Warwick graduate completes student teaching at Park Avenue

Warwick — Luke Hagen, a 2007 graduate of Warwick Valley High School, recently completed an eight-week student teaching placement in Park Avenue Elementary School in Warwick. Prior to teaching at Park Avenue, he student taught at Pine Bush High School from September through October. Hagen graduated SUNY Cortland in December, earning a bachelor of science degree in physical education. During his stay at Park Avenue, Hagen worked with his cooperating teacher Judith Mehlenbacher and fellow physical education teacher Matt Carcaterra teaching grades kindergarten through 5. Hagen was appointed the jump roping unit for which he created a motivational bulletin board and developed a two-week unit plan teaching students various jump roping skills. The unit ended with the “Jump Rope for Heart” event. Jump Rope for Heart is a fun event where students jump rope, learn about their hearts and how to keep them healthy, while raising money for the American Heart Association. Every year the Park Avenue physical education staff hosts the event; this year it was led by Hagen. With Hagen’s enthusiastic approach towards the event, the students of Park Avenue Elementary helped raise over $3,000. Hagen credits the students for their hard work and dedication to protecting and improving children’s health. He also thanks Mehlenbacher and Carcaterra for their valuable assistance throughout his placement. In addition to teaching during the day, Hagen arrived early Tuesdays and Thursdays to assist Carcaterra with his intramural program for fourth and fifth graders. He also assisted with bus duty,greeting arriving students every morning and insuring each student gets picked up safely by their parent or guardian after school. Graduated and certified to teach grade levels kindergarten through 12, Hagen will be pursuing a job as a physical education teacher.