Jessica Ryan Gostin, NS parent, gave us the idea to create “Family Posters” to display in our entranceway. Families were sent a brief set of questions and asked to supply a family photograph. At school their children created a family portrait using flair pens and watercolors. Jessica then put all the pieces together and spent Read More >>
Quidditch for Muggles
Students at The New School formed two Quidditch teams this year. After spending two afternoons practicing, the two teams came together to play in earnest. It didn’t appear to bother anyone that it was snowing! Our game had to be modified slightly but fun was had by all. The chasers Read More >>
Halloween Skits
On Halloween the whole school gets into the spirit by creating skits based on their costumes. The skits had to include music, props, and be non-violent. In addition they were challenged to have at least one of the characters immigrate! You might ask what do a panda, a bounty hunter, Hiccup from How to Train Read More >>
Block Spot
Gross motor and fine motor play is an important part of a child’s learning. Building, creating,discovering, problem solving, imagining and more (!) happen when children work together to play with blocks, tinkertoys, legos, lincoln logs, trains and tracks, marble runs and plastic people. At the New School, Children in grades Kindergarten and First Grade get Read More >>
School Quilt
Every year we have a tradition of creating a paper quilt. Each child is responsible for creating one of the squares in the quilt. This year we designed our 32 square quilt to reflect our school wide study of immigration. The students were asked to identify four places they would like to explore (identified on Read More >>
Imagine
After defining the word ‘imagine’ the older students listened to John Lennon’s song, Imagine. They then shared what they thought John Lennon was saying in the song. They described what he believed. Then students watched a part of the closing ceremonies of the Olympics where the same song was performed. Students shared why they thought Read More >>
Highland Forest in October
Twice a year the students at The New School camp out overnight at Highland Forest. It is a magical two days at Pines Camp. On Thursday night parents join us for a potluck dinner and songs around the campfire. On our Thursday hike, after reading a book about birds nests, we challenged children to create Read More >>
Play at The New School
At The New School we value “play.” Twice a week children enjoy a half hour of free time during gym. Three times a week we play cooperative games. During free time children enjoy many different activities. Children need this time to independently develop creative games and projects. The “building craze” started about two years ago. Read More >>
Family Picnic September 2012
At the end of the first three days of school new and returning families traditionally gather for an informal potluck at Ryder Park, Dewitt. While the children climbed, slid and swung on the playground, parents and teachers had a chance to get reacquainted. Towards the end of the picnic parents introduced themselves and shared their Read More >>
Shove Park 2012
A big tradition for The New School each year is an end of the year picnic at Shove Park. This year the weather was spectacular and children spent the day building dams in the creek, reading, playing, and taking the creek walk down to the waterfall. Alumni are always invited. We loved seeing Evelyn, Read More >>