Level Updates

Kindergarten: Our Kindergarten students have been working hard and growing SO much!  The K teachers have been impressed by our students’ and families’ commitment to school work on both in-school and remote learning days.  THANK YOU!  Keep up the good work!

The Kindergarten team is also excited to explore needs and wants during our newest planner.  We will be inquiring into needs and wants of people and animals around the world and comparing them to our own.  What are your family’s needs and wants?  Consider having this discussion at home. 

We hope everyone has an amazing February break.  Stay safe and have fun!  

Primary: The primary students have become Sky watchers this month.  They have inquiring into "Why does the sun set?"  "Why are some days longer than others?" and "Where does the sun go at night?"  Please encourage your child to explore the sky safely.  

We also have been reading and writing nonfiction books.  The students are enjoying learning about nonfiction text features.  The kids love being experts and sharing everything they know about topics.  At home consider brainstorming what your child knows a lot about! 

Elementary: The Elementary Team continues to work hard and have fun learning about people, cultures, and countries around the world.  Many classrooms are working on our IB Planners Meeting Our Needs and Cultures.  In Meeting Our Needs, students are learning about how people meet their needs and wants in different ways.  Students learn how where we live effects how we live.  In Cultures, students learn about how people around the world celebrate and share their culture in unique ways.  Students learn that different cultures also share their beliefs, values, foods, and way of life with other cultures and that we are all interdependent.    In our upcoming planner, Earth Processes in New York State students explore the geology of New York State.  

Intermediate: The Intermediate Team would like to thank our parents and guardians for continuing to give tremendous support from home. We are grateful for you.

We recently wrapped up our Location Planner. During this unit, we investigated ways in which location impacts the growth and development of societies. Students researched and learned about ways of life in ancient civilizations. They considered the impact of geography on those civilizations, identified commonalities among civilizations, and looked for ways in which humans modified their environment to meet their needs. Through looking back into the past and looking to the present, students explored ways in which people who live together share a common identity. 

During the month of February, the Intermediate Team will continue to celebrate Black History Month. We are reading and writing about some of the many influential African Americans in our nation’s present and past. Your student will be coming home with some important new learning to share!

We are looking forward to the start of our upcoming planner, Decisions We Make. This is an inquiry into our rights and responsibilities in the struggle to share finite resources with other people and living things. Students will investigate impacts of human decisions on physical and living environments. In this unit of study, students will explore matter and energy in organisms and ecosystems. They will investigate the causes and effects of deer overpopulation and will consider possible solutions to the issue. Students will also be building, maintaining, and observing terrariums in the classroom. Terrariums will be stocked with live plants, fish, and insects to model a mini ecosystem. Throughout their learning, students will explore ways in which the decisions that we all make impact the world around us. This unit is always a favorite of students and teachers alike. You are sure to hear about this one at home!