By Sheri Long, PTA Parent
You may have noticed our paw print path leading up to the front main gate received a “restoration” this past weekend. Our La Mariposa paw print painters Alexis Long, AJ Long, Sydney Searle and soon to be kinder Madison Searle, repainted the 26 blue tiger prints with the help of Sheri Long and Amanda Searle. The next time you walk up that path and through those gates, follow those prints with all your tiger spirit and La Mariposa pride!
According to the USDA, Super Bowl is the second largest food consumption day of the year, just behind Thanksgiving. What if we could have all the fun and flavor, without the junk?
“In a regular day, an American will eat about 2000 calories worth of food, but during the Super Bowl, the average American eats that amount of calories in about three hours.”–USDA
The worst part is most often these calories are of the sugar laden, processed, artery clogging variety. Chicken wings, dips, sodas, cupcakes, pizza…the list goes on. Granted, Super Bowl comes around only once a year, but what if we could make it a little less evil with a few minor changes?
Here are ten ideas to make your Super Bowl Party a little health friendlier without sacrificing the fun!
–Kamala Nahas, mother of three & family wellness advocate
You could call it a tradition and it definitely makes learning just a bit sweeter. It’s the California Regions Cake!
Mrs. Sadowsky’s class quickly gathers for a photo op before slicing up their map of the state of California.
Part of the fourth grade social studies standards, studying the regions of California hasn’t always been this much fun. However, La Mariposa’s fourth grade teaching team takes a hands on approach to the subject that is anything, but dry. For this collaborative project, students use various sweet treats to illustrate the different regions and climates of California. Using things like color coded sprinkles for the region, red hots for major cities, and chocolate chips for mountains, each class worked together to create an edible map.
Along with the cake, teachers guided students through the creation of flipbooks to help them remember details about our state’s desert, valley, mountain, and coastal regions. Where else can you surf and snow ski all in the same day? Flipbooks use a combination of note taking skills and visual cues to help solidify concepts in students’ minds.
Most 4th grade students agree, the California Cake is one of the most memorable lessons of the year…and one of the yummiest! (Maybe they won’t notice if some of the Sierra Nevada’s go missing…)
–The Pawprint Editor
Special thanks to the fourth grade teaching team for always finding new ways to bring lessons to life for our kids!
“The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible.”
—Arthur C. Clarke
“Nothing is ever lost by courtesy. It is the cheapest of pleasures, costs nothing, and conveys much.” – Erastus Wiman
“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Brightly lit by the morning sun, this little reader joined more than 675 students on our first day of school.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”–Dr. Seuss
The mood was celebratory as families arrived for the first day of school. Everyone seemed prepared and excited to see their friends, both old and ones yet to be made. Shining faces with nervous smiles greeted teachers as students lined up to enter classrooms and find their seats. Students and parents were greeted by warm hugs and handshakes from teachers as they welcomed students into classrooms.
PTA President Cindy Laudato-Wong (left), PTA Hospitality Chair Sheri Long (middle), and Principal Erica Williams (right)
When the bell finally rang, parents gathered in the quad to grab some coffee and snacks provided by the PTA. (It’s possible we witnessed a jig or two, a bit of triumphant fist pumping and an occasional “hip hip hurray”.)
As the day went on, classroom expectations were explained and teachers led students on tours of the school. Students got to know their classmates a bit better. Finally, the bell rang again and anxious parents greeted students with more hugs, kisses, and a million questions. All in all, a great day. We’ll see you all again tomorrow! Happy New Year!
Special thanks to Cindy-Laudato Wong for sharing her photos and grounds keeper Rick for sharing our little garden reader.
Following STAR Testing week, La Mariposa spoiled our amazing staff with Seusstastical flair:
Monday: Hop On Popcorn Bar
Tuesday: Coffee Bar
Wednesday: Dr. Seuss Snacks
Thursday: Flower Fairies
Friday: “Hats Off to Our Teachers Album” & Luncheon
What a Seusstacular week!
Special thanks to PTA Lead Lisa Carraway for planning the week’s events and all the volunteers that helped bring it together.
Only those who have learned the power of sincere and selfless contribution experience life’s deepest joy: true fulfillment.— Tony Robbins
Nothing is impossiblethe word itself says“I’m Possible”–Audrey Hepburn
La Mariposa Pawprint 