August 2024
Peek Inside Lower Elementary
BLACK BEAR
Dear Black Bear Families,
The new school year has begun with a joyful spirit as we embark on our Cosmic Education journey. Our classroom has come alive with curiosity and wonder as we explore the interconnectedness of the universe through many engaging lessons. The children have eagerly embraced new concepts, deepening their understanding of the world around them.
We are also delighted by Ms. Carmen's wonderful Spanish lessons, where the children joyfully immerse themselves in the beauty of the language and culture.
Alongside their academic growth, they have also been busy building a strong sense of community. New friendships have blossomed naturally, with each child finding their place within our harmonious classroom environment.
We are deeply grateful for your continued trust and support, and we are truly thankful for the wonderful response to our Wish List!
Through shared experiences and mutual respect, we are laying the foundation for a year full of learning, exploration, and personal growth!
Warmly,
Ms. Rebeca and Ms. Carmen
COYOTE
Dear Coyote Families,
What an incredible first month we've had in the Coyote Classroom! It has been such a joy to see all the children eagerly dive into their lessons and settle back into the rhythm of school. The enthusiasm they’ve shown has made this a wonderful and exciting start to the year.
This month, we’ve focused on building our classroom culture, establishing the freedoms and limits that guide us, and ensuring that everyone understands the importance of their role within our community. Each student has taken on responsibilities that benefit the class as a whole, and it’s been amazing to see how they’ve embraced these roles. Getting to know each child and discovering what makes them unique has been so much fun. We’re all excited to see what the rest of the year has in store for us!
Warm regards,
Ms. Shelby and Ms. Evelyn
Peek Inside Upper Elementary
FALCON
Dear Falcon families,
At the start of the school year, the classroom buzzes with excitement as students dive into their first big project: creating their own islands, each a unique reflection of their imaginations. While some sketch out mountains and hidden treasure coves, others craft detailed ecosystems teeming with life.
Alongside this, they begin exploring the first Great Story – The Story of the Universe – discovering how the cosmos was born and how Earth fits into the vast expanse of space. To help them organize their thoughts, they are introduced to the Cornell note-taking method, learning how to efficiently capture key ideas and summarize their lessons.
They begin to practice their spelling words, creating pictures and paragraphs to make learning fun. In math, they practice multiplication and division facts, turning numbers into a rhythm of knowledge.
The classroom hums with activity as different projects unfold – some students are busy building a robot, while others work on a deliciously unique challenge: baking cookies to the scale of the planets in our solar system, turning math and science into a tasty and unforgettable experience.
As they decorate and personalize the covers of their journals, each one becomes a personal reflection of their creativity, setting the tone for a year of exploration and discovery!
Sincerely,
Ms. Emily and Ms. Carla
ROADRUNNER
Dear Roadrunner families,
What an exciting first month of school it has been! We have loved having the children back with us, even though we faced some unexpected challenges, including air conditioning issues last week. The children showed incredible flexibility and grace as we navigated those changes together.
This month has been full of assessments, introductions to new routines and expectations, and the beginning of some big works. One highlight was our First Great Lesson, which sparked a wave of interest in topics ranging from the Milky Way to our moon, the elements, and the stars in between! I’m thrilled to see the children so motivated to explore a wide variety of subjects and eager to present their findings to one another.
We have also seen a high interest in science and experiments. Some children have been enthusiastically creating science experiments, including designing distillation contraptions and exploring chemical reactions. Their curiosity and excitement for science have been inspiring to witness.
In addition, we’ve embarked on an Island Project, which I’ve shared a bit about with some of you. The children started by studying a globe and choosing coordinates for their imaginary islands. Some have created islands for pirates and fictional characters, while others have designed intricate systems of tribes thriving on their land. They considered the physical features of the island, its location, and wind patterns that influence the weather, which in turn affects the flora and fauna. Over the next month, they will think through how human life could prosper on their islands and create written reports to accompany their creative and colorful maps. This project has brought a lot of joy, creativity, and connections to our classroom this month.
In the spirit of connection, we’ve also celebrated five birthdays this month! It’s been a joy to see the children share photos and stories from their lives and work together to bake dishes that satisfy everyone’s dietary needs.
Currently, we are using Mad Minute math to practice our math fact automaticity as we prepare to dive deeper into mathematical concepts. While some children weren’t initially enthusiastic about this task, they all met it with an open mind and great determination.
I’m excited about the many things we’ll accomplish together this year and wish you all a wonderful and healthy year ahead.
Warm regards,
Ms. Lauren and Ms. Juany
