Message from the Principals 1/9/2026

Good afternoon and Happy New Year! I hope that everyone had a wonderful winter break. It's been a great first week back to school.

Today's Topics:

1: Important Reminders

2: House Points

3: Special Highlight

4: Learning Highlights

1: Important Reminders

• Jan 19 - NO SCHOOL (MLK Jr. Day)

• Feb 16 - NO SCHOOL (Presidents' Day)

• Feb 23 - Open School!

2: House Points

Basilisk: 3575

Hydra: 3449

Dragon: 3396

Phoenix: 3389

3: Special Highlight!

In December the grade 4 class created a spectacular video discussing the SDGs!

G4 Learning Update - Unit: The Holiday Show

ELA Learning Goals:

• 3.28 Be able to select and use a range of strategies and tools for planning, drafting and revising writing.

• 3.15 Be able to convey information, experiences, arguments and opinions clearly when speaking to others.

Grade 4 have been working hard on their persuasive writing and speaking skills, connecting their writing to their SDG learning and their class action plan. Together, we gathered information from their individual pieces of writing and used it to create a class video aimed at persuading other learners to take action with them and reduce their consumption of natural resources to help protect our planet.

4: Learning Highlights

It's been a few weeks since the last blog post so there is a lot to share! I will let each class teacher share their experiences and activities!

Beachside:

Our 1 & 2-year-olds, and teachers all came to school wearing their pajamas 🩵

Each child brought one favorite stuffed animal or toy, and everyone took turns introducing their pajamas and special toy🌼

After that, we enjoyed watching a movie together and then took a nap with their favorite toys 😴💤

It felt like we were having a sleepover together, and we had such a wonderful time⭐️💫

Seaside (3 year old)

It was nice weather yesterday, so we had some snacks by the seawall.🌞🌊

We watched some divers in the sea and said hello to a few dogs on their walks.

Having a snack in a different place made it feel special.💛✌️

Coral class-New year’s card 🎍

We made New Year’s cards and took a walk to drop them in the mailbox 📮

Since next year is the Year of the Horse, we made horse-themed cards!

They looked like really excited and couldn’t wait for the New Year’s cards to arrive

Prep Class - ELA

The children are kindly and patiently learning how to write dictated short, simple sentences. They are practicing using the special letter sound (digraph) they have just learned, while also connecting some of their words to their unit, “The Earth: Our Home.” Through this gentle activity, the learners are encouraged to think about the world around them, share their ideas, and feel happy and proud as they grow in their writing skills. 🌍✏️💚

Science: 1.08 Be able to use the senses safely to make observations.

Prep class had lots of fun and linking the trip to our unit. We did some reviews like classification of animals, nocturnal or diurnal, deciduous, conifer, and palm trees, and living or non living things.

Grade 1 Learning Goals:

1.07 – Be able to make predictions

1.13 – Be able to suggest improvements to investigations

Science Task #2 G1M Ramp Investigation, students explored how push and pull forces help objects move. They learned that pushing a toy car down a ramp makes it move, and that the height and angle of the ramp affect how far the car travels. Students were challenged to plan, make, test, and improve their own ramps to help the car go as far as possible. Through this activity, they discovered how changing the ramp can change the car’s movement.

In our Science Task #3, Push Me, Pull You, students explored how air can push or pull objects to make them move. To investigate this concept, they created origami paper rockets and launched them inside the classroom. Before the challenge, learners made predictions about whose rocket would travel the farthest. They then blew air to propel their rockets, and the winner earned a house point. Students also had the opportunity to improve their rockets before the final launch.

For the Brainwave, Grade 1 Blue created their very own Brain Garden, where we learned to see the brain as a garden full of possibilities. Each seed stands for something new we learn every day. Just like real seeds, learning needs care to grow. Seeds need water to stay alive, soil to feel safe and steady, and sunlight to help them grow strong. Learning is the same, it grows when we pay attention, feel calm and happy, when we practice what we learn each day and most importantly, reflect.

We also talked about what happens when seeds are simply scattered. They might be blown away by the wind, washed away by water, or may not grow at all. But when seeds are planted deep in the soil, their roots grow strong, allowing them to become tall trees that can stand firm even against strong winds.

Learning works the same way. When we don’t focus, practice, or apply what we learn, it becomes short-term and easily forgotten. But when we nurture our learning with care, attention, daily practice, and reflection, it grows into strong, long-term understanding—just like a tree with deep roots in our Brain Garden 🌱🧠.

For our Force Unit, Grade 2B threw themselves into hands-on science—sometimes quite literally! We started by making paper planes and boats to test air resistance and friction. Then we created beautiful butterfly models to explore push and pull. (Many of their butterflies worked better than Ms. Julia’s… and yes, a few kind engineers stepped in to help Ms. Julia’s butterfly finally flap its wings!)

Our adventure continued at Baba Park, where learners searched for evidence of different types of force—also known as playing on everything they could find while calling it “science.” They investigated gravity, friction, and motion through slides, swings, and plenty of enthusiastic running.

G3 ART 

Unit: Tombs, Temples and Treasures

Our Grade 3 students have completed their unit Tombs, Temples, and Treasures at the end of Semester 1!

They proudly finished creating their ancient Egyptian amulets in art, and are now eagerly preparing for their exit point play later today. It’s been a wonderful journey of discovery, creativity, and performance, and we’re excited to celebrate their learning together.

G4 Entry Point: Fairgrounds!

Recently, we introduced our new IPC unit: Fairgrounds. To begin, we played "Guess the Theme"! I gave them instructions to follow which included clearing the tables and chairs and lining the chairs in pairs in front of the TV in a snake pattern. They were so confused. They had to sit in pairs facing the TV and then I played a rollercoaster simulator! They LOVED it and requested a few more simulations!

Once the new unit was introduced, we began discussing theme parks, rides and games where they will be required to plan, create and construct amusement park rides and games! Our last unit involved learning about Okinawa's history, so G4 have been inspired to use this theme in our "amusement park" and have begun to make lanterns to display around the classroom.

Before the winter break, the learners used their critical thinking skills to find out who can build the tallest structure using marshmallows and toothpicks as part of their end of 2025 class party!

There is so much more to share, but it's been a busy day and I have run out of time. Please check back next week for more Learning Highlights for Grade 5 and up!

Thank you!

-Mr. Brandon