February 2026
Peek Inside Lower Elementary
BLACK BEAR
This month has been a gentle return to our familiar rhythm after the sleepover, as the children settle once more into the comforting routine of the classroom. There is a sense of purposeful calm in the air: with the explorations of seeds, flowers and fruits in our biology studies, the story of geometry unfolding a grand tale, inviting wonder at the shapes that form our world, while our exploration of the Earth’s temperature zones sparks curiosity about distant lands and climates and people’s adapting prowess. Around the room, a subtle bustle hums—math materials and grammar boxes practiced with quiet concentration, the melodic tones of the tone bars ringing clearly through the environment. The scent of baking drifts warmly from the kitchen, and outdoors we embrace the welcoming weather, carrying our work into the fresh air and reinforcing our study of plant life alongside Ms. Laura in the garden. We continue with our walks that bring a sense of community, enhance listening and observation skills, and provide an opportunity for building stamina.
Together, these moments weave into a continuous celebration of our community, where learning is shared, meaningful, and alive. We are thankful for the trust you give us and for the privilege of learning and growing with your children!
Warmly,
Ms. Rebeca & Ms. Carmen
COYOTE
Dear Coyote Parents and Families,
As we look back on the last month, there is so much to celebrate. At the very end of January, we enjoyed a beautiful and successful Sleepover. The evening itself was special, but even more meaningful was the learning that led up to it. The students worked collaboratively on every detail, from planning menus and purchasing produce for breakfast to organizing the sleeping arrangements in the classrooms. It was wonderful to see them problem solve, compromise, and take ownership of the event. Experiences like this foster responsibility, teamwork, and independence, skills that extend far beyond the classroom walls.
Throughout the month, we focused on reviewing foundational skills and building upon them with lessons designed to deepen understanding. In language, the children delighted in learning about idioms and especially enjoyed reading Amelia Bedelia. Laughter filled the room as they explored figurative language and its meaning. We also began studying types of nouns and adjectives, practiced proper sentence structure, and worked on composing strong five sentence paragraphs.
In mathematics, students spent time refining their understanding of multiples and strengthening their multiplication skills. Many enjoyed working with the short and long chains, discovering how they connect to the squares and cubes of numbers. These hands on experiences continue to build a strong conceptual foundation and encourage mathematical curiosity.
As the weather begins to warm, we are excited to step into a new season of growth. Just as spring brings blooming and renewal, we look forward to continued blossoming in our learning and community in the months ahead.
Warmly,
Ms. Samantha and Ms. Maria
Peek Inside Upper Elementary
FALCON
Dear Falcon Families,
We have had a full and productive season of learning in our classroom! It is such a joy to watch the students grow in confidence, depth, and independence across all subject areas. Here is a look at what we have been working on:
Math
In math, we are primarily reviewing grade-level standards while continuing to strengthen connections between our hands-on sensorial materials and abstract paper work. Students are practicing moving confidently from concrete materials to written problem-solving, deepening their understanding rather than simply memorizing procedures. This bridge between materials and abstraction is such an important part of developing true mathematical reasoning.
Language
Our language studies have been filled with creativity and growth! Students have been exploring different types of poetry, including structured forms and free verse, and are creating original poems of their own.
In paragraph writing, we are working to strengthen and expand our compositions. Students are now aiming for eight well-developed sentences rather than five, focusing on adding detail, clarity, and transition words to improve flow. It has been wonderful to see their writing become more thoughtful and connected.
Science
Students recently completed and presented their eight-paragraph animal research reports. Their final drafts were typed and paired with carefully selected picture cards to enhance their presentations. This project required research, organization, revision, and public speaking skills. I am so proud of the effort and growth each student demonstrated through this process.
History
In history, we have begun our study of the Revolutionary War. Students are listening to and discussing stories that help bring this important period in American history to life. We are focusing on understanding the causes, key figures, and major events that shaped the birth of our nation.
Capstone Projects
Our capstone students are continuing to draft and refine their chapters. They are practicing presenting their work aloud while also developing their rough drafts with greater depth and organization. It is exciting to see their ideas take shape as they move closer to their final products.
Art
In art, students are working with Mr. Jason to create projects using recycled materials in preparation for the upcoming Art Walk in April. The combination of imagination and sustainability has sparked some truly innovative designs!
Test Preparation
We have also begun incorporating test-taking strategies into our classroom routine. Students are learning practical skills such as carefully reading directions, managing their time, checking their work, and thoughtfully eliminating answer choices. We have been practicing how to properly fill out bubble sheets to ensure students feel comfortable with the format.
Our goal is to help ease any anxiety surrounding testing while also gaining a clearer understanding of each child’s progress and areas of growth. By building familiarity and confidence now, we hope students will approach assessments calmly and prepared.
Going Outs & Big Trip Preparation
Our fourth graders, new students, and those who are new to participating in our Big Trip had the opportunity to tour Sky Harbor Airport. This was an exciting and valuable experience as they practiced navigating a large public space together.
We will continue practicing walks as a large group in preparation for our Big Trip in April. These experiences help students build responsibility, awareness, and confidence when traveling together as a community.
Thank you for your continued support. It is a privilege to partner with you in your child’s growth and learning!
Sincerely,
Ms. Emily and Ms. Carla
ROADRUNNER
Dear Roadrunner families,
Although February is a shorter month, it has been filled with wonders. We began the month by reflecting on our recent camping trip. Together, we discussed the lessons learned from our experiences and mistakes, and we set intentional reminders about responsibility, teamwork, and gratitude. The children took time to recognize one another’s efforts and celebrated the hard work that made our camping experience such a success. This sense of appreciation and shared responsibility set a wonderful tone for the rest of the month.
Our study of native plants continued to grow. Building on our pre-camping research of the saguaro cactus, jumping cholla, chaparral yucca, prickly pear, and barrel cactus, the children expanded their investigations by researching an additional native plant to the Sonoran Desert and presented their findings to the class. It was heartwarming to see how this work sparked meaningful conversations during our camping trip and continues to inspire curiosity and questioning back in the classroom.
We have spent time this month focusing on exploring math concepts more abstractly as we prepare for our upcoming standardized testing. Throughout this process, the children supported one another beautifully. Those who grasped concepts quickly offered help, and others showed courage by asking questions and seeking peer support. This collaborative spirit reflects the social-emotional growth we value so deeply, as the children practice empathy, compassion, and perseverance.
For our students who have not yet attended an Upper Elementary Big Trip, we had a special learning experience with a tour of Sky Harbor Airport. They were fascinated to learn about our local airport. The students were able to explore the airport art museum, rode the Sky Train, met service dogs and learned about their important work, and observed the tarmacs while learning about the many systems involved in air travel. It also served as essential practice for moving in an organized manner as such a large group. We thank Chuck for being a wonderful tour guide and filling our day and tour with laughter.
Our sixth graders have been especially busy as they transitioned from the research phase of their Capstone projects into the written portion. This included a lesson on formal interviews with a practice interview conducted with Mr. Jason, as well as a lesson on presentation expectations for each chapter of their projects. They will also start their first round of early presentation practice.
This month we have reviewed narrative writing and introduced opinion writing, providing scaffolded support to help students stretch their thinking and expression. We have also been reviewing spelling patterns, focusing on short vowels and long a, e, i, and o patterns. We are also reviewing geometry lessons both as a whole group and in small groups, revisiting botany nomenclature, formally introducing the 13 colonies and colonial life, beginning map work and state research, have two plays two different groups of children have written and are practicing, are starting an interlevel reading program for our students to read to the toddlers and baby classrooms of our community and continuing their recycled art projects with Mr. Jason. These art projects will be featured during the Art Walk on April 24th.
The children have been working very hard, and we are so proud of the growth we are seeing holistically. Thank you for your continued support of our classroom community, we truly could not do this work without you.
With gratitude,
Ms. Lauren and Ms. Juany
