Seventh Graders Visit Asheboro Zoo

On Monday, March 27th, HCA seventh graders took a field trip to the Asheboro Zoo. Mr. Hunter and Mrs. Michelle Quinn, the co-coordinators of the trip, were happy to afford the students with the opportunity to relax and experience a unique learning opportunity. Students were able to learn about animals and their habitats in this experience.

The students enjoyed viewing all of the animals and learning many interesting facts about them. The NC Zoo is divided into two sections- North America and Africa. Will Huff, a seventh grade student, said, "We really liked looking at and learning about all of the wildlife. The gorillas in North America were my favorite." Blake Daniel said that her favorite part of the park was Africa because she enjoyed viewing the elephants and zebras. Many students enjoyed riding the tram between the sections of the park.

Special thanks goes out to those parents, volunteers, and chaperons who helped to make the trip a success.

“BOOKS OPEN DOORS” Celebration

This year we decided to change things up a little bit…instead of the Illustrate your Favorite Caldecott Award contest we have every year, we are going to have “Books Open Doors” Celebration.  The idea is for every homeroom to choose a book they have read as a class.  Have the students decorate your classroom door with the title of your book and author, and let them color or cut out patterns of things you can find or have to tell about your book.

The doors need to be decorated by Tuesday, March 20^th.    We will have a celebration party on Thursday, March 29^th.  On this day each child can come dressed in some way like a character from the story.  We will have all classes view doors, hallway, and bulletin boards to be introduced to the books.  We will end with cookies and juice for everyone! 

This is meant to be a FUN celebration, not something to stress over.  The costumes for the kids do not have to be elaborate, head to toe outfits.  It can be as simple as the activity that first graders did after reading Johnny Appleseed in the fall, they wore the “hats” on their head to school. 

Each teacher will receive a $10.00 gift card to Barnes and Noble for purchasing books for their classroom libraries.  The winner of the door contest, voted on by students and teachers, will receive an extra $10.00 gift card.              

-Joy Usher