The 2009-2010 Parent/Student Handbooks are located on the Forms & Calendars Page

 

Building Character Student of the Week

This week we will be recognizing Samuel for being a helpful, cooperative and kind citizen. Last week, Sam was helpful to his classmates a number of times, by assisting them in cleaning up. Sam’s teacher states, “Sam is always willing to help others clean up and help keep the room neat and organized, even without being asked.” Sam is also very kind and caring towards his classmates. Sam has proven that he is a very helpful and cooperative person. Please congratulate him in his character building success! Make sure to look in next week’s newsletter for the student who has shown good character!

 

 

Stella Niagara believes in building character through its value-based education program.  Education at Stella Niagara Education Park encompasses more than academics; it is a holistic nurturing of the intellectual, physical, social and spiritual development of young children.

Stella Niagara has been sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity since 1908, and remains a private, co-educational Catholic elementary school with a continuing tradition of educational excellence.

	Montessori (ages 3 to 5)
	Kindergarten
	Elementary, Grades 1-8
	Special Programs

 

SNEP TEACHER PRESENTS PAPER AT

AMERICAN CLASSICAL LEAGUE NATIONAL CONFERENCE

4th and 5th Grade ELA Teacher discusses the

Charleston Latin Program with Latin Teachers

(as written in the Niagara Gazette on Monday, July 20, 2009)

Photo Caption – Stella Niagara Education Park principal, Sister Margaret Sullivan, left, looks over the Charleston Latin curriculum with Charleston Latin teacher, Peg Baker, right.

Stella Niagara Education Park fourth grade teacher, Margaret (Peg) Baker, was honored to be invited to present a paper at the American Classical League’s 62^nd Annual Institute and 86^th Annual Meeting.  The conference, held at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California ran from June 26 to 28, 2009. 

The American Classical League was founded in 1919 for the purpose of fostering the study of classical languages in the United States and Canada.  The League is committed to preserving the heritage of the ancient cultures of Greece and Rome.  Elementary, secondary and college level teachers of Latin and Greek make up the membership of the League.

Peg Baker, who teaches the Charleston Latin Program to fourth and fifth grade English Language Arts students at Stella Niagara, was asked to present her paper by Dr. Frank Morris of the College of Charleston. Baker was introduced to the Charleston Latin Program when Dr. Morris gave a presentation to the ACL conference in Buffalo in 2003. 

At the urging of SNEP principal, Sister Margaret Sullivan, Mrs. Baker received her certification in the Charleston Latin Program through an intensive two-day course taught at the College of Charleston.  The program is designed for use in grades four through eight.  The objectives are to enhance a student’s English language skills through the study of Latin roots and to broaden their horizons by introducing them to the culture of ancient Rome.  The program is also designed to prepare students for the study of other foreign languages.  Foreign language instruction at SNEP begins in kindergarten and continues through grade eight.

“I don’t teach Latin,” said Mrs. Baker.  “I teach vocabulary acquisition.”  A target word or phrase is introduced and the student investigates the words for their Latin roots and the English or Spanish derivations.  Instruction is 20 to 30 minutes per day, but students carry their knowledge over to other subject areas. 

“Students of the Charleston Latin Program,” Baker continued, “use the small amount they know, Latin root words, to solve what they don’t know.  They make connections throughout their studies in all content areas; math, science, social studies, plus their foreign language connections in Spanish and French.”  Classes study the evolution of words and language so that students see the connection between their world and the ancients.  “It must be taught in this order; listen, speak, read, write.” said Mrs. Baker.  “Because of our phonetic background, if the student were to see the Latin word first, they would pronounce it the way they would in English, when in fact vowels and consonants in Latin are quite different.

Interspersed throughout the lessons are stories of ancient Rome and aspects of daily life in the ancient Roman family.

“Latin bridges cultural, ethnic and economic gaps for students.” continued Mrs. Baker.  “Because it is no one’s language, it is everyone’s language.  So our students from Asian and Middle Eastern ethnic backgrounds feel connected, and kids open up when the feel connected to each other by the common language components of the Latin root words.”

In addition to teaching at Stella Niagara, Baker is also an adjunct professor at Niagara University where she teaches literacy to graduate education majors.  She cited an interesting presentation at the conference which focused on the decline of standardized test scores in word comprehension.  The presenter noted frustration among language teachers by students’ lack of knowledge in language structure.  Interestingly, Baker notes that she is seeing increases in vocabulary test scores at Stella Niagara.  “The intangible and unscripted part of my work is the connection students make throughout the learning process.” Baker concluded. 

Dr. Morris visited Stella Niagara twice in the past school year to observe and collect data on the program’s progress.  Morris was pleased to find that the Charleston Latin program was being taught exactly the way it was intended. 

Stella Niagara Education Park is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity and is a private, co-educational, Catholic school for Montessori and Kindergarten through eighth grade.  The school is located on Lower River Road in Lewiston, New York.  For more information contact the school at (716) 754-4311, ext. 438.

Congratulations to our students who participated in the

 Vocation Awareness Contest.

This year we had six winners from Stella Niagara.  Awards were given by Bishop Kmiec and the Catholic Center in Buffalo.  The Contest is sponsored by the Diocesan vocation Office, The Serra Club of Buffalo and the Vocation Network of Western New York.

In our religion classes taught by Ms. Burns, all students in grades one through seven discovered what it means to be called by God and to act on that call.  The harvest is plenty, but the laborers are few.  We support and encourage those who are listening to Gods call.  Maybe one of our own will say “Yes”.  We continue to pray for more vocations in our Diocese and all over the world.   

Winners for Honorable Mention:  Nicholas Trapasso, first grade, Michael Boland, second grade, Josh Brzusek, fourth grade, Jacob Bennett, fifth grade, Jordyn Giambra, sixth grade and First Place winner Jorian Holka.