Judson Elementary School Marks Third Year of Innovative Academies:
Fostering Creativity, Collaboration, and Inspiration for Young Learners
October 23, 2024 - Judson Elementary School is proud to include ‘Academies’ as a part of their social emotional curriculum on a weekly basis. Academies are structured programs within the week that focus on particular areas such as the arts, sciences, technology, and teamwork. The hands-on activities and themed projects ignite curiosity and passion for learning, making education even more enjoyable. Students work together on projects, fostering teamwork and communication skills that are essential for their academic and personal growth and success.
The Academies at Judson are strategically structured to group students across grades 3 to 5, creating opportunities for new friendships, help break down social barriers, and provide friendly faces throughout the school building for more students. It also pairs students up with another trusted adult (besides their teacher) in the school with someone a student might not otherwise get the opportunity to interact with. This intentional design not only promotes social interaction but also helps students develop a sense of belonging within the school, increasing students’ comfort and confidence in the school environment.
Each Academy focuses on specific themes that resonate with staff and students’ interests, such as science exploration, creative arts, fun and games, wellness, and sports and fitness. Our Academy Menu includes Ukulele Explorer, Flag Football, Moovin; & Groovin’, Four Square, Chess Club, Girls Who Shine, Coffee Cart, Joy Squad, Arts & Crafts, Soccer Stars (I & II), Chat & Snacks, Stem Gem, Lego Club, Rummikub, Bracelet Making, Playing Cards, BINGO, Creative Writing, Mindful Meditation, Origami, Diamond Art, Muggle Quidditch, Letter Writing, Game Station, History of Video Games, Walking Club, and Kickin’ It. A jam packed menu that offers something for everyone!
The success of Academies is bolstered by active participation and support from the staff at Judson. They go above and beyond to create engaging and meaningful Academy experiences for all students. Their commitment is evident in the countless hours spent planning activities/lessons, sourcing materials, and facilitating projects that ignite students’ passions and interests. Academies would not be what they are without the Judson staff!
A heartfelt thank you goes out to the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and all the parents at Judson for their generous monetary donations and contributions of items that support the Academies. Their commitment plays a crucial role in enhancing the educational experience for our students.
Judson's Academies are far more than just educational programs; they are a community-building initiative that enriches the school experience for our young learners. By creating a space where friendships can blossom and interests can be explored, Judson is setting the stage for a supportive and engaging educational environment that will benefit its students for years to come.
Picture on the left: Mrs. Stepka and Letter Writing Academy: Students use stationary, stickers, fun writing utensils, and stickers and write letters to friends and family, usually expressing their gratitude for them. Mrs. Stepka then mails the letters for the students.
Picture on the Right: Student Teacher, Mr. Alickolli, runs the Flag Football Academy. This Academy not only learns the game of football, but they also learn about teamwork and cooperation all while getting in more physical activity during the school day.
L-R Brice Lawlor, Sophia Keene, Tenley Rosa
This is the Stem Gem Academy run by Mrs. O’Toole. They participate in cool science experiments where they set hypothesis and put them to test during experiments.
Bottom Left: Soccer Stars. Students practice their skills on the soccer field. Soccer Stars (both I and II) is for students who are just learning the sport and also for those who are already skilled. Soccer Stars I is run by Mr. Tirozzi. Soccer Stars II is run by Mrs. Marocchini.
Ukulele Explorer Academy is run by Mrs. Borbas. Through this Academy, students learn to play the ukulele! Throughout the eight week cycle, students truly come in knowing nothing about the instrument and leave playing a handful of songs and gaining a love for the instrument!
Playing Cards: Mrs. O’Brien is playing the card game Spit with Gavin Spencer. Students get together and play many different card games together such as Garbage, Go Fish, Crazy 8, Spit, and War.
Arts and Crafts: Mrs. Hardt shares her artistic talents with her students in her academy! She plans marvelous crafts each and every week. She hangs up the art work in the hallway for everyone to enjoy.
Girls Who Shine is a brand new academy run by Mrs. Michaud. This academy is all about girl empowerment, being there for each other, and lifting each other up. The first activity was creating Vision Boards where each student brought in pictures of themselves and their families.