May 2026
Peek Inside Lower Elementary
BLACK BEAR
As the school year comes to an end, we reflect on the incredible growth and progress the children have made over the past several months. It is a bittersweet time—filled with pride in all they have accomplished and the anticipation for the chance to recharge and enjoy the summer ahead. It is also a meaningful time to celebrate the friendships made, memories created, and lessons learned.
The Black Bear classroom has been filled with hard work and excitement finalizing projects and lessons as well as welcoming future 1st years to our community. We already look forward to welcoming everyone back in the fall and while some of our friends will be moving on to new adventures and challenges, they leave behind special memories that will always be treasured.
We are deeply grateful for the continued support, trust, and partnership of our Black Bear families throughout the year. Together, we have helped nurture these amazing children as they continue to grow toward a bright future.
Wishing you all a safe, relaxing, and happy summer!
Warmly,
Ms. Rebeca and Ms. Carmen
COYOTE
Dear Coyote Parents and Families,
May was a wonderfully busy and joyful month in our classroom, filled with meaningful work, exciting transitions, and opportunities for reflection. The children especially loved preparing for Mother’s Day by creating beautiful cards and handmade seed paper gifts. As they worked, many shared thoughtful reflections about their love and appreciation for their mothers and all they do for their families. It was a special opportunity for the children to express gratitude through both creativity and writing.
This month also marked an important time of transition as we prepared our kindergarten students to Fly Up to Lower Elementary and our third-year students to Fly Up to Upper Elementary. It is always a bittersweet moment to watch our students move on, but it brings us so much joy to see how much they have grown and all they have accomplished during their time in the Lower Elementary program. They leave with confidence, independence, and strong academic foundations, and we know they are well prepared for success in their next adventure. They will be greatly missed in our classroom community.
We were also excited to welcome prospective new students into the classroom for shadow visits. Our second-year students did a wonderful job acting as guides and role models, warmly orienting the visiting kindergarten students to the environment and proudly sharing lessons and materials with them. It was wonderful to watch them step into leadership roles with such confidence and care.
As the school year comes to a close, it is always a pleasure to reflect on how much the children have grown physically, socially, emotionally, and academically throughout the year. Their growth, curiosity, and perseverance have been such a joy to witness. Thank you for your continued partnership and support throughout the year. I hope everyone has a restful and joyful summer, and I look forward to all that next year will bring.
Warmly,
Ms. Samantha and Ms. Maria
Peek Inside Upper Elementary
FALCON
Dear Falcon Families,
‘Tis the season for presentations! Our sixth-grade students did a fantastic job with their end-of-year Capstone Presentations. All of their hard work truly paid off, and it was wonderful to see them beaming with pride as they shared their research and projects. Thank you to all who came to support them during this special milestone.
The fourth- and fifth-grade students also rocked their very first slideshow presentations about a president of their choice! They demonstrated confidence, creativity, and growth in their presentation skills. As a bonus, the fourth graders also gave a follow-up presentation sharing what they learned during our visit to the recycling center.
In math, we have completed our review of all grade-level standards. Please continue encouraging math practice over the summer, especially with building fluency with multiplication facts, as this strong foundation will continue to support future learning.
In language, our Writer’s Workshop classes have been incredibly beneficial. The students’ writing has improved tremendously over the past few weeks, and it has been exciting to watch their confidence grow as writers. I am looking forward to continuing this work next year.
Our history studies on the Revolutionary War have concluded, and we have been having meaningful discussions to recap and reflect on all that we have learned throughout the unit.
In science, we applied what we learned at Agritopia about food preservation, along with our classroom studies on chemical reactions, to create a brine solution for pickling. The students enjoyed seeing these concepts come to life through hands-on work.
Thank you so much for sharing your children with me this year. They bring me so much joy each day, and I feel grateful to have been part of their growth and learning journey. I cannot wait to see all they will accomplish next year.
Warmly,
Ms. Emily and Ms. Carla
ROADRUNNER
Dear Roadrunner Families,
May has arrived and, somehow, the end of our school year is already upon us. It is hard to believe how quickly this year has passed. This month has truly been one of culmination, reflection, and celebration.
One of the most significant milestones of the month was the completion of our sixth graders’ Capstone presentations. Each student did an outstanding job. At the beginning of the year, many felt daunted by the impressive presentations they had seen from previous students. Over the course of the year, they dedicated countless hours to researching, taking notes, summarizing information, writing, creating visual materials, and preparing their final presentations. We are incredibly proud of all they accomplished and grateful that we were able to celebrate this important achievement alongside their families as they prepare to graduate next week.
This month, we also revisited many of the lessons and experiences inspired by our work at Agritopia. The children attempted to both propagate and plant basil seeds to create Mother’s Day gifts that would continue to grow, recalling the basil salt they made earlier in the year. We also explored the some of the history of canning and preservation and made fresh pickles together, which the class thoroughly enjoyed.
As the children prepared lessons for Show Me Night, they had additional opportunities to share their knowledge with incoming third graders who visited our classroom. Several students also visited Lower Elementary to present lessons and projects, taking on the role of mentors and leaders within our school community.
Our fifth graders also had the opportunity to visit the Farm, where they attended a fire safety presentation prepared and delivered by the eighth-grade students. It was a meaningful experience that highlighted both practical life knowledge and the confidence that comes from learning from older peers.
In addition to our many lessons and celebrations, the children worked together to clean and prepare our classroom for the close of the school year and for the students who will enter next fall. They carefully cleaned out their cubbies, organized their belongings, and bound their portfolios, creating a tangible record of their hard work and growth throughout the year.
Students have also been enthusiastically planning our end-of-year celebration. Through collaboration, research, and organization, they designed a wonderful event that will include a water slide, community-building games, Ms. Juany’s famous macaroni and cheese, popsicles, and other treats. It promises to be a joyful way to conclude an extraordinary year together.
As we reflect on the year, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to spend each day with your children and witness their remarkable growth. It has been a privilege to watch them not only achieve academic milestones, but also develop into thoughtful, capable, and compassionate young people as they navigated friendships, challenges, and real-life experiences.
To our sixth graders: we will miss you dearly. We are excited to hear about your future adventures and all that you will accomplish as you continue to grow and thrive.
To our returning students and families: we look forward to welcoming you back in July and continuing this journey together.
Thank you for your partnership, support, and trust throughout the year.
Wishing you all a restful, joyful, and adventure-filled summer.
With gratitude,
Ms. Lauren and Ms. Juany
