December 2024
Peek Inside Lower Elementary
BLACK BEAR
Dear Black Bear Families,
December is a time of joyful learning and festive celebration in our Black Bear community. We embraced the arrival of the season with a mix of lessons, seasonal projects and community activities. The children engaged in discussions about the winter solstice, exploring its significance in various cultures and understanding the science behind the shortest day of the year.
Through art and music, the children developed a deeper connection to the rhythms of winter. The classroom felt alive with excitement as we incorporated stories, crafts, and meaningful projects that celebrate the season, fostering both creativity and curiosity.
As December unfolds, we came together for our Winter Social and Spirit Week, creating a sense of community and joy. These activities allowed the Black Bear community to bond with peers, and spread holiday cheer. It’s a wonderful way to build school spirit and end the year on a high note.
As we approach the winter break, we want to extend our warmest wishes to all our families for a safe and peaceful holiday season, filled with rest, joy, and moments of connection. See you in the new year!
-Ms. Rebeca and Ms. Carmen
COYOTE
Dear Coyote Families,
As December unfolds, we are filled with gratitude for the growth and progress our students have made so far this year. This month, our classroom has been buzzing with excitement and preparation as we begin planning for a special event: our sleepover, scheduled for next month! This much-anticipated occasion offers our students an opportunity to bond, build independence, and celebrate their hard work together. More details about the sleepover will be shared as we finalize our plans.
To prepare for this exciting milestone, we have been focusing on accountability and responsibility in our daily classroom routines. These values not only help us get ready for the logistics of the sleepover and big trip but also foster essential life skills. Students have been practicing taking ownership of their actions, caring for their environment, and supporting one another in meaningful ways. These efforts have already shown a positive impact on their interactions and work habits.
We would also like to take a moment to acknowledge the benefits that contributions have for children. Whether it’s helping with classroom tasks, sharing supplies, or engaging in collaborative projects, these contributions empower children to feel a sense of belonging and purpose. By participating in a shared community, students learn the importance of teamwork, empathy, and respect for one another. Thank you for all the ways you support these experiences at home and in our classroom.
As we approach the end of the year, we want to wish each of you a restful and joyous winter break. This time is a wonderful opportunity to recharge and spend quality moments with loved ones. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2025, ready to embark on new adventures and continue our journey of learning and growth.
Warm wishes for a peaceful holiday season and a happy New Year,
Kindly,
Ms. Shelby & Ms. Evelyn
Peek Inside Upper Elementary
FALCON
Dear Families,
As we approach the end of the year, it's exciting to see the growth and progress our students have made in all subjects! Here's an update on what we've been learning across the different areas in the classroom:
Math
In math, we are continuing to build the foundational skills needed to meet Arizona state standards. This month, students have been working on calculating the area of rectangles, triangles, and trapezoids, which has strengthened their problem-solving abilities. We are also focusing on building fluency with long multiplication and long division, as well as exploring squares of numbers and exponents. Some of our advanced learners are even tackling the binomial cube formula! The challenges are getting more engaging, and students are improving their math confidence every day.
Language Arts
In language arts, our students have been working hard to strengthen their grammar, spelling, and writing skills. We're focusing on mastering capitalization, punctuation, and the rules for fixing sentence fragments and run-on sentences. For writing, many students have been creating beautiful poetry, including haikus, tankas, couplets, and quatrains. Others are diving into more complex writing projects, such as argumentative essays, research papers, and even writing their own plays. It's inspiring to see their creativity and critical thinking come to life through words!
Science
Our science curriculum has been diverse and full of fascinating topics! Some students have been learning about the atomic number of elements on the periodic table and how this relates to the arrangement of electrons in each shell. Others are comparing different animal classes and studying the fascinating process of classifying leaves. Additionally, some students are exploring global economics by creating maps that show the distribution of natural resources around the world. The connections they are making between science and real-world applications are truly impressive!
Music & Art
In the arts, students have been honing their creative skills in a variety of ways. Some students are learning how to knit and crochet, creating cozy beanies and coasters, while others are perfecting their drawing techniques, focusing on shading, proportions, and overlapping images. In music, many students are developing their skills on the piano, learning music theory, and training their ears to recognize and organize pitches. It’s wonderful to see their artistic and musical talents flourish!
History
Our study of Ancient Egypt continues to captivate the class! Students are expanding their understanding of how the pyramids were built, solving math problems that the Egyptians may have used, learning about the mummification process, and even exploring ancient Egyptian clothing. Each group also had the opportunity to create their own version of a pyramid, which represented the achievements and accomplishments of different social classes in ancient Egypt. It’s amazing how much they’ve learned about this ancient civilization!
Going Outs/Going Ins
In addition to classroom learning, we’ve had a special guest speaker visit us from Habitat for Humanity. They shared valuable insights about how houses are built today, highlighting the many careers and skills involved in constructing homes. Our students were fascinated by the process and had many thoughtful questions! We are still in the planning stages for our next Going Out trip, and we look forward to sharing more details with you soon.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. We are excited about the progress our students are making, and we look forward to all the learning ahead in the new year!
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season,
Ms. Emily and Ms. Carla
ROADRUNNER
Dear Roadrunner families,
Although December has been short, it has been quite busy and full of excitement. It was packed full of culminating events that got the whole family involved, and we loved being able to host events where families were able to join! It was full of meaningful experiences, group work, community-building projects, and lots of fun!
First, we want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who supported our Taco Tuesday fundraiser. The children raised over $1,000 in profit, and it was an impressive learning journey for all involved. The project began with small groups brainstorming fundraising ideas, writing pitches, and presenting them to the classroom. The class voted, and the team with the most compelling idea became the project managers, leading the entire community in this initiative. From price matching to creating a website survey and QR codes, to designing tables, graphs, and proposals—there was plenty of work! The children held meetings with the administration, our finance director, and logistics teams to ensure everything ran smoothly. It was intricate, collaborative, and a true testament to their growing skills.
In addition to our fundraiser, we also completed our studies on Ancient Egypt. The children delved into Egyptian art, architecture, and society, and even enjoyed a guest speaker from Habitat for Humanity who connected the construction of homes today to the building of monumental structures in ancient Egypt. The highlight of our studies was the Wax Museum, where the children worked hard to present their knowledge to our community. We concluded with an Egyptian feast, celebrating with foods commonly eaten in that time and region, which tied together our cultural studies beautifully.
The children also dedicated time to creating their beautiful winter gifts and continuing their practical skills development, always working hard in their usual follow-up tasks. This month has been filled with growth, and it’s been a joy to witness how they’ve made connections between their studies and their everyday lives.
We wish you all a wonderful winter break and happy holidays!
Warmly,
Ms. Lauren and Ms. Juany
