Year of the Fire Horse!
Posted by Carina Blackwell
Xīn Nián Kuài Lè, Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái – Happy New Year and Wishing You Good Fortune!
Our Grade 4 through 6 Mandarin students kicked off the Chinese New Year celebrations by preparing over 600 vegetable dumplings, which, along with other delicious Chinese dishes created by our Chefs, were enjoyed by the entire school during a special festive lunch. Meanwhile, our younger students had fun practicing their Mandarin skills by crafting Play-Doh dumplings, listening to stories about why red and firecrackers are essential for Chinese New Year Celebration and making colorful Chinese New Year crafts. As part of the celebration, all Mandarin students received traditional Red Envelopes to mark the New Year of the Fire Horse.
A special thank you to Unquowa parent Mrs. Toolan, who visited the 5th and 6th grade Mandarin class to share insights into Chinese New Year traditions. The students had a great time taking turns wearing the festive dragon costume and dancing around the classroom!
Throughout our two-week celebration, Mandarin students across all grade levels showcased their language skills with performance on the school assembly. Their songs were filled with wishes of good luck and health for the New Year. Adding to the joyous spirit of the occasion, everyone came to school dressed in red!
Enhancing our foreign language program, this cultural experience is always a festive and delicious highlight of the year that our Unquowa community looks forward to celebrating.
Gators Got Game!
Posted by Sarah Pollex
Our Grade 3/4 basketball team is lighting up the gym! With basketballs bouncing, sneakers squeaking, and laughter echoing, these Gators are having a blast! From speedy dribble relays to the ever-popular Dribble Knockout, every practice is full of energy, cheers, and high-fives. One thing’s for sure—these Gators aren’t just playing basketball… they are magic in the making on the court! “Gators on three! One, two, three, Gators!”
Boogie Woogie with Mondrian
Posted by Alice DesGranges
Our third graders explored abstract art through the work of Piet Mondrian, an artist known for using structured grids, bold lines, and primary colors to create balance and rhythm. Students applied these ideas by creating their own grid paintings and learning how abstract art can show movement and feeling without realistic images. While dancing and painting to boogie woogie music, students connected rhythm and visual structure, making the learning experience both fun and creative.
Fun Friday: Our Vote, Our Game!
Posted by Sarah Pollex
Fun Friday is the BEST part of the week in PE class. Why? Because we get to pick the game by voting. That’s right—we all have a say!
From freeze tag to sink the ship, pinball to bean bag toe touch, students shared their favorite game and the winning choice took over the gym. Once it started, the energy was off the charts! Laughter, cheering, and teamwork were everywhere as we all jumped in and played our hearts out.
Fun Friday isn’t just about games—it’s about making choices, working together, and having a blast while being physically active. We can’t wait to see what game we’ll vote for next week!
Hands-On Mandarin: Exploring Language with Clay, Chopsticks, and Games
Posted by kellyyeh
In October, we learned how to say “Thank you / You’re welcome” and “I’m sorry / It’s okay” in Lower School Mandarin classes through engaging games and songs. We also practiced counting and were introduced to more Chinese characters through a variety of fun activities. We used materials such as clay, chopsticks and yarn, and played games like hopscotch to make learning more interactive and enjoyable.
Students have a wonderful time in Mandarin class—not just having fun, but also actively learning and using the target language throughout the lessons.
Teamwork Takes the Field!
Posted by Sarah Pollex
The Unquowa field was buzzing with excitement as our 3rd, 4th, and 6th graders kicked off an awesome soccer showdown! The game was packed with quick moves, smart passes, and plenty of cheers from teammates on the sidelines. Both teams played their hearts out and after all that action, the match ended in a thrilling 2–2 tie! Every goal, save, and high-five showed just how much fun teamwork can be. From start to finish, the energy was nonstop-and the Gator spirit was everywhere! Way to play, Gators!
