Sussex-Wantage students make presentations

SUSSEX BOROUGH — The auditorium buzzed with excited voices as the Sussex-Wantage School students prepared their many presentations at the Sussex-Wantage School Board meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 17.

First, seventh- and eighth-graders from Matt Danko's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics classes presented their projects, while using the Design Cycle Model. Then, three eighth-grade students presented a Power Point presentation and physical demonstration of their board game called, "Battle It Out."

Next, three students from the seventh-grade engineering class presented two projects they developed: an off-road wheelchair and an apartment for the Marvel Comics superhero, Iron Man.

Third, teachers Heather Fowler and Linnea Harper presented, along with six students, the different activities involved with the Girls on the Run program operating in the United States and Canada. The program taught the girls about healthy lifestyles and prepared them for a 5K run, which they completed in 13-degree weather.

Harper went on to explain a “Buddy Bench” model which will be placed in the C.E. Lawrence School during the spring. The bench encourages lonely children to sit on it and alerts others to play with the child. As part of a project, students will paint and attach letters to the bench.

Finally, along with two first-graders, Harper presented a book she has been reading with the children called Chrysanthemum. Per the book, she role plays with the children of ways to help others “bloom” and not “wilt," based on how the students treat their classmates.

Superintendent Jeanne Apryasz said she appreciated the emphasis of welcoming others in the classrooms. She also commented about “how nice our student body is.”