Level Updates

 Kindergarten

Wow! We have been in school for 3 months! We have settled into a good stride. We continue to learn new concepts each day. We completed our first 3- Way Conference where we shared goals, we set for ourselves. We work each day to get closer to meeting those goals. We had such an amazing time at the QUEST Thanksgiving Feast. We are so excited for the holiday season and are preparing to participate in the JOY Shop for the first time too. There are so many firsts in Kindergarten and the traditions and celebrations at QUEST are some of the most exciting! We have some older friends coming in to share a presentation on the celebrations and tradition that we have to look forward to. This is perfect because we have just started a new inquiry planner called "Let's Celebrate". This is an inquiry into celebrations. This is such a busy time of year for all of us but so exciting!

Primary

The Primary classes have been having a blast learning about maps and how to read and make them. We will be moving on to learn about how we use "waves," to communicate and this will include how we use sound waves and light waves to communicate. This is a great time of the year to show students examples of this communication when viewing holiday lights and music. Other examples are stop lights, railroad crossings, alarm bells and more.

This time of the year is a fun and busy time in Primary. Some classes have been participating in a snow globe card exchange, others have been learning about different holidays around the world and some have been working hard at making and assembling things for the JOY shop. No matter how each class is learning, we know the students are having fun.

When we come back next month, students will begin looking at nonfiction texts and how to write them. We encourage you read nonfiction texts to your child. This will help strengthen their background knowledge.

 

Elementary

The Elementary Level classes wrapped up their first planner about weather.  Students enjoyed the variety of hands-on lessons and learning the difference between weather and climate.  This planner was a perfect lead into the next unit on how people meet their needs.  Students will look at various places throughout the world to see how geographical features effect the way people live and meet their needs.  

Thank you to families for participating in our Fall Three-Way Conferences.  Students enjoyed sharing their goals with families. Classes are working on reflecting on goals on a regular basis.  

At the end of December the Elementary classes will be taking a field trip to the Rochester Museum and Science Center.  The field trip connects to our studies about weather, and also builds background knowledge about earth’s processes and the geology of New York State.  

Intermediate

This month the Intermediate team has been inquiring about ancient civilizations in our planner called Location Helps Engineer Growth. As a level, our primary focus has been learning about Ancient Egypt. Students are looking at ways Egyptians adapted and modified their location to engineer a successful civilization. A highlight of this planner has been our field trip to the Memorial Art Gallery to explore their exhibits on Ancient Egypt. After finishing up their inquiry in Ancient Egypt, student will then explore and make connections with other ancient civilizations and how they used their location to engineer success and development.

Other Intermediate highlights this moth

• Field trip to Hochstien for a holiday concert
• Students performed in the school concert
• Classes will begin creating and constructing sleds for the Quest Sled Race

Special Areas

Spanish Update

This month students are sharing about themselves. What can they do?

• Intermediates can describe themselves and what they like to do in a memorized presentation with slides or props.
• Elementary students will present posters they have created that demonstrate who they are and what they like to do.
• Primary students can share self-portraits that focus on age, hair and eye color.
• Kindergarten students can introduce themselves and they are learning to share their age.

Toward the end of December, we will take a look at how different holidays are celebrated in Spanish-speaking countries. Your children are bringers of joy every day! Thank you for sharing them with us!