Fourth Graders Rule The School!                                                                                                                                                                   

By Larissa Lytwyn

The Sandy Hook School’s annual year-end celebration for its oldest grade “moving up” returned with a new twist June 16 –– now, with the establishment of the Reed Intermediate School for grades five and six, fourth graders are the ones celebrating.

A committee of parents, led by Pamela Sherman, whose daughter Cathryn is joining Reed Intermediate School this fall, planned the event with teachers and other faculty. Among other activities, the day featured a picnic-style lunch and activities including balloon tosses, three-legged races, and human sculptures. Each class rotated to each new activity.

“I teach creative movement at the Monroe Dance Academy,” said Stephanie Anderson, who organized the human sculptures program. “I thought it would be fun to do something creative.” As each class of about 20 students gathered, Ms Anderson explained that they would have only ten minutes to physically connect themselves to one another frozen in a creative shape.

Ms Anderson suggested that standing on one leg or curling into a ball was a fresher, more inspired alternative to simply crossing one’s arms or putting their hands on their hips. After the students formed their “sculpture,” they did it again — only this time incorporating sound and movement. After visiting parents took out their cameras to capture some lasting memories, the class moved on to the next activity.