Weekly News
February 10-24
KINDERGARTEN
We continue our investigation of the Solar System this week. When will we send a space craft to Mars? Students will make model rockets to decorate our tree and bulletin board. We will also build a rocket module from a large cardboard box and pretend to be astronauts going into space. On Monday, February 24th, students will go to the Mesa Community College planetarium to see a show about the solar system. If you can chaperone, please see Ms. Leslie. Also this week, we will celebrate Valentine’s Day with a party. Parents may send in refreshments. And students may bring Valentines for their friends. If your child is bringing Valentines, please provide one for all of the classmates.
PRIMARY
Colonial Times was an age when everything was made from hand. Students will make orange pomander balls as room air fresheners using cloves. Mmmm! Our room smells lovely. When the colonists bathed at the end of the week, they used scented salts to relax and ease tired muscles. We will make our own bath salts and wrap them in a cute burlap presentation. Who were the colonists who helped to write the new laws? We will learn about Benjamin Franklin and others who crafted our constitution. What laws would our students have written? Using feather pens and walnut ink, students will write some laws for our classroom. On Thursday, Feb. 13, we will go on a full day field trip to the amazing Liberty Festival! This living history event features costumed actors portraying life in Colonial Times. We will meet George Washington, see battle reenactments, and try our hands at many activities of early life in America. The festival is being held in Queen Creek so to allow time to arrive, everyone must be at school by 8:15 on Thursday. We will not be able to wait for those who arrive late. Students need a sack lunch with beverage. If your child will need to carry a water bottle, the event rules state it cannot be a disposable plastic bottle. It should be on a strap that the child can wear to leave their hands free to try activities during the event. On Friday, we will celebrate Valentine’s Day with a party. Parents may bring refreshments and students can bring valentines this week for their classmates. Be sure to bring one for all the other primary students.
INTERMEDIATE
Medieval Times is our engaging unit this month. We will learn about castles and see an educational video about moats, drawbridges, the keep, turrets, and the dungeons. Students will create their own stained-glass windows to display in our classroom. We will learn what kinds of clothing were fashionable and make our own crowns and flower hair wreaths. There will be a progress check on our research papers on Thursday and we will see the movie, “The Princess Bride “. On Friday, we celebrate Valentine’s Day with a dance party. Parents may send in refreshments. Students may bring valentines this week; please bring one for all your classmates, not just a few.
UPPER DIVISION
Students have already made amazing progress through our Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain workshop. This week, we will create a picture plane to better understand perspective. We will then use this tool to draw a doorway seen at an angle. We will learn to draw negative space around an object to help us see the world as it is, not symbols for objects. We will then begin an 8 hour drawing over several days to solve visual problems of proportion, perspective, and relationships of lines. There are no “short cuts” for this assignment and students will need to sit in the same spot each evening to complete about one hour of drawing each evening from Thursday, Feb. 13 through Friday, Feb. 21. This week on Friday, Feb. 14 we will celebrate Valentine’s Day with a party ad dance. Parents are invited to send refreshments. Students may bring valentines for their classmates.
HIGH SCHOOL
Students are in rehearsal for their performance of 8 short plays. Each student is in two different groups. The plays all must contain a card, thus the name of the production, “Pick a Card”. The plays were written by the students and are being directed, produced, and acted by the students. Some are funny, others topical or serious but all are entertaining! The one-night-only performance will be a dinner theater experience held at the Guild of the Vale on February 21 at 6:30. A three course dinner will be prepared and served by the actors. After the show, desert will be served and the audience will vote for best actor, actress, and best play and our version of Tony awards will be presented to the winners. Tickets are now on sale in the office for $15 but seating is limited so don’t delay, get your tickets now!
In addition to our regular academic coursework, students are also working on an art project creating vision boards and we are writing civics essays relating to rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
On Friday, we celebrate Valentine’s Day with a dance party. Parents may provide refreshments and students may bring valentines for their classmates. Please be sue to bring one for each student, not just a select few.
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE
A sweet treat for our valentine sweethearts. High school is serving Strawberry Shortcake on Tuesday, from 8-9 and at lunch. Just $3.
DINNER THEATER: “PICK A CARD”
On Friday, February 21 at 6:30 PM, our high school students will be presenting our first ever dinner theater. Students will be serving a delicious three course meal and presenting 8 short plays linked by the theme “Pick a Card”. Students have written, directed, and will act the plays and will cook and serve the gourmet meal. Tickets for the dinner and show are just $15 and seating is limited. Get your tickets now! Dinner menu:
Appetizer
Crudités with Garlic Hummus
Bruschetta with Herbed Cheese, Tomato, and Cucumber
Entrée
Lasagna with Fresh Vegetables
Garlic Bread
Mixed Green Salad with Ranch Dressing
Dessert
Berry Trifle with Chocolate Leaves
Plays:
Cookie Eaters Anonymous
Bars Behind Bars
Disciplinary Action
The Truth Seekers
The Heist
Lost in Translation
Should Of, Could Of, Would Of
From Rags to Bitches and Back Again
One show only! You won’t want to miss this fantastic evening of comedy, drama, gourmet food, and creativity!
OPEN HOUSE
Our big annual family event! Come see the work our students have completed during February and enjoy a moveable feast and hands-on activities. It’s free. Bring your friends and family. This is the day to celebrate your child’s achievements and enjoy quality time with other school families. Plan to stay for the whole morning or just stop by for a few minutes but don’t miss this important annual event! Saturday, March 1 from 9:30-11:00.
STANFORD 10 STANDARDIZED TESTING
Annual standardized testing for 3rd-11th grade students will be held on March 3rd-7th. It is imperative that all students be present. Due to the rules of the testing administration, no make up tests can be given and a student that misses one day cannot be scored. Please plan all non-emergency appointments for a later date. Results of the testing will be made available to parents during spring conferences.
PRIORITY REGISTRATION FOR FALL
Registration for the 25-26 school year will be held from March 1-7. Only during this week can you be guaranteed a place in the fall semester. We have an extensive waiting list for all our classes and following this priority registration week, any remaining openings will go to those waiting for a spot. Each year, someone is disappointed to find they will not be able to continue in the fall because they fail to turn in their registration forms in a timely manner. Tuition must be current to register for the fall. Registration forms will be available in the office beginning March 1st.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Save these important dates!
Monday, Feb. 17 No school. Presidents’ Day
Friday, February 21 “Pick a Card” Dinner Theater presented by the high school class
Saturday, March 1 9:30-11:00 Open House!
March 3-7 Stanford 10 exams for all 3rd-11th grade students.
March 1-7 Priority Registration for Fall Enrollment
March 10-14 Spring Break