It's a pirate's life for Cypress Room students! The Early Childhood friends have been fascinated by all things "pirate", and have explored that interest in a variety of ways. They recently went on a treasure hunt using homemade telescopes and hand-drawn treasure maps, and each student received an eye patch before heading out to hunt for silver and gold in the outdoor classroom. They found so many treasures!...
For the past few weeks, Prekindergarten students in Juniper Room have been learning about the body and the five senses. To align with this theme, they worked step-by-step on creating some AMAZING self-portraits! First, students examined different facial features—the color of the eyes, the shapes of lips, and variations in noses and ears—before choosing those most similar to their own. Next, they sketched out the shape of their face, neck, hair, and eyebrows to create the base of their portrait, while adding personal details, designs, and...
Our Gillispie at H.O.M.E. (Hands On Mindful Exploration) program offers Early Childhood families who elected not to have their child/children on campus this year a lively distance cohort experience. We've already begun the second of nine monthly sessions, and the positive feedback has been tremendous! While this interactive community has been offered in a daily format to children ages 2 through Prekindergarten, we are opening up another opportunity for students ages 20-36 months with a once-a-week model. Parent Toddler at H.O.M.E will offer 8-week sessions that will include...
Sequoia students are building their very own robot! Over the past week, students have been creating drawings and "blueprints" of what they want their robot to look like and how they plan to build it. After discussing and comparing the plans, they started construction. Using found parts and pieces, they created a "robot workshop" where they used tools and teamwork to begin assembly. Collaboration was key as they discussed every aspect of the project and took turns taking turning...
It has been over a decade since Gillispie first rolled up its sleeves and hosted the first blood drive, and the tradition continues with our annual Grade 3 Blood Drive and Bake Sale February 11, 2020. An event that was organized to support a former Gillispie family affected by childhood leukemia has now turned into our blood drive--a life-saving, annual event that our local community depends on. Over the past ten years, our Gillispie blood donors have saved...
Fall is speeding along and Grades 1-6 are already into their second sport unit of the year--Flag Football! Students are practicing snapping, handing-off and taking a hand-off, pitching, throwing, catching, and running with the football. Players are also learning flag pulling (defense), kicking off the tee, player positions, and receiver routes, as well as playing mini-games. Early Childhood and Kindergarten students began the year with obstacle courses, cooperative games, and fishing on the field. More recently, our...
Recently, Preschool students in Cypress Room celebrated National Bring Your Teddy Bear to School Day. Each student brought in their own teddy bear (or other friendly stuffed animal) and shared it with the class during morning attendance. Keeping with the day's theme, students made bear-inspired treats during snacktime using cream cheese, blueberries, rice cakes, and bananas. "I've never eaten a bear before!" one student said. Students also drew portraits of their stuffed animals, created animal faces using natural materials, and...
During an exploration of the Sustainable Garden with Mrs. Knight and Mrs. Brady, children in Rosewood Room noticed that the lemon tree was full of fruit and decided to pick a few to bring back to class. At first, they used the lemons as a provocation for observational drawings with dry and oil pastels, but soon, talk of lemonade began. Excited about the idea of making the refreshing drink, the students decided they would open a stand. Together,...
When the discussion of names came up in Rosewood room, teachers saw an opportunity to inspire students to reflect on what their names mean. They soon noticed that the children were getting confused with such a literal question, so they took a new approach to the discussion. Instead of asking, "What does your name mean?" they asked, "What does it mean to be you?" Student responses included: "Being Dagny means like fun!" - Dagny "Uhmm, hero, and super lion, and a super speedy...
Our Preschool classes held their annual Fall Feast in the gym recently. Students made hand-printed placemats and table decorations for the event. The meal was potluck style, with each family bringing in a dish specially requested by their child to share. During the event, families wrote down things they are thankful for on cut-out feathers that were attached to a shared turkey display. Shared mealtimes in Reggio are held in high regard, and our educational philosophy values children, educators, and family...