Welcome to fifth

Chistina Rivel made a huge jump. This year, she went from teaching third grade at Memorial Elementary School to teaching fifth grade at Patrick M. Villano School. Rivel taught some of the current fifth graders when she was in third grade at Memorial School. She was not yet married and was known as Ms. Knack to those students.

“Now, I only teach Math and Science, and I used to, in third grade, teach all subjects,” Rivel said. “One similarity between fifth and third grade is that I think the students are still really awesome to work with. We had fun in third grade and now in fifth grade.”

There was a time when Rivel even taught third grade when third grade was still housed at Villano School.

“I know in fifth grade, fifth graders do Trep$, and when third grade used to be at Villano, I remember purchasing some really cool projects,” Rivel recalled.

Trep$ is a fifth grade project where students spend a month learning about how to run a successful business. They design a product, create it, advertise it, then sell it in the all-purpose room to peers, teachers and family.

“I love Villano, and I’m so happy to be back at Villano because I know all the sixth graders from third grade, the fifth graders from third grade, and the fourth graders from last year” Revel smiled.

Abby Ellis enjoys having Rivel as her teacher.

“I think she’s very fun,” Ellis said. “She’s kind of energetic in everything that we do, but she’s also very nice, and she tries to make everything fun for us and every day. We get brain breaks that can cool our minds.”