North Shore Christian School to celebrate learning

LYNN – First grade teacher Kristen Helgesen was busy dying socks in buckets of red and orange dye in the middle of North Shore Christian School?s hallway Tuesday afternoon.?It?s a little crazy around here,” Helgesen said.Helgesen was preparing her class to get ready for North Shore Christian?s annual Celebration of Learning event taking place this Friday.The Celebration of Learning event highlights what the students have been learning all year long. Each class from every grade (Pre-K to eight) presents a project that summarizes what they have been learning, and presents it to parents, family and friends.?It?s a very upbeat, inspirational event,” Director of Development Betsy Giannoccaro said. “It?s a really great chance for the families to see what we are doing.”Helgesen?s class will be presenting the “Road to Reading” as well as a Reader?s Theater.The Road to Reading is a pretend street the kids have made that shows the different components of learning how to read.?I wanted the parents to understand what we are doing, where their kids are and where they need to go,” Helgesen said. “I want the parents to connect what they are learning in the classroom to everyday life.”For Reader?s Theater, the students will be acting out their favorite stories with sock puppets they made themselves.?It?s been a lot of fun preparing for the big day,” Helgesen said.Many feel the reason why the event is so beloved is that it allows an opportunity to showcase what the students are learning in that particular time in their lives.?It?s a true picture what they are learning,” Helgesen said. “In first grade you learn how to read. The fifth graders this year are presenting book reports and that?s what you do in the fifth grade, write book reports.”?It?s also an opportunity for the younger students to see what they will learn later on,” Principal Pam Heintz added. “It?s like dangling a carrot in front of them to see what they are going to learn in years to come.”Barbara Delaney?s second grade class will be presenting their favorite family food that represents their heritage.?It?s nice to see where all the kids come from,” Delaney said.The North Shore Christian School serves 240 students on four separate campuses. They proudly draw students from over 20 communities including six continents.?When I used to do this project, I would make the student make their favorite food from New England,” Delaney said. “One day I looked around and realized New England food doesn?t work anymore. It?s a great way for the students to show off where they came from.The students will act as hosts of the evening explaining why they chose the dish they made.Students will also have a chance to articulate what they have been learning.?It gives the students a real sense of pride in their work,” Heintz said.Sara Brown can be reached at [email protected].