December 2012

One of the favorite activities of the season was decorating top hats!!  Students spent time on the Tuesday before moving from activity to activity.  First, they went ice-skating in the gym, then they made snowmen hats, and ended the afternoon with a soldier from World War I  (well portrayed ).

We have many fun traditions at Santaquin at Christmas time, and this is probably our favorite!

All three grade 6 classes had a chance to do some observations with the district "Seasons" kit.  The students measured energy hitting different parts of the globes.  The globes were positioned on the desks to represent the relationship of the earth to the sun in all four seasons.  Mrs. Rawle measured and placed each station the same distance from the lamps representing the sun, so that the students would get an accurate reading.

Students used a heat sensitive pad with a probe to measure the amount of heat hitting the sensor. They then observed the light/energy on a sensor representing Utah in the Northern Hemisphere and Argentina in the Southern Hemisphere.

During the last hours of school for the 2012 year, all of the Kindergarten students at Santaquin Elementary joined together to treat parents, families, friends, and teachers to a wonderful holiday program.  The students were cheered on as they sang their favorite holiday songs and sported their homemade holiday hats.  Merry Christmas from Kindergarten!

The Kindergarten students at Santaquin Elementary were dressed in their pajamas, ready to board The Polar Express throughout the day on Thursday, December 20th.  Students decorated their very own train car and then paraded through the school spreading Christmas cheer to all.  Their journey ended in the gym where a very special visitor welcomed them and presented each child with a 'Christmas Bell' of their very own.  Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see!

Classes on Thursday, December 20th, started out hopping with a visit from the Time to Dance dancers!  Many of the performers are students here at Santaquin Elementary and were cheered on loudly by their classmates.  We were treated with performances from young and old alike, with several solos both in song and dance.  Thank you, dancers, for starting our day out on the right foot!

The Santaquin second-grade classes each performed a reader's theater production of "The Little Red Hen."  Sixth-grade "reading buddies" were invited to come and watch.  The students did a great job and the audience loved seeing the hard work the second-grade students had done.

The students at Santaquin Elementary were treated to a special visit from the Payson Choir on Tuesday, December 18th.  All of the various age groups performed, with the students joining in on favorites like:  Jingle Bells, Twelve Days and Christmas and Rudolph!  Well done, choir members!

Students, teachers, faculty, and staff all joined together Monday morning, December 17th, for our traditional 'Singing in the Gym'.  Some oldies but goodies included:  Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and Silver Bells.  The holiday spirit is alive and well in Santaquin!

The Kindergarten students had a surprise visitor on Friday, December 14th ... The Gingerbread Man suddenly appeared in our Kindergarten classrooms and led the students on a spirited chase through the school.  The students finally caught up with him and unmasked the sneaky character ... Run, run, run, Mr. Argyle!!

Our friend, Damion, received his very own Santaquin Student Council t-shirt today!  He is the only kindergarten student to earn one of these cool shirts.  He has been trying to earn his shirt for several weeks by working toward great behavior at school, doing his work and being positive.  He had ten positive days to earn his very own t-shirt ... Great job, Damion!