November, 2005

First of three fifth-grade classes relocates to new wing

Henry Henderson and his fifth-grade class have a new address.

On Monday, they were the first to officially move into their new classroom in the elementary school’s new fifth-grade wing.

When asked for thoughts on their new surroundings, without hesitation, the students responded collectively: “IT’S AWESOME!”

Fifth-grader Alexa Garrafa ran down a list of the new classroom’s features. “We’re getting wireless computers, a Smart Board and projection screen,” she said. “Oh, and we’re also going to have lockers.”
Another student expressed excitement with the high tech aspects of the classroom, but was particularly impressed with the “TV that hangs from the ceiling and spins.”

The classroom that Henderson called home for 33 years will soon be converted into two resource rooms. One reason he was the first teacher to make the move wasn’t as much a question of seniority as it was necessity.

“Approximately one-third of my classroom had been annexed to construct an emergency exit,” he explained. “Most of my things were already packed up and ready to go.”

Denise Greene’s class followed later in the week, while Rachel Biski’s class will wait to move until after the Grade 5 New York State social studies tests are administered in mid-November to avoid disrupting students.

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