The Cardinals Blog 2024-25: November 2024

Monday

Weekend News

Willow - My aunt came over and play with me.

Masai - I was playing and I watch tv. I sing ABC and I was running around with Mi Mi.

Annie - We went to the Flyer's game to see my sister play hockey and I got ice cream there.

Grant - Playground

Renata - I play with my mom and dad. I went where the puppies are but I don't know the place, it was far away. When we got there the doggie wanted to smell my arm. I was playing car racing with my mommy and daddy. I stand up and bump my head on the tree and then I got stitches. It's a real story cause it actually happen.

Ellery - I was painting and I wanted to make a mess. I crawl with my brother and he follow me. I was trying to not let him get my feet.

Zoey - We put our Eagle's jersey on cause it was Eagle's game. I was playing bouncing and throwing and kicking my ball with mommy.

Lydia - I watch the Magic school bus with my mom. I play my toys and sit my Owl chair.

Lake - I was playing in my room. I was playing with my toys.

Wren - Mommy nail polish my fingers. I went to Kelsey's house at night time. We drove back home.

Colby - I play with my Tia. I went playground.

Isa - I went to eat with my dad's mom at a restaurant. I watch a movie.

Whelan - I play trucks with dada. I have two fire trucks.

Julian - I stay home and I play with my brother. I go to Pearl's house.

Early this morning the Cardinals headed off to gym class with Josh. We did a switch of days as we will be having our Friendsgiving snack in that time slot tomorrow. We told friends we were going to gym class and two friends said, "Wait it's Monday not Tuesday"! The Cardinals love and enjoy gym class and today was no different. Friends choose from materials such as soft balls, basketballs, soft frisbee, fluffy balls and cones. Ask your Cardinal how was gym class?

Tuesday

We start the day by listening to the book Reach Out And Give by Cheri J Meiners, M.Ed. Our plans to walk over to the Meeting house were changed due to the heavy rain this morning! However, the Cardinals did settle into silence and broke our silence with Thanks-A-Lot. It's such a warm wonderful feeling when singing this amazing heartfelt song!

Here are the words and who would have sang which part below.

EC/Kindergarten

Thanks a lot

Thanks for the Sun in the Sky

Thanks a lot

Thanks for the cloud so high

Is Grade

Thanks a lot

Thanks for the Whispering Wind

Thanks a lot

Thanks for the birds in the Spring

Second Grade

Thanks a lot

Thanks for the moonlit night

Thanks a lot

Thanks for the stars so bright

Third Grade

Thanks a lot

Thanks for the wonder in me

Thanks a lot

Thanks for the way I feel

Fourth Grade

Thanks for the animals

Thanks for land

Thanks for the people everywhere

Everyone together

Thanks a lot

Thanks for all I've Got (repeat twice)

Ellery's mom Melissa came and read the book, The Helping Sweater by Rachel Mas Davidson. It was such a wonderful book about sharing. Thank you, Melissa! Thank you, Ellery, for sharing your mom with us!

The Cardinals returned their library books and then picked and checked out a book to bring back to our classroom.

We then turned the tables into a rocket ship and shared a FriendsGiving snack family style!! The Cardinals had a snack of Hawaiian rolls with/without cream cheese, little bites muffins, grapes, strawberries, yogurt, veggie straws and pirate booties. We all had a fun time eating and having conversation!! The bowls were refilled and friends had 2-6 helpings!!

The rain stopped, the sun came out and so the Cardinals headed outside for some fresh air and large motor fun!!

After rest time, we celebrated Grant's birthday which is on Thanksgiving day! Grant proudly brought in cupcakes this morning to share with his friends! Brigitte, Grant's mom, read the book Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert Thank you, Brigitte! Thank you, Grant, for sharing your mom with us! We wish Grant a very happy fun-filled special day!!

Happy 3rd Birthday Grant!!

Have a wonderful weekend Everyone!!

Monday

Weekend News

Julian - I go to Peal's house yesterday and we had dinner there. I play our Magna-tile at home with my brother.

Willow - I watched two new shows. I played with my cousins at the playground and we dance there. I watch Frozen 2.

Masai - I was running around and playing with my baby sister. I was singing my ABC. I was driving in the car. I was playing with my mommy and my daddy and my baby sister.

Annie - We went to my grandpa and grandma's house. Me and my dad went to a store. We got some food and some toys and some clothes. Then we got back home and I play my toys and watch tv.

Grant - Play playground.

Renata - I have baby brother name Luca. I watch a show call Luca like my baby brother. I go to Target with Momma and I got jeans like you and Annie.

Ellery - I went to Liam's birthday. We go to a furniture store. I play on my play set.

Zoey - I had a family daughter's day. I go to 2 restaurants. I went the park. I go mini golf and I hit ball in hole and I had another daughter's day yesterday.

Lydia - I make banana bread with my dad. We put chocolate chips and the right ingredients.

Lake - I play at my house. I was running and I fall outside. I go to the store with mommy and dad.

Wren - I went to Oma's. I try some new cornflakes and I like it. I rode on my gator. I got a ring pop and then I got a bath and I went home.

Colby - Poppi come home. I go playground.

Isa - I went to Sesame Place with my cousins. The pool wasn't open, only the things with no pool. Then I went to my aunt's house and got some donuts.

Whelan - I play Poppi and she cut her fingernails today. I ate a Jack pancake. He's from This is Halloween.

Friends took turns this morning creating their own individual master pieces! Enjoying the process of how paint goes on the paper to create pictures and new colors was fun for the Cardinals! (Listening to what they were saying as they painted was especially fun for me!:). The Cardinals were so clever in both their creations as well as naming their piece. Ask your Cardinal what they painted.

The Cardinals surprised Alicia walking extra quietly in the hallway to Spanish class. Great job using Self Control! We found out during the Greeting that many Cardinals were hambriento(a). Good thing we are having snack time next back in the classroom:)

After going over the calendar, seeing how many days we have been in school, and then counting to 20 in Spanish. Alicia reviewed the shapes in Spanish before playing the Swatter game! Very impressive, Cardinals!

With a happy cheer, the Cardinals then played "Camina, camina, camina"(walk) When Alicia said, "Para!" (stop), the Cardinals pointed to the shape she called out. Very exciting! Good detective work finding the Ovalos. They found more than Alicia thought she had in the classroom:) Today it was Wren's turn to squeeze la vaca!

Back in our classroom we ate snack followed by making our special banana bread! Our Cardinals from last year as well as our new Cardinals were very eager to participate in the process of making the bread! We divided into two groups and together we made 5 loaves of banana bread! Friends helped measure ingredients, peeled and mashed bananas, grease pans, mixed and stirred the batter then into the oven it went! And out came our delicious looking and smelling banana bread! Many Cardinals had 2-3 servings! We also shared our banana bread with our resource teachers, Andrea and Tricia. Ask your Cardinal what they did to help make our banana bread? and "How did it taste?"

Tuesday

We read the book, I Am Thankful by Kathryn Jewitt followed by having a group conversation about the book. The Cardinals then worked on a journal entry titled, "What are you thankful for? Why?" Friends drew pictures of what they're thankful for and then gave dictation to complete their work.

Our Cardinals really love and enjoy listening to stories read aloud. There are often many request for books to be read daily. Friends will often leave what they are doing to come listen in. Books are being read several times a day for over 30 minutes! On Tuesdays, after returning library books and listening to a story read by Michelle (Today's book was I like Myself). The Cardinals take pride in choosing their own books from the library. Many times during the week, we often hear Cardinals saying "That's my book I got it!" Ask your Cardinal which book you get from the library?

Josh greeted us at the gym door and friends were very excited to see him. Today the Cardinals worked on some balancing skills using the lollipops and balls. What is always interesting is observing what the Cardinals then go and do after the demonstration. They tend to work in groups and create their own games using the props. Many of the Cardinals are naturally team players. It's always a fun time, as friends engage in large motor fun!

Wednesday

The Cardinals, Catbirds and Hummingbirds classes ventured over to the Meetinghouse this morning with the rest of lower school for the first time this school year! We sat with our second grade buddies. Friends did an incredible job!!!

The Cardinals continued working on a journal entry titled "What are you thankful for? Why?"

Friends continuing their work of creating their own individual master pieces!

The Cardinals excitedly put on their smocks before entering the Art room today. They knew what was coming - CLAY! After looking at some fossils and describing what they saw, the Cardinals went to the tables to make their own fossil prints using shells, star fish, rocks, and dinosaur templates. They had to squish, squish, squish the clay to make it not as wet and then they rolled it into a ball to be flattened into a pancake. Each Cardinal carefully chose what object(s) they wanted to use to press into the clay. They were very proud of their creations! Next week, the Cardinals will paint the clay because it will be dry.

Thursday

Renata led us into music class. Friends warmed up to Bamboleo by the Gypsy Kings while dancing with scarves and shaker eggs. We practice our Thanks-A-Lot song that we will sing next Tuesday in the Meetinghouse with the whole lower school! We then began practicing for our Winter Program which is on December 20th at 10:45 am in the auditorium here at AFS. Our Cardinals are sounding wonderful and we can't wait for you all to hear them!!

Here are the words and who sang which part below.

EC/Kindergarten

Thanks a lot

Thanks for the Sun in the Sky

Thanks a lot

Thanks for the cloud so high

Is Grade

Thanks a lot

Thanks for the Whispering Wind

Thanks a lot

Thanks for the birds in the Spring

Second Grade

Thanks a lot

Thanks for the moonlit night

Thanks a lot

Thanks for the stars so bright

Third Grade

Thanks a lot

Thanks for the wonder in me

Thanks a lot

Thanks for the way I feel

Fourth Grade

Thanks for the animals

Thanks for land

Thanks for the people everywhere

Everyone together

Thanks a lot

Thanks for all I've Got (repeat twice)

Friday

Friends practiced recognizing and naming shapes in Spanish class. Alicia showed the Cardinals the shapes on the rug and then secretly took one away. She then asked "¿que' falta?" (what is missing?) Friends had to name the missing shape! They love that game!

No wonder the Cardinals enjoy Spanish class so much because then they got to play the Swatter game! This time a Cardinal named the shape in Spanish and their friends tapped the answer. Great listening! Willow went one on one with Alicia and was so proud of herself for swatting first! The whole class cheered for her!

After singing the "Adios" song, it was time to squeeze la vaca. Today was Willow's turn to squeeze it:)

After morning meeting and snack time, our second grade buddies came to play board games with us. We played, Candy Land Go Fishing, Zingo, Twisters, Hi HO Cherry-O, Connect Four and Snail Pace! What a fun time the Cardinals and their buddies had. Ask your Cardinal which games they enjoyed with their buddy!!