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Dear Garden Community: Congratulations! We have finished one cycle of classes—Day 1 through Day 7. Each day, students attend six classes with one of those classes meeting for a double period. Monday will be a D1 schedule again. Happy to be back on campus, I delight in welcoming the Lower Division families every morning at the back gate. Our appreciation to each family for following safety protocols as students prepare for exciting days of learning.
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The 79th Street Gate: A Lower Division Newsletter
 
September 18, 2020
Dear Garden Community:

Congratulations!  We have finished one cycle of classes—Day 1 through Day 7.  Each day, students attend six classes with one of those classes meeting for a double period.  Monday will be a D1 schedule again.  Happy to be back on campus, I delight in welcoming the Lower Division families every morning at the back gate.  Our appreciation to each family for following safety protocols as students prepare for exciting days of learning. 

Once inside, classes begin as students have adjusted to mask-wearing, plexiglass dividers, physical distancing, and hand washing and sanitizing.  I visit classes and see students enjoying the learning process, working with numbers and shapes, building with blocks, experimenting with colors, exploring languages, engrossed in reading, and engaged in conversations.

Each student in the Lower Division is experiencing “newness” – new teachers, new classrooms, new curriculum, new instructional methods, and new classmates.  Many lessons incorporate new technology--cameras, zooms, headsets, websites—enhancing classwork and including some remote learners.  Seven Lower Division students join classmates and participate in classroom activities through zoom lessons, videos, and SmartBoard screens.  Teachers creatively make use of outdoor spaces—grassed areas, playground, blacktop, tennis courts, courtyard, and pool—expanding the classroom.  Second graders were planting this week, students in grades 1 through 6 enjoyed physical activity in our pool each day, and recess is a great time to unwind and socialize with friends in games, conversations, and imaginative play.  I cannot wait to see the artistic talents and creativity of our students as they experience art and music activities outdoors!

During the summer, teachers were learning new techniques and perfecting skills as they navigated Google Classroom.  Our parent survey responses led us to select a common platform for all our students. Now many fourth, fifth, and sixth graders check schedules, review lessons, organize notes, and submit assignments through Google Classroom. All remote learners stay connected this way, too. Soon the families of younger students will become familiar with this educational tool.

Another tool that will foster communication on academics, programs, activities, and events is this new newsletter.  Twice a month you will receive The 79th Street Gate to stay connected and centralize school information in words and pictures.  Enjoy each issue, discuss with your child, family and neighbors, and plan for exciting upcoming events.

Once again, big THANK YOUs to teachers, staff, parents, and students.  We have all successfully opened campus, and now on to exciting learning opportunities!

Best,
William Vogel

 
Garden School is Striving for Equity
To explore this year’s theme, we are beginning with a focus on Curriculum and Instruction. During our in-service week, Theme Leaders, Ms. Ahlfeld and Mr. Melara, led faculty as they investigated the difference between equity and equality, microaggressions in the classroom, personal experiences, and ways to incorporate equitable practice and promote cultural awareness.  

A new course was added to senior curriculum titled “Legislation Through Activism” that covers how change has been made by and for marginalized groups and we switched from AP European to AP World History so students may develop a broader understanding of global topics. School wide displays focused on cultural awareness and global traditions are in the works. Displays will be made with and by students so they may see and celebrate the diversity in our community and in Art, students spent the week learning about El Anatsui, the renowned African sculptor.  

Finally, several reading teachers from K-8 classrooms are getting ready to attend a workshop on the topic of Diversity in Children’s Literature. This workshop, being sponsored by NYSIAS will explore diversity as it pertains to authorship, genre, and character identify in books written for elementary and middle grades students. Other resources and articles are also being distributed and digested by our faculty each day and we hope to begin sharing resources and article with families soon as well.
Read, Read, Read
A large portion of the school day revolves around reading activities—from letter recognition, to primers, to chapter books, to novels.  We enjoy listening to others read, deciphering instructions/directions, and learning something new.  Reading is a fundamental skill.

This week I enjoyed listening to Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle in the Prekindergarten and quietly gazing at Mr. D’Anna’s students as they were engrossed in books under the sky.  And appropriately, nursery students read Lucy’s Mask by Lisa Sirkis Thompson.

As parents we look for recommendations in choosing books for our children and seeking advice to continue conversations with contemporary issues.  Share the love of reading.  Should you come across some reading material that may be pertinent to this year’s Equity Theme, kindly let me know (wvogel@gardenschool.org).

Click below to see what some of our faculty are reading.

 
Mondays are Swag Days
Show your school spirit by wearing Garden gear, anything Garden—summer program t-shirts, walk-a-thon tees, robotics shirts, sweatshirts, or our Griffins sport team wear.  The PTA has swag sales throughout the year and Mr. Vogel has “gently used/vintage” gear in his office.

You can also recognize colleges that you admire, have visited, or family members have attended. Please note that Mr. Battaglia, Upper Division Head and Director of College Counseling bbattaglia@gardenschool.org is always available for conversations about the college process!

Need another suggestion, wear shirts in Blue & White, Garden School colors!
Friday Face Off
On Friday, September 25th, Garden will be holding a Face Off Mask Competition. In this all-school face off, awards will be given for categories like Most Original, Most Garden Themed, Best Group Masks (great for siblings and friends), and Best Faculty/Staff Mask. Be sure to get started on your mask and see if you can take home one of these coveted awards!

*All masks must be safe, appropriate for school, and still follow CDC mask guidelines.

Garden Road to 100
Don't forget to share your thoughts for the Strategic Planning Survey as we begin the Garden Road to 100 planning process.
Reminder: Submit Your Photo Release Form
If you haven't yet submitted your Photo Release Form for your child, please do so ASAP!
 
 
 
 
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Garden School
33-16 79th Street
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
United States

"Cultivating Success in Every Child"

Garden School is a Nursery-Grade 12, NYSAIS-accredited independent school in Jackson Heights, Queens.

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