A Bustling Week at Ranney

Un día de cuentos

Moseying along the hallway of the Annex, one normally hears musical instruments, singing and various language teachers instructing their classes in Mandarin, Spanish or French. On December 16, however, walking through the hallway toward the Searle Library, one could hear Upper School students, rather than teachers, reading self-written stories to Lower School children in the Romance language of Español.

As a way of making Spanish fun, exciting and interactive, Upper School Honors Spanish instructor Heidi Bonney asked her ninth and 10th grade classes to create their own Spanish stories and illustrations in the form of a children’s book. Although an assignment completed in the past, this year, Upper School students decided to share their stories with children from Mrs. Foster’s and Mrs. McGovern’s first grade classes. While some books recalled Upper School students’ real life childhood memories, others were variations to already existent children’s tales or complete fiction never before read.

For instance, in his very own rendition of “The Three Little Pigs,” or “Los Tres Cerditos,” freshman Steven Parlamas created an alternate ending to the well-known fairytale. In Steven’s book, the Big Bad Wolf is successful in huffing, puffing and blowing the pigs’ brick house down. Not to worry though—the pigs take refuge and arrive safely at their mother’s house instead!

Another freshman, Elizabeth Martin, created a story known as “The Purple Swing,” or “El Columpio Morado y Brillante.” In “The Purple Swing,” two girls argue over who should be able to play on the only vacant swing at the playground. Both girls live happily ever after, however, by eventually swinging side-by-side on two separate swings.

Overall, each Upper School story book displayed both creativity and ingenuity, and truly captivated every Lower School listener. Congratulations on a job well done:

Alessandra Johnson ’14 - Un Día en el Hospital

Caroline Korey ’14 - El Libro de los Niños

Steven Parlamas ’14 - Los Tres Cerditos

Vincent Morano ’14 - Una Verdura Sopresa

Elizabeth Martin ’14 - El Columpio Morado y Brillante

Alexandra Esquivel-Murphy ’14 - ¿Dónde está Rafael?

Tara Rogan ’13 - Rosa y La Fiesta

Ellie Rose Doynow ’13 - Bob, el Pez

Andrew Aboujaoude ’14 - La Hacienda de Zucker

Joseph Esquivel-Murphy ’14 - Un Día de Chocolate

Matthew Elkwood ’14 - Bubbles El Hamster

Briana Richardson ’14 - Un Día Desafortunado

Molly O’Neill ’13 - ¿Quién rompió la Lámpara?

Marc Owitz ’14

Lower School Students Hop on the Polar Express & Take Off for the Holiday

The Lower School hosted its last gathering before the New Year on Friday, December 17, 2010. During the festive event that took place in RSPA Panther Hall, students dressed in their finest attire celebrated the holiday season with friends and teachers, and listened to Polar Express, written by author Chris Van Allsburg.

The morning began with a brief performance. Introduced by Lower School Spanish teacher Jeannette Cordero, several students took to the stage and acted out various foreign language skits that greeted audience members, bid them a Merry Christmas, and wished them a Happy New Year in Spanish, French or Mandarin. Mandarin students at Ranney also presented a red dragon to represent the Chinese New Year.

The assembly continued with recognition to those in the Lower School who have a December Birthday. All in all, over 30 Birthday celebrities, ranging from students to faculty members, were wished a “Happy Birthday” and sang to by attendees throughout the auditorium, who were led in song by Santa Claus and his nine festive reindeer.

Head of the Lower School, Patricia Marshall then congratulated three Geo Bee participants for a fine performance at Ranney’s National Geographic Geo Bee, which took place on December 13, 2010. These were Brandan Whiteman ’19 who took 1st place, Paul Jensen ’18 with 2nd and Sophia Salvador ’19 who placed 3rd at Monday’s event.

Before reading Polar Express to all those in attendance, Ms. Marshall noted that the book is about more than just believing in Christmas. According to Ms. Marshall, it’s also about believing in the good of others. With that, she commended each Lower School student for their donations to the community throughout 2010. This past month alone, students in the Lower School donated items and raised money for Holiday Express, gave over 170 gifts to Trinity Episcopal Church in Asbury Park, made cards and bookmarks for people in the hospital this winter and wrote letters to members of the armed services.

After much applause, Ms. Marshall, along with Lower School teachers Mrs. Salisbury and Mr. Lang, and Mr. Chuck from the Operations staff, then read an exciting rendition of Polar Express, which was illustrated on a projection screen above the stage. In Polar Express, a young boy is visited by a magical train on the night of Christmas Eve. Upon boarding the train known as “The Polar Express,” he takes a mystical journey to the North Pole and meets Santa Claus. After being chosen to receive the first gift of Christmas, the boy chooses a single silver bell from Santa’s sleigh and places it in his pocket as a souvenir. Unfortunately, on the train ride home, the boy discovers that the bell has fallen through a hole in his pocket. On Christmas morning, however, he receives a small package beneath his tree. Inside a perfectly wrapped box is the exact bell he had lost. As years pass and the boy ages, the soft ringing bell reminds him to always believe in the magic of Christmas.

With that, bells resonated inside the walls of Panther Hall and excited students returned to their classrooms, for one last day of school before a well-earned holiday break with family.