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Jay Verdugo hops along during a sack race Friday afternoon at Westmorland Elementary during a school carnival. (ERIC MILLER PHOTO / January 19, 2013) |
WESTMORLAND — Students excitedly ran around clutching bags of cotton candy and popcorn between various games and activities Friday while celebrating months of hard work and studying to meet their school’s Academic Performance Index score this past year.
Westmorland School rewarded all their kindergarten through eighth-grade students with an API Carnival after they scored 702, Westmorland Union Elementary School District Superintendent/Principal Linda Morse said.
“It helps keep them motivated and excited to work together,” she said. “I’m very proud of them and want them to continue their growth and improvement.”
Westmorland fourth-grader Kaitrin Lueken said she studied a lot for the test and was enthusiastic about the reward.
“It’s really cool. This is the first time we’ve ever had the carnival,” she said. “I really like the games and won a cupcake from the walk. It’s really fun.
Teachers and volunteers helped pass out treats, hold egg tosses, a cupcake walk, bean bag toss, did face painting, hosted sack races and more.
“It ties into the motivation factor when kids don’t always see the connection with their efforts. This is one way to show them we appreciate their hard work and efforts, especially as a Westmorland community,” Westmorland third-grade teacher Silvia Calatayud said. “We prepare all year long so the kids are aware of what (the score) means and how it ties into the school in general.”
Students giggled as they jumped forward and backward in the sack race and admired each other’s faces painted brightly with stars on some or comically with beards and mustaches on others.
Fourth-grader David Brambila excitedly held his prizes from one of the contests Friday.
“It’s very cool for us to be able to do this today and it’s very generous for Mrs. Morse to plan this for us,” he said.
Westmorland sixth-grade teacher Michelle Padilla said every student who walked into the carnival Friday said, “Wow.”
“I’m happy that this creates a push to want to succeed, so they want to do their best and look forward to succeeding and giving 100 percent,” she said.
Family members of the one of the teachers even custom-painted and donated a board that said “I did my best on the test.” Students could pose in front of it for a photo which they could keep as a souvenir.
“It’s very fun, I like the cupcake walk. I studied a lot at home so it’s very cool,” fifth-grader Alyssa Smith said. “I want them to do it every year.”
Westmorland School rewarded all their kindergarten through eighth-grade students with an API Carnival after they scored 702, Westmorland Union Elementary School District Superintendent/Principal Linda Morse said.
“It helps keep them motivated and excited to work together,” she said. “I’m very proud of them and want them to continue their growth and improvement.”
Westmorland fourth-grader Kaitrin Lueken said she studied a lot for the test and was enthusiastic about the reward.
“It’s really cool. This is the first time we’ve ever had the carnival,” she said. “I really like the games and won a cupcake from the walk. It’s really fun.
Teachers and volunteers helped pass out treats, hold egg tosses, a cupcake walk, bean bag toss, did face painting, hosted sack races and more.
“It ties into the motivation factor when kids don’t always see the connection with their efforts. This is one way to show them we appreciate their hard work and efforts, especially as a Westmorland community,” Westmorland third-grade teacher Silvia Calatayud said. “We prepare all year long so the kids are aware of what (the score) means and how it ties into the school in general.”
Students giggled as they jumped forward and backward in the sack race and admired each other’s faces painted brightly with stars on some or comically with beards and mustaches on others.
Fourth-grader David Brambila excitedly held his prizes from one of the contests Friday.
“It’s very cool for us to be able to do this today and it’s very generous for Mrs. Morse to plan this for us,” he said.
Westmorland sixth-grade teacher Michelle Padilla said every student who walked into the carnival Friday said, “Wow.”
“I’m happy that this creates a push to want to succeed, so they want to do their best and look forward to succeeding and giving 100 percent,” she said.
Family members of the one of the teachers even custom-painted and donated a board that said “I did my best on the test.” Students could pose in front of it for a photo which they could keep as a souvenir.
“It’s very fun, I like the cupcake walk. I studied a lot at home so it’s very cool,” fifth-grader Alyssa Smith said. “I want them to do it every year.”
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