Message from the Executive Director
Hello Kindians,
It has been inspiring to witness the incredible efforts of our students, staff, and families in creating a vibrant and supportive environment where everyone can thrive.
As we approach the end of the first half of the school year, I want to take a moment to commend each of you, staff, parents, and students, for your hard work, dedication, and perseverance.
Our students continue to excel, not just academically, but also in character and community spirit. This is a reflection of the unwavering commitment of our staff, parents, and guardians, who work tirelessly to create the nurturing and academically enriching environment we are known for here at Kindi. Together, we are fostering a school culture that values not just academic excellence but good character and citizenship.
Looking ahead, we are excited about the opportunities to come. We are actively working on expanding our offerings for Middle and High School both on the academic front as well as the extracurricular activities. Our goal is to ensure that every student has access to a broad range of experiences and challenges that prepare them for the future. Soon, we will start using highly valued tools to plan a student’s path starting in Sixth Grade. We strive to graduate leaders.
Looking ahead, the second semester promises to be a busy and exciting time for our school. We have several events and activities planned, including Bake Sales, Overnight Trips for students in grades 1 and up, the School's Annual Dinner/Iftar function, indoor and outdoor field trips, new afterschool clubs, among many others. These events not only contribute to the holistic development of our students but also provide opportunities for us to come together as a community.
We are also working on starting our Admission process for next year sometime in January. We are updating and improving our admission criteria for new and returning students in an effort to keep Kindi’s environment conducive to learning and thriving. More information will follow after the break.
As we head into the Winter Break, I encourage everyone to take this time to rest, recharge, and be among loved ones. Let’s come back in the second half of the year with renewed energy and determination to make it even more successful than the first.
Wishing you all a joyful and safe Winter Break. Thank you for being part of this exceptional community!
It has been inspiring to witness the incredible efforts of our students, staff, and families in creating a vibrant and supportive environment where everyone can thrive.
As we approach the end of the first half of the school year, I want to take a moment to commend each of you, staff, parents, and students, for your hard work, dedication, and perseverance.
Our students continue to excel, not just academically, but also in character and community spirit. This is a reflection of the unwavering commitment of our staff, parents, and guardians, who work tirelessly to create the nurturing and academically enriching environment we are known for here at Kindi. Together, we are fostering a school culture that values not just academic excellence but good character and citizenship.
Looking ahead, we are excited about the opportunities to come. We are actively working on expanding our offerings for Middle and High School both on the academic front as well as the extracurricular activities. Our goal is to ensure that every student has access to a broad range of experiences and challenges that prepare them for the future. Soon, we will start using highly valued tools to plan a student’s path starting in Sixth Grade. We strive to graduate leaders.
Looking ahead, the second semester promises to be a busy and exciting time for our school. We have several events and activities planned, including Bake Sales, Overnight Trips for students in grades 1 and up, the School's Annual Dinner/Iftar function, indoor and outdoor field trips, new afterschool clubs, among many others. These events not only contribute to the holistic development of our students but also provide opportunities for us to come together as a community.
We are also working on starting our Admission process for next year sometime in January. We are updating and improving our admission criteria for new and returning students in an effort to keep Kindi’s environment conducive to learning and thriving. More information will follow after the break.
As we head into the Winter Break, I encourage everyone to take this time to rest, recharge, and be among loved ones. Let’s come back in the second half of the year with renewed energy and determination to make it even more successful than the first.
Wishing you all a joyful and safe Winter Break. Thank you for being part of this exceptional community!
Message from the Dean
Hello Kindi Community,
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As we close out 2024, it’s incredible to reflect on the accomplishments and growth of our Kindi students. December is always a busy and exciting month. What have we been working on?
Study Skills Group for 6th-8th Graders
As Semester 1 finals approach, we’ve launched a Study Skills Group for middle school students. Weekly sessions focus on effective time management, note-taking, test preparation, and staying organized.
Encourage your child to take short breaks while studying to maintain focus and motivation. A 5-minute stretch or walk can work wonders!
Girls' Night
Last month’s event was a huge success! Students enjoyed bracelet-making, delicious snacks and pizza, and fun conversations. We hope to continue to make connections through similar events in the future.
Spirit Week
Thank you for your enthusiastic participation in Spirit Week! Your contributions will help raise funds for our new trophy display case. Stay tuned for updates as we work to create a display that celebrates our students' achievements.
The 1st place winners are: 7A
The 2nd place winners are: 6A
Congratulations
College and Career
8th and 9th Grade Planning Session
This month, Mr. M and I will meet with 8th and 9th-grade students to discuss exciting plans for the upcoming school year. Students will also complete a survey to share ideas for new courses and improvements.
I am so proud of our thoughtful and generous 6th-grade students! Some of them came up with a plan to show their appreciation for our school staff. They decided to prepare and distribute hot chocolate during dismissal as a gesture of gratitude for their teachers, who go above and beyond to ensure dismissal runs smoothly every day in this cold weather.
As a school, we are extremely happy to have students and families who are so caring and proactive in spreading kindness. Moments like these remind us of the wonderful community we have built together.
Thank you for raising such incredible children and for always supporting Kindi Academy!
November Character Trait of the Month: Honesty
December's focus is on Integrity
Parent tip of the month
Winter break is a great time for students to relax and recharge. Here are a few tips to help your child make the most of their break:
Winter break is a chance for children to refresh and enjoy themselves while staying engaged and balanced. Wishing you a joyful and restful holiday season!
Thank you,
Ahed Abufeelat
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As we close out 2024, it’s incredible to reflect on the accomplishments and growth of our Kindi students. December is always a busy and exciting month. What have we been working on?
Study Skills Group for 6th-8th Graders
As Semester 1 finals approach, we’ve launched a Study Skills Group for middle school students. Weekly sessions focus on effective time management, note-taking, test preparation, and staying organized.
Encourage your child to take short breaks while studying to maintain focus and motivation. A 5-minute stretch or walk can work wonders!
Girls' Night
Last month’s event was a huge success! Students enjoyed bracelet-making, delicious snacks and pizza, and fun conversations. We hope to continue to make connections through similar events in the future.
Spirit Week
Thank you for your enthusiastic participation in Spirit Week! Your contributions will help raise funds for our new trophy display case. Stay tuned for updates as we work to create a display that celebrates our students' achievements.
The 1st place winners are: 7A
The 2nd place winners are: 6A
Congratulations
College and Career
8th and 9th Grade Planning Session
This month, Mr. M and I will meet with 8th and 9th-grade students to discuss exciting plans for the upcoming school year. Students will also complete a survey to share ideas for new courses and improvements.
I am so proud of our thoughtful and generous 6th-grade students! Some of them came up with a plan to show their appreciation for our school staff. They decided to prepare and distribute hot chocolate during dismissal as a gesture of gratitude for their teachers, who go above and beyond to ensure dismissal runs smoothly every day in this cold weather.
As a school, we are extremely happy to have students and families who are so caring and proactive in spreading kindness. Moments like these remind us of the wonderful community we have built together.
Thank you for raising such incredible children and for always supporting Kindi Academy!
November Character Trait of the Month: Honesty
December's focus is on Integrity
Parent tip of the month
Winter break is a great time for students to relax and recharge. Here are a few tips to help your child make the most of their break:
- Set a routine
While it's important to enjoy the downtime, maintaining a loose routine can help ease the transition back to school. Set aside time each day for reading, creative projects, or light academic activities. - Encourage creativity
Provide opportunities for your child to explore their creative side. This could include drawing, writing stories, and cooking. - Get active
Incorporate physical activity into their day, even if it's as simple as a family walk. Physical activity helps boost mood and energy. - Stay social
Plan safe and fun ways for your child to connect with friends or family, whether through small gatherings, playdates, or virtual meetups. - Set goals for the New Year
Reflect on the past year and encourage your child to set personal or academic goals for the new year. This helps foster a growth mindset and keeps them motivated. - Unplug and bond
Limit screen time and take this opportunity to strengthen family bonds with board games, movie nights, or cooking meals together.
Winter break is a chance for children to refresh and enjoy themselves while staying engaged and balanced. Wishing you a joyful and restful holiday season!
Thank you,
Ahed Abufeelat
Message from the Curriculum Director
Greetings Eagle Family,
I hope you are all doing well and enjoyed the Fall Break! It feels like yesterday we were just beginning the school year, and now I look at my calendar, in shock to believe that there’s only three weeks left in the semester. It’s true what they say…time flies when you’re having fun!
It was wonderful getting the chance to meet with many parents during Parent-Teacher Conferences. Getting the chance to meet with parents and discuss our student’s progress is always a highlight of the semester. Communication between parents and teachers is of great importance to ensuring our students are successful.
Students have been hard at work in the classrooms the past few weeks. I am constantly amazed by all the wonderful things happening in our classes. As I always say, the highlight of my day is being in the classroom. In the past few weeks, I’ve gotten to see many amazing things. The difference between Kindi and any other school is not just our strong curriculum geared towards High School and College Prep, but the hands-on experiences that students get in the classroom. Students in Ms. Kayla’s English classes have been discussion leaders, where they put together questions from their readings and led the class in discussions. Mr. Aukst gave our 8th graders a real chance to build strong leadership skills with our Civics and Leadership Class, where they established the Executive Leadership Team (ELT). This group will be working to contribute many things to our school (more details to come soon!). Our Science Classes have been diving into various experiments to bring the science concepts to life- including Ms. Ella’s awesome “Zombie” Lab in Anatomy, Ms. Ashley’s owl-pellet experiment in 4th grade, Ms. Paul’s Balloon Car lab in Physics, and Ms. Jameel’s Mitosis Lab in Biology. Students in Social Studies worked hard with researching the candidates and leading the Mock Election. These hands-on experiences are the ones that really bring learning to life and create memories that will last a lifetime. Believe me, there’s always something exciting to see at Kindi.
As we head into these final three weeks of the semester, our Middle and High School Students are busy preparing for their Final Exams of the semester. Finals are an excellent opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge of what they’ve learned since the beginning of the school year. These can be tiring and stressful times for students as well, so I’ve prepared a list of tips to help ease the stress around Finals Time:
I always say that Kindi Academy has the greatest team in the world - dedicated and passionate educators that want our students to succeed, hard working students determined to learn and grow, and a strong community committed to the success of everyone involved. Add in the strongest academic offerings you can find and you have a special recipe for success.
Thank you all for your continued support. As I always say, there is nothing a Kindi Eagle can’t do! Wishing you all the best heading into the new year.
It’s a GREAT DAY to be an Eagle!
Sevim Memisovski
Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Kindi Academy
I hope you are all doing well and enjoyed the Fall Break! It feels like yesterday we were just beginning the school year, and now I look at my calendar, in shock to believe that there’s only three weeks left in the semester. It’s true what they say…time flies when you’re having fun!
It was wonderful getting the chance to meet with many parents during Parent-Teacher Conferences. Getting the chance to meet with parents and discuss our student’s progress is always a highlight of the semester. Communication between parents and teachers is of great importance to ensuring our students are successful.
Students have been hard at work in the classrooms the past few weeks. I am constantly amazed by all the wonderful things happening in our classes. As I always say, the highlight of my day is being in the classroom. In the past few weeks, I’ve gotten to see many amazing things. The difference between Kindi and any other school is not just our strong curriculum geared towards High School and College Prep, but the hands-on experiences that students get in the classroom. Students in Ms. Kayla’s English classes have been discussion leaders, where they put together questions from their readings and led the class in discussions. Mr. Aukst gave our 8th graders a real chance to build strong leadership skills with our Civics and Leadership Class, where they established the Executive Leadership Team (ELT). This group will be working to contribute many things to our school (more details to come soon!). Our Science Classes have been diving into various experiments to bring the science concepts to life- including Ms. Ella’s awesome “Zombie” Lab in Anatomy, Ms. Ashley’s owl-pellet experiment in 4th grade, Ms. Paul’s Balloon Car lab in Physics, and Ms. Jameel’s Mitosis Lab in Biology. Students in Social Studies worked hard with researching the candidates and leading the Mock Election. These hands-on experiences are the ones that really bring learning to life and create memories that will last a lifetime. Believe me, there’s always something exciting to see at Kindi.
As we head into these final three weeks of the semester, our Middle and High School Students are busy preparing for their Final Exams of the semester. Finals are an excellent opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge of what they’ve learned since the beginning of the school year. These can be tiring and stressful times for students as well, so I’ve prepared a list of tips to help ease the stress around Finals Time:
- Don’t save all your studying for the day before the exams! Study a little bit each day starting now. Pace yourself and the material to review.
- Create a study group with your peers. I saw this first-hand with my first class of AP US History students- they’d meet after school the week before each class exam to prepare. Let me tell you- these make a big difference!
- Don’t just use one item to study! It’s always a good idea to use your study guides, old tests/quizzes, and notes to prepare for your exams. Teachers spend a great deal of time providing feedback on your old tests/quizzes - definitely worth a look over once more before exams.
- Get a good night’s rest before your exams! I know the urge to stay up late studying may seem like it helps, but in reality, studies show that students who stay up later to study actually perform worse. Pace your studying over a few weeks before the exams.
- Ask for help if you need it! Your teachers are here for you and ready to help you with anything you need. Reach out to them with any questions you have.
I always say that Kindi Academy has the greatest team in the world - dedicated and passionate educators that want our students to succeed, hard working students determined to learn and grow, and a strong community committed to the success of everyone involved. Add in the strongest academic offerings you can find and you have a special recipe for success.
Thank you all for your continued support. As I always say, there is nothing a Kindi Eagle can’t do! Wishing you all the best heading into the new year.
It’s a GREAT DAY to be an Eagle!
Sevim Memisovski
Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Kindi Academy
Thanks to Our GOLD Athletic Program Sponsors
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Thanks to Our SILVER Athletic Program Sponsors
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Eagles of the Month
In November, the character trait was honesty. I am proud of the students who have demonstrated this value through their integrity and truthfulness. In addition, these students have shown remarkable improvement in academics, demonstrated outstanding teamwork, and displayed good behavior in the classroom. Amazing job, Eagles.
From 6-9
R3
G1- Jude Samman
G2- Amalia Sheikh
G3- Romaan Iqbal
R4
G1- Zara Tinawi
G2- Abdullah Yadulash
G3- Yazan Karzoun
R7
G1- Mohammad Surti
G2- Lucine Sami
G3- Yahya Baig
R8
G1- Murtadhaa Osman
G2- Rodwan Rajjoub
G3- Jude Issa
4th-High School
4th grade- Zahra Surti -Yusuf Afzal -Sidra Alwakkaa
5th grade- Adam Watti -Ibrahim Masood -Haniya Noman
6th grade- Afiya Hoda - Mohammed Musa - Layan Safieh
7th grade- Sarah Irshad -Aaliya Mirza -Lareen Ballout
8th grade- Lilian Al-Masri
High School- Saniya Junai
Keep up the amazing work, Eagles and stay warm :)
From 6-9
R3
G1- Jude Samman
G2- Amalia Sheikh
G3- Romaan Iqbal
R4
G1- Zara Tinawi
G2- Abdullah Yadulash
G3- Yazan Karzoun
R7
G1- Mohammad Surti
G2- Lucine Sami
G3- Yahya Baig
R8
G1- Murtadhaa Osman
G2- Rodwan Rajjoub
G3- Jude Issa
4th-High School
4th grade- Zahra Surti -Yusuf Afzal -Sidra Alwakkaa
5th grade- Adam Watti -Ibrahim Masood -Haniya Noman
6th grade- Afiya Hoda - Mohammed Musa - Layan Safieh
7th grade- Sarah Irshad -Aaliya Mirza -Lareen Ballout
8th grade- Lilian Al-Masri
High School- Saniya Junai
Keep up the amazing work, Eagles and stay warm :)
News from our 3-6 Classrooms
"Mistakes are proof that we are trying." ~ Jennifer Lim
As the children work towards becoming more independent during this time of year, we continue to set examples by demonstrating tasks for them. For instance, with the arrival of cold weather, we showed the children how to properly hang up their coats, pull out the sleeves, and put them on. By leading through example in the classroom, the children continue to build their confidence and independence.
November flew by faster than anticipated, and we are quickly approaching the end of 2024! We spent time discussing the parts of a turkey and learning about the story of Thanksgiving. We also talked about the importance of helping those less fortunate, which is one of the many reasons we contribute to our local food pantry each year. A heartfelt thank you to all the families who donated food items to help us put together Thanksgiving meal boxes for those in need. The children had a great time decorating the boxes, which were later picked up by the Lisle Food Pantry. As a school community, we donated 50 food boxes and 60 turkeys, providing a delicious Thanksgiving meal to many families!
Our field trip to the Morton Arboretum was a wonderful experience! The children loved playing in the Children’s Garden and Maze Garden. They had fun climbing on giant acorns, logs, and rocks, as well as sliding down enormous tree roots. They explored teeter-totters and enjoyed the elevated path in the trees, where they played “I Spy” and looked for animals. It’s safe to say everyone had a blast exploring!
Before winter break, we will have our first in-school field trip: a visit from Dave DiNaso’s Traveling World of Reptiles! The children will experience an up-close presentation of real reptiles and amphibians.
To kick off the winter season, teachers will introduce lessons on the parts of a snowman, gingerbread man, poinsettia, and reindeer! We will also switch out many of the practical life works and math counters to match the current season, keeping the classroom fresh and engaging. The children have been working hard, and many have mastered their letter sounds, begun blending, and are reading Bob Books and Primary Phonics books with comprehension questions! In the last few months, we’ve seen incredible growth, and we’re so proud of everyone’s hard work.
Although the last few months have been busy, they’ve been filled with fun and lots of learning! We look forward to winter break, which will give us time to rest up and get ready for more learning in the new year.
~ The 3-6 Montessori Program
As the children work towards becoming more independent during this time of year, we continue to set examples by demonstrating tasks for them. For instance, with the arrival of cold weather, we showed the children how to properly hang up their coats, pull out the sleeves, and put them on. By leading through example in the classroom, the children continue to build their confidence and independence.
November flew by faster than anticipated, and we are quickly approaching the end of 2024! We spent time discussing the parts of a turkey and learning about the story of Thanksgiving. We also talked about the importance of helping those less fortunate, which is one of the many reasons we contribute to our local food pantry each year. A heartfelt thank you to all the families who donated food items to help us put together Thanksgiving meal boxes for those in need. The children had a great time decorating the boxes, which were later picked up by the Lisle Food Pantry. As a school community, we donated 50 food boxes and 60 turkeys, providing a delicious Thanksgiving meal to many families!
Our field trip to the Morton Arboretum was a wonderful experience! The children loved playing in the Children’s Garden and Maze Garden. They had fun climbing on giant acorns, logs, and rocks, as well as sliding down enormous tree roots. They explored teeter-totters and enjoyed the elevated path in the trees, where they played “I Spy” and looked for animals. It’s safe to say everyone had a blast exploring!
Before winter break, we will have our first in-school field trip: a visit from Dave DiNaso’s Traveling World of Reptiles! The children will experience an up-close presentation of real reptiles and amphibians.
To kick off the winter season, teachers will introduce lessons on the parts of a snowman, gingerbread man, poinsettia, and reindeer! We will also switch out many of the practical life works and math counters to match the current season, keeping the classroom fresh and engaging. The children have been working hard, and many have mastered their letter sounds, begun blending, and are reading Bob Books and Primary Phonics books with comprehension questions! In the last few months, we’ve seen incredible growth, and we’re so proud of everyone’s hard work.
Although the last few months have been busy, they’ve been filled with fun and lots of learning! We look forward to winter break, which will give us time to rest up and get ready for more learning in the new year.
~ The 3-6 Montessori Program
Updates from Our 6-9 Classroom
The greatest gifts we can give our children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence".
Maria Montessori
The depth of our students' engagement in all the activities of class is preparing them to accomplish new challenges.
Our First year students are reading and working on analyzing the elements of a story. Students are reading text and practicing identifying the setting, characters, plot, problem, and resolution of the story. They are also excited about proofreading exercises and learning to apply these new grammar and editing skills to their writings.
In math, addition and subtraction with carry over and borrow using the stamp game is providing students the opportunity to internalize these concepts. Identifying and adding coins exercises have been introduced. Skip counting with bead chains is an ongoing practice.
In science, we have an ongoing study of vertebrates and fundamental needs of humans. Students are also enjoying learning about matter and the three states of matter with experiments and research work. This month we will demonstrate how liquid water is frozen to become a solid (ice) and when the water is heated up to boiling, we can see the steam (gas) rise!
Our Second year students have been challenged to apply new vocabulary into their own creative stories. Proofreading and word study exercises are an integral part of their language exercises. They have built a foundation for the elements of the story from their first year lessons and preparing them for future writers.
Ongoing practice of addition, subtraction, and multiplication problems further solidify their learned mathematical concepts. They are excited to learn 2 digit divisor and 4 digit dividend with the stamp game. New geometrical concepts are being introduced as well to lay the foundation for future mathematical concepts.
In science, students are researching matter and the states of matter. They are also working on the parts of invertebrates with the ongoing planet and Fundamental Needs of Humans' projects.
Our Third year students presented their Native American research and dioramas to the class. They took pride in sharing their knowledge and hard work with their young classmates. Ongoing reading and writing exercises are providing them the opportunity to apply correct usage of vocabulary, punctuation, and spellings. Reading and writing creative stories is an integral part of our learning. The mastery for the elements of the story is evidently reflected in the final year of 6-9 class. Students are applying their cursive writing skills beautifully throughout their work.
In math, students are practicing to calculate area, perimeter, measurement, and addition and subtraction of fractions with unlike denominators using the lowest common multiple (LCM). Geometry lessons are building their foundation for future work. Students have been introduced to the conversion of improper to mixed fractions and vice versa.
In science, children are demonstrating their skills in research work focused on matter and the states of matter.
Students are enjoying art work projects with their integrated learning.
All our students have extended their learning from their timeines to reading biographies and connecting with famous people is a treat to see!
"Always believe in yourself"
Sincerely,
6-9 Team
Maria Montessori
The depth of our students' engagement in all the activities of class is preparing them to accomplish new challenges.
Our First year students are reading and working on analyzing the elements of a story. Students are reading text and practicing identifying the setting, characters, plot, problem, and resolution of the story. They are also excited about proofreading exercises and learning to apply these new grammar and editing skills to their writings.
In math, addition and subtraction with carry over and borrow using the stamp game is providing students the opportunity to internalize these concepts. Identifying and adding coins exercises have been introduced. Skip counting with bead chains is an ongoing practice.
In science, we have an ongoing study of vertebrates and fundamental needs of humans. Students are also enjoying learning about matter and the three states of matter with experiments and research work. This month we will demonstrate how liquid water is frozen to become a solid (ice) and when the water is heated up to boiling, we can see the steam (gas) rise!
Our Second year students have been challenged to apply new vocabulary into their own creative stories. Proofreading and word study exercises are an integral part of their language exercises. They have built a foundation for the elements of the story from their first year lessons and preparing them for future writers.
Ongoing practice of addition, subtraction, and multiplication problems further solidify their learned mathematical concepts. They are excited to learn 2 digit divisor and 4 digit dividend with the stamp game. New geometrical concepts are being introduced as well to lay the foundation for future mathematical concepts.
In science, students are researching matter and the states of matter. They are also working on the parts of invertebrates with the ongoing planet and Fundamental Needs of Humans' projects.
Our Third year students presented their Native American research and dioramas to the class. They took pride in sharing their knowledge and hard work with their young classmates. Ongoing reading and writing exercises are providing them the opportunity to apply correct usage of vocabulary, punctuation, and spellings. Reading and writing creative stories is an integral part of our learning. The mastery for the elements of the story is evidently reflected in the final year of 6-9 class. Students are applying their cursive writing skills beautifully throughout their work.
In math, students are practicing to calculate area, perimeter, measurement, and addition and subtraction of fractions with unlike denominators using the lowest common multiple (LCM). Geometry lessons are building their foundation for future work. Students have been introduced to the conversion of improper to mixed fractions and vice versa.
In science, children are demonstrating their skills in research work focused on matter and the states of matter.
Students are enjoying art work projects with their integrated learning.
All our students have extended their learning from their timeines to reading biographies and connecting with famous people is a treat to see!
"Always believe in yourself"
Sincerely,
6-9 Team
Updates from 4th Grade
4th grade Science Ms. Ashley
Fourth grade scientists have begun their very own science lab! Each day for a week students will observe the chemical and physical reactions when you add yeast to a banana in a tightly sealed bag. Students are studying the interdependence between food webs, and analyzed the five different ecosystems described in our textbooks. Next, we’ll be exploring in an inquiry- what happens when one part of an ecosystem is removed?
4th grade English Ms. Ashley
Fourth grade writers were grateful for their Thanksgiving breaks, and returned rejuvenated. We were ready to learn and excited to share our activities and vacations during break. Students did this by writing a description using their Sadlier’s vocabulary words and prepositional phrases. Fourth grade scholars have been analyzing the novel Wonder by discussing the characters actions, dialogue, and identifying themes. Additionally, we focused on making real world connections to the text.
5th grade English Ms. Ashley
Fifth grade English scholars have utilized their creative writing skills while incorporating their Sadlier’s vocabulary words. Their stories have included science fiction stories, fantasy and comedies. Recently, we have had the opportunity to explore and discuss self-identity, as it is one of the themes in the memoir Brown Girl Dreaming. Discussions have centered on how we grew up and who we surround ourselves with influences who we will become. The author, Jaqueline Woodson, describes her family's history in relation to the Great Migration of African Americans from the south to cities in the north. Lastly, fifth grade students have begun writing a script for the novel Esperanza Rising.
4th Grade Math - Ms. Mullin
This month students have been working hard practicing and learning skills with fractions. Students learned how to add and subtract fractions with like and unlike denominators, add 3 fractions, rename mixed numbers, and how to simplify fractions. We also practiced how to determine if a word problem required subtraction or addition. Currently, students are learning how to multiply fractions, multiply with mixed numbers and whole numbers, Next, we will be learning about reciprocals and how to divide fractions. After break, we will be learning how to add and subtract decimals.
4th Grade Social Studies- Ms. Mullin
Students have been busy in Social Studies! We recently completed a project about planning a Canada vacation to round out our study of Canada. Students chose three places to travel and researched about the climate, attractions, hotels, and restaurants they could eat at. Luckily, they had a fictional unlimited budget so the sky was the limit. Currently, we are studying about the geography of Mexico and early civilizations. Before break, we will finish our study of Latin America's geography, history, government, and culture. After break, students will learn about the culture, geography, and history of Western and Eastern Europe.
4th Grade English - Ms. Sameena
The students have been presenting their projects on the books read in the classroom with confidence, clarity, and creativity! They have been reading short stories, summaries, and selected paragraphs to comprehend the text and share the details with excitement. The smart students have learned new words to enrich their vocabulary and add meaning to their responses to gain mastery in the language!
Furthermore, they have shared their perceptions about the characters, how they changed, and the impact of the situations in their lives. The learners are able to identify the adverbs, adjectives, and prepositions to embellish their writing and present their thoughts clearly. They wrote interesting paragraphs to express themselves and that will help them to shine and spread the message of the essence of learning in their lives.
Moreover, they will continue to read and bloom,
learn the skills of language, new words, grammar, and become better readers and writers.
Fourth grade scientists have begun their very own science lab! Each day for a week students will observe the chemical and physical reactions when you add yeast to a banana in a tightly sealed bag. Students are studying the interdependence between food webs, and analyzed the five different ecosystems described in our textbooks. Next, we’ll be exploring in an inquiry- what happens when one part of an ecosystem is removed?
4th grade English Ms. Ashley
Fourth grade writers were grateful for their Thanksgiving breaks, and returned rejuvenated. We were ready to learn and excited to share our activities and vacations during break. Students did this by writing a description using their Sadlier’s vocabulary words and prepositional phrases. Fourth grade scholars have been analyzing the novel Wonder by discussing the characters actions, dialogue, and identifying themes. Additionally, we focused on making real world connections to the text.
5th grade English Ms. Ashley
Fifth grade English scholars have utilized their creative writing skills while incorporating their Sadlier’s vocabulary words. Their stories have included science fiction stories, fantasy and comedies. Recently, we have had the opportunity to explore and discuss self-identity, as it is one of the themes in the memoir Brown Girl Dreaming. Discussions have centered on how we grew up and who we surround ourselves with influences who we will become. The author, Jaqueline Woodson, describes her family's history in relation to the Great Migration of African Americans from the south to cities in the north. Lastly, fifth grade students have begun writing a script for the novel Esperanza Rising.
4th Grade Math - Ms. Mullin
This month students have been working hard practicing and learning skills with fractions. Students learned how to add and subtract fractions with like and unlike denominators, add 3 fractions, rename mixed numbers, and how to simplify fractions. We also practiced how to determine if a word problem required subtraction or addition. Currently, students are learning how to multiply fractions, multiply with mixed numbers and whole numbers, Next, we will be learning about reciprocals and how to divide fractions. After break, we will be learning how to add and subtract decimals.
4th Grade Social Studies- Ms. Mullin
Students have been busy in Social Studies! We recently completed a project about planning a Canada vacation to round out our study of Canada. Students chose three places to travel and researched about the climate, attractions, hotels, and restaurants they could eat at. Luckily, they had a fictional unlimited budget so the sky was the limit. Currently, we are studying about the geography of Mexico and early civilizations. Before break, we will finish our study of Latin America's geography, history, government, and culture. After break, students will learn about the culture, geography, and history of Western and Eastern Europe.
4th Grade English - Ms. Sameena
The students have been presenting their projects on the books read in the classroom with confidence, clarity, and creativity! They have been reading short stories, summaries, and selected paragraphs to comprehend the text and share the details with excitement. The smart students have learned new words to enrich their vocabulary and add meaning to their responses to gain mastery in the language!
Furthermore, they have shared their perceptions about the characters, how they changed, and the impact of the situations in their lives. The learners are able to identify the adverbs, adjectives, and prepositions to embellish their writing and present their thoughts clearly. They wrote interesting paragraphs to express themselves and that will help them to shine and spread the message of the essence of learning in their lives.
Moreover, they will continue to read and bloom,
learn the skills of language, new words, grammar, and become better readers and writers.
4th Grade Tech - Mrs. Fasiczka
The 4th graders in 4B have been busy in these last few weeks of technology class. We have been continuing to work on Google skills and their Typetastic program. They are also starting to learn about coding. We are using Code.org lessons that guide students through coding projects.
The 4th graders in 4B have been busy in these last few weeks of technology class. We have been continuing to work on Google skills and their Typetastic program. They are also starting to learn about coding. We are using Code.org lessons that guide students through coding projects.
4th Grade English - Mrs. Fasiczka
4th grade has been reading Holes, and incorporating discussion and short writing response activities. They are also practicing grammar with semi-daily “grammar minute” activities. Finally, we have been working on vocabulary skills by continuing to complete the Sadlier Vocabulary Blue book level each week.
4th grade has been reading Holes, and incorporating discussion and short writing response activities. They are also practicing grammar with semi-daily “grammar minute” activities. Finally, we have been working on vocabulary skills by continuing to complete the Sadlier Vocabulary Blue book level each week.
Happenings in the Science Room
Ms. Ella - Honors Anatomy and Physiology
I hope this message finds you well! I’m excited to share updates on what your students have been learning in Honors Anatomy and Physiology, as well as an overview of our current topic.
What We’ve Accomplished: The Integumentary System
This month, we wrapped up our study of the Integumentary System, exploring:
• The structure and function of the skin, hair, and nails.
• How the integumentary system protects the body and aids in temperature regulation.
• Disorders and diseases affecting the skin, such as burns and infections.
We ended the chapter with a fun and engaging Zombie Wound Lab, where students applied their knowledge of skin layers, wound healing, and tissue repair to create realistic "zombie" wounds. The creativity and understanding they demonstrated were outstanding!
What We’re Working On: The Skeletal System
We’ve now moved on to the Skeletal System, focusing on its three main components:
1. Bones: The structural framework of the body, providing support and protection.
2. Joints: The connections between bones that enable movement and flexibility.
3. Cartilage: A resilient and smooth tissue that cushions joints and supports soft tissues.
Students will learn about the structure and function of these components, along with how they work together to support the body and allow movement.
Looking Ahead
• Hands-On Learning: Students will engage in lab activities to explore bone structure and joint function.
• Assessments: We’ll conclude the skeletal system chapter with a practical quiz and group project.
• Real-World Applications: We’ll discuss skeletal disorders and how knowledge of the skeletal system applies to fields like orthopedics and physical therapy.
How You Can Support Your Student
1. Encourage Review: Remind your student to review their notes regularly and study diagrams of the skeletal system.
2. Ask Questions: Have your child explain the role of bones, joints, and cartilage to reinforce their understanding.
3. Discuss Real-Life Examples: Connect classroom concepts to everyday scenarios, like how joints enable movement during sports or how bones heal after a fracture.
Thank you for your continued support in making anatomy and physiology an engaging and impactful learning experience. If you have any questions or need additional information, feel free to reach out via email or Google Classroom.
Ms. Ella - 10th Grade -
Dear Honors Chemistry Parents,
I hope this message finds you well! I’m excited to update you on what we’ve been working on in Honors Chemistry and share a glimpse of what’s ahead.
Chapter 5: The Periodic Law
We’ve successfully wrapped up Chapter 5: The Periodic Law, where students explored:
• How the periodic table is organized based on periodic trends and properties of elements.
• Trends such as atomic radius, ionization energy, and electronegativity.
• The relationship between electron configurations and an element’s position on the periodic table.
Students engaged in activities and problem-solving exercises to deepen their understanding of how periodic trends predict element behavior.
Chapter 6: Chemical Bonding
We’ve transitioned into Chapter 6: Chemical Bonding, focusing on the following key topics:
• Ionic Bonds: The transfer of electrons between atoms to form ions and ionic compounds.
• Covalent Bonds: The sharing of electrons between atoms to form molecules.
• Polar and Nonpolar Bonds: How electronegativity differences affect bond polarity.
• Metallic Bonds: The unique bonding structure in metals and how it leads to properties like conductivity.
• Real-world applications of these bonding types in materials and compounds.
Looking Ahead
• Classwork Focus: Students will practice identifying and predicting bond types, writing Lewis structures, and analyzing molecular shapes.
• Lab Activity: We’ll conduct a hands-on bonding lab to explore the properties of ionic, covalent, and metallic compounds. Details and pre-lab instructions will be shared soon.
How You Can Support Your Student
1. Encourage Review: Students can revisit Chapter 5 concepts to solidify their understanding as they build upon these ideas in Chapter 6.
2. Ask Questions: Discuss everyday examples of ionic and covalent compounds, like salt (NaCl) or water (H₂O), to connect classroom concepts to the real world.
3. Stay Organized: Remind your child to keep up with their notes, study materials, and upcoming lab assignments.
Thank you for your continued support in making Chemistry an engaging and enriching experience for our students. If you have any questions or need further resources, feel free to contact me via email or through Google Classroom.
Ms. Ella -7th Grade
As we wrap up the month of November, I’m excited to share what we’ve been exploring in Chemistry! This month, our focus has been on ions, ionic and covalent bonds, and the periodic table, essential concepts that build the foundation for understanding how elements interact in the world around us.
Highlights: What We’ve Learned
1. The Periodic Table:
• We reviewed the organization of the periodic table, focusing on how element groups relate to properties like reactivity and bonding tendencies.
2. Ions and Their Role:
• We’ve discussed how atoms gain or lose electrons to form positive (cation) or negative (anion) ions.
• Students practiced identifying the charges of ions using the periodic table.
3. Ionic and Covalent Bonds:
• Students learned the difference between ionic bonds (transfer of electrons) and covalent bonds (sharing of electrons).
• We explored real-life examples of compounds formed through these bonds, like table salt (NaCl) and water (H₂O).
Looking Ahead: What’s Next?
1. Chapter Wrap-Up:
• We’ll take time to solidify understanding of these challenging concepts through classwork and group activities.
2. Reactivity Lab:
• Students will observe the reactivity of alkali metals and see how these elements form bonds with others.
3. Study Guide and Final Exam Review:
• Study guides for the upcoming final exam were distributed. Final exam review is this week. GOOD LUCK ON YOUR FINALS!
How You Can Support Your Child at Home
1. Review Notes Together: Discuss the difference between ionic and covalent bonds or how the periodic table organizes elements.
2. Ask Questions: Encourage your child to explain the key concepts we’ve covered. Teaching someone else is a great way to reinforce learning!
3. Encourage Pre-Lab Preparation: Help them review their pre-lab work to ensure they’re ready for Thursday’s lab.
Thank you for your continued support in helping your child succeed in Chemistry. If you have any questions or need additional resources, feel free to contact me through email or Google Classroom.
Ms. Ella - 5th Grade
I wanted to share what we’ve been working on in Earth Science and highlight what’s coming up as we conclude our exciting chapter on earthquakes.
Highlights: Learning About Earthquakes
This month, we explored:
1. Forces in Earth’s Crust: How stress builds up and leads to the movement of tectonic plates.
2. Earthquakes and Seismic Waves: Understanding the types of seismic waves (P waves, S waves, and surface waves) and how they impact the Earth.
3. Monitoring Earthquakes: How scientists use tools like seismographs and the Richter scale to measure earthquakes.
Students actively participated in discussions, completed guided notes, and engaged in hands-on activities to reinforce these concepts.
Wrapping Up the Chapter
We’re now completing our chapter on earthquakes. To close out the topic:
• We will review key concepts and complete a final project to tie everything together.
• Students will have an opportunity to share what they’ve learned through a fun and interactive activity.
Looking Ahead
• Chapter Wrap-Up: Students will finalize their notes and participate in a quiz on the chapter’s key concepts to demonstrate their understanding.
• Final Reflection Activity: This will encourage students to connect their knowledge of earthquakes to real-world examples.
How You Can Support Your Child at Home
1. Ask Questions: Encourage your child to share their favorite fact about earthquakes or explain how scientists monitor seismic activity.
2. Review Together: Look through their notes and discuss what they found most interesting or challenging.
3. Explore Further: Watch a short video or explore online resources about recent earthquake events around the world to spark curiosity.
Thank you for your continued support in making science an exciting journey for our young learners. If you have any questions or want to know more about what’s happening in our classroom, feel free to reach out.
Ms. Jameel - 6th Grade
Class Focus:
1. The Cell Cycle and Mitosis
After wrapping up our unit on homeostasis, our focus shifted to the fascinating world of cell division. November’s lessons introduced the cell cycle, the process by which cells grow, duplicate, and divide. Students also explored mitosis, the specific part of the cell cycle responsible for the actual division of a cell into two identical daughter cells.
We started by breaking down the cell cycle into its stages:
Interphase: This is the phase where the cell grows and DNA is replicated in preparation for division.
Mitosis: The stage where the cell’s nucleus divides, resulting in two genetically identical nuclei.
Cytokinesis: This is the final step where the cell’s cytoplasm divides, creating two separate daughter cells.
To make these concepts more tangible, we engaged in a variety of hands-on activities. Students used models and diagrams to understand how cells progress through these stages, and we even used colored beads to represent chromosomes and chromatin, which helped them visualize how genetic material changes as a cell prepares to divide.
2. Chromatin vs. Chromosomes
A crucial part of our lessons this month was understanding the difference between chromatin and chromosomes. While chromatin is the loose, uncoiled form of DNA that exists during most of the cell cycle, chromosomes are the tightly coiled structures formed during mitosis that make it easier for cells to divide evenly.
To make this concept more accessible, we compared the two forms to a book being read versus a book being packed for a move. The “loose book” (chromatin) is easy to read and access, while the “packed book” (chromosomes) is ready to be transported (or, in this case, divided) efficiently.
3. Engaging Activities for Better Understanding
To ensure the students truly grasped the different stages of the cell cycle and mitosis, we organized interactive activities. One of the highlights was creating mitosis flipbooks—where students could illustrate each phase of mitosis and use their drawings to demonstrate the process. This activity helped them visualize the transformation of a single cell into two distinct cells.
We also performed a group activity where students acted out the different stages of mitosis, with each student representing a part of the cell or its components (like chromosomes, centrioles, and spindle fibers). By physically moving through the phases, they got a hands-on understanding of how each step of mitosis occurs.
4. Key Takeaways from November’s Science Lessons
Understanding Cell Division: Students learned that the cell cycle and mitosis are essential for growth, repair, and reproduction in organisms. By understanding these processes, they gained insight into how living things grow and maintain themselves.
The Role of Chromatin and Chromosomes: By studying the difference between chromatin and chromosomes, students learned how DNA condenses and organizes itself to ensure accurate cell division.
Hands-on Learning: Through interactive activities and group exercises, the concepts of the cell cycle and mitosis became more tangible and memorable for the students.
Ms. Jameel - 9th Grade
Class Focus:
1. Introduction to Viruses
After wrapping up evolution, we dove into the world of Viruses. Students were introduced to these microscopic entities, which blur the line between living and non-living things. We discussed:
What are Viruses? Students learned that viruses are made up of genetic material (DNA or RNA) encased in a protein coat. Unlike living organisms, viruses cannot carry out metabolism or reproduce on their own—they need a host cell to replicate.
Virus Structure & Shape: The class examined the various shapes and structures of viruses, such as helical, polyhedral, and complex shapes, and how these structures are critical for infecting host cells.
2. Virus Life Cycle
We also covered the different cycles that viruses undergo when infecting a host. These include:
Lytic Cycle: In this cycle, the virus enters a host cell, replicates itself, and causes the host cell to burst (lysis), releasing new viruses.
Lysogenic Cycle: In this more dormant cycle, the viral DNA integrates into the host's genome and can remain inactive for long periods before eventually entering the lytic cycle.
This discussion allowed students to understand not only how viruses spread but also how vaccines work to protect us from viral infections.
News from our Middle/High School
5th Grade English - Ms. Sameena
The super students have recently begun to learn about how letters can change lives and how they can be used to communicate with people! They are reflecting on the importance of sharing the blessings that can bring change in lives for betterment. Reading texts to connect with the world and understanding the importance of descriptive language is leading them toward a new world where they can express themselves with fearless presentation! Apart from reading books and writing on topics of importance, they are identifying parts of speech and using them in their daily practice activities to brighten their minds and personalities.
They have learned to explore and expand sentences to make their thoughts more engaging and interesting. Projects presented on books that are read in the classroom were commendable and captivating!
6th Grade English - Ms. Sameena
The super students have recently begun to learn about how letters can change lives and how they can be used to communicate with people! They are reflecting on the importance of sharing the blessings that can bring change in lives for betterment. Reading texts to connect with the world and understanding the importance of descriptive language is leading them toward a new world where they can express themselves with fearless presentation! Apart from reading books and writing on topics of importance, they are identifying parts of speech and using them in their daily practice activities to brighten their minds and personalities.
They have learned to explore and expand sentences to make their thoughts more engaging and interesting. Projects presented on books that are read in the classroom were commendable and captivating!
6th Grade English - Ms.Fasiczka
In 6th grade we began reading The Giver. The novel has sparked some great discussions about the conflict between safety and freedom! The students have also been working on reviewing grammar skills and completed narrative essays. We have also continued to build vocabulary with the Sadlier Workshop program.
7th Grade English - Ms.Fasiczka
Seventh grade started reading Fever 1793. We have also been practicing reading comprehension skills with IXL and daily paragraph editing exercises. Finally, students have been continuing to enhance their vocabulary with the Sadlier Vocabulary Workshop curriculum.
7th Grade ELA- Ms. Mullin
We have been busy in ELA! Previously, we finished reading and analyzing Fever 1793. Students chose what essay prompt to write about in their literary analysis essay. We learned how to organize an essay using an outline. The class is currently working on finding the best evidence to answer close reading questions and analyzing texts. In addition, we started reading Chasing Lincoln's Killer. Students will finish reading before break and complete an in class essay. As we get closer to the final, we are reviewing grammar, previous novels, vocabulary, and skills a little each day. After break, we will start reading The War of Worlds and practicing skills such as tone and theme.
Creative Expression - Ms.Sameena
It is an art to write creatively about anything as it adorns your language and gives you pleasure, power, and passion to achieve your dreams!
The creative students have written and shared their stories, ideas, and experiences with beautiful examples to inspire the audience ,to make everyone feel special about themselves!
Furthermore, they are learning to recognize the importance of their work and are able to appreciate their contribution in the classroom. The writing prompts are facilitating them in their learning process and shaping their minds towards a positive impact.
As I mentioned earlier, they are the ones who are able to make activities thrilling and engaging. The students have artistic skills and we have to hone their talents to bloom them, make their work recognized as the recognition of their achievements will highlight their uniqueness in the classroom.
8th Grade English - Dr. Mark
Eighth graders have recently completed a unit on African fiction, culminating in a close study of Chinua Achebe’s masterful novel Things Fall Apart. The book really seemed to strike a chord with students, and I was pleased on many days to have a vigorous class discussion underway before even beginning class. During the last days of the semester, we will be turning our attention to three enduring folk narratives that the students will no doubt recognize–at first: the timeless stories of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Little Red Riding Hood.
9th Grade Honors English - Dr. Mark
In November, the ninth grade Honors English students bid farewell to one very long novel by gathering for a screening of the 1975 television production of The Count of Monte Cristo. It was a fine interpretation, but I think we all agreed that the book was better. We have now turned our attention to Octavia Butler’s Kindred, another novel that profoundly engages historical events, but in a radically different way.
10th Grade Honors American Literature - Dr. Mark
In Honors American Literature, the sophomores have been immersed in the American Renaissance and have studied important works of nonfiction by Emerson and Thoreau. During these last weeks of the semester, we have been exploring some splendidly dark narratives by Herman Melville and the emergence of modern American poetry in the work of Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson. All three of these writers were nineteenth-century geniuses who were decades ahead of their time.
AP English - Dr. Mark
The AP English students are currently in the midst of an extensive study of postmemory, a concept described by Marianne Hirsh as “the relationship of children of survivors of cultural or collective trauma to the experiences of their parents, experiences that they ‘remember’ only as the stories and images with which they grew up, but that are so powerful, so monumental, as to constitute memories in their own right.” Hirsh’s work is complex, and we found that the best way to appreciate its structure was to map it and illustrate it. Now the students are in the process of writing their own “postmemorial” narratives, and initial drafts are very promising indeed.
5th Grade English - Ms. Kayla Beck
Recently, our 5th Grade students have been working hard on fictional narratives inspired by the novel Among the Hidden. After crafting their essays, they chose creative ways to bring their stories to life. Some students designed posters, others wrote journals, and a few even created short films.
Looking ahead, students have selected The Bridge Home as our next class read. This unit will focus on persuasive writing, and students will engage in various projects related to the book. Through this unit, they will refine skills such as identifying arguments, analyzing imagery, making inferences, gathering evidence, and summarizing key ideas.
6th Grade English - Ms.Kayla Beck
I am excited to share what’s been happening in our 6th grade class! We’ve recently wrapped up The Giver, where students worked on literary analysis papers to deepen their understanding of the novel. They did an excellent job examining the themes, characters, and deeper meanings within the story.
Currently, we are working on our Myths and Legends unit. In this unit, students are strengthening their skills in imagery, identifying themes, analyzing tone, and finding textual evidence to support their ideas.
Next, we will begin reading The Westing Game. During this unit, students will write another literary analysis paper, with a focus on developing strong thesis statements, understanding MLA format, and creating bibliographies.
7th Grade English - Ms.Kayla
We've had a productive time in 7th grade recently! Our class has just finished reading Fever 1793 and students worked hard on their literary analysis papers. Throughout this process, they focused on crafting thesis statements, finding supporting evidence, learning how to incorporate quotes, improving paragraph structure, and creating works cited pages.
Now, we are moving on to our newest read, The War of the Worlds. In this unit, we will explore the role of media, how to evaluate reliable sources, and dive into our first annotated bibliography. This will help prepare students for their second literary analysis paper, where they will apply the skills they've learned.
The super students have recently begun to learn about how letters can change lives and how they can be used to communicate with people! They are reflecting on the importance of sharing the blessings that can bring change in lives for betterment. Reading texts to connect with the world and understanding the importance of descriptive language is leading them toward a new world where they can express themselves with fearless presentation! Apart from reading books and writing on topics of importance, they are identifying parts of speech and using them in their daily practice activities to brighten their minds and personalities.
They have learned to explore and expand sentences to make their thoughts more engaging and interesting. Projects presented on books that are read in the classroom were commendable and captivating!
6th Grade English - Ms. Sameena
The super students have recently begun to learn about how letters can change lives and how they can be used to communicate with people! They are reflecting on the importance of sharing the blessings that can bring change in lives for betterment. Reading texts to connect with the world and understanding the importance of descriptive language is leading them toward a new world where they can express themselves with fearless presentation! Apart from reading books and writing on topics of importance, they are identifying parts of speech and using them in their daily practice activities to brighten their minds and personalities.
They have learned to explore and expand sentences to make their thoughts more engaging and interesting. Projects presented on books that are read in the classroom were commendable and captivating!
6th Grade English - Ms.Fasiczka
In 6th grade we began reading The Giver. The novel has sparked some great discussions about the conflict between safety and freedom! The students have also been working on reviewing grammar skills and completed narrative essays. We have also continued to build vocabulary with the Sadlier Workshop program.
7th Grade English - Ms.Fasiczka
Seventh grade started reading Fever 1793. We have also been practicing reading comprehension skills with IXL and daily paragraph editing exercises. Finally, students have been continuing to enhance their vocabulary with the Sadlier Vocabulary Workshop curriculum.
7th Grade ELA- Ms. Mullin
We have been busy in ELA! Previously, we finished reading and analyzing Fever 1793. Students chose what essay prompt to write about in their literary analysis essay. We learned how to organize an essay using an outline. The class is currently working on finding the best evidence to answer close reading questions and analyzing texts. In addition, we started reading Chasing Lincoln's Killer. Students will finish reading before break and complete an in class essay. As we get closer to the final, we are reviewing grammar, previous novels, vocabulary, and skills a little each day. After break, we will start reading The War of Worlds and practicing skills such as tone and theme.
Creative Expression - Ms.Sameena
It is an art to write creatively about anything as it adorns your language and gives you pleasure, power, and passion to achieve your dreams!
The creative students have written and shared their stories, ideas, and experiences with beautiful examples to inspire the audience ,to make everyone feel special about themselves!
Furthermore, they are learning to recognize the importance of their work and are able to appreciate their contribution in the classroom. The writing prompts are facilitating them in their learning process and shaping their minds towards a positive impact.
As I mentioned earlier, they are the ones who are able to make activities thrilling and engaging. The students have artistic skills and we have to hone their talents to bloom them, make their work recognized as the recognition of their achievements will highlight their uniqueness in the classroom.
8th Grade English - Dr. Mark
Eighth graders have recently completed a unit on African fiction, culminating in a close study of Chinua Achebe’s masterful novel Things Fall Apart. The book really seemed to strike a chord with students, and I was pleased on many days to have a vigorous class discussion underway before even beginning class. During the last days of the semester, we will be turning our attention to three enduring folk narratives that the students will no doubt recognize–at first: the timeless stories of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Little Red Riding Hood.
9th Grade Honors English - Dr. Mark
In November, the ninth grade Honors English students bid farewell to one very long novel by gathering for a screening of the 1975 television production of The Count of Monte Cristo. It was a fine interpretation, but I think we all agreed that the book was better. We have now turned our attention to Octavia Butler’s Kindred, another novel that profoundly engages historical events, but in a radically different way.
10th Grade Honors American Literature - Dr. Mark
In Honors American Literature, the sophomores have been immersed in the American Renaissance and have studied important works of nonfiction by Emerson and Thoreau. During these last weeks of the semester, we have been exploring some splendidly dark narratives by Herman Melville and the emergence of modern American poetry in the work of Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson. All three of these writers were nineteenth-century geniuses who were decades ahead of their time.
AP English - Dr. Mark
The AP English students are currently in the midst of an extensive study of postmemory, a concept described by Marianne Hirsh as “the relationship of children of survivors of cultural or collective trauma to the experiences of their parents, experiences that they ‘remember’ only as the stories and images with which they grew up, but that are so powerful, so monumental, as to constitute memories in their own right.” Hirsh’s work is complex, and we found that the best way to appreciate its structure was to map it and illustrate it. Now the students are in the process of writing their own “postmemorial” narratives, and initial drafts are very promising indeed.
5th Grade English - Ms. Kayla Beck
Recently, our 5th Grade students have been working hard on fictional narratives inspired by the novel Among the Hidden. After crafting their essays, they chose creative ways to bring their stories to life. Some students designed posters, others wrote journals, and a few even created short films.
Looking ahead, students have selected The Bridge Home as our next class read. This unit will focus on persuasive writing, and students will engage in various projects related to the book. Through this unit, they will refine skills such as identifying arguments, analyzing imagery, making inferences, gathering evidence, and summarizing key ideas.
6th Grade English - Ms.Kayla Beck
I am excited to share what’s been happening in our 6th grade class! We’ve recently wrapped up The Giver, where students worked on literary analysis papers to deepen their understanding of the novel. They did an excellent job examining the themes, characters, and deeper meanings within the story.
Currently, we are working on our Myths and Legends unit. In this unit, students are strengthening their skills in imagery, identifying themes, analyzing tone, and finding textual evidence to support their ideas.
Next, we will begin reading The Westing Game. During this unit, students will write another literary analysis paper, with a focus on developing strong thesis statements, understanding MLA format, and creating bibliographies.
7th Grade English - Ms.Kayla
We've had a productive time in 7th grade recently! Our class has just finished reading Fever 1793 and students worked hard on their literary analysis papers. Throughout this process, they focused on crafting thesis statements, finding supporting evidence, learning how to incorporate quotes, improving paragraph structure, and creating works cited pages.
Now, we are moving on to our newest read, The War of the Worlds. In this unit, we will explore the role of media, how to evaluate reliable sources, and dive into our first annotated bibliography. This will help prepare students for their second literary analysis paper, where they will apply the skills they've learned.
7th Grade Financial Literacy - Mr. Aukst
Students learned about basic personal finance principles such as types of spending, trade-offs, saving money, and types of credit. They also learned about checking accounts, credit cards, debt cards, and cash apps. In addition, students took a career inventory and created a presentation that focused on budgeting as a young adult. Students had to pick a career and a college they attended to obtain their degree. They also had to budget costs of independent living. It included student loans, car payment, apartment, utilities, internet and streaming costs, retirement, savings, and other everyday expenses.
Social Emotional Learning - Mrs. Ahed
As students are preparing for finals, we are holding a study skills group for grades 6th-8th. Each week, students learned about topics such as time management, effective note-taking strategies, healthy habits, and test-taking tips.
Students learned about basic personal finance principles such as types of spending, trade-offs, saving money, and types of credit. They also learned about checking accounts, credit cards, debt cards, and cash apps. In addition, students took a career inventory and created a presentation that focused on budgeting as a young adult. Students had to pick a career and a college they attended to obtain their degree. They also had to budget costs of independent living. It included student loans, car payment, apartment, utilities, internet and streaming costs, retirement, savings, and other everyday expenses.
Social Emotional Learning - Mrs. Ahed
As students are preparing for finals, we are holding a study skills group for grades 6th-8th. Each week, students learned about topics such as time management, effective note-taking strategies, healthy habits, and test-taking tips.
Updates From Social Studies
5th Grade Ancient World History - Mr. Aukst
We have completed Ancient India and China. It included the origin of India’s civilization and the importance of the Vedic. It also included the major early empires of their most significant rulers. In addition, we covered the major religions and philosophies of Ancient India which include Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. We then pivoted to Ancient China. We learned about China’s origin, Shang Dynasty, Warring State period, Zhou Dynasty, Qin Dynasty, and Han Dynasty. We also covered the three major philosophies: Confucianism, Legalism, and Taoism. The month began with students making posters for the 2024 mock presidential election and participating in the mock election on election day.
9th Grade AP World History - Mr. Aukst
Students have completed a great deal of work in this class. We have completed a total of 12 chapters that included; The World in 1450: Changing Balance of World Power, The World Economy, The Transformation of the West 1450-1750, Early Latin America, Africa and the Africans in the Age of the Atlantic Slave Trade, The Rise of Russia, The Muslim Empires, Asian Transitions in an Age of Global Change, The Emergence of Industrial Society in the West 1750-1900, Industrialization and Imperialism, and The Consolidation of Latin America, 1810-1920. Each chapter requires students to complete key terms and answer essay questions. In addition, students have completed two DBQs. The month began with students researching specific issues of the presidential campaign for the 2024 mock election. They compared each candidate’s position on the issue and included the student’s opinion on the issue.
7th Grade US History - Mr. Aukst
We completed the U.S. Constitution unit. It included the Preamble, the Legislative branch, the Executive Branch, and the Judicial Branch. It also included Article IV through XII and all amendments, including the Bill of Rights. Students concluded the month by taking the constitutional exam. The month began with students researching specific constitution elements and making posters for the 2024 mock presidential election. We also began learning about George Washington’s presidency. It included his cabinet and the direction of the newly formed United States. We spent time comparing Hamilton’s vision for America and Jefferson’s vision for America.
8th Grade Modern World History - Mr. Aukst
Students began the month with an urban simulation project. Students had to transform a rural community into an industrialized city. After the simulation, students learned about the first and second Industrial Revolution. We studied how the Industrial Revolution spread from England to other European countries and eventually to America. After the Industrial Revolution, the students learned about Imperialism, which so far, has included the Scramble for Africa, Europeans Claiming Muslim Lands, British Imperialism in India, and Imperialism in SE Asia. They have also completed a DBQ on Imperialism. The month started with students researching specific issues of the presidential campaign for the 2024 mock election. They compared each candidate’s position on the issue and included the student’s opinion on the issue.
AP US Government - Mr. Sevim Memisovski
Our AP Government students did a tremendous job last month in leading the Mock Election in the school. Our students served as “Election Workers” distributing ballots to all kids. We also researched the candidates in the election and created posters highlighting their stances on the issues. Great work getting involved in the political process! We have also finished our unit on Political Participation, diving deep into the electoral process here in the United States. We are now working on reviewing for Final Exams and continuing to build strong writing skills (especially with Argumentative Writing).
We have completed Ancient India and China. It included the origin of India’s civilization and the importance of the Vedic. It also included the major early empires of their most significant rulers. In addition, we covered the major religions and philosophies of Ancient India which include Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. We then pivoted to Ancient China. We learned about China’s origin, Shang Dynasty, Warring State period, Zhou Dynasty, Qin Dynasty, and Han Dynasty. We also covered the three major philosophies: Confucianism, Legalism, and Taoism. The month began with students making posters for the 2024 mock presidential election and participating in the mock election on election day.
9th Grade AP World History - Mr. Aukst
Students have completed a great deal of work in this class. We have completed a total of 12 chapters that included; The World in 1450: Changing Balance of World Power, The World Economy, The Transformation of the West 1450-1750, Early Latin America, Africa and the Africans in the Age of the Atlantic Slave Trade, The Rise of Russia, The Muslim Empires, Asian Transitions in an Age of Global Change, The Emergence of Industrial Society in the West 1750-1900, Industrialization and Imperialism, and The Consolidation of Latin America, 1810-1920. Each chapter requires students to complete key terms and answer essay questions. In addition, students have completed two DBQs. The month began with students researching specific issues of the presidential campaign for the 2024 mock election. They compared each candidate’s position on the issue and included the student’s opinion on the issue.
7th Grade US History - Mr. Aukst
We completed the U.S. Constitution unit. It included the Preamble, the Legislative branch, the Executive Branch, and the Judicial Branch. It also included Article IV through XII and all amendments, including the Bill of Rights. Students concluded the month by taking the constitutional exam. The month began with students researching specific constitution elements and making posters for the 2024 mock presidential election. We also began learning about George Washington’s presidency. It included his cabinet and the direction of the newly formed United States. We spent time comparing Hamilton’s vision for America and Jefferson’s vision for America.
8th Grade Modern World History - Mr. Aukst
Students began the month with an urban simulation project. Students had to transform a rural community into an industrialized city. After the simulation, students learned about the first and second Industrial Revolution. We studied how the Industrial Revolution spread from England to other European countries and eventually to America. After the Industrial Revolution, the students learned about Imperialism, which so far, has included the Scramble for Africa, Europeans Claiming Muslim Lands, British Imperialism in India, and Imperialism in SE Asia. They have also completed a DBQ on Imperialism. The month started with students researching specific issues of the presidential campaign for the 2024 mock election. They compared each candidate’s position on the issue and included the student’s opinion on the issue.
AP US Government - Mr. Sevim Memisovski
Our AP Government students did a tremendous job last month in leading the Mock Election in the school. Our students served as “Election Workers” distributing ballots to all kids. We also researched the candidates in the election and created posters highlighting their stances on the issues. Great work getting involved in the political process! We have also finished our unit on Political Participation, diving deep into the electoral process here in the United States. We are now working on reviewing for Final Exams and continuing to build strong writing skills (especially with Argumentative Writing).
AP US History - Mr. Sevim Memisovski
Students in AP US History are working extremely hard as we prepare to close out the first semester. We completed our units on Westward Expansion, the Civil War, and Reconstruction. As we explored Westward Expansion, we analyzed the events that eventually led to the start of the Civil War. Students created Google Slides Presentations about certain Battles of the Civil War, which they spent considerable time researching each battle and presented their findings to the class. We are now moving into the Gilded Age and preparing for our Final Exams.
6th Grade Social Studies - Ms. Megan Mullin
Students have been hard at work in Social Studies. They recently finished a Travel Brochure about any Latin American country. Students researched the culture, geography, and must see attractions. They were able to make a sample itinerary as well. Currently, we are studying Western and Eastern Europe's economy, culture, government, and geography. Students completed a map of Western Europe and had elevated discussions about their assigned readings. As finals approach us, we are reviewing each day in class. After break, we will learn about Russia's history, culture, geography, and the Soviet Union.
Students in AP US History are working extremely hard as we prepare to close out the first semester. We completed our units on Westward Expansion, the Civil War, and Reconstruction. As we explored Westward Expansion, we analyzed the events that eventually led to the start of the Civil War. Students created Google Slides Presentations about certain Battles of the Civil War, which they spent considerable time researching each battle and presented their findings to the class. We are now moving into the Gilded Age and preparing for our Final Exams.
6th Grade Social Studies - Ms. Megan Mullin
Students have been hard at work in Social Studies. They recently finished a Travel Brochure about any Latin American country. Students researched the culture, geography, and must see attractions. They were able to make a sample itinerary as well. Currently, we are studying Western and Eastern Europe's economy, culture, government, and geography. Students completed a map of Western Europe and had elevated discussions about their assigned readings. As finals approach us, we are reviewing each day in class. After break, we will learn about Russia's history, culture, geography, and the Soviet Union.
Updates from Gym
P.E continues to be a class full of countless activities, not only challenging students physically, but mentally as well. Grades 4th through high school all engage in some form of health education, whether its learning about the importance of sleep and hydration, or the significance of developing hobbies and how it can challenge the mind, be a cause for relaxation and create relationships by connecting with others of the similar interests.
Sports are going to remain a popular choice amongst students, and they’ve had the pleasure of indulging in plenty of sports including, volleyball, handball, pickleball and plenty more ahead. With the intentions to utilize the rock climbing wall soon, students will have the chance to participate in a more unorthodox activity that will surely put their bodies to the test.
Sports are going to remain a popular choice amongst students, and they’ve had the pleasure of indulging in plenty of sports including, volleyball, handball, pickleball and plenty more ahead. With the intentions to utilize the rock climbing wall soon, students will have the chance to participate in a more unorthodox activity that will surely put their bodies to the test.
Updates from Art with Ms. Gazi
4th Grade
Our 4th-grade students started the month exploring the world of gesture drawing! Artists use gesture drawings to capture the feeling of emotion. We focused on Gesture lines, Gesture Sketch, Repeated lines, Repeated shapes, all with minimal detail.
5th Grade
In our 5th Grade art class, we have begun studying and putting too practice Proportions and Distortions in Art and sculptural form. Proportion is used to show a relative size to imitate realism, Distortion is used to express a feeling or idea. Ask to see their class picture book!
6th Grade
The Mona Lisa work of art by the 6th graders is still in process as they grasp the concept of becoming familiar with different brushes and their various uses.
High School
As we travel the world understanding art, we embark into Mesoamerican and pre-Columbian art. Learning characteristics of their art (vessels and paintings), understanding their cultures, and architecture. Students are concluding their clay vessels replicating pottery from the Mayan, Aztec, and Olmec civilizations. Stop by the Art Hall to see their finished work!
Our 4th-grade students started the month exploring the world of gesture drawing! Artists use gesture drawings to capture the feeling of emotion. We focused on Gesture lines, Gesture Sketch, Repeated lines, Repeated shapes, all with minimal detail.
5th Grade
In our 5th Grade art class, we have begun studying and putting too practice Proportions and Distortions in Art and sculptural form. Proportion is used to show a relative size to imitate realism, Distortion is used to express a feeling or idea. Ask to see their class picture book!
6th Grade
The Mona Lisa work of art by the 6th graders is still in process as they grasp the concept of becoming familiar with different brushes and their various uses.
High School
As we travel the world understanding art, we embark into Mesoamerican and pre-Columbian art. Learning characteristics of their art (vessels and paintings), understanding their cultures, and architecture. Students are concluding their clay vessels replicating pottery from the Mayan, Aztec, and Olmec civilizations. Stop by the Art Hall to see their finished work!
Updates from our spanish classroom
Spanish with Maestra Maria Herrero:
¡Hola Familias!
It was a pleasure to spend some time with you during conferences. Here is a summary of everything we worked on in my class across the different levels:
In the 3-6 program, we started the month practicing counting with natural acorns and learning vocabulary related to Fall. We also worked on family vocabulary by associating figurines and cards. Additionally, we reviewed feelings and farm animal vocabulary from the previous month by playing the flyswatter game. Finally, the week before Thanksgiving, we dedicated two sessions to the story “Pavo prepara su pastel favorito” (Turkey Makes His Favorite Pie). We learned new kitchen-related vocabulary, danced to the turkey song, and searched for the turkey in the classroom while practicing the high-frequency word (HFW) “busca” (look for).
The 1st-grade students worked on writing the names of the seasons while drawing each one. They also practiced the days of the week, writing the song they already knew in their notebooks. In addition, they worked on the story “Pavo prepara su pastel favorito” (Turkey Makes His Favorite Pie) by completing several activities that reinforced the HFWs related to the story.
The 2nd and 3rd graders finished creating their "special student balls," where they answered basic questions like ¿Cómo te llamas? (What is your name?), ¿Cuántos años tienes? (How old are you?), and ¿Cuál es tu color, número, estación, animal y comida favorita? (What is your favorite color, number, season, animal, and food?). These balls will be used throughout the year so that each day, one student will be the special student of the day, sharing their ball with classmates and practicing these common questions.
The 2nd graders also created a story about Fall using a story dice game. Additionally, they worked on learning about the 21 Spanish-speaking countries, explored some notable Latin American figures, and played a yoga posture game.
The 3rd graders focused on the HFWs ¿Te gusta? (Do you like?), ¿Tienes? (Do you have?), and ¿Puedes? (Can you?). Once they mastered these expressions, they played “Encuentra a alguien que” (Find Someone Who), where they asked these questions to their classmates.
The 4th graders started the month with their Unit 1 test. They also worked on a reading about Spain and began Unit 2, where they are learning basic shapes, colors, and animals. From a grammatical perspective, we are working on word order in sentences with adjectives and agreement between nouns and adjectives.
The 5th graders achieved their 500 piñata points and chose to have a classroom party. It was so much fun to share food and play games in Spanish class! Additionally, they worked on a reading about Ecuador. We began Unit 8, which focuses on telling time, including vocabulary related to the parts of the day and learning to say the time in Spanish.
And that wraps up November! Wishing you all a wonderful Winter Break.
Spanish with Maestra Maria Mendez:
3rd Grade.
Students in 3rd grade have been learning about feelings and emotions, they learned how to greet people and the use of Me gusta/No me gusta to express what they like and they don’t like about different foods. We work on their listening skills by the use of videos and music in class. Additionally we will learn about some other basic verbs and expressions, as well as adjectives and feelings. Additionally they will learn about different activities around the house.
5th Grade.
Students have been learning how to tell the time. They have been learning about the times for different activities through videos and classwork, saying what they do and the time when they do are in common expressions like to say how old they are or how they feel (I’m cold, I’m thirsty, etc). In the next classes we will talk about the different countries where Spanish is spoken and how to talk about the weather. Thank you to all the parents who joined our Parent-Teacher conferences!
6th Grade
Students have learned about the weather and they are able to describe things they like and dislike,as well as naming the activities and the verbs. They are also able to express how they feel and how the weather is. We will be learning to talk about food, learning the names of fruits and different vegetables and what to eat for different meals. Last but not least, we have been reviewing content for the final exam with classwork and exercises. Thank you to all the parents who attended our Parent-Teacher conferences!
7th Grade
We have been learning vocabulary about the family. Students have learned about dates and birthdays. They have learned about possessive adjectives and the ways to use them in a sentence. They have learned how to use comparisons and how to use them in a conversation. They will also prepare a presentation to talk about a friend or someone they admire, favorite foods and activities and things they have in common. We are preparing for the final test, reviewing content and practicing in class. Thank you to all the parents who attended our Parent-Teacher conferences!
8th Grade
Students have been reviewing the use of verbs in past tense and how to conjugate the verbs. They have learned about health, how to stay healthy and learned the parts of the body. Additionally, they are able to say if something hurts. By presenting Tele-Historias, students have improved their listening skills and also writing skills. We will learn about sayings and proverbs and they will present them to the class while learning about gestures used in Spanish-speaking countries. Thank you to all the parents who attended our Parent-Teacher conferences!
H2 2.
In Unit 6 we started learning about the movies and the activities related to it. Students have learned how to make suggestions and also tell others what to do and not to do. We have been reviewing content for the final exam and practicing useful expressions and questions.They are able to understand vocabulary about a restaurant and talk about the best places to eat in the community. We use different platforms to practice listening and speaking exercises with questions. Thank you to all the parents who attended our Parent-Teacher conferences!
HS 3
In Unit 2, lesson 1, students have been learning about volunteer activities, how to organize groups, with special attention in designing a Poster and a campaign such as school safety and animal shelters. They prepared a presentation talking about their ideas of volunteer groups. They have been reviewing contents and practicing for the final exam and we have been using listening activities with questions. Finally, thank you to all the parents who attended our Parent-Teacher conferences!
Spanish with Maestra Alicia Abu-Elreish:
November has been an exciting month in our Spanish class! I am delighted to share what your children have been learning and achieving.
4th Grade
We wrapped up “Unit 1”, with the final lesson focusing on how to form “plural nouns” in Spanish by adding -s and -es. This essential skill has given students a stronger foundation in Spanish grammar and boosted their confidence in creating sentences.
The cultural focus of Unit 1 was exploring life in schools across Spanish-speaking countries. Your children learned about the similarities and differences in school routines, schedules, and traditions, helping them build cultural awareness and appreciation.
We have now started Unit 2, where students are learning “los colores”(colors) and “las formas geometricas” (geometric shapes). Understanding these concepts is important because they are foundational vocabulary that helps students describe, categorize, and recognize objects, which are essential skills for effective communication in Spanish.
5th Grade
The students finished Unit 7, with the final lesson focusing on understanding the difference between “tú" (informal) and "usted" (formal) and applying the correct pronoun-verb agreement in sentences. For the cultural component, we discussed “how birthdays are celebrated” in Spanish-speaking countries, giving students a glimpse into the traditions and customs of these vibrant cultures.
We began Unit 8, titled ¿Qué hora es? (What time is it?). Students learned how to talk about time and use expressions such as "un minuto"(a minute), "una hora"(an hour), and "media hora" (half an hour). These new skills will help them describe time in various contexts.
The students have shown great enthusiasm for these lessons, and it’s been wonderful to see their progress!.
6th Grade
I’m excited to share the progress your children have made in Spanish class during November! This month, we focused on deepening our understanding of the verb gustar + infinitive to express likes and dislikes about daily activities. Students practiced sharing what they enjoy doing and what they don’t, helping them use Spanish in a meaningful and personal way.
We also worked on reinforcing “personal pronouns” and the verb "ser"(to be). Grammar is a new concept for many of my 6th graders, so I take the time to review and repeat as needed to ensure they build a solid foundation. My goal is to make future lessons easier and more enjoyable for them as they gain confidence in their skills.
I’m proud to share that we’ve successfully completed Lesson 1 of Unit 1 and are preparing to begin Lesson 2: "Mis amigos y yo" (My Friends and Me). This next lesson will expand their vocabulary and continue to strengthen their grammar knowledge.
7th Grade
This month, the students practiced “asking and saying ages” using the verb “tener” and numbers. For example, they learned to ask, "*¿Cuántos años tienes?*" (How old are you?) and responded with, “Tengo doce años” (I am twelve years old). They also practiced asking about others' ages, such as "*¿Cuántos años tiene tu hermano?*" (How old is your brother?).
In addition, they worked on “writing important dates” like birthdays and other significant events. For example, they practiced sentences like "*Mi cumpleaños es el 15 de noviembre*" (My birthday is November 15th) and "La Navidad es el 25 de diciembre" (Christmas is December 25th).
We also revisited the use of “possessive adjectives”, dedicating extra time to practice since this concept proved a bit challenging for some students.
Currently, we are working on “comparatives”, learning how to express comparisons such as "*Ella es más alta que él*" (She is taller than him) or “Tengo menos tarea que ayer”(I have less homework than yesterday).We are also nearing the end of Unit 3, Lesson 2, and I am impressed by the effort your children are putting into mastering these concepts.
8th Grade
During the month of November, your 8th graders continued making remarkable progress in their Spanish studies! Here's a summary of what they’ve learned:
Students mastered using phrases with ¡Qué + adjective!(e.g., ¡Qué divertido!*– "How fun!") to make their conversations sound more authentic, like native speakers. These expressions are now helping them convey emotions and reactions more naturally in Spanish.
They also practiced making phone calls in Spanish, including how to start and end a conversation. This activity enhanced their confidence in using Spanish in real-life scenarios.
We focused on communicating about past events, teaching students how to say where they went (*¿Adónde fueron?*), with whom (*¿Con quién fueron?*), what they did (*¿Qué hicieron?*), and how their experience was (*¿Cómo fue su experiencia?*).
Students also began Unit 8, Lesson 1, which is the final unit in our textbook Avancemos 1. In this unit, they started exploring new vocabulary related to daily routines, personal care items, vacation destinations, and ways to travel.
It’s been wonderful to see the students apply what they’ve learned with enthusiasm and creativity. Thank you for supporting their language journey at home!
Updates from our Arabic Department
Ms. Hayat Al-Quttub
Chair of Islamic studies and Arabic language -
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah,
With all praise and gratitude to Allah, we hope that all our parents and families enjoyed the Thanksgiving break. As Muslims, gratitude, or shukr, is an essential act of worship. Allah has promised immense rewards for those who are thankful.
I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all the parents who took the time to attend our Parent-Teacher Conferences during the last week of November. Your involvement and dedication to your children's education are greatly appreciated.
Join us as we explore the inspiring journey of our young Muslim students, who are wholeheartedly embracing the teachings of Islam. Despite the challenges of our diverse world, they are doing an outstanding job of learning about the life and legacy of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), while also memorizing and understanding the Holy Quran.
7th Grade (A) – Quran and Islamic Studies
Quran:
Our incredible seventh graders are diligently working on memorizing verses from Surah Qaaf while reflecting deeply on their meanings. We encourage our students to apply the lessons from these ayat to their everyday lives, embodying the values and guidance found in the Quran.
Islamic Studies:
In Islamic Studies, the 7th graders have been studying the causes and events leading to the Battle of Badr, examining the challenges faced by the smaller Muslim army as they stood against the well-equipped and determined forces of the Quraysh. Through these lessons, we emphasized the importance of unwavering faith in Allah, which ultimately led to victory for the Muslims.
To deepen their understanding, the class participated in a reenactment of the Battle of Badr, allowing them to engage with the historical details in an interactive and meaningful way.
8th Grade – Quran and Islamic Studies
Quran:
Our amazing 8th-grade students are immersing themselves in understanding and reflecting on the verses of Surah Yaseen. This month, we delved into the verses that highlight Allah’s signs in the universe, such as the movement of celestial bodies, including planets orbiting the sun—each following a divinely set course since the beginning of time. All praise is due to Allah, the Mighty Creator and Sustainer.
This exploration provided an excellent opportunity to discuss the creation of the universe, allowing students to marvel at the wonders of Allah’s design and reflect on His greatness.
Islamic Studies:
Students recently completed a thought-provoking course from Yaqeen Institute titled "How the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) Rose Above Enmity and Insult." Through this course, they learned invaluable lessons about controlling anger, maintaining dignity in the face of challenges, and prioritizing the defense of Islam over personal pride.
To conclude this section, we studied examples of prominent individuals who once opposed Islam but embraced it wholeheartedly due to the Prophet’s kindness and wisdom. Figures such as Abu Sufyan, Suhayl bin Amr, and Ikrimah bin Abu Sufyan were discussed, inspiring students with the transformative power of forgiveness and understanding.
Our young learners also demonstrated creativity by using Venn diagrams to visually present the relationships and journeys of these individuals, fostering a deeper understanding of their stories.
10th & 11th Grade – Quran and Islamic Studies
Quran:
In their Quranic studies, students explored the story of Musa (peace be upon him) as recounted in Surat Al-Kahf. Through these verses, they reflected on the profound lessons about the test of knowledge and applied these insights to the challenges they face in their daily lives.
Additionally, students enhanced their understanding of frequently used Arabic words in the Quran and worked on grasping the overarching meanings of the verses. This exercise helped strengthen their connection to the Quranic text.
Islamic Studies:
Last month, we delved into the Fiqh of Hajj and Umrah, enriching students' knowledge about the rituals and spiritual significance of these sacred acts of worship.
We also explored the concept of human rights in Islam, focusing on the rights and responsibilities we uphold as Muslims and how to foster harmonious relationships within our broader communities.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Updates From Arabic Classes
Ms. Hayat Al-Quttub
"أَنا البَحرُ في أَحشائِهِ الدُرُّ كامِنٌ فَهَل سَاءلوا الغَوّاصَ عَن صَدَفاتي" للشاعر أحمد شوقي
""I am the sea, in whose depths pearls are hidden. Have they asked the diver about my shells?" by the poet by Ahmed Shawqi- about the beauty of the Arabic Language
Marhaban wa Ahlan (Welcome to All),
At Kindi School, we embrace each student's unique learning journey, allowing them to progress at their own pace. Our Arabic classes are tailored to meet individual needs, focusing on Arabic as a living, spoken language. Together, we dive into the depths of the Arabic language, exploring its treasures and discovering its beauty, one step at a time.
Mastering Arabic requires patience and perseverance, and we believe in engaging our students with practical, everyday vocabulary through hands-on activities and daily conversations. By connecting language learning to real-life contexts, we aim to make Arabic accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
7th Grade(A)- Novice Intermediate Level:
Young Learners' Class:
Our enthusiastic young learners were excited to dive into the topic of feelings and emotions and apply their understanding to family relationships. In this unit, they explored ways to express their feelings towards family members.
Through interactive and engaging activities, students not only deepened their understanding of how emotions influence our bodies but also expanded their vocabulary and honed their grammar skills, particularly in conjugating present-tense verbs with pronouns.
8th–10th Grade Arabic Class:
Our journey into the beauty and depth of the Arabic language has reached an exciting stage, offering our learners new challenges and opportunities for growth.
Last month, students practiced the art of writing formal letters, explored the different stages of education, and delved into the works of the celebrated poet Omar Khayyam. Building on this, they will research Khayyam’s life and compose essays in Arabic, applying the grammatical rules they have learned so far.
This month, our 8th graders are focusing on personal expression by crafting reflective essays about their cherished memories. One of our highlights is a lesson titled "My Mom is a Queen," where students write heartfelt pieces celebrating the pivotal role of their mothers in their lives.
I look forward to an inspiring journey of learning with my talented and driven students, enjoying every step of the way as I deliver and teach my classes.
Ms. Hayat Al-Quttub
Chair of Islamic studies and Arabic language
Ms. Lina Eltibi
Arabic & Quran teacher -
Pre-3:
Our youngest learners have been busy mastering their Arabic colors and numbers and are now excitedly exploring shapes through fun, hands-on activities. As we continue with our Arabic letters, our Pre-3 friends are learning new vocabulary and expanding their understanding of the beautiful pillars of Islam.
This month, they also enjoyed hearing the inspiring story of Prophet Musa (AS), sparking their curiosity and excitement for more stories of our prophets. Being with the Pre-3 class is truly a joy—they bring so much energy and enthusiasm to every lesson!
Kindergarten:
Our KG students are making amazing progress with Harakat and stretching sounds in Arabic. Their excitement to learn and apply these skills to their letters is truly inspiring. We’ve also noticed a significant improvement in their handwriting—it’s becoming more beautiful and neat every day! Additionally, they’ve started reading and putting letters together, and it’s becoming easier and more enjoyable for them.
In Islamic Studies, we’ve been exploring the importance of Salah, learning how to perform it, and how many times we pray throughout the day. Prophet stories continue to be a highlight of our lessons, adding a fun and meaningful element that the students always enjoy.
1st Grade:
Our first graders have been working diligently and have already advanced to their third group of Arabic letters. In addition, they are learning new verbs and exploring the differences between feminine and masculine forms in Arabic. Their enthusiasm for tackling these new challenges and their dedication to mastering the material are truly commendable!
Third Grade:
Islamic Studies Newsletter
We are thrilled to share that our third graders have completed their unit on the foundational duties of Islam, Alhamdulillah! The students showed great enthusiasm and dedication as they learned about the pillars of our beautiful faith.
As we move forward, we are embarking on an exciting new journey: exploring the Seerah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Through this journey, students will delve into the life of the Prophet (PBUH), learn about his noble family and companions, and reflect on the values of kindness, patience, and compassion these remarkable figures exemplified.
Additionally, we have completed our chapter on prayer, where students had a wonderful time learning and reflecting on its importance in our daily lives. They were particularly excited to discover new details about the Prophet’s (PBUH) journey of Hijra from Mecca to Yathrib (Medina) and the profound lessons it holds for us.
We look forward to nurturing the student’s spiritual growth and deepening their love for Islam as we build upon this strong foundation in the coming weeks.
4th Grade:
The Family
We're excited to share highlights from our fourth-grade family unit and ongoing projects.
Family Unit Focus: Building Strong Connections
In our fourth-grade class, we've emphasized the importance of family at home and within our school community. Through various activities and discussions, students have explored what family means to them, the diverse forms families can take, and the values that bind families together.
Project Highlight:
One of the exciting projects our students have been working on is creating their family trees. This project not only allows students to learn more about their families but also promotes a deeper understanding of the concept of family.
We're incredibly proud of the effort and creativity our students have put into their family tree projects.
Thank you for your ongoing support. We look forward to another month of growth, learning, and family-centered activities.
Fifth Grade
The Seasons
This month, our fifth graders immersed themselves in a fascinating unit all about the seasons. We enjoyed exploring the unique characteristics of each season through engaging readings, discussions, and activities.
The highlight of the unit was the fantastic presentations, in which students shared their favorite seasons and showcased what makes each one special. The presentations were a wonderful way for students to express their learning and creativity.
We are proud of our fifth graders' effort and enthusiasm in this unit and look forward to seeing them shine in the upcoming topics!
Keep up the great work, fifth grade!
Ms. Rania Burhani
Arabic Teacher -
Pre school
We are learning how to welcome the people and say Alsalam Alikum when we meet someone or when we enter a place like ( مرحبا ، اهلا ، مع السلامة ، التحيات) we are learning about the colors , we also have learned about the letter and how we write it in the beginning and in the middle and at the end of the word with harakat ( فتحة، ضمة، كسرة) we are comparing between the letter for example between حرف ر ، حرف ز and what is the difference we can see.
KG
Students have learned how to say welcome and how to introduce her/ him to other people , we have practicing how to put the letter in the beginning and in the middle, and at the end of the word with harakat ( الفتحة، الضمة ، الكسرة )
The letters we learned so far are ( ا، د، ذ، ر، ز، ) we also are learning the colors so the student knows the name of each color as we tried to review it every day and color the letter with it’s one.
1st Grade
Student have learned how to write and read the letters with harakat
( الفتحة، الضمة، الكسرة ) we learned about some words and how we make the difference between singular and plural like ( دار /دور ، رأس/روس ) with the pictures so it will help the student to get to know the meaning of the word much easier,
We have been practicing about the feminine and the masculine verbs like ( أكل /أكلت) and how to use it in the right way . We covered so far the letters ( ا،ذ، ر، ز، و) .
2nd Grade
The students have been learning about the Geometric shapes and their characteristics like ( square /مربع rectangle / مستطيل circle /دائرة and triangle/ مثلث ) . We are using examples during the class in order to know what is the difference between ( صغير/صغيرة ، كبير/كبيرة)
And we learned about how to describe the feminine shape and masculine one like ( أبيض ، بيضاء، أسود ، سوداء ) and how we use it in the sentences . We are practicing how to put the letters together in order to have a complete word InshaAllah
I will send the finished worksheet with the students at the end of the week
3rd Grade
In the Arabic class, students have successfully completed reading and writing assignments related to subject pronouns and possessive pronouns, including (أنا، أنتَ، أنتِ، نحن، ما اسمكَ، ما اسمكِ، ما اسمي).
We are studying command verbs. :Masculine Singular & Feminine Singular &Plural
In our class, we are using full sentences to teach the students to use the pronouns properly in their correct forms, and also we have learned about Demonstrative Pronouns in particular referring to singular forms like (هذا ، هذه).
InshaAllah, we hope to finish the rest of the pronouns in a couple of weeks. I will be sending the worksheet that we are working on in the class with the students. We are also
Ms. Khadeeja
Arabic, Islamic Studies, and Quran teacher -
Hello & Al-Salaam Alikum Dear Parents,
Students of all grades and ages have been working so hard, I truly commend everyone's dedication and hard work. I see students progressing and thriving everyday and I couldn’t be more proud of all of them. Here is a little update of what our classes have been working on:
1st Grade- Arabic:
We successfully completed our second unit and mastered the second set of letters! Students are working on building their reading and writing skills. As they continue to grow, we are excited to begin our new unit, which focuses on distinguishing between feminine and masculine words and verbs. We will continue working on the students' reading and writing skills. Along with revving the numbers, colors and days of the week.
2nd Grade- Arabic (co teacher: Ms.Lina):
Before the break, we started our new lesson about pronouns in Arabic. Students began focusing more to distinguish between feminine and masculine forms in the Arabic language. They are practicing how to form a grammatically correct sentence in Arabic using feminine or masculine pronouns. They are also learning how gender influences the sentence structure in the Arabic language. This unit has been very engaging, it’s very exciting and thrilling to see their progress as they continue to work on their writing, reading and conversation skills. We are looking forward to expanding their Arabic language knowledge so it becomes fun and easy to learn.
4th Grade- Arabic:
4th graders have recently finished working on their family project that everyone really enjoyed. Throughout this project we worked on revving the vocabulary of our lesson “My Family” and tried their best to introduce their family members in Arabic. Alongside this, we covered important grammar concepts such as tanween, pronouns, and distinguishing between feminine and masculine, all these important concepts help students work on their ability to read more fluently, and independently write sentences in Arabic.
We are now starting our new unit “My Family’s House,” students will be introduced to new vocabulary learning about different items and furniture around the house. I truly enjoy seeing the kids progress and enthusiasm in my Arabic class.
6th Grade Arabic:
In 6th grade, we’ve been diving into the world of Arabic numbers, and it’s been a fascinating journey! Not only did we learn how to count in Arabic, but we also explored the rich history behind Arabic numerals. Along the way, we worked on important concepts like singular, dual, and plural forms. The students worked very hard on classwork and exercises, and I’m so proud of their hard work and dedication. To make things even more exciting, we had a fun class challenge where students were challenged to count from 1 to 50 in Fusha (classical Arabic). Those who participated did an amazing job, and the rest were doing an awesome job cheering on their peers and showering great teamwork and support. It has truly been a fun experience seeing everyone’s progress and enthusiasm in this unit.
9th Grade Islamic Studies & Quran:
A lot of fun and engaging and exciting discussions happen in this classroom. We recently covered the importance of having a relationship with the Quran, the history of compiling it, gaining more knowledge on how Allah (SWT) preserved the Quran and how the companions came to compile the Quran. We also covered the topic of why Allah (SWT) honored us as human beings, how we are different from other creations, and what our job is in this life. Furthermore, we will be discussing violence in Islam, clarifying misconception and understanding the importance of peace.
As for the Quran, we have been working on surat Al-Hujuraat, which we are almost done with. It has been a truly an awesome semester talking and discussing the surah and covering important topics such gossiping, and respecting others. 9th graders have been working hard on practicing how to read the verses properly. Looking forward to continuing having amazing and insightful discussions with them.
Ms. Heiam
Arabic, Islamic Studies, and Quran teacher -
6th grade ( Arabic ) : We are excited to share that in 6th grade, we are diving into a fascinating topic—learning about homes and the names of rooms in Arabic! This unit combines cultural exploration with language learning, giving students a chance to expand their horizons and connect with a new way of thinking about the spaces we call home.Here’s what we’re covering:The concept of “home” across cultures.Vocabulary for different types of homes and rooms in Arabic (e.g., النوم غرفة for bedroom, المطبخ for kitchen).Creative activities like drawing their dream homes and labeling the rooms in Arabic.Exploring how homes and their layouts can vary around the world.
4th grade ( Quran ): We are pleased to share that the 4th-grade Quran class has successfully completed the recitation and study of Surah Abasa. Over the past weeks, the students have worked diligently to perfect their recitation, understand the meaning of the verses, and reflect on the lessons Allah (SWT) teaches us in this beautiful Surah.
Key Lessons Learned:The importance of showing kindness and patience to everyone.The value of humility and prioritizing good character in our interactions. A reminder of Allah’s blessings and the need for gratitude.
8th grade ( Arabic ) : A great unit for 8th-grade Arabic! Teaching about feelings and family not only helps students build vocabulary but also allows them to connect personally with the material. Students are acting out short dialogues using feeling words, e.g., "ألن سعيد أنا...") "I am happy because...") or "ألن حزين أنا...") "I am sad because...") . We are also using flashcards with faces expressing different emotions and asking students to guess the feeling in Arabic.
7th grade ( Islamic study / Quran ): We are diving into the life of the prophet in Madinah starting with Settlement in Madinah Visualize the Hijrah. We looked at a map tracing the journey from Makkah to Madinah. Discussing the challenges and significance of this migration,the Brotherhood (Mu'akhah), learned about how the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) established bonds of brotherhood between the Muhajirun (migrants) and the Ansar (helpers). The Constitution of Madinah, Presenting the Constitution of Madinah as a modern charter. We identify key principles (e.g., unity, justice, mutual protection) and compare them to modern laws to make this relatable. We Discuss how the constitution promoted coexistence among Muslims, Jews, and other communities. A great lesson was (Battle of Badr), we create a strategic map showing key locations, like the wells of Badr.We discussed how faith and perseverance played a role in this historic victory despite being outnumbered.We listen to stories about the bravery of key companions during these events.
We are also exploring the concept of purification, focusing on both the body and the mind. Students are learning the importance of cleanliness and spiritual discipline as part of their daily lives. Through discussions and activities, they are discovering how these practices foster a balanced and wholesome lifestyle because maintaining personal hygiene reflects respect for oneself and others.
7th grade ( Arabic ) : A wonderful unit is learning about feelings and family building vocabulary of the students and also allows them to connect personally with the material. Students are acting out short dialogues using feeling words, e.g., "ألن سعيد أنا...") "I am happy because...") or "أنا
ألن حزين...") "I am sad because...") . We are also using flashcards with faces expressing different emotions and asking students to guess the feeling in Arabic.We are learning to apply these feelings to make sentences using the feeling as a noun and using our present verbs. (e.g.,أنا ماء إلى أحتاج عطشان / I’m thirsty I need water ).
6the grade ( Islamic Study / Quran ) : This month in Islamic Studies, we are delving into The Natural Process of the Prophet’s Education. Our focus is on understanding how the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) imparted knowledge in a way that was natural, gradual, and deeply impactful.Through stories of his interactions with companions, practical examples of his teachings, and reflections on his wisdom, students are learning how the Prophet’s methods emphasized kindness, understanding, and personal growth. This approach not only nurtured individual faith but also built a cohesive and just society. Our discussions also connect these principles to modern times, helping students see the relevance of these lessons in their own lives.
From the desk of Ms. Heiam Elkhatib.
Arabic, Islamic Studies and Quran
Ms. Rula Martini
Islamic Studies/Qur’an Teacher -
First Grade:
Assalamu Alaikum respected parents of my precious students. I am always happy to see the growth in each class. As for my first graders they are so bright and so thirsty to learn and grow. May Allah accept and preserve their pure nature. In class, my kids enjoy incentives, so I have been incorporating a positive reinforcement for good behavior. I welcome suggestions that you think would work best with your precious children, happy to work with you for the growth and well being of your child. We always start Qur’an class reciting past surahs. This past week we talked more about our 5 prayers, how many rukas in each prayer, and what time of day to pray each one, as well as the benefits and reward of salah. For Qur’an, we are currently on Surat As-Sharh.
Second Grade:
In second grade, we are working hard on Surat Al Alaq. We hope to finish this surah in the next few weeks; I am asking you all to please review the surah on your commute to and from school with your children. May Allah reward you. We spoke most recently about the proper form of salah, and what is prohibited and encouraged to do in salah. We discussed all of the ways to optimize ones khushu in Salah. Again, this is a concept that needs to be incorporated at home. It’s always so heart warming to see our kids praying during school hours. May Allah protect and preserve them always and guide them on the right path.
Fourth Grade:
I want to first thank those of you who took the time to speak with me about the progress of your children. They are each so unique and special in their own way, mash’Allah. Each student is in a very delicate stage in their life transitioning to having to take on more responsibilities, and they are doing great mash’Allah. Something that has responded well with my fourth graders is that they like to be more involved in the lesson, so I have been allowing them to “teach” the slides, an press the space bar on my laptop, which they really enjoy. If they are happy
Islamic Studies and Quran 1
then I am too! We have also been focusing on how to take notes in class, and reviewing the Sirah of our beloved Rasul Allah (S). For Qur’an, we aim to finish Surat Abasa very soon. I ask you to please work on these verses on your commute to and from school. May Allah SWT reward you for your efforts, and for all you do. I am sure our kids forget to tell you how grateful they are, so on behalf of them, they are very grateful and indebted for all you do for them.
Fifth Grade:
I also want to take this moment to thank the parents for meeting with me last week. I was so elated to hear about your kids from your point- of- view. What wonderful group of kids. I love each and every one of them dealy. May Allah protect and preserve your kids, and may everything they learn from your favor be a sadaqa jaariyyeh for (all of) you. My fifth graders are having blast traveling through history together learning about the Ansar and the Muhajiroon, and feeling like they were with the people of Madinah when we welcomed our most beloved Rasul Allah (S). We were there when Qaswa the camel of Rasul Allah landed on the doorstep of the house of our dearest brother Abu Ayyoub, and his gracious and beautiful wife. What an honor to host Muhammad (S), we all wish we could have accompanied him! We also loved witnessing the miraculous victory of the Muslims in the Battle of Badr. We are clinging onto that hope, and these stories to get us through the hardships we are facing in Gaza. We are constantly thinking of our brothers and sisters in Palestine. We are currently on Surat Al Inshiqaq.
Sixth Grade:
Again, I want to thank you all for taking the time to discuss your child during parent teacher conferences. The sixth graders are each so helpful and even so mature for their age. I love their contributions and our insightful class discussions. May Allah guide our kiddos and continue to elevaten their status in this life and in the next. I really want to wrap up Surat Al Mulk, so kindly review the verses with your child on your daily commute. Next week we will be having final exams, and my goal is to prepare them as much as possible. I want to see these kids pass with flying colors on their midterms, insh’Allah.