Summer Wishes

We hope you have an incredible summer, filled with friendship, laughter and time to relax.  We will miss you, but we look forward to welcoming you back to school in September when we'll explore ideas, investigate questions and play on the new playground!

Fourth grade is AWESOME!

The last few weeks, fourth grade has been completely immersed in finishing projects, performing in a pop up strings concert, narrating and performing in the Spring Program, and creating and staging the Fourth Grade Fair for the Lower School. Without a doubt this WAS the busiest time of year but oh what fun we had!

Filming puppet adaptation of John Rankin and John Parker

Student recording her song of freedom accompanied by guitar

Filming puppet show of Thomas Garrett

Director making finishing touches on Lucretia Mott Lego movie

The students have been studying the inception of slavery and the abolition movement in the United States till the end of the Civil War. Each student was assigned a different topic or individual(s) to research. They were given age appropriate books or handouts and were tasked with creating a script that told the story of their topic. They were given complete artistic license. What this actually means is that they could use any form of expression to tell their story ~ a play, puppetry, stop motion animation, dance, music, or whatever their creative minds could think up. The one caveat was that they had to create a movie documenting their topic. The result was phenomenal. Each student's work demonstrates an understanding of their topic and a high level of creative competency in producing their film. The students had the opportunity to view all the films in chronological order. Below is a url to all movies.

                                                                         https://youtu.be/PTM5viPNrY4

Rehearsing for the concert

Performing in Stewart Lobby

Violins, violas and cellos were the instruments being played at the 4th grades pop-up concert in the Stewart Lobby of the Upper School. Under the direction of Franklin Niño, the students have been studying their instrument since the beginning of the school year. This was the first time they all played together in concert and the result was wonderful. The turn out couldn't have been better and the audience favorite was a tie between Hot Cross Buns and Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel. 

Post performance

As leaders in Lower School, the 4th grade students were given the opportunity to be the leads and transition musicians in the Spring Programs this year. The production was entitled The Story of the Great Wood ~ A Fairytale,  the students had fun portraying knights, wizards, elves, centaurs and other woodland creatures. They also had the opportunity to sing, choreograph and dance their hearts out. A phenomenal performance was given by all.

As a final gesture, demonstrating their leadership in the lower school and their ability to work together to create a day of pure fun, the fourth grade creates and runs The Fourth Grade Fair. The fair includes a bit of magic and face painting as well as interactive games and competitions. Fourth graders decide on what booths, games and competitions they wish to create and sponsor and then they run the show! The end result is pure joy and lots of endless laughter. It has been a great year. Thank you to all families and friends!

Teacher Appreciation - Home and School

First Grade Author's Celebration

First grade authors celebrated their reading and writing this spring on Monday, June 6 with their families. Students read a selection from their animal research and one of their poems. They then enjoyed  a breakfast of foods connected to the fairy tales explored this spring and shared the rest of their books with their families and friends.

First graders read a variety of fairy tales and explored the differences and similarities between different versions of the same fairytale This was an opportunity to explore how the country of origin and the culture influences the version of various tales. The animals featured in Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood, and The Three Little Pigs were researched by the students. Using a variety of resources such as background knowledge of students, books, articles and videos, students selected facts of interest and then learned how to group them in categories that made sense such as body, diet, habitat, communication and fun facts. After organizing their facts they wrote a draft and then a good copy. An illustration of each animal, reflecting one of the facts written by the student, was carefully done by using photographs as models.

Congratulations to out fabulous first grade authors!!!

Lower School Book Club for Adults - Back to School Book Club Selections

This has been an exciting year for our Lower School Book Club for Adults. We have read and discussed compelling novels in our monthly morning meetings. Over coffee and a light breakfast, talk about books has enabled us to become quite close as we make connections between the novels, our lives and the world. These are the same wonderful connections that our students in Lower School are making to books. Students also love peeking into the library and seeing their family members discussing books. It reinforces for them the importance of books in adult lives. If you haven't joined us yet, consider meeting with us in the 2016- 17 school year. At our last book group meeting, members asked me to post the first few books to be discussed for this coming school year so that they could begin reading them this summer.
The first three books to be discussed during the 2016-17 school year will be:

1. The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

2. The Turner House by Angela Flournoy

3. My Brilliant Friend by Ellen Ferrante

Pioneer Family Picnic - Second Grade

With just a few days left to the school year, moments like those pictured below are even more precious.  Thank you for sharing your children.  It was wonderful to see them sharing their work with family.

(4º) Cuarto grado culmina su estudio / (4th) Fourth grade culminates their study

The fourth graders have amazed us all with their hospitality skills. Their restaurant simulation as a culminating activity for our lengthy study on comidas has been a huge success!! The restaurant owner(s) and staff have wowed their clientes (customers) with mouth-watering meals, delicious drinks, yummy desserts and amazing service. Here’s what some of the critics had to say:

“Los Tres Amigos / The Three Friends” gave us the best of what our area can offer. Owners Teo (Theo), Ruairi, and Cameron served up the best dishes including “patatas con salsa de guacamole” (potato chips with guacamole sauce) and all you can eat “palomitas de maíz” (popcorn).  The best selling item on the menú was the create-your-own tacos. ¡Delicioso! But, a word of advice if you want to visit, bring your own drinking water for if you order the “agua mineral” (mineral water) that will set you back “$300k.”

Independent owner, Genny, showcased her amazing hospitality skills during her grand opening of “Casita Dulce / Sweet Shack”. Although few choices were offered on the menú, the treats were outstanding. Her “galletas dulce” (cookies), “magdalenas” (cupcakes) and “brownies” were the biggest hits including a most delicious cup of  “chocolate caliente con crema batida y malvaviscos” (hot cocoa with whip cream and marshmallows). ¡Divino!

Cozy, yummy and delicious are the three words to describe Noah’s eatery, “Café Solitario / Lonely Cafe”. In a much-relaxed ambience, the clientes sat and enjoyed a great cup of “café” for $6.00 or “té” for $4.00. Oh, and the bagel for $2.50? Well, it was full of bagel-y goodness!!

“L.A. Platos / L.A. Dishes” was a scrumptious restaurant that could not be missed! Owners Lauren and Ashley delivered delightful dishes as they modeled beautifully the roles of both restaurant propietarias (property owners) and servidoras (servers). Their eatery offered the best “tortilla” (omelet), “papitas frita” (French fries), “bagels con queso crema” (with cream cheese), and “mini pizzas”. But, the items the clientes could not get enough were their all-natural homemade “batidos” (smoothies) and appetizing “s’mores”. Indudablemente worth the visit!

 

“La Segunda Copa / The Second Cup” was a great little spot to stop in and relax while sipping on “cocoa caliente” (hot cocoa), café or té.  Owners Jared and Aidan provided amazing customer service and delightful desserts such as their delicious house specialty “croissant de chocolate.”  The dishes are not only tasty, but they are quite affordable too…well, except the “agua.” Ordering water from the menú will set you back $100,000,000,000. Hope you like té.

If breakfast and a treat is what you’re craving for then head over to Josie’s restaurant, “Mi Tienda de Dulce / My Sweet Shop”. This single owner establishment serves the best tasting “huevos revueltos” (scrambled eggs) and sweetest frutas (fruits) money can buy! But, if you’d much rather skip breakfast and order dessert, then the yummy homemade “bizcocho de chocolate” (chocolate cake) is highly recommended. When you order, your slice is served with “helado de vainilla” (vanilla ice cream). ¡Increíble! The brownies are also the clientes favorite. Who says you can’t have postre (dessert) for breakfast?

The experience at the “Doble K / Double K” restaurant was truly wonderful! Owners /chefs, Katie and Kaitlyn, dazzled their clientes with their mouth-watering “rosquilla” (donuts) for just $5.00 and their delicious “limonada” for $0.75. And, for those bacon lovers, $5.00 will get you a slice…or two! A must try! ¡Fantastico!

 

If you’re in the mood for a great tasting dessert, then head over to “Caídas de Limón / Lemon Falls”. Lori, the owner and baker, serves the most scrumptious miniature sized “pastel de manzana” (apple pie) for only $1.75. And, for those with a sweet-n-salty palate “galletas saladas” (pretzels) come with the treat. ¡Maravilloso!

The delicious aroma coming from “Compañeros del Almuerzo / Lunch Buddy’s” had everyone salivating! Even though owner Julien was away on a business trip the service provided by the other owners was amazing!  Alejandro, Nathan, & Sophia worked cooperatively as they cooked and served their customers the most delectable “nugget de pollo” (chicken nuggets), “papitas fritas” (French fries) and a flavorful thirst quenching “limonada”. “Gofre con mantequilla” (waffle with butter) was also a scrumptious item on the menú. ¡Magnífico!

Leela’s & Skye’s “Esquina de Cubo de Azucar Dulce / Sweet Sugar Cube Corner” should not be missed when searching for a great taste at a great price! For $1.00, you can order Leela’s famous lip smacking “batido” (smoothie) of “fresa” (strawberry), “arándano” (blueberry), or “mango”. And, if you’re like the majority of the clientes that can’t choose which batido, then order all flavors mixed. To complement Leela’s famous batido is owner and chef Skye’s "croissant de chocolate" for a reasonable $0.50. ¡Espectacular!

Owner and chef Rainey aimed for a warm and homey feeling when one entered her restaurant, “el café en casa / coffee at home” and as the patrons expressed, she accomplished her goal. Whether tossing up “ensalada” (salad), cooking “huevos servido con queso” (eggs served with cheese) or baking a “pizza” with “opción de pepperoni” (pizza with choice of pepperoni) Rainey served her clientes with a huge tender smile. And, seconds were available at no extra cost! But, the staple favorite was her homestyle “chocolate caliente con malvaviscos” that had everyone asking for more.

It’s pretty easy to rack up quite a bill at Jenkintown’s “Destino Delicioso / Delicious Destiny.”Camren and Jackson are the owners of this exquisite eatery, offering treats made of the best of the best such as their signature “Pios” (Peeps), a “$60 million” dessert bulging with top-grade marshmallow. Although short-staffed as Camren was attending the annual Chef Culinary Conference, Jackson managed to provide exceptional service to the customers. So, for those who love to drop a lot of money for a mouth-watering sweet, then this is the place to go. But, if you don’t have a deep pocket, no worries! They offer luscious “Twinkies” at $6.00 and delectable “brownies” at $20.00. ¡Exquisito!