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!”
Global Classroom Connection!
Posted by Alice DesGranges
This year, Unquowa’s fourth graders participated in a meaningful international exchange through the organization Creative Connections, blending creativity and culture while connecting students around the world. Over several months, Unquowa students worked thoughtfully to create original works of art that told the stories of their cultural backgrounds, family traditions, and personal identities. These projects were shared internationally with partner students in Latvia, who also created original artworks of their own. Through a virtual classroom call, both groups of students were able to speak with one another and ask questions about their art and cultures, giving our learners a unique opportunity to see how art can communicate across languages and borders.
Building Houses!
Posted by Joey Casey
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!
When I Grow Up
Posted by emilyhallBravo! As one parent said, “Their hearts were so in it… the students gave the Broadway cast a run for their money”. I am so proud of the 4th grade class, not only did they want to do this song, they worked together as a team and it showed.
