Surpassing Expectations On the Soccer Field!

The grade 3 and 4 soccer team’s season surpassed expectations. Offensive players dribbled with short touches to get down the field and to beat defenders. Defenders broke up passes, intercepted the ball and regained possession. Everyone improved their ability to shoot with power and accuracy. Most of all, we had fun! Great job this season! Go Gators!

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!

Appreciating the Diversity of Life ~ Earth Day 2025

To celebrate Earth Day, students in grades one through eight visited the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT for a day of hands-on learning and marine exploration. During this trip, students were able to observe and appreciate the vast variety of organisms we share our planet with. All of the students visited the aquarium eager to discover what mysteries awaited them, especially since the aquarium has undergone many changes over the past decade.

Upon arrival, students were greeted by silly seals, mischievous meerkats, jiggling jellyfish, tranquil turtles, and much more! They were also given fun, interactive activities to complete while exploring the aquarium. First and second grades enjoyed an alphabetical scavenger hunt, third and fourth grades had a scavenger hunt based on animal features, and the upper school participated in a research activity that helped them understand the various roles of different organisms on our planet.

Halfway through the trip, students watched the harbor seal feeding, where they learned about harbor seals and enjoyed a magnificent show put on by the animals. They also explored the touch tanks, where they had the opportunity to feel the rough skin of a shark or the slimy texture of a manta ray.

In the end, students gained a deeper appreciation for the incredible diversity of life with which we share our planet, and they learned that all organisms are interconnected in some way. We are happy to have celebrated Earth Day at the aquarium, and we will continue to practice good stewardship for our planet so that all of these species can continue to thrive on Earth.

Spring Explorations in the Woods

Have you ever noticed how quickly plants seem to grow in spring? This season, our 3rd-grade students are excited to take part in a spring plant survey in the woods by the brook. Each group of students has a special plot of land marked off with stakes and colorful tape. They will measure the soil temperature and air temperature, and track the growth of plants in their area. Students will also learn about canopy cover, which shows how much ground is shaded by the branches and leaves of trees. Since it’s early spring, the deciduous trees don’t have their leaves yet, making it easier to see the sky above. We are eager to discover what new plants are growing and to find other interesting things in the woods, like the deer scat we’ve already spotted!

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!

Let’s Draw!

In this unit, third grade Mandarin students explored facial features and body parts while learning how to describe them in simple sentences, such as “My eyes are big” or “My hands are small.” Through engaging activities like “You say, I draw” and “I say, you draw,” students enthusiastically practiced their speaking skills in a fun and interactive way.