They grow up so fast and for third grade students at Fox Hollow Elementary School, it seems like they aged overnight. In fact, they did. The students had some fun celebrating 103 days of being in the third grade this year by turning themselves into centenarians. They dressed up, complete with canes and make-up, to look like they were 103 years old.

Great job students! You look awesome for your age.

They are loving the lessons a Valentine Exchange is bringing to students in Angela Drope’s 3^rd grade class at Columbia Elementary School. Mrs. Drope decided it would be fun to participate in a cross-country Valentine Exchange. Her students designed home-made cards with letters about their class, which were mailed to students in 25 classrooms around the country. Mrs. Drope’s students received Valentines and letters in return and they are learning about students who live in the 25 other states.

The Valentines from students in other states are on display for everyone to enjoy at Columbia, along with a map of the United States with little heart markers to show where all the Valentines came from.

Even the front office staff have enjoyed waiting and watching for the Valentines to arrive.

Great job, Mrs. Drope on creating a Valentine’s Day experience students and staff won’t soon forget.

Michelle Smith is known for bringing lessons in her Welby Elementary School classroom to life. She is often dressed up as historical figures or turning textbook lessons into hands-on projects. This week’s math lesson was no different; with blacklights, string, sunglasses, and notecards paid for by generous donors through Donors Choose, Ms. Smith turned her classroom into a “secret agent lab.”

During the project, students, also known as agents, were tasked with helping to find the school’s mascot, “Agent Whiskers,” by solving math problems. The secret agent illusion included lasers made of string and clues hidden around the room in the form of math problems. Each math problem the students solved helped decode a message that would tell them the location of Whiskers.

Great job, Ms. Smith, for making your classroom and lessons engaging and fun for students. We know your students are benefiting greatly from your creativity.

From creative cards, to fun classroom celebrations, door decorating contests and more, students, teachers and staff shared lots of love and acts of kindness on this Valentine’s Day.

At Daybreak Elementary School, students learned about proper dancing etiquette and had fun learning a few new dance moves.

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone. We LOVE our students, teachers, staff and education.