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Message from the Principal
 Dear Glebe Street Elementary School Family,
As
I write this message, it is with excitement – looking
forward to a meaningful and rewarding academic school
year ahead. I certainly do hope that you’ve all been
able to fulfill some summer dreams of regrouping,
recouping, and reconnecting during this most beautiful
season!
At Glebe Street Elementary School we are working
throughout the summer, preparing classrooms, curriculum,
materials and supplies, and welcoming new students and
families to be part of the dynamic place that is Glebe.
The vegetable garden continues to grow, the floors are
being shined, and exciting programs are being planned to
make 2008-2009 the best year ever!
Read more...
Summer is a
Great Time to
Shop for School Supplies
Glebe
Street students and parents can now take advantage of
summer sales to prepare for the 2008-09 school year -
just print out this handy
Updated School
Supplies List and take it with you when you
shop!
Save the
Date! Kindergarten Orientation, New Family Social, New
Teacher Meet & Greet
Students and families are invited to meet the principal
and teachers, as well as tour the building, during the
Kindergarten Orientation, New Family Social and New
Teacher Meet & Greet on August 28. See the
flyer for more information!
Golf Tournament
at Fox Run to Benefit Glebe Playground
 The
Glebe Street Elementary School PTA Playground Committee
is planning a Golf Tournament to take place at Fox Run
Golf Course on August 9; tee-off starts at 8 a.m. There
may still be openings for the Four Man/Woman Scramble,
so please complete and return a
Golf
Tournament Flyer,
then polish up those golf clubs
for the time of your life and for Glebe Street’s new playground. Prizes await!
Glebe
Street is
Cooking with Johnstown
Our PTA is creating a cookbook in honor of Johnstown’s
250th anniversary, as well as the Glebe Street
Elementary School community. Download the
flyer and submission form and send us your favorite
recipe(s) for inclusion in this very special cookbook.
Join us in celebrating Johnstown’s 250th Birthday and
let’s get cooking!
Mum's the Word
The Glebe Street PTA will be selling mums September 3-5,
2008. These mums will be beautiful – you will want to
buy several to beautify your home or to give as gifts!
See our
flyer for more information.
Athletic
Dept. Announces Summer Rec Schedule
Enjoy the nice weather, get some physical activity and
have some fun! The district is again offering
a variety of activities to students through its Summer Recreation Program.
View the Summer
2008 Recreation Program Flier and, should you have any questions,
feel free to contact the Athletic Department at 762-7636.
Glebe Sixth
Graders Say Goodbye
 Glebe
Street Elementary School celebrated their beloved sixth
grade graduates on June 25, 2008 with a ceremony,
highlighting their achievements over the past academic
year. Cheers & Congratulations to our sixth grade
graduates. We will miss you! Best of luck to all of
you! Remember – PANTHERS ROCK!
Glebe
Street Newsletter Available Online
The
following editions of our monthly newsletter are
currently available online:
June 2008,
May 2008,
April 08,
March 08,
February 08,
January 08,
December 07,
November 07,
October 07
&
September 07.
Project ACES Day
 On
May 7, students and staff celebrated Project ACES day by
walking a mile on the bridle path at Knox. Project ACES
(All Children Exercising Simultaneously) was created
over 20 years ago by Len Saunders. Since then, children
all over the world have participated in physical
activity on the first Wednesday in May each year.
Everyone at Glebe loved the brisk walk - what a great way to
start the day!
More Project ACES photos.
Physical
Education Student Leadership Award Winners
 Recently,
six Glebe Street students were among more then 600
students honored at the twenty-third annual Capital Zone
Physical Education Student Leadership Awards Ceremony,
held at Hudson Valley Community College. Students chosen
by Mrs. Cromer for their excellence in areas of fitness,
citizenship and leadership were: K. Barnholt, K. McCoy,
L. Raspanti, A. Camarra, T. DeBlock and A. Hornidge.
Congratulations to each of them!
Third Graders
Paint Like Picasso
 Third
grade students at Glebe Street were fortunate to receive
an interesting and very exciting art lesson about Pablo
Picasso from Matt Roth, local artist and owner of the
Roth School of Art in Johnstown.
Mr. Roth, whose daughter Julia is a third grade student
at Glebe, spoke to the children about Picasso’s various
styles of painting, with an emphasis on cubism, the
style Picasso is perhaps best known for. Mr. Roth
explained that, in his efforts to find truth and meaning
in objects around him, Picasso felt that it was
necessary to view objects through multiple perspectives.
Students were given an opportunity to better understand
this concept first hand, through a drawing lesson
fashioned in Picasso’s cubist style. Mr. Roth assembled
a still life collection of featuring several objects and
students were then given about three minutes to draw
what they saw directly in front of them. The table on
which the still life was displayed was then rotated,
giving students another view of the objects. After a
second rotation and third perspective, students began to
add color to their abstract creations. The students were
amazed to see their own artwork transform and imitate
Picasso’s cubism.
Look for these
works of art to be on display at the Glebe Street
School Art Show on May 21.
Missoula
Children’s Theatre Assists with Rumpelstiltskin
Production
 Through
the generosity of our PTA, and the hard work chairperson
Lisa McCoy, together with several parents and
grandparents, the Missoula Children’s Theatre came to
Glebe Street Elementary School for a week long
residency. During this time, the theatre company’s
actors and director, with permission from parents, led
approximately 60 students in rehearsal techniques,
strategies and acting skills (sometimes for four or more
hours each day), Monday through Friday. The long days
and hard work culminated in two excellent performances
by the children, who presented the Hans Christian
Andersen fairy tale “Rumpelstiltskin,” replete with
props, sets, lighting, costumes, make-up and
choreography.
The Missoula Children’s Theatre is a non-profit
organization based in Missoula, Montana. The company
works with children across the globe to create quality
performances, helping children to gain stage experience,
self-esteem, a sense of community and teamwork, as well
as improvement of reading and communication skills.
Enjoy these
pictures from rehearsals and the performance.
The Square of Life
 As
part of their computer lab studies, Glebe Street
students are currently participating in a collaborative
on-line project called “Square of Life.” Each class
investigates a specific square of life area, as marked
around the school, using progressive drawings, data
collection and discussion. Further research through a
combination of books and Web sites helps them to
identify the things they find in these environments.
This information is shared online with students from
other schools around the nation, through the “Square of
Life” blog. This is just one example of the great
experiences to be had by integrating technology with
other curricular areas, such as science and art.
See additional photos.
Glebe Recycles
Program
Glebe is going green! An arrangement has been made
through the recycling department of the Fulton County
Department of Solid Waste for every piece of dry, flat
paper that would usually be discarded to instead be
recycled. Glebe staff and students will save the paper
(colored, printed, etc.) in specially labeled recycling
boxes provided by Fulton County Solid Waste. On a weekly
basis, students will take a special wheeled container
around to each classroom to collect the boxes and empty
the contents into a dumpster from Fiber Conversion, Inc.
The dumpster will then be hauled away and the paper will
be used for blown insulation in homes and buildings.
Recycling at Glebe helps to reinforce for our students
what it means to be good stewards of the earth. In the
future, we anticipate extending our recycling efforts to
plastics, cans and bottles. Special thanks to Diane
Woske of the Fulton County Department of Solid Waste,
and parent coordinator Virginia D’Amore, for helping us
to become more green at Glebe!
Good Character Rewarded with Princpal's Luncheon
  Each
month, students choose to put their collected “Panther
Points” (earned for displaying good character) into a
drawing jar in their classroom.
 At
the end of each month, one student from each classroom
is chosen to have lunch with Principal Crankshaw. No
student is ever selected twice, making it possible for
nearly 140 Glebe students to have a chance for selection
throughout the year. The lunch, sponsored by Glebe
staff, is planned with a theme each month. April’s theme
was “Spring” and May’s will be “Fiesta.”
The Incredible Egg
 Kindergarteners
in Mrs. Quinn’s and Mrs. Vosburgh’s classes, first
graders in Mrs. Livingstone’s and Mrs. Wilson’s classes,
third graders in Mrs. Wager’s and Mrs. Woods’ classes
and fourth graders in Ms. Greco’s and Mrs. Coleman’s
classes are all studying chicken embryology through the
Cornell Cooperative Extension Embryology Program.
As a first science experiment, they labeled and
discussed each part of an unfertile, raw egg. They were
also introduced to “My Pyramid,” learning how an egg
fits into the food groups and gaining an understanding
of the nutritional value of an egg, while taking note of
how many foods list eggs as an important ingredient.
 In
further experiments, the students will come to
understand the structures and functions of living
organisms and an organism’s interactions with the
environment. The students have been able to get a “sneak preview”
by candling un-hatched eggs to see what is inside.
Candling fertile eggs before they are set identifies
cracked eggs; also, while fertile eggs are incubating,
candling helps to detect which ones are developing into
embryos and allows the observer to watch the embryo grow
without damaging the egg. While growth and development
changes often take place over a period of months or
years, chicken embryos are much different, with huge
changes happening in just days and weeks (21 days to be
exact).
 When
all is said and done, there should be a classroom of
healthy chicks! The children will then learn the social
hierarchy of chickens, known by the metaphor
“pecking order,” and see how a chick survives in an
environment different from its own original habit
(adaptation). Throughout all of these processes, the
students will use the scientific method to observe, draw
conclusions and record results, each grade at their own
cognitive level.
Aloha! Welcome
to the tropics!
 What
to do when the end-of-winter doldrums hit you like
another storm? Throw a luau to raise spirits and morale!
Complete with palm trees, leis, beach balls, grass
skirts and the ever popular limbo, a March 14 Luau and
Beach Party at Glebe Street Elementary School
was attended by more than 150 of our K-6 students, who
played the night away while parents visited on the
sidelines. This is a another great tradition, sponsored
annually by the Glebe Street PTA, that fosters the idea
of community at school by providing students with
constructive play and social time in the company of
family and friends. Open to both parents and children at
no cost, it was the perfect opportunity to release
pent-up winter energy in a wholesome way, as can be seen
in these
photos!
March into Lunch
with the Principal
 Glebe
students who show good character traits are rewarded
with “Panther Points,” developed by our SDM character
education program, with support from the PTA, to give
positive recognition to students for the good things
they do. Students may spend their Panther Points at the
Panther Point cart (thoughtfully stocked by PTA parent
Lesa Levin and fourth grade teacher June Coleman), or
enter them in a monthly drawing to win lunch with our
principal, Mr. Crankshaw. This special luncheon,
prepared and set up by school staff, includes a
delectable ice cream cookie “paw” prepared by Scott and
Lisa McCoy. A tasty turkey dinner, served amid St.
Patrick’s Day décor, was enjoyed during the month of
March, as seen can be seen in these
pictures.
Under the Sea
with the Yearbook Committee
Made up of students, parents and staff, the Yearbook
Committee is working hard to produce what may very well
be one of the finest yearbooks ever, using the theme
“Under the Sea.”
 Many
vibrant and creative entries were submitted during a
cover contest, with Kendra McCoy’s rendition of an
under-sea, prowling panther (Glebe’s school mascot)
being chosen for the front cover, while Mikaela
Brandow’s entry, utilizing the front entrance of the
school with many under-the-sea creatures on their way to
school, was chosen for the back. Our art teacher, Ms.
Bintz, has been guiding the students as they create page
borders with an under the sea feel. See the yearbook
staff hard at work, and enjoying themselves, in these
photos from a recent layout pizza party.
Academic Gifts
and Creative Talents Abound
Glebe’s annual Academic Fair took place on Thursday,
March 13, featuring approximately 70 individual student
exhibits, together with several classroom displays.
 The
Academic Fair provides students with an opportunity to
showcase their unique gifts and talents in an area of
particular interest to them. All subjects, including
music, technology, art and physical education, are
treated as essential.
Under the guidance of teachers Annette Greco and Tammy
Wilson, students were encouraged to participate in any
academic area they found exciting and challenging.
Principal William Crankshaw is never surprised by the
creativity of the students and is always thrilled to see
what new creations come each year. Some of the diverse
ways students chose to display their interests this year
included: a video of an interview with a World War II
veteran; a demonstration on how to make butter; live
science experiments involving invisible ink; poetry
dedicated to Black History Month; a research project on
the history of dance; and a power point cartoon about
math and science, together with many, many other things
- just a few of which are shown in these
photos!
Faculty
Demonstrates Pride through Creativity
 As
part of their professional development, the Glebe
faculty, working with art teacher Ms. Bintz, constructed
“pennants of pride,” intended to provide a small glimpse
at things that are important and inspirational to them.
These pennants, the creation of which can be
seen here, will be installed in the school’s
hallways during the month of April, in a sort of reverse
sharing role with the students.
Three-Foot
Scientists Grow Green Spring Grass
Each year, the kindergarteners at Glebe Street grow
spring grass as part of a hands-on science experiment,
learning about germination, the function of light and
temperature and the importance of soil and water in the
growing process. This year, Mrs. Vosburgh and Mrs. Quinn
added alfalfa seeds to the lesson, so that students were
able to compare the germination time and growth habits
of grass and alfalfa (a type of grass). This was a great
way to make learning about science fun for the students
– who were amazed when the grass grew!
PARP
Please Always Read Plenty? People Are Reading the Paper?
Not quite! Try “Parents
As Reading Partners,”
a program that encourages students and parents to read
together for at least 15 minutes each night over a five
week period, in order to build reading skills,
vocabulary and fluency, learn something new and
reconnect for successful learning.
 PARP
kicked off at Glebe Street during March, with a nod to
the importance of community and a celebration of our
local history, thanks to Mrs. Ellithorp and Mrs. Camarra.
As part of our celebration, local history documents have
been hung, special PARP displays have been set-up
throughout the building and, during morning
announcements, students are encouraged to read
interesting factoids.
Each week during our PARP, classrooms will be competing
for first, second and third place at the primary and
intermediate levels of participation, with a goal of
increased reading and improved reading skills! As a
reminder to families,
any
family member may read with the child during the 15
minutes per day and
anything
may be read - newspapers, books, stories, cereal boxes,
advertisements – the sky is the limit! Just make a
notation of the reading togetherness time on the PARP
slips given to each child at every grade level.
Sixth
Graders Take to the Slopes at Royal
 On
March 3, Glebe Street sixth graders in Mrs. Cromer's
physical education classes took full advantage of the
opportunity to spend a day at Royal Mountain learning to
ski. The students worked hard at lessons in the morning
and, after lunch, were able to enjoy a sunny afternoon
skiing down the mountain's bunny slope without
assistance. The trip had been planned and delayed on
three prior occasions, so they were quite pleased to
finally get there - and just look at the smiles on their
faces in these
pictures! This was a wonderful opportunity for
the students to gain exposure to a lifetime leisure
activity.
Panther
Pride Pounces on Another Opportunity to Lead by Example
 Our
fifth and sixth grade student council, leading by
example and supported by their peers, family and
friends, raised $518.30 for the Make-A-wish Foundation!
Character education starts with each of us, because we
all are role models, and our students embrace the
challenge of being leaders. At any given time, you will
see and hear our students being caring, respectful,
trustworthy and responsible, as well as treating each
other with fairness. Read our
Glebe Street Student Council Mission Statement.
Arbor Day Poster
Contest Winner
 Arbor
Day will be on April 25 this year and, at Glebe, it will
be celebrated in a very big way, with ceremonies,
plantings and activities. One of these activities, participation in the National Arbor Day
Poster Contest, began earlier in the year. Many students
from our school created beautiful posters for
consideration in the contest, with fifth grader Tyler
Lawyer’s poster being selected as our winner. Tyler's
poster is now going on to be judged in the national
contest; it will also be displayed throughout our school
and will appear on the invitations to our Arbor Day
ceremony this year. Good luck in the national contest
Tyler and, thank you for giving us such a beautiful
poster!
Paying Tribute to the Ideals of
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
 National
holidays at Glebe Street Elementary School are not just
another day off for our students and staff; we prefer to
call them “Days On.” This January, as we celebrated the
ideals and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr., we remembered that a day off in his honor is an
opportune time to promote an understanding of why we
commemorate this great American. The month was
devoted to the character trait of fairness, with social
studies lessons focusing on the importance of MLK, civil rights and justice for all.
The entire school also participated in a micrography
project, whereby each student and staff member signed
their name and thoughts to a piece of paper, which, in
the end, came to be a resemblance of Martin Luther King.
It hung near the stage as the entire school came
together for an assembly, with music, readings and
presentations illustrating the importance of freedom,
justice, equality and anti-racism. Mr. Frenyea, Mrs.
Jones and Mrs. Raspanti put together a beautiful and
touching slideshow with music; Mrs. Tyler helped all of
our students to prepare a fitting musical tribute, with
third and fourth graders singing the strains of “‘Let
There Be Peace on Earth,” while our fifth and sixth
graders made posters and composed poems and readings
appropriate for the day’s mission. Mr. Nicolas Morales,
Deputy Director of Centro Civico in Amsterdam, was our
keynote speaker. He spoke to students and staff on the
level about their rights, treating others with fairness
and the importance of tolerance for others. In an
important tradition at Glebe, parents and family members
made up a part of the audience, as all are welcome to
celebrate and commemorate these special holidays with
us. A terrific sense of community results when we all
share special occasions!
See assembly photos.
Easing the Pre-NYS ELA Assessment Jitters
 Our
staff at Glebe does a wonderful and conscientious job of
preparing our students to be in the very best of
academic shape for the required NYS ELA assessments each
January. This year, our fourth grade teachers helped
students to celebrate their acquisition of knowledge,
and their hard work, by easing their test jitters
beforehand. Hot cocoa, snacks and pajamas made up the
menu and attire, as the children relaxed while reading
-for enjoyment and to soothe the nerves - leading our
students to the successful application of their
knowledge. See additional photos of our students
engrossed in reading
here!
Caught You Reading
 All
four elementary schools in the Greater Johnstown School
District participate in the Accelerated Reader program,
designed to encourage reading. With hundreds of books on
hand, there is something for everyone to read. By taking
corresponding comprehension tests in the computer lab,
students can collect quite a few points - and each month
at Glebe, our top 10 readers are posted on the stage in
our AR theatre box, as are our top 10 for the entire
year.
As another component of Glebe’s Accelerated Reader
program, a “Family Fun Night” takes place at school each
month. Advisors Mrs. Ellithorp and Mrs. Raspanti take
the AR program very seriously, but put on some
wonderfully fun evenings! During our January Family Fun
Night, students came and read in groups of friends, with
their moms and dads and with their grandparents, as well
as in the simple and independent quiet of their own
space, as shown in these
photos.
Check back here each month to see more pictures of the Glebe family AR participants!
PTA BINGO
 Each
year, many fun activities designed to bring students and
parents together as a community take place at Glebe
Street School, with prizes and refreshments furnished by
the PTA. Our BINGO Night is one of those events. This
year's event was led by callers Mr. Crankshaw
(principal) and Mr. Frenyea (fifth grade teacher), with
the assistance of several able and enthusiastic
students. We enjoyed a terrific turnout, as seen in
these
photos!
Chillin’ at Recess with Cool
Activities
 Whenever
possible, the students at Glebe Street Elementary go
outside for recess. Activities include snow-football,
downhill sledding, making snow-sculptures and,
sometimes, even forts. One thing is for sure, when
outside recess ends, there are nearly three hundred
ruddy-faced, happy and satisfied children coming back
inside, ready to learn for the rest of the afternoon!
Please be sure that your child is prepared each day for
outside play. To help students and parents remember what
they will need to be ready for fun in the snow, we have
adopted the following mnemonic device this winter:
Before (boots) Going (gloves/mittens), Have (hats)
Special (snow pants) Clothing (coat)!
Lunch with the
Principal
As part of Glebe Street Elementary School’s character
education program (spearheaded by the Shared Decision
Making Team and supported by the PTA), we hold “Lunch
with the Principal” each month.
 This
event brings together K-6 students who exemplify the
great character qualities we work so hard to instill
every day. Students are selected at random at the end of
the month from among those who have put their “Panther
Points”’ into a jar. The luncheon is always a big hit
and fosters a nice relationship between the principal
and the students, while reinforcing excellent behaviors.
This month’s theme was “Chinese!” Many thanks to the
teachers who contributed to the meal and to Mrs.
Flanders, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Sullivan, Mrs. Christman,
Mrs. Cecconi and Mrs. Jablonski for helping to make it a
great, great success!
See more Photos here.
Glebe Holiday
Tradition Continues for Twenty-Fifth Year
 On
Wednesday, December 12, students and staff celebrated
the beginning of the holiday season with the “Hanging of
the Greens,” a 25-year tradition at Glebe Street School.
Mrs. Kim Tyler, music teacher, and Mr. Crankshaw,
principal, led students and staff members in the singing
of carols, as we draped the door in a symbolic swag of
greenery, hung a wreath and lit-up a tree enlivened with
ornaments made by the children. Hallway lights were dimmed
during the carol “Silent Night,” which was followed by a
stirring rendition of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,”
urging everyone to welcome in the season.
See more Photos here.
Glebe Student
Council Helps the Needy
 Our
Glebe Street Elementary School community, led by the
student council, is currently holding its second annual
food drive to help stock the food pantry in Johnstown.
Boxes to collect non-perishable food items have been
placed in each classroom, as well as in the main
hallway, where donations can be made until the food
drive ends on Friday, December 14. December is the month
of CARING at Glebe Street Elementary School and one way
to show that we care is to think of others by sharing
what we have with those who need our help.
Wouldn't you
like to be an Adirondack Kid too?
 Glebe
students learned what it really is to be an Adirondack
Kid on September 28. That's when the VanRipers, the
family of authors who write the popular "Adirondack
Kids" series, came to speak with the third, fourth,
fifth and sixth graders about their books, local history
and writing fiction based on events right in their own
back yard.
Sixth grader,
Andy Camara was very excited about the visit from the
VanRipers. Andy’s enthusiasm was part of the impetus
for the PTA bringing the authors to the school. “I’ve
read every book in the series,” said Andy.
After introducing, first hand, the stories and
characters that have captivated so many imaginations,
the VanRipers held a question and answer session for the
students.
“Since their visit, we haven’t been able to keep the
books on our shelves,” commented Mrs. Ellithorp, Glebe
school librarian.
Assemblyman
Marc Butler Visits Glebe Street
As
part of the special activities planned during National
School Lunch week, Mr. Frenyea's and Mrs. Smero's fifth
graders invited Assemblyman Marc Butler to join them for
lunch on October 18. Following lunch and recess,
Assemblyman Butler and the students convened in the
classroom to discuss the voting process, as well as the
branches and functions of government. Check out the
photos of the day!
Local Band
Plays "With Fire" for a Great Purpose
Perhaps you heard it from blocks away? On September 27
the Glebe Panthers hosted Lexington Family Services
famous band, FLAME. Dancing, singing and playing
instruments, this awesome group helped to raise
awareness of the great things that people with
disabilities can accomplish. They were also supporting a
great project underway at our school - building an
improved playground, modernized and updated to
meet the requirements of children with special
accessibility needs.
Flame
played for two hours, wowing the audience with their
danceable tunes and rhythms. Just look at these
Photos
of our students and the band having a great time! We
were also able to raise $2,100.00 for the playground!
Many thanks to the folks at Lexington Family Services
and to FLAME for the donation of their time and talents
to raise awareness and money for a great cause at Glebe
Street Elementary School!
What Is Character Ed, Anyhow?
Character education involves teaching children about
basic human values including honesty, kindness,
generosity, courage, freedom, equality, and respect.
The goal is to raise children to become morally
responsible, self-disciplined citizens.
(Read
more)
Help Fight
Breast Cancer
Please help in the fight against breast cancer by
logging onto
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/
to
assist those who are unable to afford a mammogram.
Glebe Art
Gallery
Have
you visited Glebe's online
Art Gallery? Stop by and see works by several Glebe
students.
School Safety
Always a Priority at Glebe
Everyone is working hard to make Glebe a safer place for
our children. Your continued help is sincerely
appreciate. A few more concerns need to be addressed.
(Read more)
Just a
Reminder: Visit District Homepage For Your District-Wide
News
Information of importance to all schools in the district
(i.e., stranger-danger tips, NYS Test Sampler links,
etc.) is posted to the district homepage of the GJSD Web
site. When checking your individual school’s page,
please remember to check the district homepage, as well.
Wondering what Greater Johnstown School District news
you may have missed?
News
items previously listed can be accessed in our
Archives.
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