Stonehedge News

This page provides thoughts and commentary from Amanda Simmons, the Principal of Stonehedge Elementary School in the West Genesee Central School District.

Happy Friday, Stonehedge!

It is hard to believe we are nearly a week into February. On Wednesday, our Pre K - Grade 1 students attending a preview of the WGHS Little Mermaid. The show was awesome and our youngest students truly enjoyed the experience. If you get a chance, you should go see the show this weekend. Also this week, our "Souper Bowl" goods collection has been a huge hit. Thank you to all of the families who have donated items to support our power packs program. We'll have to see, but at last check the Eagles were winning the poll here at Stonehedge! Please check out the Around School pictures below!

A few reminders:

• Please do not get in the car pick up line until after 2:45 pm to allow for WGIS traffic to clear
• STEAM Showcase is on hold due to space limitations with the construction project.

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend and we'll see everyone on Monday.

Best-

Amanda

Stonehedge Main Office

phone: 315-487-4633

fax: 315-487-4699

email: stonehedgeoffice@westgenesee.org

Stonehedge Health Office

phone: 315-487-4636

fax: 315-487-4599

2/12/25 - Wellness Wednesday

2/12/25 - WG SEPTSA Family Event - 5:30pm - 7:30pm - Library

2/13/25 - The Giving Bean Fundraiser Order Pickup - 4:00pm - 7:00pm - Blue Cafeteria

2/13/25 - BOE Meeting - 6:00pm - WGHS

2/17/25 - 2/21/25 - No School - Winter Recess

2/26/25 - Gertrude Hawk Orders Due

2/27/25 - 4th Grade Orchestra Students Field Trip to WGIS (permission slips due 2/14/25)

3/1/25 - West Genesee Culture Fair - 12:00pm - 3:00pm - WGHS

The P2 focus this week has been Forgiveness. Forgiveness means you forgive those who have done wrong. You accept that people make mistakes.

Our amazing Stonehedge PTA is famous for sponsoring fantastic author visits to celebrate PARP (Pick a Reading Partner) month. This year the PTA is bringing Alicia Klepies to Stonehedge on March 19th. Ms. Klepies is the author of almost 200 books covering all sorts of interesting topics…we have quite a few right in the Stonehedge library!

Stonehedge families have the opportunity to purchase books before the visit. All sales are online and must be ordered by February 20. Use code VIP10 when checking out to receive 10% off your entire order. Just click here to access the online store. Ms. Klepies will be autographing purchased books. You can enter a first name on the order form to have the autograph personalized.

If you would like to donate books to Stonehedge students in need, please order any additional books and place the word “DONATION” in the personalization field.

Kindergarten Registration for the 2025-2026 school year will open on December 4, 2024 and will go until March 28, 2025.

Watch for registration information on the Central Registration webpage. If you have any questions, email the Central Registrar at centralregistrar@westgenesee.org, or call Central Registration at (315) 487-4683.

When registering, parents/guardians should be prepared to upload the following:

• Two proofs of residency (i.e. mortgage or property statement or signed lease agreement, utility bill )

• proof of age

A physical examination and proof of immunizations are also required for entry into kindergarten and a dental certificate is requested for entry into kindergarten. These examinations should be done up to one year prior to the first day of school. Children who enter kindergarten this fall must be five years of age on or before December 1, 2025.

To access the most updated health requirements click here.

The annual West Genesee Culture Celebration is an exciting opportunity to showcase the rich diversity of the West Genesee district and the broader Camillus community. This special event highlights the many cultures that make up our community through performances and table displays by students, families, and community groups.

DONATIONS!

Attendees are encouraged to bring an item to benefit one or both of these two deserving organizations.

AccessCNY's new respite center for children facing mental health crises: Children's books, art supplies, fidget spinners, playdough, and puzzles.

West Genesee Power Pack Program: Easy Mac; packaged fruit cups; granola brs, soup, Chef Boyardee, Pop-Tarts.

Enrichment Day is a fantastic opportunity for kids to explore exciting new skills and activities taught by local business leaders, makers, and artists. They year's lineup includes martial arts, acting, cooking, art activities, hands-on classes with animals, crafts, parkour, juggling, and much more! Space is limited so please sign up by Friday, February 14th at: https://forms.gle/sfAoJRoAuNtsGUoLA

The Stonehedge yearbook is officially available for purchase! This year, all sales will be conducted online, making it quick and easy to secure your copy.

📚 Cost: $17
📅 Order Deadline: May 1, 2025

Yearbooks will be delivered directly to Stonehedge and sent home with students once they arrive. Don’t miss this opportunity to capture and cherish the memories of the school year!

If you have any questions, please contact the Stonehedge PTA for assistance stonehedgepta@gmail.com.

The next General PTA Meeting is Wednesday, April 9 at 6:30pm.

The Special Education PTSA will be having a meeting Wednesday, Feb 12 at the Stonehedge Elementary School Library at 6:30pm. Come on in out of the cold to play some fun winter themed games and learn more about SEPTSA! SEPTSA (Special Education Parent Teacher Student Association) supports students with special needs, their families, and educators. It fosters inclusion, provides resources, and offers a space to connect and learn about special education services.

To Join SEPTSA please follow this link

https://wgseptsa2018.givebacks.com/store

Our multilingual learners shared what they love about their culture!

• traditions
• foods
• flags
• animals
• clothing

Mrs. Erwin's kindergarten class practiced counting to 50 with "snowballs."

In PE class, students celebrated the Super Bowl by rotating through six fun football-themed stations. Each station focused on different football skills, giving students a chance to practice throwing, catching, and more. It was a great way to get active and enjoy the excitement of the big game!

The PTA Super Bowl Food Drive was a great success! Students were excited to place their food donations in the bins, eagerly supporting their favorite teams. In the end, the Philadelphia Eagles came out on top, but the real winner is our community, which will benefit from the Power Pack Program. Thank you to everyone who contributed!

Our Pre-K, Kindergarten, and first-grade students took a special trip to the high school to see a preview of The Little Mermaid, performed by the talented high school students. Our students were captivated by the music, costumes, and performances.

WGHS will be presenting Disney’s The Little Mermaid on February 7 at 7:00 p.m., February 8 at 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., and February 9 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are available at wgfinearts.ludus.com; simply click “buy tickets.” To reserve your tickets via cash or check, please contact the West Genesee Fine Arts Office at (315) 487-4612.

The PTA held its Founders Day meeting this week and recognized two outstanding staff members with the PTA Founders Day Certificate of Appreciation. This award recognizes those who make a difference in student's lives. This year’s deserving recipients were custodian Mr. Holzwarth and librarian Mrs. Abbott. Thank you both for all you do for our students!

The latest group of 4th-grade Safety Patrol members successfully completed their duties this week.

Third Grade Spanish Club kicked off again this week! Students started with basic greetings and pronunciation. In the coming weeks, they will explore numbers, colors, foods, and animals, along with segments on geography, dance, and sports in Latin America.

Announcements about school closings, delayed openings, or early dismissal will be posted on the News Headlines section of the District website home page. They will also be broadcast on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the following stations which you can access by clicking here.

Also, ParentSquare communications software allows us to send emails, texts, and make phone calls. (Phone calls will be used for emergency situations only.)

With the changing weather, children are now wearing layers of cold-weather clothing. We kindly request that you label your child's outerwear. This small effort can be a big help in reuniting lost items with their rightful owners, and you'll be grateful you took the time to do so.

Please keep in mind that our students will continue to go outside for recess. If the temperature is 20 degrees Fahrenheit or above, recess can take place outside. If the temperature is below 20 degrees Fahrenheit (this includes factoring in the WINDCHILL), recess will be indoors. Students should always have appropriate clothing for the weather: Coat, boots, snow pants, hat, and gloves.

As the colder weather sets in, it often brings with it an increase in seasonal illnesses. To help keep all students and staff healthy, we ask families to monitor for certain symptoms before sending children to school.

If your child displays any of the following, please keep them home:

• Fever of 100 degrees or higher in the past 24 hours
• Vomiting or Diarrhea in the past 24 hours
• Strep Throat. Your child should be on an antibiotic for at least 24 hours before returning to school
• Bad cold with congestion or bad cough, especially if it has kept your child awake at night; and/or the cough is continuous and consistent throughout the day.
• Pink eye. Your child should be on an antibiotic for at least 24 hours before returning to school.

If your child becomes ill at school and the nurse and/or teacher feel your child is too sick to benefit from school and is contagious to classmates and staff, you will be called to pick up your child.