Students in Grades 3 and 4 recently showcased their learning through engaging, hands-on projects!   Grade 3 students in Subject Expert Teacher Ms. Tseng’s Humanities class connected their study of immigration through Ellis Island to their own lives by researching their family histories. Through sharing their “Family Treasures” presentations, students learned more about themselves and celebrated what makes each of them unique.   Meanwhile, Grade 4 students in Subject Expert Teacher Ms. Tessler’s PreAlgebra Foundations class put their math and problem-solving skills into practice as they prepared for their Class Market. From planning logistics to designing products, students experienced what it takes to run a small business while sharing their creativity with the school community.   These projects provided students with opportunities to make meaningful connections between their classroom learning and the world around them, and to build their confidence as researchers and entrepreneurs!

May is Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Heritage Month, which celebrates the cultures and contributions of those with roots in China, Hawaii, India, Japan, Guam, and many more countries and territories. Among our many exciting activities was our Kung Fu Noodles event, where students got to make—and eat!—hand-pulled noodles while watching Kung Fu Panda. We also hosted various recess activities, including cherry blossom painting, sampling baked goods from a local Chinese bakery, and learning hula dancing from Ms. Angkham and our students in the Styles of Dance class. Bulletin boards around campus added to our students’ learning about AAPI achievements. We encourage our community to continue in their appreciation of diversity all year long! #aapi #aapiheritagemonth #diversity #may

Grade 3 students recently visited the high school chemistry lab for an exciting demonstration on the properties of metals. Guided by Subject Expert Teacher Ms. Bryant, with help from grade 10 students Adham H., Timothy W., and David X., students explored how different metals produce different colored flames when burned. They also learned about lab and fire safety, and a few brave grade 3 students even burned magnesium strips themselves to witness the brilliant reaction firsthand. Experiences like these give younger students an early glimpse into high school science while sparking curiosity and excitement for future STEM learning. Great job to both our grade 3 and grade 10 scientists!