge. I took my judging responsibilities seriously. I tasted every one of those cookies (some more than once, but don't tell anyone). They were beyond delicious! Then I stopped on one particular sweet treat. It was a chewy, chocolaty, bite of pure scrumptiousness. I devoured it. I even went back to sneak another later in the day, but to my dismay they were all gone. It wasn't even my own cookie contribution, but I was SURE it was the winner. So I put my vote in for the Mocha Crumble Bars.
After school that day, the drum rolled in the media center as teachers stood, bellies full and satisfied, awaiting the announcement of the Cookie Champion. It was a three way tie for second place with Mrs. Tyler's Coconut Macaroons, Mrs. Kutniewiski's White Chocolate Macadamia Nuts, and Mrs. Gauger's Chinese New Years all sharing that title. But it was no surprise to me that the winning entry was Mocha Crumble Bars. The winning baker of those delectable treats was none other than Mrs. Ritacco! Congratulations to Mrs. Ritacco. You will find her recipe for Mocha Crumble Bars below. If you like baking (and of course eating), you should definitely try them for yourself. Don't simply take my word for it!
Mrs. Ritacco's Winning Mocha Crumble Bars
1 cup butter, softened 1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar 1 large egg 2 cups flour 3/4 tsp baking soda 3/4 tsp cinnamon, divided 2 cups quick oats 1 cup chopped walnuts (I did not add these) 1 package (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips, divided 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk 1 tbs instant coffee 1. Preheat the oven to 360F. Line a 15x10 baking pan with foil. 2. In a medium bowl, on medium speed, beat butter and brown sugar until light and creamy. On medium speed, beat in egg. 3. In another bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. 4. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture and mix until down is smooth. Stir in oats and walnuts. 5. Reserve 1 cup dough for topping. Press remaining dough onto bottom of prepared pan. 6. In a medium saucepan, heat 1 1/2 cups chocolate cheeps, condensed milk, instant coffee and remaining cinnamon over medium heat; stir until smooth. 7. Spread mixture evenly over the dough in the pan, smothering the surface with a spatula; crumble reserved dough on top. 8. Sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips. Bake until lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack. Lift foil to remove from pan; cut into 2-inch bars. ENJOY!! |
Fun and Games
Riddles, Brain Teasers, Comics
Answers are at the bottom of the page.
1. What did one math book say to the other? 2. Name three numbers that give the same result when all added or multiplied together. 3. The two verbs in this sentence are in the past tense. What else do they have in common? "Yesterday, I read the entire book as the wind blew fiercely outside." 4. What did the beach say when the tide came in? |
How Well Do You KNOW MK? ANSWERS REVEALED!!!
The last edition featured How Well Do You Know Your TEACHERS? Apparently it was a tough job guessing which MK teacher or staff member appeared in the holiday picture. One person, of all the entries received, got 2 correct and was our winner! That student was 6th grader, Samantha Rehberg. She is now the proud owner of a Tom Brady bobble head! Congratulations, Sam! The answers to the contest are below! Check them out! |
Student Valentine Wordles |
ApP of the dayBy Mrs. Baylock (Instructional Technology)
Do you like to try out new apps? Some of my favorite apps to play with on my iphone and ipad are photo editing apps. My most recent favorite is Split Pic Photo Editor (Split Pic Pro for no ads and extra features). Just take 2 or more pics and you can easily piece them together and blend them to make one photo with really cool effects! I could spend hours taking photos and playing with this! Check it out! |
Riddle Answers:
1. " I've got a lot of problems."
2. 1,2,3 They all equal 6.
3. Say them aloud; each verb is a homonym for a color.
4. "Long time no sea."
1. " I've got a lot of problems."
2. 1,2,3 They all equal 6.
3. Say them aloud; each verb is a homonym for a color.
4. "Long time no sea."