Welcome to Spaces and Moments: The Unquowa Blog Page
Something is always going on at Unquowa and this is the place to keep up with all the exciting happenings. Whether in the classroom, the makerspace, on stage, or at play, every space and every moment is a chance to discover, connect, learn, and have fun. Check here frequently for news, campus-wide events, and other highlights from around campus, all posted by our inspiring teachers!
Quilting Without a Needle
Posted by Krissy Ponden
8th grade art students explored kinusaiga, a Japanese art form that transforms fabric scraps into intricate, quilt-like pictures without a single needle or thread.
Originating in Japan in the 1980s, kinusaiga involves transferring a sketch onto a foam board or wooden base, carving small grooves along the design lines, and carefully tucking the edges of fabric into the slits with a blunt tool to create smooth, framed textile patterns.
For this project, students put a sustainable spin on the tradition by repurposing textile waste, such as old T-shirts and worn fabrics, which gave new life to materials that would otherwise be discarded. Through this hands-on process, the students gained a deeper appreciation for eco-friendly art while crafting vibrant, textured masterpieces that showcase both precision and artistic vision.
Mandarin Poster Contest
Posted by Carina Blackwell
To learn more about Election Day, our Grade 1-5 Mandarin students voted for their favorite Halloween posters, created by Grade 6-8 Mandarin students! The older students worked hard to design and organize their posters, labeling each item they chose in the Mandarin characters. Our younger students took their time exploring every poster before casting their votes.
Thank you to everyone who participated and helped choose the winner! Congratulations, Grade 8! We’re proud of all our students for using their Mandarin skills and working together!
A Season of Skills and Teamwork
Posted by Sarah Pollex
Our grades 3–5 soccer team made great strides on the field this season! Players worked on keeping the ball close while dribbling, finding open teammates with accurate passes, and creating space to move the ball up the field. On defense, they practiced staying goal-side, intercepting passes, and winning back possession. Most importantly, our Gators learned to work together and support one another.
The season wrapped up with an exciting green versus white scrimmage, giving everyone a chance to put their skills to the test. The players created some great scoring opportunities, including a breakaway down the field and a series of well-placed passes that led to shots on goal. Calder and Lennon stepped up as goalkeepers, making several impressive first-half saves to protect their goals. With parents and Lower School teachers cheering from the sidelines, the scrimmage was a wonderful celebration of the players’ hard work, sportsmanship, and progress throughout the season.
Great work, Gators!
Mixing up Some Magic!
Posted by carlahorta
Our kindergarteners turned into little scientists and Spanish language experts as we explored the wonderful world of colors! We have been learning our colors in Spanish, and what better way to put our new vocabulary skills to the test than with a little magical potion-making?
Throughout our lessons, students practiced identifying and naming colors in Spanish. We played games and practiced matching colors to everyday objects around our classroom.
But the real excitement began when it was time to become potion masters!
Our young scientists gathered around their very own cauldrons, ready to create colorful concoctions. Using baking soda, vinegar, and food coloring, students carefully mixed their ingredients to make bubbling, fizzing, and beautifully colored potions. Each cauldron became a little science experiment filled with excitement, curiosity, and plenty of smiles!
As students added the baking soda, they had the opportunity to identify each color in Spanish and practiced saying the color names aloud.
The bubbling reaction between the baking soda and vinegar made the experience even more exciting. Kindergarteners were amazed as their potions fizzed and overflowed with colorful fun.
This hands-on activity was about so much more than making a mess (although there was plenty of that). Students were building Spanish vocabulary, practicing color recognition, exploring color mixing, developing fine motor skills, and learning through observation and experimentation.
Most importantly, they were using their new language skills in a fun and meaningful way. Hearing our little learners confidently shout out ¡Rojo! ¡Azul! ¡Verde! while creating their magical potions was the perfect reminder that learning happens best when children are actively engaged.
We are so proud of our little bilingual scientists. Who knew learning Spanish colors could be so magical?
Running With Gator Spirit!
Posted by Sarah Pollex
Talk about determination! Our preschoolers and Kindergarteners took to the field and amazed us with their enthusiasm as they tackled the quarter-mile run together. Not a single student walked the course! Just as wonderful as their running was the encouragement they gave one another, cheering on their classmates and celebrating each other’s efforts. These young Gators brought their energy, smiles, and positive attitudes from start to finish, showing us how far teamwork and a little encouragement can go. As part of their track and field unit, our preschoolers and Kindergarteners are also developing their skills in the standing broad jump and 50-yard dash. We couldn’t be prouder of the determination, sportsmanship, and Gator spirit on display! Way to go, Gators!
Grade 5 Gives Back
Posted by Sarah Raggio
Grade 5 would like to extend a huge thank-you to the entire Unquowa community for your incredibly generous cereal donations! Together, we reached our goal of 75 boxes—and then some! Our final count was an amazing 80 boxes of healthy cereal for local families through nOURish.
Tshon Davis from nOURish joined us at our October 27 assembly, and Mr. Casey then drove the cereal straight over to nOURish after the assembly. It was wonderful to see our school community come together to support such an important cause.
Our Grade 5 students also had a blast brainstorming ideas for the mascot costumes and bringing those ideas to life. Clearly, they are not only creative—they have big hearts, too!
Thank you, Unquowa, for helping Grade 5 make a difference. When we all pitch in, a little can become a lot!
Go Gators!
