Schools of the Week: College Grove Elementary and Grassland Middle

Published November 8, 2022

The Schools of the Week spotlight is on College Grove Elementary and Grassland Middle this week. Take a look at the photo galleries below to see some of the fun going on in each school building, and see quotes from employees and students about what makes their school great.

College Grove Elementary

"College Grove is a special place because it's a school where you can walk in and find teachers who give their all for each of their students, day in and day out." - CGES third grade team: Holly Bahde, Elisabeth Fry, Grace Hartman, Tara Jones, Brittney Occhipinti and Holly Woods

"I love the library. I can get so many different books, and I love to read. It's one of my favorite things." - CGES student Zeke Birdwell

Grassland Middle

"GMS has had a very special place in my heart since it was built in 1986. I was part of the first sixth-grade class at GMS and was lucky enough to have had Mr. Koehler, my former teacher, became my teammate. He inspired me to go into teaching. I wanted to be another 'Mr. Koehler.' I love being here, and I'm lucky to be part of such an amazing group of educators." - GMS teacher Suzanne Crist

"The people here at GMS are awesome. You always have someone you can go to. The teachers are amazing. You can tell that the teachers care. They'll do a bunch of activities to keep it fun in the class. Both of my parents went here, too, and it's just a good school." - GMS student Morgan Meriwether

College Grove Elementary fourth graders are learning about lava without leaving the comfort of their classroom.

In fourth-grade teacher Jenny Deranzio's class, students observed the difference between two different types of lava: thin and runny or thick and pasty. During the experiment, students had to find out which type of lava had which properties.

"We're seeing which one can pile up to make a mountain and which is easier to blow bubbles in," said CGES student Chloe Quartararo. "It's really fun."

Seventh graders in Lisa Robinson's science class are learning about chemical changes. 

In their most recent science lab, the students used calcium chloride, phenol red, baking soda and water to create a series of endothermic and exothermic reactions. As they mixed the materials together, the students observed the temperature changes that occurred in the bag containing the substances and determined whether each reaction was endothermic or exothermic.

"The phenol red went into the water and made it colder," said GES student Knox Hatcher-Ripley. "That was an endothermic reaction. Then we poured calcium chloride into that mixture and made it hot. That was an exothermic reaction. Each time there was a reaction, you could feel it happen by holding the bag. It was pretty cool."