March was a very busy month at Hamilton Br. 3. We know our children enjoyed the many varied activities. Interest centers have sprung up in almost every classroom and blossomed. Mrs. Koch has provided a unique creative writing center complete with tape recorder and typewriter in Room 101. Many original stories have been written including some very interesting tales on How I Lost My First Tooth. Mrs. Le Cavolis and her .Room 103 spring planters were the first in the school to have vegetable and flower seeds planted getting ready for spring.
Miss Aubertin and her third graders, as part of a special science project, are preparing a Time Capsule. It is to be filled with everyday items of 1976 and sealed, not to be reopened for 25 years. Imagine how the children at Hamilton Br. 3 in 2001 will wonder about all of us. If you have any items to be included in the Time Capsule, please bring or send them as soon as possible.
On March 12th, children and teachers from both second grade rooms visited the Museum of Science and Natural History. They were quite impressed and, after follow-up discussions, they produced very nice essays with illustrations on what it would have been like to live long ago.
All third grade children and teachers, as an extension of their Ecology studies, toured the Missouri Botanical Gardens to see the spring plantings and beautiful displays of flowers. The plants these children have planted in their rooms and on the school lawns should really show everyone spring is here.
Rooms 101 and 104 toured the American Bakery where they saw bread being made. Mrs. Stephenson’s kindergarten children in Room 104 were so enthusiastic that as a special project they measured and mixed the ingredients to make dough and then baked their own bread.
On March 19, Schoolday pictures were taken. It should not be too much longer before the pictures will be delivered.
Hamilton Br. 3 had its annual March Kite Flying Day, enjoyed by everyone! Not only have our children been flying kites, but we also have a real, full-size parachute for the children’s use. Now that it’s getting warm, you will see the parachute being used by the children in the yard.
A bake sale was held on March 23rd with the proceeds being used to purchase a few of the extra items which make learning more fun. We will have another bake sale on April 21st, sponsored by Rooms 201 and 204 (third grades) so the proceeds can be used for their Special Spring Project. Please come and buy something at noontime!
On March 24th, a very interesting P.T.A. program made parents more aware of the existence and benefits of the Portal School Program at our school. Plans were made for the Spring Extravaganza to be held Sunday, May 2nd at the school. Please plan to attend!
Hamilton Br. 3 was sad to see the first group of apprentices move on to other schools. Each apprentice was shown how much his or her stay was appreciated in different ways, ranging from classmade “goodbye” cards to a large combination birthday/farewell party given for Miss Lillard by Room 201. The apprentices did a beautiful job especially with Bicentennial preparations which now decorate the school. They also prepared an informative coloring book and distributed a copy to every child and teacher.
The Portal School Program has recently sent us a part-time staff member, Mrs. Josephine Bryant, who is with us 3 days each week to allow teachers planning time to do more things with children. Mrs. Bryant is a well-qualified person and we are pleased to welcome her.
We also have five new apprentices at the school. We welcome Yvonne Hutson, Sandra Lyle, William Heckles, Deborah Hansbrough and Patricia Maslovara.
We are so proud of Mrs. Florence Billups, third grade teacher, and Dr. Helen Hudlin, Portal School Instructional Coordinator. Both of these Hamilton Br. 3 staff members have been included in the recently published first edition of Who’s Who in Black America. The standards for inclusion in the book focused on two factors—the position of responsibility held and the level of significant achievement attained in a career of meritorious activity.
Our Reading Team had the honor of representing the NorthwestSoldan District on station KSLH, March 31.
Bicentennial plans are in full swing at the school. Room 201 and Mrs. Billups have their American hero biographies and displays all ready for viewing and extend an invitation to all of you to stop and see them.
Please mark the date—Wednesday, April 21—on your calendar. At 7:30 p.m. at Kiel Auditorium, Hamilton Br. 3’s Room 201 musicians will be performing in the citywide Bicentennial Music program by St. Louis Elementary Public Schools. We are hoping many of our parents and friends will join us there.
Originally published in The Paper, April 1976.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1976_04.pdf, printed page(s) 10; PDF page(s) 10.
