News Headlines
A celebration of our state
By VALERIE MARINO, STAFF WRITER
Second-graders at Cary Christian School enjoyed a special treat Friday, Sept. 30, when the three classes celebrated the school's first North Carolina Day.
The event served as a culmination of the school year's first quarter, as well as a way to recount everything the students had already learned.
"Second grade studies many facets of the state all year long," said Ginger Hayes, the school's principal for kindergarten through second grade. "It's kind of a lighthearted day and a great way to finish the first quarter."
All 66 of Cary Christian's second-graders were able to engage in hands-on activities and crafts, all while learning about the state's history and other facts. They were entertained by a storyteller, Alan Hoal, and a fiddler, Patti Chapman. Students got the chance to put all of their state knowledge to the test when they compiled a keepsake box including miniatures of the North Carolina state bird, tree, seal, fish and other items. Earlier in the year, classes assembled a book of worksheets on each of the various items.
"We've been studying state symbols the last few weeks," said Lori Kanode, a second-grade teacher. "The main thing here is we're trying to make it hands-on and fun."
Kanode pulled the idea of North Carolina Day from an event that the fourth-grade classes held last year at the end of a unit.
The second-grade classes will also take part in Pirate Day after a unit on Blackbeard and other pirates who used to roam the North Carolina coast. Students will arrive at school dressed as pirates and go to the kindergarten classes during the day to impart all of their pirate wisdom on the younger students.
Last week was a busy one for Cary Christian School's second-graders. On Tuesday, Sept. 27, the classes took a field trip to the State Farmers Market in Raleigh. Students received product samples from the many vendors set up for business. They also toured the Ford's Produce warehouse, which includes 18,900 square feet of storage space as well as nine refrigerated storage rooms.
"That was one of the best field trips we've been on," Kanode said.
North Carolina Day concluded with all of the students singing a song they learned about all sorts of North Carolina products, from food to textiles and Christmas trees.