HEARTSONGS

2011-2012
This year we are entering the Scholastic Kids are Authors contest! The focus of our two book entries will be:
  • Our Garden Grows - including the process of the garden beginning, stepping stones fundraising and creation, digging out the garden, planting, watering and gathering crops (family farmers), classroom learning, garden sales, garden donations to Food Pantry, cleaning up the garden for the winter, etc.
  • Sprague Has HEART - including HEART Values and HEART assemblies, Food Pantry donations, coin collections for Haiti, Japan and Western MA, painting the Haiti truck, cookies and letters for the US Troops, everyday kindnesses in school, etc.
We have accomplished a lot at school with community service and we look forward to seeing the kids write or draw about it and what further ideas they have.  Contact Yolanda Tong bytong@verizon.net for more information or to volunteer.  You may still sign up your child to work on an entry.

Student sessions are set up to organize and finalize our submissions:

  • Tuesday, February 28th or March 6th
  • Wednesday, February 29th or March 7th
  • Thursday, March 1st or March 8th

Meet after school in the alcove and sessions last for 90 minutes.  Students may leave earlier or stay until the end.

Deadline for the contest submission is March 15th. 

HEARTSONGS
In 2010 Sprague introduced a new literary and art magazine for kids. How often does your child come home with that great work of art or writing that he/she is so proud of? How often do they say or do something you just wish could be shared with the world? HEARTSONGS is a great forum for it. Our premiere issue was printed for all families and was a great success with over 250 contributions from students and teachers who helped with special projects in class. Their creative and original work included: poetry, short stories, drawings, art, craft projects or even just thoughtful ponderings. Copies are available in the Sprague School office and library for your reading and viewing.
 
Parent involvement is key to making this happen! Please consider ways you can help and contact the current year committee chair:
  • Share your ideas, suggestions and passions with us
  • Be a student advisor, possibly hold an info session with the kids
  • Be a classroom rep to encourage and track submissions
  • Be a photographer for student submissions (art pieces, craft projects, dioramas, collections, etc.)
  • Find a publisher or printer (we're hoping to print after April vacation)
  • Edit and layout the magazine
  • Create a HEARTSONGS logo (we welcome parents' creative sides too)

2010-2011
We celebrated with the following read aloud selections from our first issue at a school HEART assembly.
 
Example of a non-fiction piece by fourth grader Izzy M.-
“A tessellation is a repeating pattern without any gaps or overlaps. A tessellation is a repeating pattern without any gaps or overlaps. Those are the words that echo in my head, the words that well describe a tessellation.”
 
Example of a collaborative piece that was combined and sorted from individual second grade student writings-
I Wish
That all king cobras have all they want
Every barn owl in the world has a nice mouse to eat
That all the animals get enough food
No more animals would become extinct
All animals were free
 
There was no earthquake in Haiti
That Haiti could be so good with the help we had
No earthquake and tsunami in Japan
That everyone will pitch in and help
To keep out the hurricanes, floods and tornados
I could make poor countries rich
To keep people safe
To stop wars from happening so people will live a happy life
Love not war
World peace
 
No smoking
Blue skies and flowers
Everyone will have a nice big home
Everyone will have lots and lots of food
Everyone will be kind
Everyone is happy and nice forever
I Wish
 
Example of where the imagination takes one by third grader Logan G.-
Rock Climbing on a Dinner Plate
Strawberries, tomatoes and pizza are where I put my toes
I use my hand to hold my nose
Forks and spoons on my plate are like ropes
I climb my glass of water and go for a float
My dinner plate is 1000 feet long
It will be hard to cross but I am strong
I am so hungry to begin my climb
Logan it’s dinner time!