Tatum is the First Grade Helpful Hedgehog Student of the Week for April 28-May 3, 2025. Tatum’s mom, Dr. Jennifer Yates, Assistant Professor in the School of Health Care Professions Department visited the class. Students learned all about different adaptations that can be made for students to achieve success in writing by using special paper and pencil grips. Dr. Yates adapts cars and donates them to children who have mobility issues. Tatum’s mom read All That I Want To Be a positive message to celebrate who you are!
Thank you to Tatum and her mom for the sensory balls and the treat!
Dean Barri Tinkler read Where is Boomer? To the first grade class during Literacy Week. Yesterday, the first grade students took a “brief” walking adventure to see some of the places they heard about in the book. Thank you again Dr. Tinkler for reading to us during Literacy Week.
Some of the places we visited: The Bear, The Wall of Presidents, identified the PSU, the Book Store, the Magers Health Center, the stage, and ventured back to school.
April 17th was Science in the Parking Lot! Students were able to experience Virtual Reality headsets, conduct their own experiment, see a drone presentation, and so much more. It was a fun day for learning and exploration!
Some outstanding 5th grade recorder students shared their playing test selections with the other elementary classes in music this week. They did an excellent job!! The recorder unit is incorporated into the 4th and 5th grade music curriculum throughout the school year.
Dr. Mandy Benedict-Chambers Elementary Science Methods Accelerated Masters students Dr. Melinda Hammerschmidt’s Greenwood First Grade Students collaborated for an end of the year Science project. For their final semester project, Bryleigh, Hannah, Jena, Paige, Alex, and Isabelle, designed and taught lessons that aligned with the Missouri Learning Standards. Students explored:
· What changes can be reversed and what cannot? Utilizing eggs, bread, chocolate, and a crayon first grades examined and discussed why we cannot change some items or objects back to their normal state.
· What do living things need to survive? This group used the playground area where they could examine plants.
· How does heat make some objects hotter than others? This group used heat and spoons that were created from various materials to explore what happens to an object when it is exposed to heat.
· What happens to snow and where does it go? Using plastic bags and ice students discussed what causes snow to form and the effect of warming temperatures.
· How do cactus and Antarctic grass both survive in extreme environments? Students found out that cactus gets water from the rain that does fall in the desert and that grass in the Antarctic has deep roots that protect it from snow.
· How do you get an object to move the farthest?
Students used various materials to explore the distance an object could travel. They found that lighter objects weigh less so they often travel faster.
Thank you, Dr. Benedict-Chambers and Accelerated Masters students, for partnering with Dr. Hammerschmidt’s First Grade Class.
Greenwood had an amazing weekend at MSHSAA State Speech and Debate Championships!
Tristan Khoshyomn was the STATE CHAMPION in International Extemp
Mary Gabriel and Tristan Khoshyomn were the STATE RUNNER UP - 2nd Place in Policy Debate
Laila Ozturk was the STATE RUNNER UP – 2nd Place in Informative Speaking
Ethan Duff and Gyan Grewal - 4th place in Policy Debate
Laila Ozturk – 4th place in Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Mary Gabriel – 5th place in Informative Speaking
Laila Ozturk – 5th place in International Extemp
Overall, the team earned 3rd Place in MSHSAA Class 1 Debate and 5th Place in MSHSAA Class 1 Speech (out of 88 Class 1 Schools that competed in the State tournament).
Let’s Go Jays!
Our 6th graders had an inspiring field trip on Friday, April 26, to the George Washington Carver National Monument! They explored the very place where Carver, a brilliant scientist, professor, artist, and environmentalist, spent his early years.
Students enjoyed a walking tour of the beautiful grounds while learning about Carver’s humble beginnings, his deep love for nature, and how he once dreamed of becoming a painter. They discovered how he walked miles to attend school in Neosho—driven by a passion for learning that never faded.
Inside the museum, students explored Carver’s legacy and even got hands-on with a peanut milk experiment —a fun nod to his groundbreaking work using plants to create over 300 products from peanuts, sweet potatoes, and more.
From art to agriculture, Carver’s genius and perseverance continue to inspire—and our students had a blast!
The First Grade Helpful Hedgehogs read EARTH DAY EVERY DAY written by Lisa Bullard and Xiao Xin. Students discussed what they can do to help the earth. Some of the ways that students felt they could help make a change would be to pick up trash, recycle, plant trees, or trade items they no longer needed or wanted. The theme for Earth Day 2025 is Our Power Our Planet. The Helpful Hedgehogs created an illustration and wrote down what they wanted to do to help our planet.
Second Graders Step Back in Time for Pioneer Day Celebration
Mrs. Flanders’ second-grade students experienced a unique journey into the past as they celebrated Pioneer Day in the One Room Schoolhouse on the campus of Missouri State University. This year's event held special significance as it marked the 20th anniversary of the One Room Schoolhouse, a collaborative project with the College of Education that celebrates a "Legacy of Learning."
The day transported the students back over 100 years, allowing them to immerse themselves in the learning environment of a bygone era. They participated in a variety of activities reminiscent of traditional pioneer education, offering a hands-on understanding of how children learned in the past.
Adding to the enriching experience were special guests Katherine Marler (retired SPS teacher), Dr. Barri Tinkler (Dean College of Education - MSU), and Michelle Oliver (Greenwood Librarian), who shared their expertise and insights, further enhancing the students' understanding of pioneer life and education.
One of the highlights of the day was the hands-on butter-making activity. Students enthusiastically shook cream into butter and then savored the fruits of their labor by enjoying the freshly made butter on biscuits, providing a delicious taste of pioneer ingenuity and resourcefulness.
The Pioneer Day celebration at the One Room Schoolhouse not only provided a fun and engaging learning experience but also fostered an appreciation for the history of education in Missouri. As the One Room Schoolhouse marks its 20th anniversary, it continues to serve as a valuable resource for students and educators alike, preserving and celebrating the "Legacy of Learning" for generations to come.
Senior Spotlight! Mary Gabriel will be studying Law Politics & Society and International Relations at Drake University. Thank you for being part of our Bluejay family, we can't wait to see all the amazing things you accomplish!
Thank you to Sarah Allen with Springfield-Greene County Library System for coming to talk to our K-5 students about their Summer Reading program..."Color Our World." The #1 way to avoid "Summer Slide" (the decline in academic skills and knowledge that students experience during the summer break when school is not in session) is to take part in a summer reading program.
Second Graders Break a Leg (and Fairytales!) in Hilarious Annual Production
For the 19th consecutive year, the talented second-grade class delighted audiences with their rendition of four fractured fairytale plays. The young thespians took to the stage on April 16th for an afternoon performance, captivating parents and fellow elementary students alike with their creative twists on classic stories.
The plays, which included “Live, It’s Fairytale News,” “Reading, Writing, and Little Red Riding Hood,” “Cinderella and the Glass Slipper," and “Two Pigs, A Wolf, and a Mud Pie,” were not only entertaining but also served as a vital component of the second-grade communication arts curriculum. Under the guidance of Mrs. Janelle Flanders, the students focused on honing their articulation and fluency skills. Each line was delivered with newfound confidence and clarity, showcasing the hard work and dedication they poured into their performances.
"This annual tradition provides our students with a fun and engaging way to develop essential communication skills," explained Mrs. Flanders. "By focusing on articulation and fluency within the context of these playful stories, the children gain confidence in their speaking abilities while bringing laughter and joy to the audience."
The event was a resounding success, with audiences praising the students' enthusiasm, creativity, and impressive command of language. The second-grade fractured fairytales have become a beloved tradition at Greenwood, celebrating the power of performance and the importance of communication skills.
If you want to have your yearbook personalized, you MUST order it by April 30. Use the link yearbookforever.com to complete your order. Additionally, we are only ordering a limited number of copies based upon orders received as of April 30. Any orders placed after this date are not guaranteed a book if they sell out, so get your orders in now!
Senior Spotlight! Minal Khan will be studying Medical Anthropology at the University of Michigan. Thank you for being part of our Bluejay family, we can't wait to see all the amazing things you accomplish!
Lions? Tigers? Bears? Oh, NO. First and Third Graders
The first and third grade Reading Buddies took a field trip to the Dickerson Park Zoo.
The Zoo trip was a culmination of animal studies for both classes.
Thank you to all the wonderful first and third grade parents and family member who chaperoned.
Thank you to GPA for sponsoring this field trip and everything else you do to make teaching and learning at Greenwood a joy!
The 1st and 2nd grade classes shared their musical Down By the Water with the residents at The Montclair. This is such a wonderful opportunity for us to give back to our community. The residents are always thrilled to see us and anxious for our return.
Fourth grade had a wonderful time exploring Jefferson City on Tuesday, April 15, 2025!
They:
- Toured the Capitol where the 4th grade was introduced on the House floor
-Toured the Governor’s office
- Walked across the Bicentennial Bridge to Adrian’s Island
- Visited the Supreme Court and met Judge Brent Powell, a Greenwood alum
- Finished off the day with Central Dairy
Thank you to GPA and all the parent volunteers for making this such a fun day!
First Graders and Kindergarten attend Stephen Fite’s Fantastic School Day concert on April 15th Stephen acted like a substitute teacher who took over the classroom for the day. He shared music, movement, smiles and laughter in an interactive performance that fostered Critical Thinking Skills as students worked to determine the identity of the Animal, color, and letter of the day. Students had a blast singing and dancing along!
Former Greenwood Laboratory School second grade teacher Mrs. Pauline Barker stopped by the first grade classroom to visit last week.
What a lovely surprise!
First Graders created 3-D shapes to review using Jelly Beans and toothpicks. Jelly Bean was also one of their word study words for this week!
Students were provided with jelly beans, toothpicks and a template to guide them through the process. Creativity bloomed as students created shapes and shared with friends.
