Wesley Winter Newsletter 2022

Winter Newsletter 2022

Excerpts from...

The Deans' Den

Admissions News

The Kindergarten students have been working hard to create a social justice commercial to share all of the interesting information they’ve learned in their Social Justice class this school year, highlighting concepts like identity, the importance of being respectful and inclusive of others, and so much more!

We eagerly look forward to welcoming a new kindergarten class in the fall as well as new students across grade levels where we have openings.

Families join Wesley because they believe in the mission of the school and feel their family values are well aligned with ours.

A Message from the Head of School Some of the most noteworthy accomplishments over the past few months have been due to the amazing generosity of the Wesley community.

Our 100 Days of Giving Annual Fund campaign was wildly successful, not only smashing through Annual Fund records in terms of dollars raised, but also reaching an extremely uncommon full 100% parent participation. I am grateful and inspired by everyone who supported the school in this manner.

IN THIS ISSUE

3 A Message from the Head of School 14 Development Office Update Julie Galles

4 The Deans' Den (Band Level News) Joey Campanella, Michelle Allegra, Elizabeth Heneveld, LeLoni Bass, & George Eleftheriades

7 CODI Corner Traci Allen

8 Board of Trustees News Paolo Velasco

9 Parents' Association Update Marissa Seeman

12 Coach's Corner JoAnn Neil

Tammy Rodriguez & Dyllan Fernandez

15 Admissions News

Verena Denove & Lindsey Drasin

16 Communications Update Lindsey Drasin & Sarah Francis

17 Literacy at Wesley: Inspiring Diverse Thinkers!

Clare O'Callaghan & Carol Martson

18 The Wesley Art Feature: A Celebration of Lunar New Year & Black History Month Trisha Singletary

22 Campus Kudos

A Message from the Head of School Dear Wesley Family and Friends, What a winter! Just when we thought we would be able to open up more, along came Omicron and had us retreating to stricter protocols for the start of the New Year. However, we are once again emerging from under the shadow of COVID and have been so excited to release the outdoor masking requirement and welcome parents back to campus in greater numbers.

Some of the most noteworthy accomplishments over the past few months have been due to the amazing generosity of the Wesley community. Our 100 Days of Giving Annual Fund campaign was wildly successful, not only smashing through Annual Fund records in terms of dollars raised, but also reaching an extremely uncommon full 100% parent participation. I am grateful and inspired by everyone who supported the school in this manner. Our famous Teacher Outings enjoyed similar singular success, raising significantly more than in previous years and reinforcing the strength of our students’ connections with their school adults. I can’t wait to see what lies ahead with our Spring Gala on May 21st!

Our students have been hard at work exhibiting their generosity as well. Many students participated in our recent “Bake for Better” project, sending in home baked goods for distribution through our partner organization, the North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry. In addition, hundreds of notes and cards of appreciation were sent to front-line health care workers in a local emergency room.

Through both of these projects, Wesley students develop a greater awareness of their own blessings and a greater sense of our responsibility to others.

Now, as the trees in the Fountain Courtyard start to bloom once more and the Kindergarteners help us celebrate the 100th Day of School, we sense the impending arrival of spring. With it come new adventures, such as the possibility of field trips, celebrating all students together for in-person Community again, and the 8th graders’ anticipation of the London Trip. Thank you for being part of the Wesley Circle of Family and making Wesley’s community and connections stronger than ever!

Continuing our Year of Discovery, Julie Galles Interim Head of School

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The Deans' Den Band Level News Since the end of winter break and the start of 2022, time seems to have flown by! Heading toward the end of trimester 2 of the 2021-2022 school year, there is so much wonderful active learning in all classrooms across the Wesley campus, and it’s my pleasure to share some highlights of what’s been happening in various classrooms.

The Kindergarten students have been working hard to create a social justice commercial to share all of the interesting information they’ve learned in their Social Justice class this school year, highlighting concepts like identity, the importance of being respectful and inclusive of others, and so much more! The class also had a bookstore celebration to showcase the students’ Writing Workshop books. They welcomed many visitors to the classrooms who could visit a cafe, an author signing station, and a reading area to share stories with friends. Kinder students also completed their 100th Day of School projects and provided an amazing presentation in Community for their excited parents. It was wonderful to have parents in the sanctuary for Community for the first time since almost two years ago!

2, 4, 6, 8, first grade is really great! This trimester, 1st grade emphasized the importance of seeing oneself in books during their community presentation with Ms. O. “If you see yourself in the characters you read about, then you feel like you can do anything they can do,” said a wise 1st grader. In celebration of International Women and Girls in Science day, 1st grade science minds had fun interviewing some of Wesley’s science leaders, including Mrs. Galles and Ms. Salazar! In Character Corner with Mrs. Martson, students created their own signs encouraging kindness and posted them all around the Wesley campus for others to see.

The Deans' Den Band Level News In 2nd grade, students finished their Black Lives Matter 13 Principles Poster Project. They discussed the 13 guiding principles of Black Lives Matter and the importance of advocating for others, and the students turned these important ideas into art, each child creating an illustration inspired by one of the principles. This impressive student work may be viewed on the class website.

The 3rd grade classes have been engaged in a variety of activities highlighting Black History Month. Each morning, students learned about a notable African American, reflecting on and discussing their contributions to society.

As an extension of their learning, the students worked on a project at home that involved research and presentation of their ideas through different creative mediums.

Students and teachers look forward to sharing these projects and learning from each other at the end of the month.

Fourth grade is excited to begin their newest historical fiction reading unit which introduces book clubs! Students in both classrooms will collaborate by reading books that explore different influential moments in California's history.

Working in small groups, book clubs will meet weekly to have focused book talks with a special focus on the moments that define our state's history.

Fifth grade math classes are finishing up a unit on perimeter, area, volume, and multiplication (including decimals!) and moving into division. Students have used dice to insert an element of chance and excitement to randomly generate some example multiplication and division problems. In 5th grade Humanities, students have been busy researching their chosen plagues, exploring the storytelling arc, and drafting their own short stories. They are also looking forward to their next unit in English focusing on poetry, in which they will examine a diverse range of poems, including song lyrics, in order to explore how poets and songwriters use literary and poetic devices (including sound patterns, word choice, and structure) to convey emotional messages. To culminate this unit, students will create their own poems or song lyrics in the style, pattern, and rhythm of their choice. In Social Studies, the 5th grade is learning about the original colonies in North America and motivating factors for colonization. To extend their learning, the students will play the game Catan and apply their knowledge of economic concepts and colonization.

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The Deans' Den Band Level News In 6th grade Humanities, students selected and researched various topics on ancient Egypt. After taking notes and creating storyboards, they are working on individual Google Slide presentations in preparation for a formal speech on their topics to culminate this combined history, technology, and language arts project. In the next few weeks, students will build clay maps of the Nile Valley and create and perform a “Mummy Wrap” about the steps of mummification. To complement this project, students are also reading The Golden Goblet, a fictional story that takes place in ancient Egypt. And in math, students are working on one-step and two-step equations with related word problems.

In their math classes, 7th grade students are learning about surface area and the volume of prisms, pyramids, cones, cylinders, and spheres. In English, they just completed their literary circles, for which they chose from ten books to read and then created presentations that analyzed the author’s use of setting, conflict, characterization, theme, and various literary devices.

The 8th graders are working on operations with radicals and radical equations in math. In English, they completed their unit on The Odyssey that culminated in a Socratic seminar, discussing what it means to be heroic and which character is the true hero of the story. Now, they will dive into Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The students are also extremely excited with the class trip to London only weeks away and have been working on group projects focusing on historical sites and notable places that they will visit on their international adventure.

As we enter the final trimester of this school year, the faculty and I remain very grateful to the parents for your support and partnership in providing a stimulating and engaging learning experience for all of our wonderful students.

-Joseph Campanella, Associate Head for Program, on behalYour Band Level Deans

CODI Corner

Since the last newsletter, we have experienced the holiday season, the start of winter, and the onset of the new year. Many of us have spent time with family and friends, cooked our favorite traditional dishes, counted our blessings, and maybe even spent time learning a new hobby. All of these activities have reminded us of the essential things in life and the importance of showing love to ourselves and others. We can show love to others through offering encouragement, giving a big hug, or even being a listening ear when our friends are having a hard time. Communities that are genuinely diverse, equitable, and inclusive show love to its members through advocacy, allyship, and action.

I’m excited to share all the new DEIJ news with the Wesley community. All the members of the DEIJ Committee and other faculty attended the People of Color Conference(PoCC). It was invigorating and eyeopening. This year, I attended the conference as a presenter for the first time ever. I’ve attended the conference for years as a participant. I was elated and proud to share my knowledge and expertise through my workshop, “Small Activists, Big Impact - Cultivating anti-racists and activists in Kindergarten.”

The workshop aimed to expose, offer, and create a new lens for teaching social justice to kindergarten students. Through this workshop, I invited participants to explore ways to take their anti-bias and antiracist teachings to the next level. The conference had incredible speakers such as Soledad O'Brien, Heather McGee, Liz Kleinrock, Yuria Celidwen, Rajkumari Neogy, Adrian Michael Green and John Powell.

The Wesley School is hosting two guest speakers in the months of February and March. Jordan Thierry, the author of A Kid’s Book About Systemic Racism, joined the CODI community on February 22nd. He engaged in conversation with middle school students on February 25th. We were excited to have Jordan present to the community and share his essential knowledge, so check out a recording of that presentation here! Liz Kleinrock will be joining us on March 8th. She will have an engaging dialogue and courageous conversations with faculty and staff. As a community, we know that the work of DEIJ is longlasting and fulfilling. We also know that because of this we are life-long learners. We are thrilled for all that is to come!

Traci Allen Coordinator of Diversity and Inclusivity

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Board of Trustees News Dear Wesley Parents and Guardians: As we begin 2022 and start the second half of the school year, the Board of Trustees wants to express its thanks and appreciation for all of the amazing members of our Wesley community.

We are thankful for our students whose joy, curiosity and growth inspire all of us. We are thankful for our families (past, present, and future) who are the bonds that build and hold our community together. We are thankful for our community partners and most specifically our special partnership with the First United Methodist Church. We are thankful for all of the incredible faculty and staff at Wesley and the ways that you uplift and transform the lives of the children at our school. We are thankful for all of those who go above and beyond to serve as leaders at Wesley.

We cannot thank you enough for the time, energy and dedication you pour into our Wesley community.

In January, the Board of Trustees approved the budget that set tuition for the upcoming school year. This is one of the Board’s fundamental responsibilities each year. For the 2022-2023 school year, the Board approved an increase of 1% over last year's published tuition. This increase will help us honor the dedication of our faculty and staff and address rises in fixed expenses. In addition, we believe that the 2022-2023 budget will best position Wesley to meet its mission and goals for next year and many years to come.

On January 30th, many Trustees attended a conference hosted by the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS). It was an incredible conference, and one of the key takeaways is that the pandemic and the on-going challenges related to advancing equity and social justice in our society continue to have a significant impact on peoples’ lives and well-being. Many presenters noted that the struggles experienced by school leaders, teachers and staff, and students and families are wide-spread and present in every school that they have worked with.

We also reflected on the importance of promoting a culture of support, understanding, and togetherness as we all move forward during these difficult times.

We also want to provide a brief update on the Head of School position. In December and January, the Board of Trustees’ Pre-Search Committee reached out to all members of our Wesley community to get their thoughts and perspectives on the Head of School position, and the Board is currently in the process of reviewing this important feedback. As was noted in the email sent by the Pre-Search Committee, The Board is evaluating whether to offer Julie Galles the role of permanent Head of School or to initiate a full search for a new permanent Head of School. The Board will make a decision prior to June 1st, and we want to express our thanks to everyone who took the time to complete the Pre-Search Committee's survey.

The Board of Trustees wishes everyone good health and a wonderful 2022!

Paolo Velasco Your Wesley Board Vice Chair

Parents' Association Update

Heading into the end of 2021, we had a very busy and eventful holiday season. Over Thanksgiving break we brought back The Wesley Holiday Market featuring over 30 local vendors.

The curated marketplace is one way the Wesley community continues to show our gratitude for our friends and neighbors by shopping locally. In return, the vendors gave a percentage of sales back to the Parents’ Association. Thank you Soyon An and Jamie Tourouk for making this all happen.

Right after the Thanksgiving break and during Hanukkah, we were thrilled to once again open the doors for The Children’s Holiday Boutique, which allows students to shop independently for their friends and family for the holidays. This year’s Committee Chairs Liz Reiter and Ali Chaflin curated a unique selection of quality items within a budget-friendly price range. It was fun to see students visit multiple times throughout the week on their breaks to strategize the best use of their money to surprise their loved ones. This year’s boutique generated record sales with over $17K going back to Wesley. This would not have been possible without the support of the countless parent volunteers on-site to help re-stock, wrap, and assist the children shopping.

Thank you to all of those who stopped by for an hour or several days to make this event such a success.

New this year and the last of the holiday shopping events was a unique and planet-friendly experience hosted by Wesley 3rd grade moms Sara Rue and Jenna Bans. Attendees had a fun and moving experience as they shopped at the Fixx Collective Boutique which offers environmentally friendly clothing for rent or sale, sipped sustainable wines, and had a Reiki energy healing session. Thank you for this responsible and fun Party Book!

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Parents' Association Update The holidays wouldn’t be completed without a few Hanukkah and Christmas celebrations. The Leavitt and Malamut families graciously hosted a Menorah making and Dreidels party to kick off the 8 nights. Over 20 families came together to make Menorasaurus', personalized dreidels, and bond over their shared holiday. Hanukkah is about spreading love and sharing Jewish culture. This year, all Wesley students experienced Hanukkah through food, fun, and learning on campus. The PA organized a school wide event hosted by a family from each grade level that provided latkes, games and gelt for all on campus. In the lower grades, families read a book about Hanukkah, made an art project and even sang songs. Middle schoolers shared their experiences and traditions with their peers during snack time. It was truly fulfilling to see everyone appreciate and learn about the Jewish holidays.

No matter which holiday you celebrate, a gingerbread house is a universal favorite activity. The Chalfin, Groom, Lange, and Tourouk families hosted a K & 1st grade gingerbread making party.

Tickets included a cookie house, countless candy options, breakfast, and an espresso bar for the adults. It was such a success, we have a feeling this will become an annual tradition.

Before heading out for the winter break, K - 5th grade students serenaded their families at the Winter Concerts. The rain didn’t stop us from feeling the holiday spirit and coming together to sing some classics and masterpiece mix-ups by Mrs. McGregor. And we can’t forget about the incredible Singing Santas! Adam Gershon and 50 dads across all grades ended the holiday concerts with a bang and some awesome moves. Thank you to all the dads for putting on your best festive wear, for warming up your vocals, and bringing your A game cheer!

A special thank you to Wesley 4th grade moms Danielle Zaretsky and Tina Dickinson who created a winter wonderland and made all the holiday events sparkle!

Parents' Association Update

As COVID cases continued to rise, the PA seemed to ease into the New Year, but behind the scenes we were busy working on four events for the same weekend, which also happened to be Valentine’s and Superbowl weekend. Over the second weekend in February we helped spread the love and fun with all families at Wesley. On Friday, Feb 11th the 7th and 8th graders had their first winter formal. Daphne McVay and Michelle Mackenzie co-chaired the event which was a smashing success. Kids dressed up, had dinner together, danced, and took pictures to remember the incredible night. On Saturday, the PA and 20 Wesley families hosted the 2nd annual Drive-In Movie night featuring The Lego Movie. This year we also started the night with a sing-along dance party followed by dinner and the show. Thank you to all the hosts for an incredible night under the stars.

Sunday morning before the Superbowl parties began, the 6th graders had their own fun at the Moonlight Rollerway. Dancing, skating, snacks, and good times were had by all. Thank you to Amy DiBianca, Jenny Gershon, Sam Thompson, and Naomi Thune for chaperoning this event.

The spread of love kept rolling into Valentine’s Day with a sweet fundraiser. Our very own Ali Chaflin and The Flower Truck LA made being cupid easy with beautiful flower arrangements and delicious food boxes that were delivered right to your car. Thank you to both companies for making my Monday extra special!

All of these events were hosted and supported by so many volunteers, and we can’t thank you enough for your donation and time to keep our community together and strong.

Warmly, Marissa Seeman Your PA Chair

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Coach's Corner

It is tough to write about the winter sports season without touching upon a certain spiky virus in our midst. But rather than give it the respect of a proper name, I’m going to call it Bob. Bob caused the cancellation of our first two games of the season and then tried to wreak havoc on every game thereafter, but he was no match for Wesley’s coaches, student-athletes, and parents. We tested, we masked, we laughed in Bob’s face - and we won.

Every team had at least five contests and several are heading into post-season play, eager for rematches and scores to settle, sportingly of course.

If you were lucky enough to be on campus for the 6th grade basketball game against Sierra Canyon in January, you witnessed a perfect illustration of just how much was missed when students couldn’t play sports (because of Bob). More than anything, it was joyful. For after-school athletics from 4th through 8th grade, that’s the goal: JOY. The students might believe it’s about winning, but we know better.

There will be plenty of opportunities in high school to lose sleep about the shot not taken or the ref who blew the call, but for now? It’s about rosy cheeks, learning commitment, getting up after a fall, and spending time with classmates. Sixth grade didn’t win that game, but five minutes after the whistle blew no one remembered. So many losses this season, both in soccer and basketball, felt like wins.

We had two basketball teams per grade this winter with the exception of 7th, but that’s because several boys decided to stick with soccer. 4th grade fought valiantly against impressive competition (what were they feeding some of those 6-foot 9year-olds?) and 5th grade cheerfully played as if several of their games were not canceled/ rescheduled/shortened-because-the-bus-brokedown. I had the pleasure of watching them on the sport court and was thoroughly impressed with their budding knowledge of the game.

Coach's Corner

The basketball competition in 6th through 8th was inconsistent, but (as we’re still dealing with Bob) players were able to pivot, literally and figuratively, pitching in when subs were needed and sometimes participating in two games during a single afternoon. At any given moment, it was thrilling, frustrating, curious, and joyful.

Soccer from 4th through 8th had its share of ups and downs too. I stepped in to coach 4th grade practice a couple of times and loved the enthusiasm for the game. To be sure, there was a spectrum of talent but the same level of commitment from each player. And they won their last game in breathtaking fashion!

5th and 6th grade combined for one team (with the help of Zoe T.) and figured out how to win against girls much bigger than they were and lose gracefully when it wasn’t quite their day. 7th and 8th grade had separate teams but helped each other out every game with tight rosters, and it was wonderful to see such camaraderie. The 7th and 8th grade boys teamed up to play varsity together and are hoping for one more win next week. Kudos to the boys who figured out how to play basketball and soccer in one season.

We head into the spring invigorated and hopeful for (dare we say?) more normal times ahead. Bob is fading into the crowd and we won’t miss him.

Wesley on three, Wesley on three - 1-2-3 WESLEY! JoAnn Egan Neil Director of Athletics

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Development Office Update Tammy Rodriguez, Director of Development

Wow! A lot has happened since the last newsletter. Our “100% in 100 Days” Annual Fund campaign reached its exciting conclusion and… drumroll please… we did it! We reached 100% parent participation in only 100 days. That was a first for Wesley and is practically unheard of in the independent school scene. I’ve loved the Wesley community from day one, but watching it come together, exceeding goals and breaking records, (over $460,000 raised so far!) has had me grinning pretty much non-stop these past few weeks. If any Alumni families, Grandparents, or friends of the school, would like to join the parents in their achievement, you can make a gift or pledge at wesleyschool.org/give.

Continuing the trend of “Tammy is super impressed and thankful for how much Wesley families love and support their school,” we had a fantastically successful Teacher Outings auction this year. Wesley families gave over $27,000 for the opportunity to spend time picnicking, pizza partying, painting, and Pokémoning with their favorite teachers. Thank you to our amazing Faculty and Staff members for giving their time and energy by participating in these events. The kids love it and look forward to it every year! (And I thoroughly enjoyed my cat café outing quite a bit myself.)

Looking forward, we have a very exciting spring ahead of us. On March 4th, our students will “Run For A Cause” in support of the American Cancer Society. If you would like to support a special Wesley student as they Learn, Next time you’re on campus, take a look at the Support, & Run, you can sponsor them at newly erected, gorgeous Donor Wall at the end of wesleyschool.org/run. the entry corridor as you head toward the Commons. It features stunning art from Wesley We are also going back in person (and back in time) with students and honors donors of our Phase One this spring’s “Wesley Prom: A Totally Rad 80s Gala.” It Capital Campaign who made our Arts and will be outdoors and full of dancing, silent and live Administration Building a reality. auctions, wild outfits, live music, and everything else you’ve missed about Wesley Galas. See you there on May 21, 2022!

Admissions News Verena Denove, Director of Admissions & Lindsey Drasin, Associate Director of Admissions

As we shifted this year back to an on campus admissions cycle, we had to navigate how to do this responsibly. Once we figured it out, we found ourselves in a different place than a year ago with the ability to have prospective parents and students on campus, which just felt so darn good! While we managed well last year, to be able to share the Wesley community with people in person was just so much better. Prospective families got to visit classrooms and see the magic our teachers create, got to have tours from our middle school students and witness their confidence and ability to manage conversations with adults, and in general got to feel the Wesley warmth and sense of community all around them.

Having just completed re-enrollment with our current families, we head into the final couple of weeks of our admissions cycle. We eagerly look forward to welcoming a new kindergarten class in the fall as well as new students across grade levels where we have openings. Families join Wesley because they believe in the mission of the school and feel their family values are well aligned with ours. They see the strong matriculation every year of our 8th grade students to the finest schools in Los Angeles and seek not only the solid academic foundation we provide but also the balanced approach to helping develop young people who have the potential and the confidence to go out into the world and make a difference.

We are so proud to represent Wesley and are grateful to so many of you who support us in spreading the word about our school and our community.

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Communications Update Lindsey Drasin, Director of Communications & Sarah Francis, Communications & Social Media Associate

Here in the Communications/Social Media office we have our hands on the pulse of just about everything happening at Wesley, and we have been so impressed by the dedication to our school that parents, teachers, students and staff have demonstrated during these chilly winter months! From engaging classroom projects, high energy sporting competitions and impressive concerts, to productive fundraising events, student philanthropy and fun holiday parties, we have been present for it all and love seeing your smiling faces (yes, full faces!) back on campus together. Our social media platforms have celebrated all the changes the new year has brought, so if you still haven't followed us, do so on Instagram and Facebook now! Coming up, we will be covering the 7th Grade Play, Run for a Cause, the Multicultural Potluck, and introducing a Wesley Senior Spotlight feature!

Download Our App HERE!

Missed a Wesley event or morning community? Curious to see more highlights from around the campus? Visit our photo and video galleries on the parent portal, updated weekly! Want an easy and fast way to gain direct access to school calendars, event details, notifications, sign-up forms, supply lists, and directories?

Download our Mobile App (available for Apple and Android products) to access all of this and more in the palm of your hand! Wondering what new and exciting things are happening at our school? Check the Wesley Weekly Email, delivered to your inbox every Sunday! There you will find a list of all events being offered that week (and the next!) along with answers to many of your burning questions.

We hope you enjoy our latest newsletter and all the joy it contains. Be sure to check out the wonderful student art projects featured on Pages 18-21!

Literacy at Wesley: Inspiring Diverse Thinkers This year in the library we are focused on increasing the diversity of our collection. One piece of this involves making sure books we have don’t contain stereotypes or demeaning language. At the same time we are adding books written by diverse authors, and books that feature diverse characters. The current displays are books featuring Black characters by Black authors. We have picture books, graphic novels, early readers, early chapters, nonfiction, middle grade and young adult. One aim is for students to see themselves in books, another is to open students' minds to those whose experiences are quite different from their own.

We have a large selection of “a kids book about…” The books about difficult subjects to be read by an adult with a child aged 5+. Parents are welcome to borrow these.

Clare O'Callaghan Librarian In Character Corner, students have spent the last six weeks centered around the Martin Luther King, Jr. quote,"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?' Our stories (Plant a Kiss, by Amy Krouse Rosendahl, The Elephant, by Peter Carnavas, I Walk with Vanessa, by Kerascoet, My Heart,

by Corinna Luyken, Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch, by Eileen Spinelli, and Wish, by Barbara O’Connor) have all had to do with kindness, empathy, compassion, and gratitude. We’ve discussed Kindness Activism and how each of us has the ability to make a difference in the lives of those around us.

1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders took what they learned in our stories and translated their learning into acts of kindness!

1st graders colored kindness posters to be displayed around the campus! 2nd graders wrote anonymous notes of kindness and encouragement to middle school students and left the notes on their lockers. 3rd graders were given the opportunity to thank a teacher by writing a note and sharing a specific detail for which they are grateful.

Carol Martson Character Corner Coordinator & Registrar

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Art Feature: Lunar New Year 2022

Students in Kindergarten through 5th grade were able to see how the Lunar New Year is celebrated in various parts of Asia. Students learned some of the traditions, symbols, and arts of China, Korea, and Japan. Then each grade worked on an art project inspired by the art and culture from one of the countries.

Kindergarten students learned how to write peace in Chinese and how to make the peace symbol. 1st graders made lanterns out of paper which are hanging outside their classrooms. 2nd grade students made a fan incorporating a design inspired by the Korean flag on one side and also wrote the Korean word for peace on the other side. 3rd and 4th grade looked at Ming Dynasty pottery and created mixed media work inspired by it. 5th graders watched a video by a Japanese artist, where they learned how to paint a tiger with ink using the sumi-e painting style. Click HERE to view more of their work!

Trisha Singletary K-8 Art Teacher

Art Feature: Lunar New Year 2022

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Art Feature: Black History Month 2022

Students in Kindergarten through 2nd grade explored aspects of the art and culture from West Africa.

Kindergarten made instruments out of found objects and painted them the colors of the African American flag, 1st grade drew adinkra symbols and added a stamped pattern using ink, and 2nd grade made drawings inspired by West African masks and then made masks out of found objects before painting them.

Students in 3rd grade looked at the art of Faith Ringgold, known for her story quilts. Then students chose a personal narrative to use as inspiration for their own story quilt. 4th grade chose a quote from a notable person in Black History. Then they illustrated what the quote meant. 5th grade chose a work of art from a notable Black artist to recreate. Then students wrote about that artist’s contribution and shared what they like about the art. Click HERE to view more of their work!

Trisha Singletary K-8 Art Teacher

Art Feature: Black History Month 2022

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Campus Kudos Mrs. Carlye De Haven Kesner and her husband welcomed their first baby, a girl named Sophie, on November 21, 2021!

Everyone is happy, healthy, and in love!

Congratulations to 8th grader Julia G. who won Mr. George Eleftheriades’ Ray Bradbury Writing Competition! Every year, Mr. Eleftheriades’ eighth grade class is tasked with writing a fictional short story to expose social injustice in our society.

Congratulations to Mrs. Lee Siwek, who completed the next step in her pursuit of full Educational Therapist certification! She recently achieved all of the requirements of Associate Educational Therapist and is excited about becoming a Professional Educational Therapist in the future. Her focus will be on reading intervention and mindfulness-based positive behavior support.

Mrs. Kristen Inovejas and her husband, Julian are expecting their first child! They are expected to have a baby girl toward the end of May!

Winter Newsletter 2022

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