On Tuesday, May 26, Miss Noel led the fourth graders in Field Day. Each grade was allowed to go outside and play a variety of games, from jump roping to egg walk. The kids also dressed in coordinated colors to show their grade.
On Wednesday, May 26, Lake Central seniors participated in the Graduation Walk, where they walked through the halls of their old elementary schools. The fourth graders joined them as they said goodbye to their elementary teachers and friends.
Students participate in Pajama Day for Disability Awareness Week. The theme that day was “Sensory Friendly Thursday.”
Ever since her first year of teaching, Miss Genna Noel, the physical education teacher at Bibich, has been educating her students on various physical disabilities in order to make them more aware and accepting. Miss Noel creates modified activities for her students so they can better understand what life may be like for people with disabilities.
“We do a little of everything. We do an activity that involves the students to work together to complete a challenge without using verbal cues. We use the scooters but are only allowed to use certain movements and extremities while on it. The final activity involves them working as a team to move objects from one place to another with their eyes closed, only hands and then without their hands,” Miss Noel said.
Miss Noel hopes this lesson helps her students think outside the box. She plans to teach them to adapt to changes.
“Students really take an understanding of how things might be hard, they might be different, but all that matters is how you react to the challenges,” Miss Noel said.
We use the scooters but are only allowed to use certain movements and extremities while on it. The final activity involves them working as a team to move objects from one place to another with their eyes closed, only hands and then without their hands,” Miss Noel said.
Miss Noel hopes this lesson helps her students think outside the box. She plans to teach them to adapt to changes.
“Students really take an understanding of how things might be hard, they might be different, but all that matters is how you react to the challenges,” Miss Noel said.
We use the scooters but are only allowed to use certain movements and extremities while on it. The final activity involves them working as a team to move objects from one place to another with their eyes closed, only hands and then without their hands,” Miss Noel said.
Miss Noel hopes this lesson helps her students think outside the box. She plans to teach them to adapt to changes.
“Students really take an understanding of how things might be hard, they might be different, but all that matters is how you react to the challenges,” Miss Noel said.
We use the scooters but are only allowed to use certain movements and extremities while on it. The final activity involves them working as a team to move objects from one place to another with their eyes closed, only hands and then without their hands,” Miss Noel said.
Miss Noel hopes this lesson helps her students think outside the box. She plans to teach them to adapt to changes.
“Students really take an understanding of how things might be hard, they might be different, but all that matters is how you react to the challenges,” Miss Noel said.
Students worked on dribbling basketballs during the basketball unit in gym. They also practiced dribbling at different speeds around the gymnasium.
Students designed and colored donuts while in art class. They expressed their creativity through the colors and designs.
Students had free time to design towers out of Styrofoam cups in the library. Some of the kids worked together to build the tallest towers possible while others built longer, shorter towers.
Cub Scouts assist Cpl. Patrick in a flag ceremony for Veterans Day. Although gatherings were limited due to COVID-19, students and staff still found ways to honor the veterans.
Dr. Todd Bess, Director of IASP, grants Miss O’Rourke and Miss Snow with a plaque in honor of the spell bowl team’s first place win. Congratulations to the Bibich Spell Bowl team!
Welcoming New Staff
In addition to the changes brought about by COVID-19, Bibich is also welcoming seven new staff members this year. The new staff members include Miss Martinez, Mrs. Heinecke, Miss Batres, Miss Fechalos, Mrs. Ottenhoff, Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Burke.
“I love the community of Bibich. As being a first year teacher and new to the building, everyone on staff has offered their insight and their help as I start my teaching career,” Ottenhoff, one of the fourth grade teachers, said.
The staff members were attracted to Bibich for various reasons. For Ottenhoff, the deciding factors were the administrators and the goals of the school.
“I decided to work at Bibich [after] my first interview with Mrs. Logan. I knew that I wanted to learn from her. She has such a great personality and so many qualities I admire in an administrator. I respected that Bibich has such high expectations for their students and strive to reach and meet all students at their level to push students to reach their full potential,” Ottenhoff said.
The new staff members are not only adapting to a new school but also new COVID-19 rules. Some of the new teachers teach in-person students while others teach e-learners.
“I am doing e-learning this semester, so there are three things that I love doing with my kiddos. On our first Google Meet, we transition subjects. During that transition we do some type of Go Noodle or exercise, and it is fun seeing the kids participate in that. Once or twice a week we do lunch together. I love listening to the conversations of the students. Lastly, we read for ten minutes a day. This is a time where I tell students to relax and just listen to me read. E-learning is stressful enough, so this is a time for them to take a breath and chill,” Ottenhoff said.
Mrs. Heinecke, one of the Kindergarten teachers, plans to further grow while at Bibich by setting specific goals. She hopes to push her students to be the best they can be.
“I couldn’t wait to get back into a Kindergarten classroom again. I also wondered how different it was going to be since we have so many guidelines due to the pandemic. I want to meet all of my students’ needs. I want them to reach for the stars,” Heinecke said.
Recess Zones
A group of students play outside during recess. The playground is now divided into several zones to promote social distancing.
Practicing their Soccer Skills
A student takes a break during the soccer game. Miss Noel taught the kids how to properly dribble the soccer ball.
Random Acts of Kindness
Encouraging students to be kind to one another is a top priority at Bibich Elementary School. In order to accomplish this goal, the students and staff participate in Random Acts of Kindness, a program which rewards kids for helping others.
“Bibich encourages students to be kind and help one another with our Random Acts of Kindness program. Random Acts of Kindness are when students are caught going the ‘extra mile’ with their kindness towards others (some examples include helping another student tie their shoe, helping a friend sign into a computer, playing with someone who is by themselves at recess, helping a friend pack up at the end of the day or fill out their agendas, etc),” Mrs. Keleman said.
Students can be nominated for a plethora of actions, big or small. This encourages kids to continue the positive behavior in the future.
“A student can be nominated by doing something kind to or for another student without being told. They are nominated by a teacher or staff member when they notice a student doing something extraordinary on their own,” Keleman said.
Once a teacher nominates a student for a random act of kindness the student is placed in a raffle with other recipients. A select few names are drawn every Thursday, and the kids who are selected win a prize along with a shout out in the weekly newsletter.
“Students get really excited to put their name on a Random Acts of Kindness ticket. Students come to the office for a small prize, and their names are placed in the Friday Newsletter,” Keleman said.
Learning in the Library
A student poses with her drawing in the library. Students were required to keep their masks on during specials.
Lake Central School Corporation
8400 Wicker Avenue, St. John IN. 46373
Pathways to Excellence