“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” -Martin Luther King, Jr., Letter from Birmingham, Alabama jail, April 16, 1963

We had a fantastic week in Upper El! Our first order of business was introducing our new guinea pig, Porky, to Teddy. We gave them some time out of their cages to get acquainted. We discovered that Porky needs to learn some manners, so we are giving Teddy some time to teach him while we assist a little. Next week, we will continue to let the two spend short periods of time together.

On Tuesday, we attended the Middle School Math Carnival. We had a blast playing the games created by our sixth through eighth graders, winning tickets, and enjoying some delicious treats. Our fifth graders are very excited to participate in this annual carnival next year!

On Thursday, we made 120 sandwiches for the St. Vincent DePaul Mission in Waterbury. We are becoming quite efficient at Cafe Upper El, completing the sandwich-making and cleanup in just half an hour. Thank you very much for all the food donations, and a special thanks to Nick, Leslie, and Nora for volunteering their time.

We are making great progress on our autobiographies, incorporating our writing lessons into our work. Students are enjoying taking a stroll down memory lane as they write chapters about their younger years and learn so much about their families!

Upcoming Important Dates:

• Tuesday, January 13 @ 2:00: MS Math Carnival
• Thursday, January 15 @ 9:30: UE Community Service – Sandwich Making
• Friday, January 16: Early Dismissal – Professional Development
• Monday, January 19: No School – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
• Friday, January 30 @ 2:15 – UE Performing Arts Presentation

What a joyful week we’ve had, full of preparation, anticipation, and celebration!

We wrapped up our lessons for the session and had our final Literature Circle before heading off on our two-week break, finishing up our assignments together. We baked four delicious loaves of banana and zucchini bread (with chocolate chips, of course!) for our December birthday breakfast on Wednesday, chosen by our birthday honorees. We worked hard to transform the Upper El/Middle School hallway into a gingerbread house, which our adorable toddlers and primary students especially enjoyed. We even found time for sledding, snowball fights, and building snowmen—all while getting ready for the Winter Showcase.

On Thursday, we celebrated with our holiday party in our PJs, exchanged “Secret Holiday Pudding” gifts, and watched Annie on the Promethean Board. To top it all off, our amazing students, led by the equally amazing Megan Kirk, delivered a stunning, emotional performance on Friday to send us off into winter break.

Thank you so much for the yummy treats you sent in for our party and for the thoughtful gifts you gave to Sara and me. I wish you a beautiful holiday season filled with love and peace!

See you in 2026!

It was a busy and emotional week in Upper El.

Earlier in the week, the students decided to have a Secret Santa-style gift exchange. During our class meeting, they agreed to rename it “Secret Holiday Pudding” to make it more inclusive. Each student completed a questionnaire listing their favorites to help their secret person choose a thoughtful gift.

We also headed down to the edge of our property by the pond to do some archaeological work and retrieve some of the items from our history lesson a few weeks ago, when we studied artifacts left behind over time. The students learned about the different roles people have on a dig team and experienced how much care and patience the work requires. This coming week, they will look at some of the samples they collected under the microscope as our lessons continue.

On Thursday, the class spent the morning making 167 sandwiches. We pivoted a bit this week and chose to share the love closer to school, donating the sandwiches to the Newtown Senior Center. They will be delivered to members of our community who are in need and are unable to leave their homes for various reasons. Thank you to all who contributed ingredients, and to Michael and Priscila for volunteering their time to help us make sandwiches.

The end of our week started with a visit from our adorable book buddies, which always brings a lot of joy to the classroom. Then our middle school friends joined us as we said a sweet and tender goodbye to our little friend, Houdini, and laid him to rest in the woods behind the school. The students held that space with such care for one another.

We spent the rest of the day simply enjoying being together and decorating the hallway outside our classroom to transform it into a giant gingerbread house. The creativity, collaboration, and laughter were exactly what we needed.

I am continually inspired by the love and resilience of these beautiful humans I have the good fortune of working with every day.

Upcoming Dates and Information

• Please check with your child each day to make sure they have a warm coat, hat, and mittens or gloves for daily outdoor play.
• Wednesday, 12/17 at 8:30: December Birthday Breakfast for families of children with December birthdays
• Thursday, 12/18: Class Holiday Party – Students can wear their pajamas and bring their gift for the Secret Pudding gift exchange.
• Friday, 12/19 at 10:30: Winter Showcase and Early Dismissal

“Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.” -Henry Ward Beecher

This coming week, we have our schoolwide ceremony of giving thanks and sharing bread, and we couldn’t be more excited! To kick things off, we’ll have a student from each level – primary through middle school – representing one of the four elements: wind, earth, water, and fire, as a poem about the four elements is read by middle school students. It’s a beautiful way to connect with nature and remind us how intertwined we are with the world around us. After the poem, each class will get a chance to share what they’re thankful for. I always love hearing what the children appreciate; it’s a beautiful reminder of the many things—big and small—that fill our lives with joy and happiness. Then, upper el and middle school students will share blessings from various cultures in different languages. This is such a fantastic opportunity for us not only to celebrate our differences but also to embrace the variety of traditions that make our community so unique. Finally, upper el students will present the five contemplations focusing on gratitude and mindful eating. These reflections are important reminders for all of us to appreciate what we have and to be mindful of our blessings. We will end our gathering with middle school students distributing bread that’s been baked by each class to all of us. There’s something really special about sharing bread; it brings a sense of warmth and unity to our celebration.

We prepared for our upcoming celebration by baking three types of bread on Friday. Thank you very much to Elle for helping us bake bread! We appreciate your time and all of your help.

Let’s take a moment to reflect on what we’re grateful for and enjoy this wonderful experience together as a community. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” -Mahatma Gandhi

What a fantastic week it was in Upper Elementary! Our week began with a visit from Jennifer Mills, a Lower El parent who is a retired Navy captain and diplomat. She gave a wonderful presentation to students from Lower Elementary through Middle School and answered numerous questions. We wish a Happy Veterans Day to all who serve or have served, and we thank you for your service!

We were thrilled to have our very first snowflakes of the season. There’s something magical about watching the snowflakes drift down from the sky while sipping on some delicious hot cocoa. The warmth of the cocoa and the excitement of the snow definitely made our spirits bright as we settled into another productive week of learning.

On Thursday, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work for a great cause! Our class worked with our amazing volunteers to assemble over 150 sandwiches for the St. Vincent de Paul soup kitchen in Waterbury. It was such a rewarding experience to know that our hard work would help feed those in our community who are in need. Each sandwich was made with care and love, and we couldn’t be prouder of how everyone worked together for this important project. It’s always heartwarming to see what we can achieve when we join forces for a good cause! Thank you very much to Dylan, Nora, Priscila, and Ali (who also delivered our sandwiches to the soup kitchen) for all of your help! And thank you to the many families who donated the ingredients for our sandwiches! We appreciate you all so much.

After missing our kindergarten friends for the last three weeks, we were thrilled to get back to our Book Buddies on Friday. There’s a special joy in sharing stories with our younger friends. Watching them light up with excitement as we read together reminds us why reading is so essential! It’s not just about the words on the page; it’s about making connections and sharing imagination.

To wrap up our week, we took a stroll in the woods on Friday for a hands-on history lesson. Our adventure into nature helped us learn about how artifacts are left behind by humans, offering a fascinating glimpse into the past. During our lesson, we discussed the kinds of things people might leave behind (think of all the treasures that could be uncovered in a thousand more years!). It was incredible to be surrounded by the beauty of nature while also diving into how our history is intertwined with the world around us.

Wow, what a week we just had! There’s so much to share about all the activities that filled our days with fun, learning, and celebration. Here’s a recap.

On Wednesday, we visited the Middle School Science Fair, and it was amazing! Students were excited to showcase their projects, and their creativity was inspiring! There were various experiments, ranging from harnessing the power of the wind to fascinating studies on plant growth. Upper El students enjoyed talking with the middle school students about their projects, reminding us of the importance of curiosity and innovation in our own journeys as students.

On Thursday, we had our Diwali celebration, a highlight we were all really looking forward to. The energy was incredible as students ranging from four years old to middle school shared the significance of the festival. There was dancing, music, and food that beautifully displayed the story of Ramayana.

To wrap up this fantastic week, we had a visit from the Botsford Fire Chief, who taught us all about fire safety. The presentation provided extensive information on the safety aspects of lithium-ion batteries. He shared some recent stories from the field, which really brought the job to life for us. It’s essential to know how to stay safe, and we will continue the conversation with upper elementary students this coming week in an age-appropriate manner so they understand what they, as fourth and fifth graders, can do to keep themselves safe.

This week, we will have our first sandwich-making day of the school year. Thank you to all who are contributing our sandwich ingredients, and a special thank you to Nora for organizing this for us.

Upcoming Events:

• Thursday, November 13 – Sandwich Making for St. Vincent DePaul Mission