Tag Archives: Cowper

Parents’ Day on Cowper

Parents Day: IMG_2011As the last month of school comes into view, Cowper Campus is bustling with events and activities. In the last few weeks, we have had wonderful opportunities to come together as a community. We have enjoyed parades, song and dance performances, and delicious homemade treats. This past Friday was another special day – it was Parents’ Day on Cowper Campus.

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During the week leading up to Parents’ Day, Cowper buzzed with excitement and anticipation. In many classes, students created beautiful works of art to give to their parents when they came to visit. In the Chinese Kindergarten classes, students had already spent many weeks creating elaborate, individualized needlepoint bags. The activity was a great opportunity for students to practice their small motor skills. The Chinese Kindergarteners also each created a hand drawn puzzle of their family, which they placed inside their bags. In the French Kindergarten classes, students prepared performances for their parents that included costumes and special games.

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The Nursery classes presented their parents with Modern Art paintings. They used bright paint and a Ping-Pong ball to create images with contrasting and crossing lines. In addition to the artwork, parents also received handmade flowers, pictures of the children in the garden, and charming poems.

Parents Day: IMG_2017The Pre-Kindergarten classes prepared both art and musical entertainment. They gave their parents hand-painted pen holders for their desks as well as picture frames and mosaic tiles. Jean-Batiste led the French Program Pre-Kindergarten students in a lively song and dance performance about how Zebras got their spots. It was inspiring to see how hard students had worked to create costumes and decorations and to memorize their lines. One could truly see how each student had grown more comfortable with his or her language skills. Each student memorized a line or two for the performance. When the performance was over, everyone was beaming with pride.

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After the gifts and performances were presented to the parents, everyone came together on the field to enjoy a gloriously sunny day. Each class set up its own canopy, with tables overflowing with treats made by the students and their teachers. The students, parents and faculty all socialized and played together in the sunshine. Some parents were quick to get up and play tag or hide-and-seek with their little ones, while others discovered the garden, played in the sandbox, or began making their plans for summer.

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A special thank you goes out to all the faculty and staff that helped make Parents’ Day such a great success. We are grateful for your efforts and the opportunity to further foster community on Cowper Campus.

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Earth Week on Cowper

During Earth Week on Cowper Campus, our students discovered the world around them and created wonderful memories. Our Earth Day – related activities included  earth science adventures during Mini-Camp, a new natural obstacle course, and our Earth Day extravaganza featuring an exciting visit from the ISTP 5th graders.

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Our activities began in the classroom with a unit on bugs and plants. Students were put in charge of taking care of their new bug friends, and they eagerly watched them grow and change. Some classes received caterpillars that eventually metamorphosizeded into beautiful butterflies. Others cared for lady bugs and ant farms. Each insect and plant brought into the classroom was treated with respect and care. Students learned how to take care of other living things, and were introduced to the process of making scientific observations. Students either drew or wrote their observations in special scientific notebooks.

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Students that attended our Spring Break Mini-Camp continued the earth science theme. Campers learned all about the layers of earth and sediment. They also constructed their very own volcano! Each recess the mini-campers made new discoveries, gathering new plants and insects to identify. Mini-campers also excitedly watched the construction of Cowper’s new obstacle course made of logs and tires. But it wasn’t until our special Earth Day gathering that we were able to put the new obstacle course to use.

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The special gathering took place on Wednesday of Earth Week. In the morning, the Kindergarten classes prepared to receive the 5th graders. A bus pulled up to Cowper Campus around 10:30 a.m., filled with students, teachers and lots of flowers for planting. The excitement was tangible. Activities were separated into six different stations manned by parents and faculty alike. All of the activities reflected Earth Day themes, and included team building, discovery, and games.

 

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The 5th graders bonded with the younger students by reading Earth-themed stories.  After the stories, students visited the sack races and cheered their team members on to the finish line.

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Meanwhile, in the garden the students planted flowers in hand-painted pots. Elsewhere, students created quilting squares with multi-colored beans and painted beautiful water colors with vegetable juice paint.

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The most impressive project was stationed in the sand box, where students were introduced to Land Art, creating colorful art sculptures with natural objects.

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Students of all ages shared smiles, love and laughter as they gathered around the painted murals that the 5th graders had created for the Cowper garden.

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Each group sat in a circle to admire the mural and give thanks to the earth. Within the circles the students discussed the discoveries they had made, and how to use these discoveries to help the earth.

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It was truly a wonderful week that would not have been possible with out the help of faculty, staff and parent volunteers from both Cowper and Cohn Campuses. Our community has truly been enriched by this experience. The Early Years students solidified bonds that will continue to grow as they make their journey from Cowper to Cohn.

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Iranian New Year Presentation

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On Friday, March 1, students and teachers on Cowper campus were delighted to take part in a celebration of the Iranian New Year. Melody Skhiri, an ISTP parent and Iranian-American, and her children Millo and Noor presented the early years program with a cultural feast.

Introductory presentation by Melody, Millo and Noor.

Introductory presentation by Melody, Millo and Noor.

As the students arrived in the social hall they were met with the beautifully percussive sounds of traditional Iranian music. After the students, faculty and staff settled into their seats, Melody, Millo and Noor began by teaching everyone a bit about Iran. They taught students where Iran is geographically situated in relation to California, and explained the Iranian solar calendar. We also learned about the Persian New Year holiday, Nowruz (meaning “The New Day”), a celebration that traditionally marks the first day of spring.

Solo dance routine preformed by Fatima.

Solo dance routine preformed by Fatima.

Next, we were presented with three delightful traditional Persian dances. The first dance was a beautifully performed solo dance. Following the solo were two duet dances incorporating traditional Persian drums. The music and movements were mesmerizing. It was wonderful to see the children applaud the dancers and join in the festivities.

Children were in awe of Fatima's tricks.

Children were in awe of Fatima’s tricks.

Mélanie and Stéphanie’s Pre-Kindergarten class concluded the presentation with their own skit explaining important elements of the Iranian New Year feast. Each student was dressed to symbolize a different element of the feast. Seven of the students were adorned with the items that make up the Haft Sin, the traditional table setting of the Persian New Year meal. The elements on the table symbolize the seven elements of life: fire, earth, water, air, plants, animals and humans. The Pre-Kindergarteners were excited to to share their knowledge with the rest of the Early Years students.

Mélanie and Stéphanie's PreKindergarten students present the elements on the new year table.

Mélanie and Stéphanie’s PreKindergarten students present the elements on the new year table.

After the presentation, students were able to ask questions and meet the dancers. The girls all adored the dancers and their sparkly costumes, while the boys were excited to take a turn at playing the drums. Our Nowruz celebration was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the many cultures and traditions present in our school community.

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Black and White day on Cowper

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In the week leading up to Black and White Day, the classrooms on Cowper were buzzing with black and white-themed activities.

To begin the week, students used their artistic skill and creativity to fashion beautiful black and white blooms to decorate their Black and White Ball Gala invitations. Each class did its own interpretation of a black and white flower, using different materials. In the Nursery classrooms, children wrapped white crêpe paper into the shape of a bloom and attached pipe cleaners for stems. In Pre-Kindergarten classes, students used a combination of black and white crêpe paper to create voluminous blooms, and then used scissors to cut defined petals.

Pre-Kindergaten's flower invitations.

Pre-Kindergaten’s flower invitations.

In the Kindergarten classes, students used paper bowls as the base of their blooms. The activity also provided an opportunity for the Kindergarteners to practice writing and pattern recognition. Students decorated their bowls with bold black letters and patterns, transforming everyday objects into works of art.

Hélèna and Vincent's Kindergarten Class Flowers.

Hélèna and Vincent’s Kindergarten Class Flowers.

The black and white theme continued into our After School Enrichment activities. In the Nursery classroom, children used a black marker to draw ornate intersecting curvy lines and patterns.  The Kindergarten and Pre-Kindergarten classes worked on creating black and white symmetrical patterns and shapes.It was very difficult for them to leave white space. Many of the children wanted to add color to their creations. As the projects took form the students began to be more comfortable with the idea of space on the page creating it’s own patterns.

Playing off the contrast between white light and black shadows, the Pre-Kindergarten students created their own shadow puppets with black construction paper and white pencils. After the puppets were completed, we staged our very own shadow puppet production. Student’s imaginations ran wild with stories of pigs, unicorns, fair ladies, knights and mermaids.

Friday finally came after much anticipation. Students came to school in sharp black and white attire, ranging from soccer uniforms to their Sunday best. In the afternoon, excited students were ushered into the social hall to experience a magical selection of Disney shorts in black and white. When the cartoons started, the social hall was filled with joyous laughter.

Cowper children enjoy some Disney black and white shorts.

Cowper children enjoy some Disney black and white shorts.

Next, Alicia Garcia spoke to the students about the important job of presenting their flower-decorated Gala invitation to their parents. Then, students were whisked away to their own gala with our dance instructor Sol Doux-Oliveros, who taught them some fun dances. The social hall was full of enthusiastic students bogeying down!

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To end the day of festivities, students received a special black and white treat and juice back in their classrooms.

Cécile's Pre-Kindergarten class enjoy their snack followed by a waltz in the sprit of the Gala.

Cécile’s Pre-Kindergarten class enjoy their snack followed by a waltz in the sprit of the Gala.

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Up, Up and Away: February Mini Camp

Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Students show us what it is to be a Superhero with their new identities!

The week of February break, many of our students were off on vacation, enjoying the slopes or the beach.  But other daring adventurers among us were going on daily quests and discovering their inner superhero during our Superhero Minicamp at Cowper.

The week began bright and early Monday morning.  Mini-campers were organized into two groups – the combined Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten classes, and the Nursery class. The Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten mini-campers began their adventures by reading about a superhero during circle time and discussing what qualities make someone a superhero. We decided that superheroes are people dedicated to helping others with their special powers during emergencies.  Then, each camper came up with his or her own superhero name, special power, and slogan and drew a picture of their new alter ego.

Campers discussed different types of emergencies, how each student’s new special super power could be helpful, and which superheroes would work best together. We had so many ideas that we decided to create our own superhero comic book!

We took a field trip to the Cubberly Public Library for inspiration for our comic book. At the library, we saw many different types of comic books and discovered new superheroes. As we walked home from the library, campers were abuzz with ideas and excitement.

Next, the mini-campers created something every superhero needs – a costume! Campers designed superhero logos with letters, symbols, and shapes that represented their hero’s different qualities.  We placed the logos in the center of superhero capes we made from a t-shirt, glitter, fabric markers, and fabric paints. Then, mini-campers handcrafted beautiful papier-mâché masks, which they decorated with their hero’s symbols and colors. With our superhero costumes complete, the possibilities for adventure were endless!

On Friday, as our week of heroism came to a close, we were excited to finish our superhero comic book. Each student took home a personalized comic book with original pictures, stories, and copies of everyone’s superhero profiles. We are happy to announce that Our Superhero Adventures Comic Book will be available for all to read and enjoy in the Cowper library.

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Photocopy Free Week on Cowper

 

Hands-on activities in the Early Years Program on Cowper

Last year, in honor of Earth Day, Cowper Campus faculty came up with the idea of having a “photocopy-free day” on campus. The experience was so rewarding, that this year, not only are we repeating the experience, but we are now making each week following a vacation – a photocopy-free week.

What do we mean by photocopy-free? Basically, we refrain from photocopying worksheets and other items (as much as we can). The result? The entire school community seems a lot more relaxed, we teach our students about environmental values, there’s a wellspring of ideas shared between adults as to activities and such that can be done without photocopying, and there’s also a well-deserved rest for our hardworking photocopy machine!

Our students continue to do their different daily activities (math, painting, writing, science projects, etc.), but they use different supports and work mainly with a lot of manipulations or hands-on activities. The use of paper is kept to the bare minimum, and during these weeks, we all have an epiphany: how did we get so dependent on using paper??

Children (and us adults, too!) can be creative if we so choose.  Our dependency on paper isn’t absolute. As an example, our students reuse magazine pages or empty cartons and boxes – we recycle and reuse what already exists. Not only are we being kind to the planet, but we are also expanding our own understanding and creativity – challenging norms and realizing that perhaps what we think is necessary – really isn’t.

Personally, I believe that the use of worksheets during the early years is not only unnecessary, but it can also hinder the learning process. Worksheets may be reassuring for us as parents and teachers, as proof that children have been working and not just “playing.” But the actuality is that there are many other ways to document learning that takes place in early years. It’s important to realize that learning takes many forms; it can happen in play-based situations and hands-on activities. Through developmentally-appropriate hands-on activities, students learn skills and build the foundation they need for future learning.

We can document student work and progress by keeping portfolios, which includes work samples, records of skill development, photographs, multimedia, and newsletters which explain the activities and their objectives.

In closing, I’d love to share this article with you from Early Childhood News titled, “The Worksheet Dilemma: Benefits of Play-Based Curricula.”

 

 

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One of the most important things you can do for your child.

In my many years working with early years program students, I know one thing for sure: young children need routine. They will thrive with schedules that are easy to understand and accomplish, and consistency is key to establishing security in their lives.

When children know and understand what is expected of them, they comply with the rules without question. They know what is happening next, and if their schedule is consistent, children will learn the patterns; there is no unknown, no anxiety. When there are too many unknowns, anxiety can build up and children start showing emotional reactions. For example, they may cry or become irritable.

ISTP’s Early Years Program teachers create routines and schedules for students. Teachers build trust with their students by explaining the routines, helping students to understand and feel safe in their environment.

Understandably, the beginning of the school year can be laden with anxiety; it’s a change in a child’s schedule, and it takes time to instill the new routine of a school day. Teachers spend the first few weeks of school going through the different events of the day with their students. Since children in the Early Years Program have yet to develop comprehensive reading skills, teachers take photos of the events, which are posted in chronological order and are used as helpful visual aids. Teachers establish a schedule that allows for a peaceful transition from one activity to the next.

It’s important for parents to be involved in establishing routines, and can help their child by going over the daily schedule with them. This helps to reinforce the routine and also serves to demonstrate a connection between parents and school life. Showing your child that you are invested in their learning and their time at school will pay off in dividends throughout their education.

Establishing schedules and routine at home is equally important, and here are two key moments when routine is imperative:

Morning Rush

Morning is probably the most hectic time of the day, and I know this was certainly the case for me when my daughter was young. Creating a morning routine that works for your family can ease your child’s transition from waking up from sleep to starting his/her day at school. This is a critical time and can impact your child’s entire day.

 

 

 

Family Dinner

Establishing a family dinner routine is essential. Notice I said “essential” and not “easy.” With crazy work schedules, activities, errands, and demands, it can be hard to schedule a set time for dinner each night and make it a priority to sit down with the entire family – but this can be one of the greatest gifts you give your family. As a working mom, it was hard for me to do this, but in our family, we made it a point of having at least one meal a day together. I can tell you, this made a huge difference. Dinner time allows for peaceful family discussions, and provides an opportunity for the child to share his/her day and discuss any issues from school.

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Changes on Cowper

A lot of great new changes have happened on Cowper Campus! Over the summer, remodeling work went underway, and we’re excited for the entire community to see the new and improved campus!

Below are some photos taken during the remodeling process. We expect all the renovations to be complete by mid-August.

We worked on the Boys’ and Girls’ bathrooms, added new tile on the walls and floors, as well as new fixtures. There’s now also a separate adult bathroom with its own access from the corridor.

Gutting out the bathrooms to make way for new tile and fixtures!

All of the outside windows have been replaced with double pane, heat and cold resistant glass, and it’s already much cooler in the building. All of the hallways and doors will be repainted, as well as color accents on the rafters above. The classrooms will also be repainted and the carpets were removed from the classrooms and new VCT floor tiles were installed.

Installing new floors in the classrooms.

The reception area will probably the most noticeable change. The entire area is being remodeled, and a new digital display marquee will be installed on the wall, to keep everyone informed of upcoming events and activities. Additionally, a new phone system was added, as well as an upgraded alarm system that extends to the portable building.

Rimma will still be greeting everyone in the morning... just from a different area of reception!

The playground will be updated, with the blacktop gaining a new 1″ topcoat, the tanbark underneath the play structures are going to be replaced with new tanbark, making a softer landing surface, and some of the picnic tables will have awning to cover from weather extremes. The portables will also have awning.

Whew! It’s certainly a lot of changes to the campus, but it’s worthwhile! We are so proud our language immersion Early Years Program, and we hope you enjoy your “new” campus!

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