Myers Elementary
It may have been a “wintery-like” day in spring, but that didn’t deter Myers First Grade students from being inquisitive and exploring West Beach. These children eagerly boarded their buses in 40 degree April weather, ready to explore the Dunes National Lakeshore with their naturalists, Ranger Christy and Ranger Julie. Children learned first-handedly what a sand dune is, how Lake Michigan was formed, how animals and plants are interdependent, and how rocks, wind, and water are needed to form the dunes.
Both adults and children got a healthy cardio-workout by climbing more than 100 stairs up the towering dunes. Trudging through the sand was no easy chore, either, but it was certainly done with a smile and sounds of glee as everyone saw the arctic plant, artic bearberry, that grows at the dunes but is originally from the North Pole.
Habitats were discovered as were rocks and shells along the lakeshore. This hike was certainly both educational and exhilarating.
Also, Myers Elementary School hosted a "Bingo for Books" event on Tuesday, April 6. It was an engaging night of family fun centered on the joy and gift of reading. Every child earned a book once they won a bingo game to promote the love of reading!
Kyle Elementary
The author who wrote Haunted Indiana, Mark Merrimen came to visit our 5th grade classes. Mr. Merrimen told several stories and the kids were engaged in learning about some good writing traits.
Portage High School
On March 30, sixty sophomore looping students and their teachers went on a field trip to Navy Pier's Chicago Shakespeare Theater to see a performance of The Twelfth Night. This was a culminating activity to the Shakespeare unit the students had studied in class. It was a great opportunity for students to see Shakespeare acted live. The students were chosen to go based on their excellent grades and overall effort and behavior in class.