Blog

Middle School: Expert Presentations & Garden Party

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

Announcements & Upcoming Events:

  • Fri., 5/23 @ 5pm: Spring Concert & Picnic
  • Tues., 5/27-Fri., 5/30: MS Trip (Click Here For Details on Trip, Packing List, & Balance)
  • Week of 6/2: Spirit Week 
  • Wed., 6/4 @ 5pm: Farewell to the Class of 2025 An event hosted by 6th and 7th grade students to honor their graduating classmates. Please plan on attending with your student(s)
  • Thurs., 6/5 @ 5pm: 8th Grade Graduation For 8th grade families and friends at the Newtown Meetinghouse
  • Fri., 6/6: Last Day of School/Dismissal @ 11:30 am

It was a special week for Middle School students, and they had feelings that the year was coming to a close.

First, 8th-grade graduates presented their Expert Project Presentations. The depth of their research, passion for their topics, and bravery in speaking to their audience were certainly impressive. Students spoke for 15-20 minutes about the following topics:

  • From Boneshakers to Mountain Bikes: The Evolution and Impact of the Bicycle
  • The Troubles in Northern Ireland: A Conflict of Identity, Politics, and History
  • Inside the Consumer Mind:  The Psychology Behind Advertising
  • The Use of 3D Printing in Today’s Modern World
  • The Manhattan Project: Building the Atomic Age
  • Leveling Up: The Evolution of Video Games
  • Fishing: Economics, Impact, and the Environment
  • Adventure Aesthetics

Thank you to all the middle school students and families who came to support their peers as they achieved this accomplishment.

Next, it was a fantastic end to the week with the Middle School Garden Party. This fun social event, organized by the 8th-grade Leadership class, had students dressing up, dancing, and playing games. The crowd was lively and on their feet for just about the entire party. Thank you to the parents for contributing to the snacks and treats. A special thank you to the class parents for decorating!

Only a few more weeks remain, and they will be packed with memories as we close the school year.

This Week in Upper El

Posted on by Karen Sankey

Upcoming important dates:

  • Friday, May 23 at 5:00: Spring Concert
  • Tuesday, May 27 – Thursday, May 29: Upper El trip to Nature’s Classroom
  • Monday, June 2: Field Day
  • Friday, June 6: Moving Up Ceremony and Last Day of School

The past week has been quite busy with a mix of math lessons and hands-on activities. We’ve been working hard on comprehension, spelling, and even fine-tuning our editing skills, specifically focusing on commas and capitalization. Plus, we wrapped up our final Novel Study meeting of the year, which was a great way to reflect on what we’ve read together. Our book, Fish in a Tree, provided many opportunities for great discussion and reflection. I was so impressed with how brave and willing many students were to share their own challenges during our conversations about the book.

I’m really impressed with how motivated the upper elementary students are! They’re diving into their lessons and pushing themselves to learn more as we approach the end of the school year.

We are looking forward to our upcoming trip to Nature’s Classroom in just over a week! If anyone needs another copy of the Packing List or has any questions about the trip, just let me know. I’ll be sharing pictures and updates through our WhatsApp chat group while we’re away. If you haven’t joined yet and need the invite again, just give me a shout!

Kicking Off Our Poetry Unit in Lower Elementary

Posted on by Ashley O'Connell

Recently, we’ve launched our poetry unit, and the classroom is already buzzing with creativity! To ease into the world of verse, we began with “-ing” poems—a playful and accessible way for students to explore action, emotion, and imagery. These poems help students focus on verbs and vivid language, all while tapping into their own experiences and observations.

After experimenting with “-ing” lines like dancing, swirling, dreaming, we introduced similes—comparisons that bring writing to life by showing how one thing is like another. Students practiced using “like” and “as” to add depth to their poems, trying lines like floating like a feather or as loud as a thunderclap.

It’s been a joyful and imaginative start, and we’re excited to see where our poetic journey takes us next!

Ms. Marissa: Weekly Update

Posted on by Marissa Frisk

During the month of May, we’ve embarked on a magical journey into the world of pollinators and insects. The highlight? Witnessing the awe-inspiring transformation of caterpillars into butterflies—a real-life lesson in metamorphosis that has captivated every child.

Each day, the children observe our classroom caterpillars with quiet curiosity, noting changes in their size, movement, and habits.

Metamorphosis offers more than a science lesson—it invites reflection on patience, change, and the beauty of nature’s rhythms. Through this process, our young learners are not just discovering biology—they’re developing empathy, observation skills, and deep respect for living things.

We can’t wait to release our butterflies into our flower garden in the next few weeks, adding a meaningful moment to our study of pollinators and their role in the ecosystem. What a beautiful way to learn and grow together!

We hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend. We really enjoyed creating the children’s Mother’s Day surprises for you – each one is more precious than the last!

Marissa & Sue

Ms. Handibode: Fun at Flanders

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

 

On Monday, the Kindergarten children spent time at Flanders Nature Center in Woodbury. We began by taking a hike through the woods to the Botany Pond. The children then had the opportunity to catch and identify amphibians, reptiles, and insects. We found tadpoles, beetles, newts, giant water bugs, leeches and salamanders. We observed turtles resting on a rock and fish swimming but this year we searched in vain for those elusive frogs. When we were done, we released any living thing we had collected and climbed aboard for a tractor ride. We were able to get up close to a beaver lodge and get a peek at a hawk flying back and forth to it’s nest.  It was informative and impressive to speak with a Flanders volunteer, who explained how and why the beavers dam up a culvert each night. Walking back, several children shared what a great day it was! Flanders is open to the public, and we encourage you to take advantage of this amazingly beautiful nature center.

Wishing you all a week filled with much peace and love.

Michelle & Maria

Mrs. Lopes: A Look at Our Week

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

On Monday, the Kindergarten children spent time at Flanders Nature Center in Woodbury. We began by taking a hike through the woods to the Botany Pond. The children then had the opportunity to catch and identify amphibians, reptiles, and insects. We found tadpoles, beetles, newts, giant water bugs, leeches and salamanders. We observed turtles resting on a rock, fish swimming, and one person even caught a frog.  When we were done, we released any living thing we had collected and climbed aboard for a tractor ride. We were able to get up close to a beaver lodge and get a peek at a hawk flying back and forth to it’s nest.  It was informative and impressive to speak with a Flanders volunteer, who explained how and why the beavers dam up a culvert each night. Walking back, several children shared what a great day it was! Flanders is open to the public, and we encourage you to take advantage of this amazingly beautiful nature center.

Wishing you all a week filled with much peace and love.

Amanda & Hema

Mrs. Hood: Welcome to the World of Insects!

Posted on by Andrea Hood

This week, we took a closer look at some of the tiniest but most fascinating creatures on Earth—insects! We began by exploring the anatomy of an insect, using large models to help us see all the important parts up close. The children were introduced to the three main body parts of all insects: the head, thorax, and abdomen. We also learned that insects have six legs, antennae to help them smell and feel the world around them, and most have wings as well.

To help reinforce this new vocabulary in a fun and memorable way, we learned a new song set to the familiar tune of “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”:

Head, thorax, abdomen, abdomen
Head, thorax, abdomen, abdomen
Eyes, antennas, wings, six legs
Head, thorax, abdomen, abdomen

The children loved singing and moving along, pretending to be their favorite insect and it helped solidify these big words in a joyful and age-appropriate way!

With a strong foundation in insect anatomy, we zoomed in on a specific insect: the ant. We learned about the ant’s life cycle, discovering the stages of egg, larva, pupa, and adult ant. These were exciting new words for the toddlers, and many repeated them throughout the week as we worked, sang, and played.

We also made exciting real-world connections as  some live insects visited our classroom—what perfect timing! The children were eager to observe them carefully and point out their body parts, matching what we had learned in our lessons.

Although spiders sparked a lot of interest too, we learned that they are not insects because they have eight legs and only two body segments. Still, spiders became a fun part of our exploration, and the children enjoyed watching them closely.

During outdoor time, we continued to observe and discuss other insects such as grasshoppers, ladybugs, dragonflies, flies, and bees. Using models and real sightings, the children are beginning to recognize patterns and characteristics that help them classify what is (and isn’t!) an insect. Next week, we will focus our studies in the majestic butterflies… the children are eager to see the live caterpillars finally arrive (they got lost in the mail) and watch their life cycle right before their very own eyes! We can’t wait!

For food tasting this week, we offered something fresh and juicy: kiwi! The children were curious about the fuzzy brown exterior and the bright green inside with its tiny seeds. Some dove right in, while others took cautious little nibbles.

We also had the joy of celebrating a very special birthday this week as one of our friends turned three years old!  The birthday child beamed with pride, and the whole class joined in singing and sharing in the joy of the moment, as always!

Finally, a heartfelt thank you:

  • To all the parents who took time to meet with Patty and me during Parent-Teacher Conferences—we loved connecting with you.
  • To the wonderful grandparents and special friends who joined us for Grandparents’ Day—your presence meant so much to the children.
  • To all of you for the love and appreciation shown during Teacher Appreciation Week—your kind words and thoughtful gestures truly touched our hearts.
  • And to all the amazing mothers in our classroom community—Happy Mother’s Day! Thank you for your endless love, strength, and the beautiful energy you bring into your children’s lives. We hope you feel celebrated and appreciated this weekend and always.

Warmly,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Patty

Reminder: Please make sure your child bring rain boots and rain jacket/suit on rainy days! We will take advantage of outdoors adventures in all type of weather as much is possible.

Middle School: Week in Review

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

The first full week of May has passed in a flash. Next week is an exciting week for the Middle School as 8th grade students present their Expert Presentations, which concludes several months of research, writing, and developing their presentation. All Middle School students and families are welcome at this event. Additionally, we will wrap up next week with the Middle School Garden Party! See below for a link to the evite if you haven’t RSVPd for your student(s).

Announcements & Upcoming Events:

  • MEDICAL FORMS FOR THE MS TRIP ARE NOW PAST DUE. Please turn in your forms ASAP. ALL students traveling must submit!
  • Wed., 5/14 @ 6 pm: 8th Grade Expert Presentations Culmination of 8th Grade Research Projects. MS students are encouraged to attend.
  • Fri., 5/16 @ 6:30-8:30pm: Middle School Spring Dance CLICK HERE to RSVP
  • Fri., 5/23 @ 5pm: Spring Concert & Picnic
  • Tues., 5/27-Fri., 5/30: MS Trip (Packing List and more info coming SOON)
  • Week of 6/2: Spirit Week 
  • Wed., 6/4 @ 5pm: Farewell to the Class of 2025 An event hosted by 6th and 7th grade students to honor their graduating classmates. Please plan on attending with your student(s)
  • Thurs., 6/5 @ 5pm: 8th Grade Graduation For 8th grade families and friends at the Newtown Meetinghouse
  • Fri., 6/6: Last Day of School/Dismissal @ 11:30 am

Humanities

6th grade Humanities classes are wrapping up one novel with a final writing piece and are already onto the next!  Students are in different stages of the writing process with their final essay about <em>The Egypt Game</em>. Their writing discusses the change throughout the plot of one of the protagonists, April. As they have been composing, they are now reading <em>Shooting Kabul</em> by N.H. Senzai. This novel begins in Afghanistan and follows an Afghani family fleeing the Taliban and seeking asylum in the United States in 2001.

7th grade Humanities classes spent the week learning about the Weimar Republic. During this time of history in Germany, we investigated the aftermath of the Treaty of Versailles, their attempt at Democracy, education, women’s rights, the economy (including hyperinflation and the Great Depression), and the antisemitic views of the region. This knowledge paves the way for learning about Hitler’s rise to power and its effects on the world. Next week, students will learn about this in addition to beginning the memoir, <em>Four Perfect Pebbles</em> by Marion Blumenthal Lazan. On Poetry Tuesday, the 7th grade lightened the mood after some heavy content by discussing the elements of children’s literature (particularly poetry) and composed their own poems targeted for a young audience. They had a great time composing and sharing!

The 8th grade is in the final stretch of their Expert Presentations! Students were making revisions, running through presentations with each other, and receiving additional feedback from Mrs. Lamb. Next week, they will be spending the beginning of the week with Mrs. Lamb rehearsing on stage in the gym, revising their essays, and setting up their Expert Tables.

Science
6th Grade:
This week in Science, students continued working within the Environmental Science unit. They focused on the divide between developed and developing countries, discussing criteria to define each.  The class then split into groups and looked at their own clothing in order to see where most of their garments are made.  Not surprisingly, over 95% of our classroom’s clothing was made in developing countries.  Students then spent time brainstorming why that might be and what the environmental impacts of that truth might be.
7th Grade:
This week 7th grade wrapped up their unit on Ionic Compounds.  They spent time learning about polyatomic ions and acids at the start of the week and ended the week reviewing the topic as a whole.  Students were even able to watch an episode of Mythbusters in which the scientists conducted chemical experiments to investigate whether what is seen on TV is accurate.  Students did an excellent job on this unit!  This subject is not easy and students persevered while challenging themselves.  As a group, their willingness to push themselves is impressive.  Next week, the class will begin their final unit on Covalent Compounds.
8th grade:
This week was spent wrapping up their unit on Genetics, both Mendelian and Non-Mendelian, in addition to the study of pedigree charts.  Students welcomed the challenge of pedigrees, learning the different patterns of different types of inheritance.  Their sticktoitiveness and wanting to succeed is worth mention.  The class, as a whole, did a wonderful job putting all of their recently gained vocabulary and knowledge together in attacking complex pedigrees. Next week will begin their final unit on Evolution.
Math

Pre-Transition: The Pre-Transition class wrapped up their learning of Chapter 7 this week. The week began with learning the difference between repeating and terminating decimals and how to determine if a simple fraction will be one or the other. The class then learned how to find quotients of decimals, divide negative and positive numbers, and solve multiplication and division equations using fact triangles. They will take the Chapter 7 Test on Thursday, May 15.

Transition: This week, the Transition class completed Chapter 8. They can now solve and check equations in the form ax + b = c using the Multiplication Property of Equality. They then learned how to solve equations in the form of y = ax + b. They will take the Chapter 8 test on Thursday, May 15.
Algebra: It was a week full of radicals in Algebra as we closed out on Chapter 8. The week began with learning to simplify square roots and cube roots. They then moved on to multiplying and dividing square roots, and using the Pythagorean Theorem to calculate distances on the x-y coordinate plane. They will take the Chapter 8 Test on Thursday, May 15.
 
Geometry: The Geometry class finalized their learning of Chapter 7 this week. They can now identify properties of parallelograms and determine whether conditions are sufficient for parallelograms and other quadrilaterals. This class has also mastered representing relationships between quadrilaterals using the hierarchy based on diagonals. They will take the Chapter 7 Test on Thursday, May 15.