Friday, June 3, 2011
These students are learning to build a life around service.
The energetic fourth-graders of Gifford Elementary School’s K-Kids Club have raised $35 selling hand-made craft items, read Dr. Seuss stories to younger students, visited a local nursing home and picked up litter on the school playground. And, they’re just getting started! On Thursday evening, the 16-member club received its charter from Kiwanis International before parents, family members and 10 members of the sponsoring Kiwanis Club of West Racine. The local kids are now among more 33,000 elementary students in 600 K-Kids Clubs in the U.S. and 12 other countries. But before the charter presentation, the club held a business meeting that looked and sounded a lot like those of adult service organizations. K-Kids Club President Cassity …
Friday, March 25, 2011
Being a third generation teacher, Becky Steinbach believes teaching is rooted in wanting children to be better.
Walking into Becky Steinbach's classroom at Gifford Elementary is an educational experience. A large bookshelf, smart-board, and whiteboard take up most of one wall. Wooden and hand drawn signs, pictures, and letters reinforce her core beliefs -- passion, manners, hard work, and tolerance. On a pole in the middle of the room, paper cutouts in the shape of peanuts are taped to the wall. The children completed the sentence: I'm nuts about... This is one of the reasons why Steinbach earned the Wisconsin PTA Teacher of the Year Award. And this is an example of what her teaching beliefs yield. A young girl interrupts her to ask to use the restroom. The girl is timid and Steinbach listens to her as she speaks. Waiting for the girl to finish, she…
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Hundreds of people attend the Gifford Elementary carnival.
The almost spring Saturday brought hundreds of families out to the Gifford Elementary carnival. Children tossed bean bags, footballs and basketballs, bounced around in an inflated castle, and collected sweets and treats. A magician entertained using slight of hand and made the "magic word" Gifford Elementary. Organizers say the annual event was a success.
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Friday, March 18, 2011
Becky Steinbach's 26-year career has focused on helping struggling children.
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Friday, March 18, 2011
A Racine Unified School District teacher has been named the Wisconsin PTA Elementary Teacher of the Year. Becky Steinbach, a second-grade teacher at Gifford Elementary School, was the recipient of the 2010-2011 Gifford PTA Teacher of the Year Award and was then nominated by Gifford's PTA to receive the Wisconsin PTA award. During her 26-year teaching career, Steinbach has taught at Gifford, Dr. Jones and Wind Point Elementary Schools. Steinbach is a third-generation teacher who, according to her nominators, has an incredible ability to make all of her students feel welcomed and help any student who is struggling.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Racine Unified School District lunch menus for March 9.
Chicken patty On a whole grain bun Diced Carrots Fresh apple half Chicken and gravy Whipped potatoes Wisconsin blend salad Roll Pineapple Bananas
Friday, January 28, 2011
The planetarium is one of 3,000 in the world.
Stargazing resumed Thursday at Gifford Elementary School where dozens of families gathered to mark the re-opening of a planetarium first used when the United States was in a space race with Russia. “Please come in,” said John Surendonk, the facility’s director and coordinator of elementary science education for Racine Unified School District, as he invited the first group of visitors inside. The planetarium was built in 1967 as part of then-President John F. Kennedy’s promise to beat the Soviets to the moon. Around the country -- mostly at universities and museums -- auditoriums with domed ceilings were built to give us a 360-degree glimpse into the night sky and ignite our dreams. After more than 40 years, the planetarium was still …
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Saturday, January 15, 2011
Gifford Elementary Principal Jeff Eben aims to inspire children by teaching them to care.
For a California native, experiencing his first winter ever, Jeff Eben has a refreshingly enlightened view on snow. “It’s so beautiful,” Eben said, the enthusiasm of a second-grader in a snowsuit shining in his wide eyes. Eben, the school principal, straightened a bit in his wheelchair to look at the snow falling outside his office at Gifford Elementary school. “I feel like I’m in a movie,” he marveled. Weather aside, coming to Caledonia has been like coming full circle for Eben. He left the sunshine and single season climate of Fresno, where he won awards for his leadership as an educator and built a reputation as a motivational speaker before briefly detouring into government work, to becoming the new principal at Gifford this year. It …
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Monday, January 3, 2011
The students are enjoying their online fame.
The Gifford Elementary children's choir has gone viral again, and we aren't talking about the flu. Last year, the choir performed three songs, recorded them and put them up on YouTube. Combined, all three videos been viewed 1.3 million times and the third video, "A Christmas Trololo," is just shy of 500,000 views. Director, Jack Senzig, had hoped to get a million views for "A Christmas Trololo" and while the views for that video fell short of his expectation, the choir was still a singing sensation in the United States and around the world. They were the sixth most viewed video the week of Dec. 22 in Russia, the 10th most viewed in Spain, the 11 most viewed in Poland, 15th in the Netherlands and the 19th most viewed in the United States. …
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Thursday, December 23, 2010
Students at Gifford, North Park and Wind Point talk answer the tough questions about Santa.
For those still in their youth, December seems like the longest month of the year. Thoughts of toys start their taunting just after Thanksgiving with the sales ads. Circles get drawn carefully around the wanted toys. The children drop undeniable hints of this gadget or that to the appropriate gift giver. Mom and dad put up the Christmas tree. The Advent calendar gets hung. The countdown begins. They analyze their behavior throughout the year and do their level best to remind their parents of the good deeds they've performed. They cannot boast enough. They think of Santa, with his jovial demeanor, his icy house and his eight reindeer -- or is it six? Dreaming about his journey, the children imagine Santa's elves. Oh... the magic dust he …
Kim Jacobson
9:14 am on Friday, June 3, 2011
Hats off to these young students for wanting to make a difference in the community. Volunteer work will enrich their lives and the lives of those around them. Keep up the great work!! It is no surprise that Ms. Accola played a part in starting this group/club. She is an excellent, caring teacher that Gifford and RUSD are lucky to have! more ›