Happy 2025! I hope you all had a restful and joyful winter break. This week, we’ve hit the ground running, easing back into our routines and expectations while also taking time to reflect on what it means to be part of a supportive and kind community.

We kicked off the year by discussing how we can help each other reach our 2025 goals and what we can tell our brains to keep growing and learning. On the first day back, students created “strong” brain drawings filled with positive affirmations, reinforcing the power of a growth mindset. Some affirmations students wrote include “It’s okay to make mistakes” + “I learn new things from people that are different from me.” + “I am a problem solver.”

Through this week we’re reviewing addition strategies and diving deeper into the addition algorithm (regrouping). In our Number Corner calendar, we are also exploring more about fractions! In writing, we’ve started exploring abstract nouns and how to connect big ideas with concrete examples. The Temescalians have blown me away with their creativity—for example, one student wrote, “Love is the trees rustling in the wind.”

We celebrated two birthday circles this week! Thank you to the families who joined us to share special memories and stories about their kiddos. These moments are so meaningful, and we hope to have even more families join us for celebrations in the coming months! As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like to come in and share any celebrations or spend time with us in the classroom. We love having you be part of our learning community!

Happy 2025!

Warmly,

Aly