Highlights of Glenmont

 

1000 Books

Housed in the skylight area of our primary wing are 100 blue bags, each filled with 10 books. Pre-school and K-2 parents are encouraged to fill out a card and then borrow a bag of books at a time. The goal is to encourage families to read 1000 books together as a solid foundation for a life-long love of reading. Directions for how to sign up are posted in the skylight area, or feel free to ask for assistance in the main office.

Big Backyard

Beyond the sports field behind our school lies a beautiful nature area with groomed trails, a dipping dock and pond, birdfeeders, and more. Teachers and students visit the Big Backyard to study insects for a science lesson, become inspired for a poetry writing sessions, or snowshoe during PE class. Over the past few years, we have been fortunate to have an environmental educator work with each class in the Big Backyard. Families are invited to visit our Big Backyard on their own outside of school hours.

Nature's Classroom

During the fall of fifth grade, our students and their teachers head to Silver Bay on the northern tip of Lake George to participate in a Nature's Classroom program. This four day trip away from home promises a multitude of experiences for our students: doing science experiments with light, writing about a nature hike, participating in dissections, and engaging in some historical role plays. Clearly there are many academic objectives for this program in the areas of science, social studies, and language arts. Yet some of the other lessons the children learn are equally essential: respect, trust, cooperation, independence, and responsibility. The Outdoor Education program provided by Nature's Classroom is considered by many students to be a highlight of their fifth grade year.

Music at Glenmont

Glenmont students in the upper grades are afforded a number of musical opportunities beyond the regular weekly music class offered to all students in K-5. Most fourth and fifth graders elect to join our choir which meets weekly during the school day performing a variety of musical genres. String instrumental lessons are available during the day for those fourth and fifth graders who are interested. Finally, fifth graders may begin studying a band instrument. Both band and orchestra rehearsals take place before school for those students who participate in lessons. Each of the musical ensembles performs at our two annual concerts for both the student body and for families.

Peaceful Bus Program

If children on the school bus come to know, trust, and value each other, it makes the choice to harm or behave disrespectfully toward each other more difficult and unlikely. With these goals in mind, Glenmont School has implemented this team building program for members of each school bus route for the past few years. Each year we have modified the program to best meet the needs of our children, but typically the children meet with their fellow riders and often their drivers before school 4-6 times per year to engage in team building activities. Each lesson, which is led by one of our teachers, lasts about 40 minutes and includes such topics as "getting to know you" and "solving problems on our bus." This program helps our children feel more connected at school, and therefore, ready to learn.

Physical Education at Glenmont

Students in fourth and fifth grade are invited to participate in intramurals that occur before school. The students engage in a variety of sports such as volleyball and basketball as a way to develop their skills, learn good sportsmanship, stay in shape, and have fun.

PTA Programs

The Glenmont School PTA is a highly active group of parents and teachers who make a difference for our children in a variety of ways:

• Educational Programs

In these times of tight school budgets, we are thankful for the financial support provided by our PTA which enables us to bring enriching educational opportunities to our students. Each classroom has been able to either go on an educational field trip or participate in a program hosted by the Scotia-Glenville Traveling Museum over the past few years. We have also had whole school assemblies featuring authors, artists, African drummers, songwriters, etc. In addition, the PTA hosts educational evening programs for families such as math nights and the learning Fair.

• Enrichment Classes

Each fall and spring, our PTA offers a variety of afterschool classes to our students to complement our regular instructional program. Past offerings have included Mad Science, Spanish, Robotics, Knitting, Newspaper Writing, and more. Typically programs run for six weeks. Please contact the PTA if you are interested in helping to coordinate this program or have ideas for course offerings.

• Social Events

Our PTA provides many opportunities for our students and families to interact and have fun. The Fall Family Picnic, Halloween Ball, Movie Nights, Lip Synch, and Book Fairs are just a few of the many highly anticipated and attended events.

Service Projects

An important part of being a leader is taking the time to find meaningful ways to help others. There are often a number of different service projects occurring at Glenmont School at one time, such as a 5th grade class baking pies with their 1st grade buddies for the Ronald McDonald House, second graders writing thank you notes to local veterans for their service, school-wide collections of spare change to assist people world-wide after natural disasters, and more. In addition to our classroom and school projects, our PTA has a Roots and Wings Committee that coordinates several service projects including helping less fortunate families during the holidays. Finally, the district sponsors a food basket drive for local families in need at Thanksgiving.