April 2024

Peek Inside our Children’s House Community

Hello Bobcat families,

We had so much fun this past month. The children have enjoyed the weather and have been taking works from the classroom to the outdoor environment like building words with the movable alphabet as well as skip counting the short and long chains. Just as the flowers are blooming, so are the children! They are having an explosion of reading. Some are building phonetic words, some are learning new phonograms, and some are expanding their sight words recognition. This is a great opportunity for you parents to spend quality time with your child at home. Reading with your child is so important to inspire them to grow their love for reading. Remember, quality is always better than quantity. Reading should be fun.

As the weather is getting warm, please send your child with sunblock on.

I would like to thank you to Jordan & Crystal Davis as well as Mehrnessa & Mehrbod for donating musical sticks and shakers for the classroom.

I would like to share a link with you about How to Helping Kids Learn To Solve Their Own Problems. Let me know what you think about it.

https://www.loveandlogic.com/blogs/our-blog/helping-kids-learn-to-solve-their-own-problems

Thank you all for the amazing year we have had so far. Thank you for making this community so beautiful and supportive. 

Ms. Hany and Ms. Joselyne

CACTUS WREN

Dear Cactus Wren families,

It has been an exciting April in the classroom! The children have been exploring the changing of the seasons as our weather has been heating up. In the garden, we have been planting new vegetables and herbs, including peppermint, rosemary, and sweet peppers. Our tomatoes are starting to turn red, and the children have been harvesting them to add to salads, with the leafy greens.

As the temperature begins to rise, in class we have been learning about different climates around the world, and the people, animals, and plants that live in them. The children are learning about the different flora in our area, especially the abundant type of cacti found in the Sonoran Desert. It is amazing to observe their keen interest and curiosity of the world around them!

We also are excited to have a student teacher join our class at the end of this month. Ms. Sui has been working with the students in class, providing lessons and sharing with us about her home in China. She introduced how to use chopsticks to the students, and they have been enjoying finding different items they can use to pick up with the chopsticks from bowl to bowl.

It was also wonderful having you join us in class for observations and to experience a part of your child’s day. The children have formed such an amazing community, and it is wonderful to see how they all support each other! Happy April, and on to May!

Warmly,

Ms. Laura and Ms. Tania

Hello Gray Fox families,

Hello Gray Fox Families,

What a whirlwind of discoveries and learning we've had this April! It's been a month filled with awe-inspiring moments and deepening our understanding of the world around us.

First and foremost, we are thrilled to share with you the incredible transformation our classroom witnessed as our caterpillars underwent their metamorphosis into beautiful butterflies. We are continuing learning about our solar system through songs and books.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2prtmPEjOc

Earth Day took center stage in our discussions this month. While April 22nd marked the official celebration, we emphasized that every day is Earth Day in our classroom. Together, we explored the importance of conservation, sustainability, and stewardship of our planet. From conserving water and electricity to practicing the three Rs—reduce, reuse, recycle. As a delightful addition to our environmental endeavors, we've also been humming along to a catchy tune about the three Rs.

https://youtu.be/AOvcW8l3RzE

As the weather gets warmer, please remember to dress your child in lighter clothes. No need for jackets!

Thank you for entrusting us with the privilege of nurturing your child's growth and curiosity. Here's to another month of exploration, discovery, and boundless possibilities!

Warm regards,
Ms. Rama and Ms. Rocio

JACKRABBIT

Hello Jackrabbit Families,

The weather has been incredible this month and the children have been enjoying working in the outdoor environment. Our planters, which the children have been taking care of daily, are looking beautiful. We have harvested tomatoes, snap peas, asian lettuce, and strawberries. The children are using the purple basil and strawberries for refreshing the lemonade they make for lunch.

This month we got to release our butterflies, the children were so happy to watch them fly. We also got to learn about solar Eclipses and even got to simulate an eclipse using a flashlight as the sun, a sphere as the moon, and the earth globe.

As the months go by, the children have fully become acclimated to their school routine. It’s so beautiful to witness the sense of ownership and belonging that each of them have developed. They get easily oriented in the classroom and campus, they have built friendships, they have received countless lessons and endless hours of practicing to be able to master concepts. Our older children don’t stop amazing us each day with their leadership and kindness towards younger friends. We continue to talk and read about kindness on daily basis. It is truly heartwarming to witness all the love that the children have to one another.

This month, the children have been baking and enjoying “Cinnamon Raisin Bread” for snack. Here is the recipe if you would like to bake at home with your child.

Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cups sugar, divided
1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
¼ cup canola oil
¼ cup raisins
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, combine flour, ¾ cup sugar, soda and salt. In a small bowl, whisk buttermilk and oil. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in raisins. Combine cinnamon and remaining sugar; set aside.
Spoon half the batter into a greased 8x4-in. loaf pan. Sprinkle with half of the reserved cinnamon sugar; repeat layers. Cut through batter with a knife to swirl.
Bake 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.
Freeze option: Wrap cooled bread in foil and freeze for up to 3 months. To use, thaw at room temperature.

Thank you parents for attending our last Community Meeting of the year, it is always wonderful to see you and share with you what your child experiences in the classroom. Thank you as well for attending observations/conferences, it was so nice to have you visit our classroom.

Thank you for your trust and support,

Ms. Yadira and Ms. Karen