Blog

We decided to build a Sukkah for our dramatic play area in the Chickadees classroom. First, we needed a large box. We asked our school community for help. Sarah Partouche had a box just the right size and brought it to school for us in her trunk. Then, we wanted to transform it into a Sukkah. We started off by figuring out how it should stand. It was falling over so we came up with an idea to put it between two pieces of furniture in our center. We wanted it to be beautiful so we decorated it using craft gems, foam paper, markers and crayons. Then, we hung lemons inside as hanging decorations to represent the Etrog. We went outside and Morah Libby helped us cut branches from our school garden and put them on top. While we were there, we also cut rosemary for our take home Sukkah projects. We have been enjoying playing inside it during centers, getting ready and excited for Sukkot!

 Parents across grade levels joined us to hear about the incredible curricula in all of our elementary classrooms. Some highlights: In the K-1, we created a "Kissing Hand" based on the book "The Kissing Hand" with a message that we want our children to remember. We heard about the SEL  Midos lemonade stand program-  "always cool and sweet". 

Ahead of Rosh Hashana, elementary students had an amazing time at a fun, sweet, interactive pre-Rosh Hashanah program with 3 stations that brought the holiday to life! 

They had a blast with a blindfold test to recognize 5 holiday tastes.

Instead of carrots, everyone enjoyed fresh squeezed carrot juice as well as pomegranate spread and fish-head gummies! 

We added a fun twist to Rosh Hashanah Bingo, where students solved riddles to find holiday symbols on their boards.

Another highlight was Honey Cookie Shaping station.

Creating fun holiday experiences at STA! 

Did you know that one of the customs of the Atakapa tribe was to use wet bark for baby carriers and Spanish moss for diapers?

This year in Social Studies, our elementary students are learning about America's past beginning with the native route to reach this side of the world, how they lived, what they hunted and traded. 

Their recent unit was all about the settlers of our own States of Louisiana and Mississippi (since one of our students actually lives there and travels to come to STA!), learning about who made it was it is today.

They researched information and then collaborated with each other to choose one of the Native American tribes or early settlers to investigate further.

They discovered how the Caddo tribe lived in cone shaped houses made of poles covered with a thatch of grass and how the Houma tribe ate raw fish and wild game. They developed a creole language based on the French language. 

Engagement was high as the students enjoyed making their own choices and using their creativity to present the information.  

A student in the Robins carefully uses their fingertips to put pom poms into the apple tree. 

A student in the Doves class recognizes the Hebrew words for some of the Rosh Hashana foods through the use of three part cards.

A student in the Blue Jays class strengthens fine motor and color recognition by using tongs to place colored bees into the hive.

A student in the Chickadees class learns about the parts of an apple through the use of three part cards.

In our JPA classes, a big part of our integrated curriculum the past couple of weeks was the holiday of Rosh Hashana. Part of our Montessori inspired curriculum is the use of self correcting manipulatives that teach the children to take charge of their learning and gives them the ability to work independently in a hands on way. In all of our classes, the children had access to a variety of materials that immersed them in the holiday, learning about apples, bees, honey, the Shofar and so much more. 

Hard to imagine how many birthday candles would have to be on this birthday cake!? Elementary students celebrated a very special birthday this week…the world’s 5784th birthday! 

Yearly, the Rosh Hashana holiday celebrates the culmination of the full creation of the world, and as such, the first day of creation was 6 days prior to Rosh Hashana…on the 25th of Elul on the Jewish calendar. On that day at school, students in elementary classes focused on being grateful for the beautiful, bountiful world that Hashem created. Each student enjoyed a special treat of black and white cookies, symbolizing the light and dark of the first day of creation.

Students wrote birthday cards to the world, with wishes and gifts they would like to give to the world. Ranging from: "I hope everyone will get all their needs." (M.H. R.- Grade 1) to "I will give more Tzedakah." (A.R.- Grade 8) to "I will take care of plants." (E. R. - Grade 5) to "I will pray for peace on you." ( S. R.- Grade 5) to "I will pray for rain." (H. C. - Grade 5). Students were reflective and excited about the special day.

In the K-1 and 2nd-3rd grade classes, the students also learned a bit about their own Jewish birthday dates and we look forward to celebrating those as they come up on the Jewish calendar all year long.