Lampshade Designers!

Spoon Full of Sugar

What a fun performance with spoons and high c’s aplenty. Every child is different in their want to be on stage and to sing. This first grade class worked with me to design a performance they all felt good about doing. I am so proud of them. Great job!

First Graders Explore Fall Through Informational Writing!

Our first graders recently completed an exciting informational writing project all about fall! After reading four different mentor texts, students practiced pulling out key facts and organizing their ideas using graphic organizers. They carefully planned their writing, starting with a strong topic sentence, selecting three to four important facts about fall, and finishing with a clear conclusion. After gathering their facts and completing their graphic organizers, they wrote their final copies. They also added detailed drawings to support their research, making their writing even more engaging and informative.

To celebrate, we held an author’s share. The first graders packed up their writing pieces, a cozy blanket, and our sharing stool, and headed to the Unquowa woods to present their fall writing. Surrounded by the beauty of autumn, it was the perfect setting to share what they had learned about informative writing and to celebrate each other’s accomplishments as writers. It was a wonderful way to see our first graders grow as thoughtful, capable researchers and writers!

Hands-On Mandarin: Exploring Language with Clay, Chopsticks, and Games

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.

From Hallway to Reading Stadium: A First Grade Adventure

Sometimes the best moments in first grade happen when we make time to explore! Students used a few extra minutes in our day to check out the books on our hallway bookshelves. We turned the stairs into our very own Reading Stadium—the perfect spot to get comfy and dive into a good book!

Students enjoyed browsing through different titles, discovering new authors, and sharing book recommendations. When it was time to return the books, we practiced our understanding of alphabetical order by placing them back on the shelves according to the author’s last name—just like real librarians!

It was a simple yet joyful way to celebrate reading, practice organizational skills, and build our classroom community. The smiles said it all—our first graders truly love exploring the world through books!

Founders’ Day Festivities

Unquowa families, faculty and alumni gathered on the back field to celebrate one of our favorite traditions – Founders’ Day!  It was wonderful to see so many alumni back on campus, catching up with classmates and teachers and showing their Unquowa pride throughout the day.

Chef Adam and his amazing team treated everyone to a farm-to-fork feast featuring butternut squash soup, hamburgers and hot dogs, an autumn crunch salad, freshly baked pumpkin bread, and more!  The local band Tangled Vine kept the crowd entertained with their lively tunes, and our own Mr. Coe wowed everyone by joining them on guitar for a few songs.

Our 8th graders and their families did a fantastic job running the bake sale, children’s activities, and the 50/50 raffle — all to raise funds for their class trip. Kids had a blast bouncing in the inflatables, painting pumpkins, and playing lawn games, while parent volunteers kept the Community Closet and Gator Goods tent running smoothly.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this special day possible. Days like this remind us just how lucky we are to be part of the Unquowa community!