Caine is a 9-year old boy who spent his summer vacation building an elaborate cardboard arcade in his dad’s used auto parts store.  He dreamed of the day he would have lots of customers visit his homemade arcade, and even though the chances of getting a customer were very small ... Caine never gave up.  The students in Mr. Huezo's class at Santaquin Elementary work this hard every day!  They created their very own cardboard arcade and invited the students to come enjoy themselves.  "We believe that kids’ imaginations have the power to inspire and change the world."

http://cainesarcade.com/

On Wednesday evening, December 5th, the fifth grade teachers at Santaquin Elementary were excited to hold their first annual Parent Literacy Night.  This was an opportunity for parents and students to receive instructional strategies and tools to encourage writing at home and get prepared for the January Writing Assessment.   Books, writing supplies and several homemade Christmas stockings filled with writing materials were given away to those in attendance at the end of the evening!  Families learned about Persuasive Core Writing through Four-Square planning.  Thank you for supporting student learning through our Parent Literacy Night!

Santaquin Sentinel, December 2012

Buddy Reading is a great way to help struggling readers improve and successful readers learn useful skills.  The students from Mrs. Pando's 6th grade class love to come read with the second grade students in Miss Levi's class.  Student pairs work together to practice fluency, accuracy and comprehension.  'Spot On' reading is happening at Santaquin each day!

Hi, I’m Erin Miller, I was asked to do a report on the Parents and Pastries program.

What is Parents and Pastries? I’ll tell you. Parents and Pastries are when a parent (or parents) bring their child (or children) to the school to read to them. Or the children read to the parents if they want to. The P.T.A. brings donuts and milk to hand out to the parents and children. That’s why it’s called “Parents and Pastries.”

I believe that Parents and Pastries was a success. When I went, I saw loads of parents, children, and yes, pastries. The pastries were scrumptious, and the milk was refreshing. My mother came and read to me and my brother, Zane. They read Christmas stories, you know, because it’s Christmas. The books were spectacular. The children and the parents looked like they were enjoying themselves. The principal, Mr. Argyle, was there too. He looked like he was enjoying himself. The children he was reading to did too. I know that I enjoyed myself.    

The sixth grade students at Santaquin Elementary have been learning to sculpt with tape in their art class.  Mrs. Marzan taught students to work collaboratively as a team to create specific body parts.  Once the individual pieces were completed, they were taped together to make a whole person sculpture.  The 'students' were jumping, diving, flying, reading and even practicing math fast facts.  Great imagination and teamwork!

On November 27th, the PTA at Santaquin Elementary provided donuts and milk for parents and students during our famous "Parents and Pastries" reading event.  Families came to school early in the morning to read and eat together.  Thank you PTA!!!

Mr. Argyle and his team kept the student excitement at a fever pitch as they gave away books, money, posters, balls and two BICYCLES.  Students who had read and earned reading tickets were waiting anxiously for their chance to shoot a basket for CASH, or to simply have their choice of the cool prizes on the steps.

Congratulations to Maddie Galloway and Easton Gofort,h who won the bicycles THIS time.  There are more assemblies and more bikes in the future!!

Two sixth-grade photographers walked around Santaquin Elementary this afternoon looking for evidence of Thanksgiving.  They took pictures to show us what they saw.

Dear Readers,

      Today I am so excited because I won a bike!!! That is my first time winning a bike and it is so exciting.

I called my mom and she said that she would come in our truck to get it.

     I love my bike, it is so pretty.  It is blue and black.  Everyone said, "Congratulations!" to me.  I am the happiest person right now.

     I can't wait to ride it.   IT PAYS TO READ.

                                                           Keep Reading,

                                                           Maddy Galloway