Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Frosty Unveiled

Yet another wild surprise at the annual Edgewood Winter Assembly. This year's mystery Frosty the Snowman turned out to be Mrs. Pagel. But for days, students had wondered aloud and in online voting "Who will be this year's Frosty?" Since 2008, a member of the Edgewood School community has snuck into the Frosty costume and danced to "Let It Snow" after coming alive when the magical hat was placed on its head.

During the assembly, the build-up to the Frosty reveal typically features a nutty... circa 1980s madcap, sitcom storyline that draws out the mystery. Dr. Houseknecht is the ringleader, sending teachers off the Gym floor, one by one, to provide assistance to some strange backstage incident. And as each teacher disappears backstage, the suspense builds. After all, in the mind of a K-5 student, one of those teachers is bound to be this year's Frosty...right? Right?!

This year's Frosty was accompanied by the Frosty Dance Troupe featuring Mrs. Ross, Ms. Rosado, Ms. Benitez, Ms. Peterson, and Ms. Marques. Happy Holidays Edgewood!
 -- Paul Tomizawa


Frosty is flanked by the Frosty Dance Troupe.



This year's Frosty is revealed!


Monday, December 18, 2017

Edgewood Toy Drive

Edgewood students delivered a bounty of toys to Cardinal McCloskey Community Services during our annual drive. But fourth graders Charles Rich and Chase Timberger can do a better job of telling this story. Here's how they experienced it, as reposted from Edgewood News.

This year we went on a field trip to deliver toys from our school’s annual Toy Drive to Cardinal McCloskey Community Services in Valhalla. Our toys and clothes will go to more than 5000 kids and adults. Usually when we donate a toy, we don't know where it goes and we just forget about it forever.
But this year we went with lucky Ms. Mangani’s class on a field trip to Cardinal McCloskey to deliver all the toys that Edgewood families donated. Last year Cardinal McCloskey collected about 70,000 items and they are hoping to get even more this year.

Before Ms. Mangani’s class went on the trip, the whole second grade passed all the toys down a line and loaded them onto the bus
(see video below). When we arrived at Cardinal McCloskey we were met by their event planner, Kerry Gutenkunst.
When we first entered the Cardinal McCloskey Community Services, the second grade started to sort all of the toys onto tables. The categories were Stuffed Animals, Board Games, Arts and Crafts, Puzzles and Games, and even Clothes. Ms. Gutenkunst reminded us of the important thing we were doing. It’s not just about getting presents, it’s about giving too.

“When you wake up Christmas morning or another holiday you celebrate and you’re opening up a present, remember that there’s going to be another kid opening up one because of what you did,” says Ms. Gutenkunst.

We are definitely thankful for what we have. Thank you Edgewood School for your donations!

Team Edgewood delivers our donated toys
to Cardinal McCloskey Community Services.


Edgewood students deliver toy donations
to Cardinal McCloskey Community Services


-- Paul Tomizawa



Saturday, November 25, 2017

Forever Edgewood


Ever year at this time, first graders step into the spotlight for one of Edgewood's grandest and most endearing traditions, the Thanksgiving Assembly.  The energy is palpable as the first graders spill into the hallway, just minutes before their performance in front of family members and the entire school.

In a matter of minutes, they will experience something that they will remember for many years to come and will forever define them as Edgewood students. In a matter of minutes, they will sing the classic song Hey Pilgrims, and be joined by older Edgewood schoolmates in the audience, who will sing and tap along because it takes them back to their first grade.

Edgewood students donated 28 boxes
of food to the Salvation Army.

The Thanksgiving Assembly is about reflecting on our many reasons to be grateful and remembering those in need. The fourth and fifth grade chorus sang songs of gratitude and hope. And Edgewood students collected 28 boxes of food and presented them to a representative of the Salvation Army. But it's the song Hey Pilgrims that provides the soundtrack for the day. It's a song that lyrically tells the story of the first Pilgrims and their journey to freedom, but musically reminds us that we are forever Edgewood. - Paul Tomizawa




Mr. Brown (cello) and Ms. Forte (piano) lead
the fourth and fifth grade chorus.




Thursday, October 26, 2017

Discovery by Design

3D printed grommetThe challenge is this. Use Tinkercad, a 3D modeling program, and a 3D printer to fill the 2x5 inch cutouts in the student tables in Mrs. Blackley's classroom. Prototypes are often among the early steps in the design process, but like those first baby steps in our lives, they can be exhilarating and self-affirming, and can open a seam into previously unforeseen possibilities. That's how we arrived at this photo to the left.


Like most inventions, this design thinking challenge arose out of necessity. Mrs. Blackley's student tables had cutouts to provide an outlet for power cords and cables for electronic devices. A black plastic grommet insert sat on top of the cutout, providing a grooved outlet for cables. The thing is with well-charged, wireless devices these portholes were not necessary, while the grommet became a "bump" on the table.

Enter the lead design challenge team. They are the lead team, not just because they have been assigned this initial task, but they will also assume responsibilities for helping to train other fourth grade students, all of whom will receive their own design challenges this year. With guidance and instruction from Mr. Fitzpatrick, these students are contemplating how to redesign the grommet or make use of the cutout.


So in Tinkercad, they designed prototypes that improve upon the original grommet. Some prototypes sit more flush with the table surface, so there's less of a bump. Some took advantage of the cutout and used it as storage. Another iteration looked at building up from the hole, rather than concealing its presence, to create a fashionable school supply organizer. For students today, the possibilities are endless, when they believe they can pursue them. In the end, this challenge is indicative of learning in schools today that is meaningful to students and elicit their best efforts out of the sheer desire to achieve a measure of success that they have a hand in defining. - Paul Tomizawa

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Student Voice

Last week 5th grade students raised nearly $500 in popsicle sales. That's no small deal, since the proceeds go to the 5th Grade activities fund, which not only supports student events, but also  nurtures charitable causes. And that's a big deal.

The world is a big place, but Edgewood students know they can be an influential presence in it. This may seem an overstatement, but the reality is that this is what teachers and parents should want for children today. Grow up with essential academic skills and knowledge, but be kind, decent people. Care for others. Give voice to those who've lost theirs or worse, lost the essentials in life. In recent weeks, thousands of people in our hemisphere suddenly found themselves without food, water, and their homes.

I'm told that the 5th grade activity fund will provide some relief to families in the US Virgin Islands, which were ravaged by Hurricane Irma. Edgewood students are no strangers to humanitarian relief efforts. In the past, they have raised money for mosquito nets, clean water, and school supplies in developing countries. Sometimes they've coordinated these efforts through the Edgewood Student Involvement Council, sometimes they've done it independently, driven by a higher purpose. They're Edgewood kids. Globally aware and ready to give their voice to those in need. - Paul Tomizawa

 Neil Degrasse Tyson

Saturday, September 30, 2017

Edgewood's Library Learning Commons

Roosevelt Place view.
The Edgewood Library is currently undergoing a structural makeover, but when it emerges from drop cloths and protective sheetrock, it will be remade as our Library Learning Commons. The term "learning commons" dates back to the 1990s as higher ed began to rethink the purpose of the library and how it meets the needs of today's learners. Today's learning commons have been influenced by the thinking of a number of educators and librarians, including most recently David Loertscher, who view the library as the heart of the school community.

It is a creative space for participatory learning where teachers and students collaborate, design, and build in flexible learning spaces. The learning commons provides the school community with access to information, by way of traditional media (books, photos, magazines, etc) and archives. It provides spaces for small and whole group discussion and collaboration, as well as quiet spaces where learners can immerse themselves in the joy of reading, writing, and making.
collaborative corner
Thoughtful and comfortable in
Mrs. Blackley's room.
The task of designing the Edgewood Library Learning Commons will rest with the students and staff of Edgewood school. In the coming months, we'll invite them to participate in conversations on how physical and virtual space impacts student and professional learning. This, however, is not a new conversation. Last year, we began these discussions using a district Center for Innovation grant to examine flexible learning spaces through our use of Room 18, which became a laboratory for reconfiguring classroom space. Since then, teachers have been busy reworking their own classrooms. More to come. - Paul Tomizawa




Mrs. Theall's students surveying library construction



Sunday, September 17, 2017

The Walking School Bus Walks Again

Edgewood's Walking School Bus has begun its first rounds of the year. This bus is not fueled by gas, but by students and parents looking to get some fresh air and exercise on their way in to Edgewood School. The bus uses the typical routes. As people join at their stops, the routes look like a parade, with friends and family marching towards school. Edgewood first introduced the Walking School Bus in 2008. Below is the write-up and interviews from an Edgewood Historical Society feature introducing the Walking School Bus that year (pardon the quality of the video):


An Edgewood Historical Society Time Machine Takes Us to 2008

Mrs. Anders welcomes the Walking School Buses in 2008.

"The Edgewood School community replaced their morning buses with the Walking School Bus. Students, family members, and teachers joined in the walk to school along the usual bus routes in a unified gesture to “Go Green.”About 250 students walked to school along the Clarence/Sprague, Drake/Forest, Potter Road, and Popham/Taunton bus routes. Owen, a 4t grader was one of the many students who made the walk. He spoke to a few others on the way to school and edited this audio story, which features interviews with Gabriella/5th grade, Mason/2nd grade, Xavier/4th grade, and Dr. Houseknecht."







(This video was first published on May 30, 2008)

                                                                                                                                       - Paul Tomizawa

Saturday, September 9, 2017

Collaborative Kickoff

Our Specials teaching team (art, music, PE, library, technology) met with the entire student body on the first day of school. We introduced students to aspects of our subject areas, while reinforcing the ideas of teamwork, empathy, and perseverance that are so important to learning successfully at Edgewood School.

The Specials teaching team planned activities for group sessions with classes from grades K-1, 2-3, and 4-5. Each activity required students to think on their feet... but really together with lots of feet! Collaboration was essential to completing these tasks.

The Technology and Library team featured Mr. Tomizawa (me) and our awesome new librarian Mrs. Alison Turner. Students were challenged with engineering tasks such as building tall and strong structures and for our youngest students, reconstructing a familiar story, the Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Ms. Houston, along with Ms. Forte, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Orengo (strings), created their own mash-up with Spanish and Music, combining Spanish vocabulary with the knowledge of instruments and familiar songs.
The Physical Education and Art team was led by Coach Weigel and Mr. Fitzpatrick. They combined physical activity with an understanding of the composting process at Edgewood.
These Specials team events were all fast-paced and fun. At times, the gym was as raucous as a stadium. So while classroom teachers took this opportunity to meet and plan together, their students chanted and cheered on their teammates. And everyone, students and teachers alike, took away great memories from the first day of school. - Paul Tomizawa

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Talent Show Season Begins

It's Talent Show season at Edgewood. Each February, Edgewood organizes the first of these lunchtime showcases, followed by two additional performances in the spring. It's an amazing display of talent and courage as students stand in the spotlight to perform live for peers and adults. In their corner helping these performers look and sound their best, is an all-student backstage and balcony production crew, flanked by plenty of teacher advisors. For an insider's look at our talent show, watch this piece by Caroline, a former Edgewood student. -- Paul Tomizawa





Friday, February 10, 2017

Edgewood U Finale

Edgewood University, the building-wide collaborative learning experience, in which staff and students explored more than 20 special interest topics, has ended its ground-breaking and at times inspiring six Friday semester. The concept of Edgewood U was driven by a desire to rethink school, in which learning is driven by passion and the need to develop skills for learning, rather than an obligation to absorb content. Below is a great write-up on our Edgewood U experience.
- Paul Tomizawa


Monday, January 30, 2017

Blue Bots are Elementary

This year Scarsdale elementary students are hearing a lot about robots in the classroom. It doesn't seem that long ago that the idea of a robot in our lives was limited to SciFi plotlines or expensive house servants. But today robots are more accessible to young learners than ever before.

At Jerry Crisci's annual district technology report, he overviewed the K-12 STEAM offerings, but showed how K-2 students in particular are learning to code using an online platform called Kodable and two robots -- Dash and Blue-Bots.

Blue-Bots, also known as Bee-Bots, provides our youngest students with an introduction to programming concepts in a manner that's concrete, hands-on, and so much fun! These robots can be operated using five main push-button commands on its back -- Forward, Backward, Left Turn, Right Turn, and GO, which will RUN the user's programmed sequence of instructions. With each forward or backward command, the BlueBot will roll 6 inches. With each press of the Left Turn arrow, the Blue-Bot will make a 90 degree turn to the left of the direction it is facing.

Seeing these instructions through the eyes of Blue-Bot is important. It teaches students to step outside themselves and see from the perspective of another being, whether it's a robot or a person. But let's face it. Kids treat them as more than just robots. The Blue-Bots are pretty cute and our primary grade students adore them. They shower them with cheerful praise as if they were a younger child or a puppy. But the level of engagement goes well beyond puppy love.

These 5-7 year olds are learning how to sequence, loop, and debug. Through robotics they are learning fundamental programming concepts. They are developing an understanding that their actions trigger an outcome and that if two don't match, then they need to walk back their steps, analyze their code, and patiently devise a plan to achieve their hoped for outcome. It's a mindset that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.

Video: see BlueBot in action

Read more Edgewood technology stories in the Tech Blog.

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Charlie Chaplin Comes to Edgewood

Final scene from City Lights
     Launching along side Edgewood University, the program of special interest courses that runs every Friday for six weeks (Jan 6 - Feb 10), is the Edgewood Film Festival. The Festival features conversations and clips from about a dozen Depression era movies. The purpose of these discussions is for students to understand how children coped with poverty during the Depression.
     One of the films featured in the Festival is Charlie Chaplin's City Lights (1931). It's a funny and touching love story in which the little guy and the little girl, despite the misfortunes slung at them, nurture hope long enough to find that one thing in life for which they most yearn.
Charlie Chaplin still makes
children laugh
     I was pleasantly surprised to see how well Chaplin's visual humor played to an audience of 7 year olds, more than 80 years after its first run. Here's a sample of what made them laugh. Watch this scene from City Lights in which Charlie Chaplin's Tramp character provides a visual commentary on a society of haves and have nots.
- Paul Tomizawa