Second Grade Poetry

From the Music Room

"In second grade, we've been reviewing the difference between rhythm (the pattern of the words in a song) and an ostinato (a repeating pattern)," says teacher Kara Faraldi. "We have a chant that goes 'An ostinato is a repeating pattern' and we say it over and over again. One little girl went home and was saying the chant repeatedly. After about...

Why Shakespeare?

There is a great benefit to introducing students to Shakespeare in the latter Grammar School years. Academically, it prepares students for engaging with his text when they move to the Upper School and it helps them with reading comprehension. After all, not only does one have to remember what the lines are but one has to understand what Shakespeare is saying and communicate...

On the Coram Deo Board this Month

Coram Deo means "before the face of God." Each class has a Coram Deo board where teachers post work that is done with such excellence that it meets this standard. On kindergarten's board have been some beautiful paintings inspired by VanGogh's Starry Night.

Grammar School Tradition: Shaking Hands

You may know that at the end of each week, students in the Grammar School receive a small pack of Smarties candy. You may not know the other half of this ritual; they receive their candy on their way out the building when they shake hands with Mrs. Palumbo and practice looking her in the eyes and saying “thank you” or “have a good weekend.”...

Regents Reading Revolution Thank You!

Congratulations to Grammar School students who read a total of over 120,000 minutes during the Regents Reading Revolution! One student read 110 hours over the 17 days! Special congratulations goes to sixth grade who read the most minutes as a class.

Thank you to all the parents, grandparents and friends who supported our eager readers. This year, over...

Author Visit: Jonathan Miller

Author Jonathan Miller visited Grammar School in March to talk about his work as an author-illustrator. Mr. Miller has published a four-book series about Sammy the dachshund and captivated students with his work. His time with grades four through six focused on the writing process. Students learned about how Mr. Miller has approached writing and had the chance to ask...

Why Does the Grammar School Chant?

As I type this, first grade is lining up in the hall to go outside as teacher Mrs. Bryant leads them through a call-out that reminds them how to conduct themselves in line. Across the hall, sixth grade sings through the countries of Asia – with a favorite chorus that rings out every few minutes. Downstairs, second grade sings all the first twenty-six presidents, third...

Drama Night 2023

Congratulations to first through fourth grades in their class plays this year! First grade performed The Little Red Hen, second grade performed Happy Birthday, Beatrix Potter and Stone Soup. Third grade performed Atalanta and the Great Race, and fourth grade performed Robin Hood. A job well done, students! A big thanks to Ms....

What We're Reading this Month

K - Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
1 – Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
2 – The Emperor's New Clothes
3 – The Golden Goblet by Eloise McGraw
4 –  Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray
5 – The Voyage of the Dawn...

Kodaly Music Program in Grammar School

Congratulations to Miss Kara Faraldi who received her certification in the Kodaly method of music instruction at the Chenaniah Summer Music Institute at New St Andrew’s College in Moscow Idaho in July! “CSMI is the only place that offers certification in this way of teaching music combined with a Christian worldview,” says Miss Faraldi.

Kodaly...

The New Colossus in Sixth Grade

Sixth grade learned and recited The New Colossus in January, a poem by Emma Lazarus inscribed on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Babushka in Kindergarten

Welcome Einstein the Rabbit!

First grade recently welcomed Einstein the bunny to their class! “Class pets are something unique special that builds community and helps students bond with their teacher and classmates," says Grammar School Principal Johnnie-Ann Campbell. "Class pets also teach students responsibility and how to care about something other than themselves. We live in a...

Satellites in Fifth Grade

Medieval Feast In Fourth Grade

Fourth grade entered into the middle ages in a new way recently through their stomachs at their medieval feast. "Living history days are embodied learning where students engage not only intellectually but with their whole person," says Academic Dean Amy Lindsey. "They are an opportunity for history to come to life, and especially teach the virtue of pathos -...

Passover Seder in Third Grade

You Know You Have a Classical Family When...

...The parents leave for a night out and the older siblings who are babysitting declare an oligarchy. -Allan Paurillo, father of 4 Regents oligarchs

Kindergarten: Focusing on Handwriting

One of the distinctives of Regents is its emphasis on handwriting. Starting in kindergarten, students learn not just to write - but to write beautifully. Handwriting forms the brain and also sets a standard of doing hard things well. "One of the things I miss about Regents is how beautifully my kids learned to write," said former parent Becca Christophel.

First Grade: Learning to be Peacemakers

In first grade, Mrs. Bryant is proud of how her students are learning to be peacemakers. “We always start the year in Bible class learning about biblical peacemaking – but this is a subject that is easier learned about in theory than put into practice!” she says. “I was very proud recently when two of the girls were having a problem with each other,...