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.
Kate Vass is the Helpful Hedgehog Student of the Week for first grade. Kate’s mom, Jenny, came to GLS to celebrate Kate. Jenny works for Pinnacle Sign Group. Students played “I Spy” to find the signs that Pinnacle Sign Group has created for the Missouri State Campus and Greenwood. Kate has an older sister, Brooke, who is in nursing school. Kate likes to play with her 19 year old cat who is named Kitty. She and her family did the MUD run this year. Kate likes dolphins, the colors pink, purple and white, and when she grows up she wants to be “everything.” Kate gave the students a tape measure that they can use to measure important things they create. Thank you Kate and Mrs. Vass!
Senior Spotlight! Quinten Hoffman will be studying International Business at University of Missouri. Thank you for being part of our Bluejay family, we can't wait to see all the amazing things you accomplish!
Senior Spotlight! Matthew Whitworth will be studying Mechanical Engineering at Rice University. Thank you for being part of our Bluejay family, we can't wait to see all the amazing things you accomplish!
First grade students brought a Surprise Egg to school and shared three clues about what was hiding inside with classmates. Students measured, weighed, and compared eggs after sharing. Eliza stumped the class with her Surprise Egg contents. See if you can figure it out: 1. I’m really good at hide and seek 2. Everyone wants me! 3. I love the BEACH! Students guessed a shell, sand, toy shovel… It was a treasure chest!
Senior Spotlight! Logan Sanders will be playing Basketball at Evangel University. Thank you for being part of our Bluejay family, we can't wait to see all the amazing things you accomplish!
Curtis Milsap talked to the 5th graders about what he does as the owner of Milsap farms! He taught the students all about composting and how he grows fruits and vegetables on his farm. So cool to see what one of our Greenwood alum is doing!
A GOLDEN era for Greenwood Choirs! 🎶
Both the 7–12 Combined Choir and 6th Grade Choir earned Gold trophies at the Strafford Choir Festival! 🏆🏆
At District Solo & Small Ensemble, out of 9 entries:
✨ 4 received Silver ratings
✨ 4 solos + 1 ensemble earned Gold and are headed to State at MU on May 1st! 🌟
👏 Silver Ratings:
Mary Gabriel, Minal Khan, Asher Nelson, Han Seo
🌟 State Qualifiers (Gold):
Cullen Burch, Jack Lindsey, Gabriel Parada, Eli Wilson
Ensemble: Kelby Agnew, Cullen Burch, Jack Lindsey, Asher Nelson, Gabe Parada, Hannah Richardson, Han Seo, Eli Wilson
So proud of these talented students repping Greenwood! 💙🎵
