Gaynor News Feed

Orange Cluster students tried their hand at ancient Chinese pottery in Art Teacher Sophia Saad’s class as part of a cross-curricular project.

As students move up through the clusters at Stephen Gaynor School, what they learn becomes more complex and progresses to match their age and maturity as they prepare for high school and beyond. However, one thing remains constant: the individualized approach to each child’s education. We sat down with Blue Cluster Head Teachers Addie Barnwell and Jody Buckles to discuss how they differentiate their lessons for their reading groups.

The fifth floor of the South Building is home to one of Gaynor’s most unique spaces — the SMART Lab. The area brings together science, math, art, and technology to foster a variety of multidisciplinary and multi sensory projects, from video production to 3D printing. When Gaynor moved to the pod model last year, the SMART Lab itself was turned into a classroom, and while the physical space was not available to all students, the techniques and strategies of the SMART Lab were still used throughout the school. However, this year, the SMART Lab is back to its old self, and is welcoming students and their ingenuity.

Orange Cluster students in Science Teacher Lindsey Rappaport’s class became meteorologists this week as part of a greenscreen augmented reality project.

Students from the EC through the Blue Cluster marked the start of the Year of the Tiger by learning about Lunar New Year traditions and customs on February 1.

Before Winter Break, Green Cluster students thought about what it means to stand in someone else’s shoes.

Everyone seems to be playing Wordle these days. Gaynor’s reading curriculum is based on the Orton–Gillingham approach, and we had a theory that our OG-trained faculty members might have some helpful hints for Wordle players. So we asked them if they thought they had an advantage due to their knowledge of OG patterns and theory. Check out their responses and maybe find some Wordle tips for yourself!

The Blue Cluster crafted a land acknowledgement statement, which recognizes indigenous peoples’ presence and their connection with the land. The statement honors the Lenape tribe, and has action steps we can all take to continue to further their legacy. It is now shown prominently on the school’s website for all visitors to see.

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, teachers and students took a closer look at some of the activist’s most influential speeches, his legacy, and the civil rights movement.