Cardinals Blog 2023-24: Weekend News, New Batch of Playdough, Class Conversation, Service work, and More..

Monday

Welcome to the First Edition of

Weekend News for 2024!

Happy New Year Everyone!!

Olivia - I play mommy and daddy and Peppa pig.

Ekin - I made some train tracks and I put the trains on the tracks. Then I bring down another train and I made another train track and I put the train on. I ate breakfast only yesterday and I ate lunch yesterday and I ate dinner yesterday. I played with my trains and nothing else.

Ada - I go to my grandma's house. I play on her tire swing. I play on her other swings. I ride bike with my uncle, and I race him. It was a tie nobody win. I play hide and seek with my uncle that's it.

Surai - I went to my uncle's house and play with my cousin. We build a house and we play together doctor stuff. I went to the hotel to get my new teddy. I was eating dinner at my uncle's house with my cousin.

Addy - I made cookies with mommy. We made chocolate chips. Logan and me ate the cookies. I watch tv. I watch barbie.

Jackson - I play and build. I have lego minecraft sets at home and I build them and I play outside. I went to Jared's house and I play there with Jaylen. He was collecting cars and I was helping him collect the cars.

Ellery - I play with mom and dad. Dada help baby brother jump it was silly. Dada read books to me and baby brother.

Shanaya - I play by myself in my play area with my dolls. My brother read me a book in my play area. I play in mommy's room with my dolls. I listen to songs on my brother's phone and I dance.

Cooper - I play with my sister. We play building a tower. I play with my trains and I put the wheels on the tracks. We make a big train track me and Lidia.

James V. - I had a normal day and tiny presents. I opened the tiny presents and I play with them and they were little lego things. And I really forget the other things.

Zoey - I play with mommy, play hide and seek. Mommy do my hair. I play on tablet. I play magna tiles and take nap.

Willow - I snuggle in the big big bed cause I was sick and I watch a show.

Julian - I just stay at home and maybe watch something. Then I did play with magna tiles and my brother.

Lydia - I play my toys and I got a little drink. I play with mommy and that's it.

Grant - I play with my baby sister Kennedy. We play with my toys. I play with my brother. We play with his toys. I eat dinner and I eat broccoli. I get ready for bed after dinner.

James M. - I went to my uncle Bobby's party and I had fun. Then I went home and went to the backyard and played soccer. I played soccer in the snow. Then I did snow angels, then I was on the swings. And then I was starting to wiggle and wobbling and I went kaplop right off the swings. It hurt at first but I'm so much better now.

We worked on our January individual self-portraits this morning before morning meeting and snack time.

The Cardinals entered the gym with loud cheers as they ran in. Today, Josh worked on focus, eye-hand coordination, following directions skills and having fun! The Cardinals threw balls up into the air and tried to hit it with a soft hockey sticks as it came down. There was lots of smiles and giggling. Friends also worked individually, with another friend, in small groups or just with the balls. Ask your Cardinal what they did in gym class today?

Tuesday

In Art class with Johanna, the Cardinals took a close look at a mixed medium of ocean objects such as different sea shells and corals. Johanna then showed a picture of the ocean and engaged in a conversation with the Cardinals about what they saw in the picture. Johanna then played some sounds and friends listened carefully, then drew fast or slow depending on the sound. The sounds were the rain, thunder, river or ocean sounds. Friends used different color blue sharpies and white paper to express their work. Johanna then gave out pipe cleaners, cardboard, popsicle sticks, paper and tape for the Cardinals to create their own boats to add to their drawings. Each Cardinal did an amazing job using their imagination as they worked. At the end of class, friends got a chance to talk about their creations. Johanna told the Cardinals how impressed she was about how their work had so much detailed stories to them. Ask your Cardinal what they did in art class?

Friends helping to make a new batch of play-dough. The choice of colors this time were green and blue. Friends voted and the results were 1 voted for green while 14 voted for blue and so our new batch of play-dough is Blue!! Ask your Cardinals what color they choose and why they choose it?

We could not go outside to play on this rainy windy day but that did not stop the Cardinals from having a fun time downstairs in the extended day space. We did lots of running games and played with balloons!! What a fun time!

Wednesday

Today, we voted as a class to see if Animals might be a topic to study, 12 Cardinals voted yes while 3 voted no. Here are the animals and other studies each Cardinal chooses and why they made their choice. Some of the area we are hoping to explore are habitats, what they eat, length, height and weight, what continent they live on and so on.

Jackson - Lion - Their mane and how they get them.

James V. - Gerbils - I pretend, I'm baby meep a lot and they are cuter than mice.

Addy - Flamingo - I like the color pink.

Surai - Cats - Their fur so soft and they love milk.

Willow - Giraffe - I like how they eat leaves on trees.

Shanaya - Letters - Cause I tracing letters.

Grant - Penguins - I like how they wobble.

Cooper - Lizards - How they stick to trees.

Ada - Fox - Cause I like their colors

Lydia - Horse - Why they gallop.

Zoey - Cows - They like water.

Ekin - Trains - The speed.

James M. - Hamsters - I saw a Hamster show on tv. and I really like them.

Julian - Hippo - I have a lovey that's a hippo and I love it.

Ellery - Books - I like different kind books.

Olivia - Elephant - I like how they pick up food.

Music class was a whole lot of fun as the Cardinals and Keisha sang and made dance movements together! The Cardinals warmed up by dancing with scarfs to Feqer Aydelem Wey instrumental by Dub Colossus. Keisha then introduced new animal puppets voices to the Cardinals. The first one was Hootie the Owl who makes a singing voice. The second one was Bruce Bear who makes a loud voice. The Cardinals were so excited to meet these new puppet friends! Hootie the owl used her singing voice to help the Cardinals sing our Jambo song. Music class ended with Keisha reading the book, Over in the meadow, followed by our goodbye song.

Thursday

Alicia began class by guiding us with our beginning of Spanish class routine work. She then talked to us about how we are all the same and different, igual y diferente. Alicia read part of a story called Mary wears what she wants. The book is based on the true story of Mary Edwards Walker who was not allowed to wear pants during a time long, long ago. The Cardinals had much to say as they did not think, "It was fair, Not nice, Not kind, or Spectful (respectful)." Alicia then taught us two words that described pieces of clothing, pants- (pantalones) and dress (vestido). Stay tuned for more!! Today it was Zoey's turn to squeeze La Vaca!

We got books form our lower school library relating to the animals friends want to learn more about and read some of them. As we read friends made many comments, observations and knew many factual information. The Cardinals also explored with two types of sensory materials play-dough and shaving cream.

Friday

Early this morning we had an assembly in the auditorium. Back in the classroom, we had morning meeting followed by snack time. The whole Lower school took part in a service project today. The Cardinals along with their second grade buddies and Catbird class helped to do service work by baking cookies which will be decorated on Martin Luther King Day here at school on Monday 1/15/24. These cookies will be given to people in shelters to hopefully bring a smile to their face and for them to feel a sense that others care about them. Other classes in lower school worked on making blankets, Hats, soup in a jar, making cards, decorating bags and meals on wheels to help those in need! We hope to see you and your family this coming Monday, 1/15/24 at AFS for Martin Luther King day service of work!

Ask your Cardinal why we did not eat any of the cookies?

The Cardinals enjoyed taking part in our Friday - Game Play Day! Today we played Musical Chairs and Simon says, friends truly enjoyed these games. We were half an hour late to lunch because friends had so much fun and did not want to stop playing the games!