Collecting for local food pantries

Jacob Hromada, a student is Mrs. Kipp’s second grade class, was watching television one evening and was moved by a commercial to “Feed the Children” from around the world. His mom, Kerry Hromada, wanted to follow through with a learning lesson about his concern. She decided to take the project to where it affected us right here in our own community. Ms. Hromada asked Principal Spicer if the class could conduct a food drive. In two short weeks, the class collected over 4 BIG boxes of food to donate to the local food pantries. All students who brought in a food item went into a drawing for a Webkinz. Congratulations to Matt Antonelli for the big win! Each student in the class earned ‘Lil Hawk Awards for their participation in young humanitarian and charitable efforts!

JLE Celebrates PBIS Week

This Friday was the end of JLE’s first PBIS week. The PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Support) Team counted over 1,981 Little Hawks Tickets awarded to children caught being Safe, Respectful and Responsible throughout the building and throughout the day at JLE. The highest Little Hawk earners from each class were allowed to choose a prize
from the “treasure chest” and the class earning the most Little Hawk awards got to have lunch at a special table with Mr. Spicer! This week’s winner, earning a total of 140 Little Hawk awards was Mrs. Zlomek’s class. Good luck to everyone next week. Go Little Hawks!

Mr. Spicer Awarded Peace Prize by Mrs. Hom's Class

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, Mrs. Hom's class proudly awarded Mr. Spicer a special Peace Prize. "Its the nicest award I have ever received," Mr. Spicer told the children.

NYU Dental Team Visits JLE

JLE would like to thank the NYU Dental Team for visiting and providing free dental care to the JLE kids and their families. JLE owes countless smiles to our favorite Tooth Fairies!

JLE Sings at The Fireman's Home

On Thursday, December 22nd, Mrs. Kipp's and Mrs. VanDyke's 2nd grade classes performed holiday songs for the smiling toe tapping seniors at the Hudson Fireman's Home. The children graced the seniors with old favorites like jiggle bells, frosty the snowman and we wish you a merry Christmas. The seniors and staff of the Fireman's home greatly appreciated the mini concert and asked them to return next year. The children also had a good time and are learning the early lesson of the value of cheerful community service. 

Secretary of State Cesar Perales visits JLE

Secretary of State Cesar Perales visited John L. Edwards School today to announce the eleven upstate recipients of Workforce Development Grants. Hudson Family Literacy Program, a partnership between Columbia Opportunities, Inc. and the Hudson City School District, was one of the eleven. During his visit, Secretary Perales praised the partnership, calling it a model for other communities to follow. The grant funds will provide instruction in basic reading, math, and communication skills as well as computer literacy for English and non-English speakers. The focus is on functional or workplace literacy. Young adults will also receive support to stay in school, or return to school, and will receive services and support for completing the GED or other educational advancement.

John Farrell shares songs with JLE

JLE received an early holiday gift, a special visit from singer/song writer John Farrell. Mr. Farrell is an old friend of JLE and came to share songs of how children celebrate the holidays all around the world. All of JLE joined Mr. Farrell in song and sign language about caring for one and other and cultures around the world.

Students perform holiday songs for parents

On December 13th, the combined first grades and on December 15th, the combined second grades of John L. Edwards performed a variety of holiday songs for their parents who were gathered in the cafeteria/auditorium under the kinetic baton of music teacher Trish Almstead.

Mrs. Zito's Class Spreads Holiday Cheer

For over twenty years now, Mrs. Zito's First Grade Class has been sharing the holiday spirit by painting Christmas trees, presents and Santa's Elves on the window of the Hudson City Police Department. "We have been doing this for years. A few years ago we go a post card from a woman who lived across the street from the Police station. She thanked us, because she was homebound and the only slice of old time Christmas she got each year was watching the class paint the police station window for winter walk." The children love this painting project every year and we are grateful to the Hudson Police Department for their support.

Literacy story

The Hudson Family Literacy Program’s Early Childhood Classroom had a surprise guest for lunch on Tuesday---Mr. Spicer! The children ate nachos and rice and had fun introducing themselves to the principal. The literacy program, which is a partnership between Columbia Opportunities and the school district, is located at John L. Edwards and strives to work together with the school to benefit the students. Six of the Early Childhood students attend Universal Pre-K in the afternoon five days a week. Early Childhood Classroom meets on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9-12 and is available for children whose families are enrolled in the Hudson Family Literacy Program. Everyone enjoyed having lunch with Mr. Spicer and hopes he visits again soon to read “The Cat in the Hat”!

Students take a field trip to a school on Lake Ontario, NY and never leave the class!

Mrs.Kipp’s and Ms. VanDyke’s class were the first class at JLE to participate in a video conferencing project with another second grade class from Western New York. The project was entitled “Turkeys in Disguise”. Each class took a plain turkey template and skillfully created the perfect turkey disguise with all sorts of materials and textures. They decorated their turkeys to be police officers, ballerinas, football players, cheerleaders, snowmen, chefs – and so much more!  After each class exchanged pictures of the disguised turkeys, the students set to work playing a version of the “Guess Who?” game by observing and asking questions  to try to find the  turkey that got “caught”!  Lots of laughs and fun learning was had by all!

JLE Book Fair

The JLE children walk amid gleaming tables of literary joy as the PTA hosts the Annual JLE Book Fair. The Fair started on November 8th and concluded November 18. The PTA arranged the books to allow children to make purchases based on their interests and reading levels. The book fair has items for sale for children with as little as 50 cents, with books written by their favorite authors with topics from animal babies to space travel. The JLE Family would like to thank our PTA and parent volunteers for an outstanding job in supporting our mission of creating a culture of literacy. This means the JLE children will read early and often, for fun and learning, now and forever!

Hudson Family Literacy Program Thanksgiving Dinner

The Hudson Family Literacy Program hosted its tenth annual Thanksgiving Dinner at their November Family Night on Tuesday November 11th, at John L. Edwards. Approximately 160 guests were in attendance. Guests included Columbia Opportunities Executive Director Tina Sharpe; Columbia Opportunities Board Members Lynn Sloneker and Carol Friedman; HCSD Board of Education President Peter Merante; John L. Edwards Principal Mr. Spicer; and Taghkanic Town Supervisor Elizabeth Young.  The dinner was concluded by an original play written and performed by students from the Hudson Family Literacy After School Program based on the Aesop’s Fable “The Ant and the Grasshopper.”

The Hudson Family Literacy Program is a partnership between Columbia Opportunities, Inc. and the Hudson City School District. The literacy program works with our district’s large ESL population and has an early childhood program, an after school program for homework help, home visits with families, tutoring, and a teen program designed to help keep kids in school.

The Princess and the Pea at JLE

On Thursday morning, November 10th, storyteller and puppeteer, Matthias Kuchta came to JLE to perform the story The Princess and the Pea using life size puppets. The JLE children laughed and cheered as Matthias' puppet Princess tried to find comfort on top of a mountain of mattresses covering a tiny pea. Mr. Spicer and the JLE
Family would like to thank the Hudson Opera House for binging us this outstanding production and for the support of the berkshire-taconic community foundation and the PTA.

Mrs. Zito's class visits Columbia Memorial Hospital

On November 8, the staff of the Columbia Memorial Hospital Emergency Room hosted the boys and girls of Mrs. Zito's First Grade Class. The children were excited to view a real Greenport Rescue Squad ambulance and learn what happens in emergency vehicles and in an an actual emergency room.

Tall Tails and Heroes

On Thursday, November 4th, JLE was invaded by the likes of Paul Bunyan, Calamity Jane and John Henry as the Columbia County Youth Theatre came to perform the musical play Tall Tales and Heros. The children laughed and clapped as the cast sang their way through numerous childhood classic tall tales. The JLE Family would like to thank the cast and crew Columbia County Youth Theatre and the Berkshire Tonic Foundation for funding the event.

Family Literacy Day

On November 1st, JLE was visited by the Daughters of The American Revolution who came as part of the National Family Literacy Day program. They fanned out and read to seven different classes. The children were delight by their visting reader. The JLE Family would like to thank Mrs. Ruth Hill, Mrs. Gretchen Maresco, Mrs. Marge Chaloner, Mrs. Jane Martin and Ms. Carol Gans for their kind service.

Harvest Festival Day

Mrs. Kipp’s class was transformed into workstations of fun & learning as part of their annual Harvest Festival Day! The children got to paint panoramic pictures of the fall Hudson Valley, make turkeys out of pine cones, view pine cones in a water magnifying box and write about what they saw, make pumpkin colored whoopee pies and coat apples in caramel and chocolate. Mrs. Kipp and the children would like to thank all the Parent helpers who came to make this a very special day!

Fire Prevention Day at JLE

The Hudson Fire Department, led by Past Fire Chief Paul Beaumont, visited the children of JLE on Thursday. They reminded the children to stop-drop-and-roll if they're ever on fire, how to safely exit a building on fire and what number to call in case of a fire, "9-1-1" the children yelled. Most of all they made the children know a firefighter in the big scary mask and equipment is there to save you and you should run to them. All the JLE children promised to yell, "Here I am," if a firefighter is looking for them in a building. But the big fun was that they all got the chance to climb on real fire trucks! On behalf of the JLE PTA and the Faculty, Mr. Spicer would like to thank the Hudson Fire Department and Captain Beaumont for this wonderful program.

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