Nature Happens!

While we are going about our busy lives, nature is doing its thing right in front of us.

Here at Unquowa, some eye spy detectives spotted some super cool things happening right under our noses.  

Super sleuths detected an interesting insect on the playground bars.  After consulting an app called Seek (that helps to identify many different types of species) we positively identified the Red-legged grasshopper!  Its scientific name is Melanoplus femurrubrum.  A femur is the bone of the upper thigh or hind limb and rubrum mean RED!!  This insect is aptly named.

Next a keen eyed student saw the exoskeleton of a Cicada on the Blue Spruce tree outside of the corral.  It was incredibly camouflaged and not easy to distinguish from the similarly colored bark.  Well done detective.

Lastly our incredible kitchen gurus took notice of an insect outside the Dining Room entrance that looks a lot like a green leaf.  Turns out it is a Katydid just hanging out (maybe they were looking for a nice easy meal inside the kitchen) on the wall.  

Thanks to all who used their observation skills.  Please keep it up and let me know of anything that you find interesting.  Go Nature, go Gators (hope we don’t stumble onto a gator- for real)

Now Available for Viewing – Unquowazine Volume 7

Working with the Lower School Art and Literary Club members on Unquowazine Volume 7 has been such a pleasure. They have worked tirelessly on various stages of magazine development. This year, they have included more original content in the form of interviews, comics, and book reviews. Together with their staff, Cassidy and Micah worked very hard on all of the various components. They did a fantastic job of being mindful of each student’s work while honoring its authenticity. As their advisor, I guided them and gave them structure and support. Kudos to all of their hard work and dedication!

Discovering the Ancient Marvels of the Sea!

For the past ten years, our kindergarten and fourth grade students have had the incredible opportunity to participate in the Limulus Program in collaboration with Sacred Heart University. Each spring our young scientists meet Sacred Heart University students at Southport Beach, for an unforgettable hands-on learning experience centered around one of nature’s oldest most fascinating creatures, the horseshoe crab.

During the beach visit students learn to identify horseshoe crabs, examine their anatomy, and observe their behaviors. We helped tag the crabs for future research. If a horseshoe crab gets flipped onto its back, it can use its long tail not for defense but as a lever to flip itself over. Their blood is crucial for medical research and vaccine safety. We also learned horseshoe crabs are more closely related to spiders and scorpions than crabs!

This program offers more than just science education. It fosters curiosity, environmental awareness and respect for living creatures. We are grateful for our continued partnership with Sacred Heart University and look forward to many more years of exploration and discovery.

From Caterpillar to Butterfly: A Magical Journey in Kindergarten

In our Kindergarten classroom science recently fluttered to life in the most magical way! Our young learners dove into the fascinating world of butterflies, exploring each stage of their life cycle with wide eyes and curious hearts. We have let our butterflies go free to explore their new world and we wished them a safe journey.

Learning Mandarin is So Much Fun!

This past month was filled with exciting activities for our students! We learned animal names in Mandarin and played a fun Chinese character “Spot It” game—which the kids absolutely loved. They also practiced writing Chinese characters through interactive games.

To help remember the animal names, students created adorable animal crafts. This not only reinforced their vocabulary but also supported the development of their fine motor skills.

Our 3rd graders even tried their hand at Chinese calligraphy, and they did an amazing job! It was so impressive to see their concentration and creativity shine.

To wrap it all up, the 3rd graders used a special communication sheet to walk around the classroom and chat with their classmates in Mandarin. It was wonderful to see them confidently using the language in real conversations!

Growth Mindset Using Dots!

Over the course of January the entire school focused on Growth Mindset with Mrs. Henry. Students learned what it is, the importance of it, the role mistakes and failure play in our life, and the strength in resilience. Lower schoolers practiced flipping their mindsets and power in positive affirmations. Upper Schoolers learned about neuroplasticity and the literal growth we can have within our brains. The whole school ended the unit by reading The Dot, by Peter Reynolds. A story that reminds us that sometimes the best way to get unstuck is to simply get started, and that growth often means taking a risk. Every student in the school then decorated a dot and 5th graders worked to display them in our dining room. If you find yourself stuck, turn to our mural of dots and remember to have a growth mindset!