Members of The Mamakating Renaissance, Councilman Robert Justus, and Village trustee, Barbara Piper visited the Emma C. Chase Elementary School to donate a beautiful pear tree.

The tree was added to the other pear trees the Renaissance has given to the school in the past. The trees, now in full bloom, add beauty to the front lawn of the school for all to enjoy and appreciate.

Mayor Mickey Maher spoke to students about how trees are a renewal resource for us that beautifies as well as helps the environment. She declared April 25, 2008 Arbor Day, a day to celebrate and to remember to protect our trees.

On Earth Day, students participated in a school-wide activity to show their support of making our environment a 'greener' place. Faculty, staff and parent volunteers sewed tote bags for the students to decorate.

Students in grades 3-5 decorated the bags with the theme "Going Green 1 Child at a Time." The bags were then given to K-2 students so they could decorate them with their hand prints. The bags are slated to be sold for $1 at Chase's Open House, with all proceeds going to the Citizenship Committee (which donates money to local charities throughout the school year including the Monticello High School Thanksgiving Food Drive as well as the holiday toy drive).
Photo: Chelsea Burkhardt, Paul Ippolito and Kara Fredell.

Chase Elementary School Speech and Language Pathologist Judy Buffa, and the Speech and Language students from Keith Babbitt's class, recently ended their research about what a visit to France would be like by inviting the faculty and staff to a French Dessert party.

The students served apple, cherry, blueberry and cheese crepes with a touch of whipped cream. Their guests also had the opportunity to have French vanilla ice cream with their crepes and a cup of French roast coffee. Each guest was given a piece of French chocolate to take with them.

The students are researching the different countries of Europe as part of their Social Studies curriculum. The study of France included the study of lifestyles, government, economy and geography of the country in an effort to promote the students' understanding of the similarities and differences among our countries and cultures. The lesson began with students stating what they already knew about the country they were about to study and what they would like to learn about that country. Students were then divided into teams and charged with the task of researching various topics. After their research was complete, the students organized the facts through various hands-on activities. Posters displaying this information were created and each team wrote a short paragraph about their area of research.

Photo: David Klein, Nickolas Dyer, Justin Barrett, Amos Decker, Danaya Clark, Colby VanKleeck, Emily Maxwell, Ms. Judy Buffa, Samantha Schoonmaker, Christopher Warren and Kirsten McCarty.

Students learn what it is to be a risk-taker

Students communicated their knowledge through poems, pictures, and a Power Point presentation about how Dr. Crumpler exemplified the qualities of a person who was a risk-taker. The students worked in groups, researched the topic, and organized the presentation that not only discussed a person who was a risk-taker, but allowed them to be risk-takers as well.

Fifth graders in Marilyn Lounsbury, Dorrie Lounsbury and Karen Crofoot's classrooms were introduced to Geri Mariano from Armonk, NY. Geri was invited to the Chase Elementary School to speak about people with disabilities. She herself, has extreme physical disabilities.

She has presented at schools in her area and welcomed the opportunity to extend to another school beyond her own school district. She told the students about her background and how through her determination and spirited personality she has accomplished many things, including receiving her Master's degree in Recreational Therapy, traveling to Italy alone with prostheses and two canes, and running her father's legal office. She also volunteers at a camp in the summer where she does the bookkeeping and phone work. Students asked Geri many inquisitive questions that were on their mind which she graciously answered. This experience allowed the students to see first hand what a risk-taker can accomplish if they put their minds to it.

At a recent school assembly, Chase Elementary School students were recognized for showing qualities from the learner profile of international mindedness. Thomas Badillo was recognized for being 'principled' as he always returns money he has borrowed in the cafeteria without being reminded. Dakota Leon was recognized for being 'caring and open-minded' as she shows tolerance to a child who has difficulty showing acceptable behavior. The school also showed "caring" as they made and sent Valentines to Vets of the Hudson Valley.

A letter of appreciation from the VA Hudson Valley Healthcare System was read by principal Susan Gottlieb thanking the school for the Valentines, which were greatly appreciated. Our students showed compassion to the veterans by letting them know they have not been forgotten for all they have done for our country.

Three students showed that they were 'risk-takers' as they performed for the entire school their newly learned violin skills. The students performed Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, Can Can , and Hot Cross Buns with the assistance of their music teacher, Pat Lubin. Pictured from left, Barry Bend, Courtney Swensen, Kira Platt and music teacher Pat Lubin perform.

Starlab lands at Chase
Students at the Chase Elementary School had an opportunity to experience the night sky during the day using Starlab, a portable planetarium.

If you have ever wondered what the night skies might have looked like to the Ancient Greeks or the Native Americans, Starlab's dome and projector are able to show the students just what the ancients viewed.

These and other constellations were portrayed right in the school using Starlab, as students listened to stories, the constellations were pointed out with a red beam of light. From Orion to Polaris, Starlab is a worthwhile resource offered through the Sullivan County Teacher Center.

The Speech and Language students in Mr. Babbitt's class are developing "internationally mindedness". International minded students recognize our common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, to help create a better, more peaceful world.

As part of their learning, students recently held a "British High Tea" for the faculty and staff of the Chase Elementary School. This activity was the culmination of the students' studies of British history, lifestyles of the people of England, the economy of the country, the various cultural groups that now reside in England, the geography of the country, and the similarities and differences between the United States and England.

Students shared finger sandwiches, scones and various teas as well as facts about England with their guests. They were assisted by Speech-Language Pathologist Judy Buffa and teacher aide Hollie Hall.

Photo: Chase students Samantha Schoonmaker, Colby VanKleeck, Dinaya Clark, Paiton DuBois, Justin Barrett, David Klein, Emily Maxwell, Kirsten McCarty, Amos Decker and Nicholas Dyer.

Chase students Elvir Mackic, Trevor Loomis, Megan Joyce and Samantha Romer were each presented a citizenship award for "international mindedness," at a recent school assembly.

Elvir and Trevor received the awards for being caring, as they showed a personal commitment to service and acted to make a positive difference in the lives of others and to the environment. This is shown as they volunteer daily to help with clean-up in the school cafeteria.

Megan and Samantha were awarded for their risk-taking traits, as they showed their independence of spirit. They explored a new role of singer/songwriter, as they performed in front of the entire school during an assembly.

In October 2007, the Emma C. Chase Elementary School was one of the first schools in the tri state area to accept a challenge called the Million Tab Club, a program that’s in conjunction with the Ronald McDonald Family Room (RMFR) at the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in Westchester County. The school took on the challenge in honor of Chase 5th grader Andrew Pekal, who passed away last year after being diagnosed with rhaptomyosarcoma. During his illness, Andrew’s parents were able to stay close to him by utilizing the Ronald McDonald Family Room, as it is used as a “home away from home” for families during their child’s hospital stay.

The Million Pull Tab program is simple. Students bring in aluminum pull tabs from cans. Each class collects and counts the tabs for a weekly total. With the help of community members and other district schools who have been contributing to Chase’s pull tab collection, in just three short months, they have almost ¼ million tabs! Eventually the tabs are sent to a recycling plant and melted down for cash. The cash goes directly to the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Westchester Medical Center to provide respite for families who are enduring the most difficult times of their lives. One night at the RMFR for a family is equivalent to 31,675 tabs.

In collecting pull tabs, Chase Elementary School students and staff feel they are honoring the memory of their friend Andrew and they hope to help other families through their difficult times. The students’ hard work will culminate with a party featuring Ronald McDonald as a special guest during a school assembly later in the year.
If you wish to help Chase reach their 1,000,000 goal, please send your tabs to the main office or call 888-2471 to arrange to have the tabs picked up.

Photo: Students have been bringing in the pull tabs, counting them and then attempting to solve a given math challenge. Though many students did solved the problem, the first students to answer correctly were, from left, Kevin Kane, Andrew McDermott, Michael Badman, Jessica Falco and Sandra Bell. The math challenge they solved was "How close are we to a quarter of a million, if we have collected 231,370 tabs so far?"

Have you ever wondered what a million looks like? Chase students are determined to find out!

Chase students get poetic

Keith Babbit, who teaches the 1-3 grade class, used the SMART Board as a backdrop to enhance the performance, which allowed the audience's imagination to fly!

Fifth-graders' handbells make beautiful music
Chase kids learn system to ring out right tones
Story by Melissa Rennie, Photo by Chet Gordon, Courtesy the Times-Herald Record

As teacher Marilyn Lounsbury points to a large chart covered with colored circles, her fifth-grade students at Emma C. Chase Elementary School ring the bells they are holding. "Ding." "Dong." "Bong." "Bing." Lounsbury keeps pointing, the students keep ringing. "Bong." "Bing." "Ding." "Dong." Suddenly, a melody emerges.

It's "Oh, Come All Ye Faithful" that the children are playing on 25 English handbells.

Some 300-plus parents, teachers, siblings and friends clap with pride. Then it's on to the next number in yesterday's winter program, which also featured kids on recorders and several choruses. Lounsbury said a friend turned her on to handbells when she was in college. For 14 years, she has used her colorful charts to teach her fifth-grade classes how to play her two-octave set of handbells. The charts look complicated, but, said student Kyle Snitzer, "Not really."

As Sandra Bell — an appropriate name for a handbell ringer — explained the teacher's system, when Lounsbury points to a yellow circle, she has to ring her B5 bell. When the teacher points to a green circle, Essence Gonzalez knows to give her E6 bell a shake. Most sections have more than one colored circle, so two or more students ring at least one of their bells together. "You do have to pay attention or you mess up," said Samantha Fundell. The children wear white, Mickey Mouse-style cotton gloves, to prevent smudges on the golden, brass bells and to protect their hands from blisters. The big bells are heavy," said Christine Lambrou.

The kids consider a place in the bell choir a perk. "Essence was so excited, she couldn't wait to start," said mom Sandra Gonzalez. Rebecca Laba said her daughter, Angela, "Had her fingers crossed all year." But for Rebecca it was jittery business. "I am so nervous for her. I told her to just go out there and have a good time."

Playing the handbells, Kyle said, is, "better than cool." What could be better than cool? "That would be awesome," classmate Kevin Kane chimed in.

Click here to view the THR's video of the handbell performance.

First graders in Laurie Churchill's and Terri Sager's classes are presently learning about texture rubbings in their art class. But for Chase Elementary School art teacher Ellen McNally, that is only the beginning. McNally teaches a variety of studio art techniques to her students in all grades, including watercolor, collage and color pencil.

As part of her lessons she includes information about the history of art as well. Introducing her young students to the works and lives of many famous names of the art world.

Some of the finished works of art from McNally’s 2nd and 3rd grade classes include these beautiful watercolor collages and Picasso faces.

Photo: Chase Elementary School Principal Susan Gottlieb stopped by to see the day's creations in Ellen McNally's art room. From left are John Unverzagt, Susan Gottlieb, Ellen McNally, Atiana Castro, Ashley Williems, Raymond Figora and Taylor Lamb.

First graders in Terri Sager's and Laurie Churchill's classes learned about the Native American's and Pilgrims' way of life through dance and games as they celebrated Thanksgiving in their classes.

Students painted rocks and were taught a math game that pilgrim children played. They also learned a Native American rain dance. The students were led by academic intervention teacher, Roberta Eckes as she described the reason for the dance. She explained how certain Native American groups would dance around a fire to show how important the land was - because it provided them with food. During the dance, students looked down at the land and then up to the sky singing for rain to fall to help the crops grow.

Photo: Native American dancers Matthew Pallay, Lauren Salerno, Emily McCreery, Simone Evans, Angela Wright, Gavin Donald Back: Patrick Lynn, Luke Hicks, Roberta Eckes, Judith Ganci, Dietrich Behrens, Andrew Brush and Phoenix Risch

On November 13, Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther came to Chase Elementary School to discuss the election process. Accompanying her was Steve Wilkinsen who assists her in the writing of legislation.

Ms. Gunther invited all grade 3-5 classes in her district to vote for one of several butterflies to be chosen as the statewide butterfly. She discussed with the students how the electoral and legislative processes work and related it to the actual voting for a butterfly nominee. Prior to her visit, she sent a package with a description and picture of each butterfly nominee and step-by-step instructions on how the process works.

Chase Principal Susan Gottlieb shared with the audience the results from the school, which had the Karner Blue Butterfly in first place.

Ms. Gunther will bring her results to Albany where they go through the Legislature and the Senate and then on the the Governor's desk to be signed or vetoed. We look forward to learning of the results!

Photo: Elizabeth Sicuro's third grade class from left, Andrew Fredell, Devin DeCicco, Victoria Groom, Fiffany Leung, Taylor Valentine, Rebecca Kerstner, Shane Kennedy, Dinaja Clark, and Kirsten McCarty. Back row: Principal Susan Gottlieb, Steve Wilkinsen, Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther.

On Halloween, students at Chase Elementary School were entertained by Neech the magic professor. The children and adults were amazed by his magic tricks and were awed by the mysterious environment he created through the use of fog and eerie music. Neech picked his assistants from a group of excited volunteers in the K-5 audience.

The Annual Halloween Parade made up of many costume-clad students and staff marched through the Village of Wurtsboro. They then returned to school and attended an assembly at which the Lions Club awarded prizes for the winners of the annual pumpkin decorating contest.

The magic show and the Annual Halloween Parade were sponsored by the Chase PTO.

Photos:
#1: Third-grade parents from Elizabeth Sicuro's class dressed up to join their children in the Halloween spirit. Front row from left, Rebecca Kerstner, Alexis Costa, Devin DeCicco Back row from left, Laurie Kerstner, Lisa Costa, Alex Langowsky (baby) and Gina Langowsky.

#2: Two little stinkers: first graders in Laurie Churchill's and Terri Sager's classes, John Unverzagt and his twin sister Mia Unverzagt, show off their homemade skunk costumes.

#3: Neech creates mayhem and magic through the smoky room during his recent performance at Chase.

Fourth graders in Janice Eisenhardt's, Dennis Law's, and Linda Holmes' classes participated in Science 21 experiments together. The focus of the experiment was "How do scientists follow procedures?"

The students were expected to observe and describe their findings and results of the experiment, called "Milky Way," as well as learn the importance of clearly, written procedures. The teachers stressed the importance of reading and following directions carefully. The students were presented with "What if...?" questions to learn the importance of variables. Students were amazed as the experiment unfolded and then carefully described their interpretations and ideas with others.

Photo: fourth graders from left, Cassidy Swensen, Benjamin Ulrich, and Aaron Minner, along with teacher Dennis Law, investigate the phenomena of surface tension.

A wonderful program called "Officer Phil," sponsored by the Monticello Police Department and businesses in the community, entertained students at Chase Elementary School. The program explained that the Monticello Police Department's primary function is to protect and communicate with residents, as well as provide educational programs for children that will present positive solutions to problems they encounter everyday is the reason for the program.

Magician, Mr. George, used magic tricks to tell students about basic safety rules. Students "oohed, and aahed" as Mr. George performed magic as he told them some of the most simple things are the most important. He discussed wearing seat belts, not to talk to strangers on the internet, not to go on "My Space" on the internet, and bicycle safety. He also described the "dog" rule- Don't tease, Only pet an animal with permission, and Give the animal it's own space by not getting to close.

He then went on to talk about bus stop rules. The importance of having a good attitude was emphasized also. Three students were then selected to participate in a game called "Power of Kids Game" which tested their knowledge about safety and citizenship across America. Mr. George then had the assistance of a puppet named Lucky duck to discuss what makes a good citizen. Through duck jokes Mr. George emphasized how important it is to think before you tell a joke to make sure it is not disrespectful or that it doesn't hurt someone's feelings. They sang a song entitled "It's Up to You & Me" to make a point of being honest, true and polite.

Students realized that the world would be a better place by being a friend, and that they need to treat each other with respect.

On October 22, more than 40 people gathered at Chase Elementary School to celebrate their commitment to a healthy, active lifestyle and to kick off the 2nd year of the Mamakating Walks fitness program.

Participants said they feel better, sleep better, and have decreased stress levels since beginning their walking regime. The program is designed to help residents start and maintain a steady program of walking. Organizers encouraged new participants to begin slowly and try to build up to a 30 minute walk, five days a week.

For more information about this program, contact Mary Riley-Jacome, program coordinator at 518-408-2339 or e-mail mrjacome@albany.edu.

The Wurtsboro Fire Department, along with a ladder truck from the Monticello Fire Department, came to Chase Elementary School to demonstrate how they respond to fires. In a staged emergency scenario, volunteer fire fighters came rushing to the school in fire trucks with sirens blowing, while students assembled outside during a fire drill.

As students watched in anticipation, firefighters demonstrated how a rescue would be done using an aerial ladder. An assembly followed, at which time the entire school gathered to hear the firemen tell of their mascot Marky, a Dalmation, and why fire departments have had this particular breed of dog since the early 1800's.

Fire fighters reviewed with students what to do in case of a fire and then announced the winners of the fire safety posters. This year's topic was "Plan Your Escape Route"...and the winners are:
First Grade
Laurie Churchill's class: 1st place Caitlyn Brown, 2nd place Raymond Figueroa
Terri Sager's class: 1st place Patrick Lynn, 2nd place David Klein
Second Grade
Eileen Kolaitus' class: 1st place Brielle Farrish, 2nd place Kelly Lynn
Connie O'Rourke's class: 1st place Elliana Harrold, 2nd place Emma Spear
Jennifer Unverzagt's class: 1st place Amanda Karmolinski, 2nd place Taylor Brugaletta
Third Grade
Lynn Oakley's class: 1st place Taylor Spargo, 2nd place Maria Zeh
Elizabeth Sicuro's class: 1st place Ryan DeVries, 2nd place Andrew Fredell
Fourth Grade
Janice Eisenhardt's class: 1st place Julie Kane, 2nd place Joseph Grobusch
Dennis Law's / Linda Holmes' class: 1st place Paige Cannonier, 2nd place Rebecca Crance
Fifth Grade
Dorrie Lounsbury's class: 1st place Emily Smith, 2nd place Kevin Kane
Marilyn Lounsbury's class: 1st place Essence Gonzalez,  2nd place Heather Giza
Keith Babitt's class: 1st place Danay Clark, 2nd place David Klein

New preschool program flourishing at Chase

Photo : back row: Mrs. Maryann Swensen-Teacher Assistant, Mrs. Tammie Fredell-Teacher Assistant, Ms. Stephanie Clarke -Teacher.Middle row - Dante Constantino, Kevin Coviello, Sophie McPherson, Charleigh Rohloff, Dennis McDermott, Ciara Cain, Emilia Dyer Front Row: Scott Kean, Noah Woytowick, Ryan Balfour, Jaeden Davilla

Fifth grade Class of 2007 gives school a beautiful departing gift

Chase Elementary School Principal Susan Gottlieb, pictured right, thanked Kelly Madsen, a former fifth grade parent and all of the other parents and students for their thoughtfulness!

Congratulations to this year's Sullivan Renaissance "Spruce Up Your School" award winners:  Chase and Rutherford Elementary Schools and RJK Middle School.

Chase student memorialized with a tree and plaque
Students and teachers at Chase Elementary School in conjunction with community members and Sullivan County Renaissance, dedicated a newly-planted pear tree and plaque to former 5th grade student Andrew Pekal. Andrew was a beloved classmate, student and friend who died last April after a five month battle with cancer. "His memory will always be treasured," said Chase Principal Susan Gottlieb.