Campus was cold and sunny this morning but the reasons why families had chosen to wake up early and bring their child to LJCDS for an assessment warmed my heart. Here are some of the things that they told me:

• My friends, whose children go to LJCDS, shared the recommended summer reading list with me and I saw you had Eyes that Kiss in the Corners. Growing up, I never read books where the characters looked like me, so seeing this on the list was really meaningful.
• My child goes to swimming lessons with a family who goes to LJCDS. In talking with them, I learned what a special school this is.
• Seeing the art that my friends’ children have made at LJCDS, and their creativity, made me excited to apply.
• I don’t know who my child will grow up to be, but I want a place where they can explore different options and be curious and learn about the world.
• The school just seems to encourage children to try new things, and has the resources to support them with whatever they want to do.
• We met the teachers at Open House and they made my child feel so comfortable. Everyone we spoke with was so impressive. My child is normally shy but they were excited to go into the classroom today.
• My child started in LJCDS in third grade this year and has completely transformed into the happy, curious kid that we knew she could be.

A heartfelt thank you to our admissions team for hosting such a wonderful event, to our parents and current families who not only showed up today as ambassadors but also continue to share their experiences in the community, and to each of you, whether you came in early to support the admissions groups or quietly go the extra mile every day in ways that families truly notice and appreciate.

Check out these pictures from the week – from beam signing, the assembly run by our Black Student Union Assembly, creative ideas for re-establishing expectations, a philanthropy presentation in fourth grade and an extraordinarily beautiful sunset!

Kindergarten Playhouse and Garden

Over the last few weeks our Kinder team have been working on the playhouse design and a new Kindergarten garden. Check out these process pics! It is going to be amazing!

Well, Here’s An Idea…

Feeling inspired by Kindergarten pictures above, what about the A-Frames? Designing and furnishing them could be an ideal student project. It could be a playhouse, a reading nook, a museum or more. The project could involve fundraising (perhaps through the Centennial Fund), budgeting, area and perimeter, measurement, art and design, interviews, persuasive writing etc, proposals etc. Children in your grade level could design one, or both of the A-Frames and see their work enjoyed by hundreds of Lower Schoolers!

Coming Up: Jumping (rope) into the Centennial

On January 30th, as part of our Centennial celebrations, we will be hosting National Jump Rope Champion, Mike Fry. Children will learn about how students at the Balmer School would have jumped rope, learn how to do it themselves and watch Mike demonstrate his moves. Stay tuned for the schedule for the day! Note: we will be cancelling PE on that day. Check out Mike’s video to see what we have in store for us.

Reading Comprehension PD Session 2 (K-4, Spanish, D and I and Science)

This week, we will be reflecting on what we read in Chapter 1 of the Teach Like a Champion Guide to The Science of Reading and taking a deep dive into activities to use books to build reading comprehension. K and the specialists listed above will be able to learn about the reading and take away some strategies that enrich reading comprehension in their disciplines.

Mid Year Assessments

Please complete the phonics mid year assessment and also the F and P: Non fiction assessment by the end of February.

FGC Mid-Year Check-Ins

Please schedule your mid year meeting with your peer coach or feedback partner. If you have not got your observations on the calendar, make sure that they are scheduled.

The Week Ahead

Monday: Happy Monday!

Tuesday: Grade 2-4 Visit Day,8:15 – 9:30 Kindergarten Close Up Admissions Session

Wednesday: Happy Birthday Anna! Grade 2-4 Visit Day, 3:30 – 4:30

Thursday: Grade 2-4 Visit Day

Friday: 9:45 – 11:45 Grade 1 to Feeding San Diego

Happy 2026! I hope you had a well-deserved break. Here’s an overload of cuteness from our festive and terrific Torrey pets to ease us back to school and inspire us to rest, read, be curious and cozy! The year ahead will be a momentous one as we launch our centennial. Read on for more information about our Centennial launch on Monday as well as some important Responsive Classroom reminders.

Responsive Classroom: Routines to Practice

Remember to take some time to review routines and expectations with your students. Skits, written reflections, games at morning meetings etc. can all be helpful ways for students to review these expectations. Below are a list of suggested routines to review:

• Morning and dismissal routines
• Responding to a signal
• Lining up and hallway expectations
• Restroom behavior
• Small-group norms
• Lunch and recess rules

Responsive Classroom Reminder: Teach the Art of Respectful Disagreement

When we intentionally teach and practice how to disagree respectfully, we send students a powerful message: You can question, challenge, or partly agree with someone and still maintain a positive, productive relationship. This skill is essential for collaborative learning and a healthy classroom culture. Try these strategies to build students’ confidence and competence: Use Interactive Modeling. Show students exactly what respectful disagreement looks and sounds like. Modeling provides them with a clear, concrete example that they can practice and internalize. Create Anchor Charts. Visual reminders are beneficial for all learners, especially those who require additional support. You can create the chart ahead of time or involve students in brainstorming phrases, behaviors, and steps that demonstrate respectful disagreement.

Teaching students how to disagree without disconnecting strengthens their communication skills and helps maintain a safe space for diverse perspectives in your classroom.

Centennial Kickoff Final Details: Monday, January 5 (a message from Chelsey)

It’s almost time to kickoff our Centennial celebration!  Here is a reminder of the planned schedule.  I am keeping a close eye on the forecast and will keep everyone posted on any changes as we get closer to Monday. MS/US Special X Day Schedule

Morning

8-8:45: Students arrive on campus and report to their classroom/advisor.

• Lead teachers and advisors will share this classroom/advisory slidedeck, which includes the video.
• Lead teachers and advisors will pass out Centennial t-shirts and kickoff kits to each student/advisee.
• Students will change into their shirts by 8:45 a.m.
  • Extra youth sizes are in the LS office.
  • Extra adult sizes are at the front lobby desk.

8:45-9:00: Transition to the football field and settle into your assigned digit.

• 1→ ECC/LS 
• 0→MS 
• 0→US
• Additional fac/staff will fill in various digits as needed

Division leadership teams will be stationed at each digit to guide students and faculty.

9:00-9:15: Brief remarks by Dr. Terwin and aerial photo

Afternoon: **Celebration Cupcakes**

ECC: Cupcakes will be delivered in the morning to distribute at a time of your choice.

K-4: Parent volunteers will distribute cupcakes during afternoon recess

MS/US/Fac/Staff: Parent volunteers will distribute cupcakes during lunch

Questions? Email Chelsey Watkins at cwatkins@ljcds.org.

Hub Final Beam Signing (1/6-1/9)

Be part of school history forever by signing the final beam, a permanent and visual mark within the Hub that every student and faculty member will see for generations to come.

The Dempsey Construction team is ahead of schedule and is ready to place the final steel beam in the HUB the afternoon of 1/9.  This beam will be exposed on the HUB bridge and we are inviting all Torreys to sign the beam before it is placed at the end of the week.

WHEN?

ACTION: Please view the class/advisory signing schedule HERE. It should minimally impact classes and will allow everyone the opportunity to sign between 1/6-1/9.

ECC/LS- visit prior to one of their PE classes

MS- visit during an advisory/study hall

US- visit on a flex block (supervised by Chelsey, Lindsay and US teachers)

**All teachers should sign with their class.  US teachers should arrive during the time slot of the grade level they advise.**

WHERE? Signing will take place in the construction zone behind the MS dance studio. You will see the space clearly marked in the MS Lot. The space will be tented so please come even if it is raining.

HOW TO SIGN:  When you arrive, you will be guided by a staff member on how and where to sign using specialized markers.

Questions? Email Chelsey Watkins at cwatkins@ljcds.org.

LRC Lunch and Learn (A Message from the LRC)

We have our next Lunch & Learn on Wednesday, 1/7/26. The topic is dyslexia, and we will have a raffle prize!

Project 100 Submissions

• Project 100: Torrey Centennial Awards is accepting rolling submissions

See Chelsey’s November 3rd email for more details and  apply HERE

Apple Watches

We know that many students will have received Apple Watches as gifts over the break. Please remind students that these are not allowed in Lower School and must be taken to the office to be kept safe until the end of the day, when the child can pick them up and take them home.

Reading Comprehension Pro Grow (1-4)

This coming week we will launch into a pro grow series examining best practices to develop reading comprehension. We’ll look at what the science can teach us and explore playful and creative ways to use read alouds and other books to order to deepen understanding. Kindergarten teachers will have this time to get ready for Saturday.

Torrey Trot (Centennial Edition) on Jan 11

Have fun and get active at the 8th annual Torrey Trot with finisher medals, food, music, and a course which will feature images throughout celebrating Torrey Athletics.  Sign up here:  https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/LaJolla/TorreyTrot

The Week Ahead

Monday: 9-9:30 Centennial launch (see above)

Tuesday:

Wednesday: 11:10-1:05 LRC lunch and learn (see above), Reading Comprehension pro-grow, Grades 1-4

Thursday: Happy Birthday Krystina!

Friday: 8:15-8:45 The Black Student Union will lead the assembly on MLK Jr.

Saturday: ECC + K Admissions Day: 7:30am – 2pm

Sunday: 8th Annual Torrey Trot 

Congratulations on an extraordinary week, filled with learning, sharing that learning and community building. Grade levels are taking time in PLCs to dig into the attributes of High-Quality Student Work. As you look at the photos from last week, take a moment to see how our work connected with these ideas. I hope you feel affirmed.

We have one week to go until Winter Break. It’s exciting and be prepared for emotions running high this week. Reach out to others, see what they need. Let’s support each other.

Challenged Athletes Foundation Visit Fourth Grade

Second Grade and Kindergarten Family Fun Mornings

First Grade Trip to Old Town on the Trolley

Third Grade Writing Celebration

Specialist Workshop: Cultivating Engagement in Specialty Classes

Secret Spirit Week

Wednesday FFF (forced faculty fun!)

…Will be at Green Acres (10300 Campus Point Dr, San Diego, CA 92121). Come for a drink and appetizers during our meeting time. FYI Trivia starts at 5, if you would like to organize a team!

The Week Ahead

Monday: Happy Monday!

Tuesday: 5:30 All school winter concert

Wednesday: 3:30 LS Happy Hour

Thursday: Happy birthday Jen!

Friday: Last day before Winter Break!

We made it through the 67th day of school! Three cheers to grade 4 for teaching the Lower School about the regions of California in the awesome assembly on Friday. I loved the different ways of presenting the information, the use of different spaces in the school and the confidence of the children.

There is so much to celebrate this first week back from break. I walked a second grader to her car on Friday and asked her if she was looking forward to the weekend. She said no, the weekend is fun but school is extra fun and she wished there was more school! Thank you for everything that you do to create a vibrant, creative and nurturing learning environment that children don’t want to leave.

PS I just heard about some of the dreadful journeys that people who live up north had on Friday. What an awful way to start the weekend. I hope the rest of your weekend is much better.

The Fourth Grade Assembly

First Graders Working With Their Fifth Grade Reading Mentors

Making Art in K and 1

Building A Castle in the ECC!

The Very Talented Ms. Tripoli at the Holiday Market

Stop By The Office To See Our Bento Box Project on Display (thanks to Mark)

Challenged Athlete Foundation (CAF) Visit on Tuesday, December 9

CAF will be working with Grade 4 on Tuesday morning and will be using the green top. This means that grade 2 and 3 will need to have indoor recess that morning. We will check in with teams to make sure that everyone is still able to get their break.

Beast Academy Meeting On Wednesday

Our meeting on Wednesday will be time for second-fourth grade faculty to touch base about Beast Academy, trouble-shoot and work on the integration of the program into weekly routines. The focus of the meeting will be to learn from others and build on best practices. Kindergarten, First Grade and Specialists – I will be in touch about separate focus areas for the meeting time.

Growing Through It: Featuring Earl Hunter II!

CUPS and ARMS

IMSE training introduced us to CUPS, which is now used across the LS. We are seeing the effectiveness of one tool, used in different classrooms, to help children internalize the process of editing. ARMS adds Revision prompts. We will bring these posters to your classrooms. Let us know if you would like them laminated or in a pale wooden frame.

Library White Elephant Book Swap (Tuesday)

It’s a great chance to share a book you enjoy (or want to get rid of!) and walk away with a surprise read for the holidays or a cozy weekend.

Details:

• When: Thursday, December 9th from 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM (calendar invite has followed)
• Where: Ballast Point Miramar
• RSVP: Please RSVP by December 4th so we can get a headcount

The “Rules” 

To participate, please bring a book that is:

• Gently used—please do not purchase a new book. We want to encourage sharing great reads from your own personal collection!
• Wrapping: The book should be fully wrapped and remain anonymous—no peeking!
• How it Works: We’ll draw numbers, and participants will either choose a new, wrapped book from the pile or “steal” an unwrapped book from a previous player!

Faculty/Staff Spirit Week

Supporting you on Thursday

On Monday Grade 2 has a family fun morning. On Tuesday Grade 4 welcomes the Challenged Athletes Foundation and on Thursday this week, Kinder has a family fun morning, Grade 1 has a field trip and Grade 3 has a writing celebration. It’s a big week! We would like to provide a treat to bring you energy and joy on Thursday. Click here to vote on what would make you happiest!

Save the Date: Wednesday December 17 Lower School Happy Hour!

Instead of a meeting on Wednesday, December 17, we will hold a Lower School celebration for our whole team. More details to follow!

The Week Ahead

Monday: 8:15-8:45 Grade 2 Family Fun (I read, you read, we all read)

Tuesday: Happy birthday Emma! 8:30 – 10 Challenged Athletes Foundation visit Grade 4

Wednesday: Happy birthday Meghann! 3:30 – 4:30 Beast Academy Check In

Thursday: Happy birthday Daniella! 8-8:30 Kindergarten Family fun, 8:15-11:45 Grade 1 Trip to Old Town, 2-2:45 Grade 3 Writing Celebration

Friday: 12:30 No bell fire drill, 5-6 Lower School string concert

Do It Now

I hope you have had a fun and relaxing fall break. My break included reading, cooking, exploring, feeding a giraffe and losing at monopoly to my children (a lot). It was perfect! I hope you are able to find some time yourself this weekend to replenish before we head into the last three weeks of school of 2025!

Celebrations from the Week Before Break: Fifth Grade Reading Mentors, Grandparents Day, Rivers and Rainbows

It was wonderful to see our former students patiently listening to and building up the confidence of our first grade readers! Kudos to Miranda and our first grade team for making it happen!

So much work and love went into Grandparents Day. It was spectacular. Thank you for everything that you did to make it a success.

The rain led to exciting digging and rivers in Kindergarten!

Rainbow Connection!

Responsive Classroom Reminders

As we come back to school from a week long break, and with children and adults preparing for the holidays, it can be hard for children to navigate the changes in routines and the excitement. In these circumstances, it is especially helpful to remember that students build on their strengths, not their weaknesses. As Responsive Classroom reminds us, that means it is essential to acknowledge and specifically recognize students’ efforts and accomplishments. Reinforcing language can have a powerful influence on student growth.

Keys to Effective Reinforcing Language

• Name concrete and specific behaviors. Rather than saying a global “Good job!” or “Nice work,” tell students what they specifically did well so they know what to keep doing and build upon.
• De-emphasize your approval. Emphasize what the student did. Otherwise, students may focus more on pleasing you than improving their skills.
• Avoid holding one student up as an example for others. The student who is pointed out may feel triumphant, but others will likely feel devalued or criticized. The student who is held up may even feel embarrassed.
• Find positives to reinforce in all students. Every student has strengths. Over time, every student should feel that we see and appreciate their positive actions and attitudes.

Examples of Reinforcing Language

• “I see lots of people putting the tablets away carefully. That will keep them safe and ready for the next class.”
• “Kaylie, you’ve been more focused on your work and you’re completing it by the end of the period. That’s great progress!”
• “Jamal, your classmates were focused on you during your presentation. What did you do to grab everyone’s attention?”
• “Today’s math was tough, but you kept trying! That persistence will help you solve all kinds of problems.”

Apply to the Kufundisha Pamoja Program in Tanzania 2026!

This is a reminder that the applications for the Kufundisha Program are due on Monday, December 1. All faculty and staff are welcome to apply, even if your area is not listed above. The School of St. Jude has specifically requested help in these areas: 

• Computer Science – programming & languages
• English
• History Advanced Levels – (If possible, topical strengths in African and British history)
• Fine Arts, All Levels
• Intermediate and Advanced Math (Calculus)
• Career Guidance
• Economics/Business Teachers
• General Technology and/or Ed Tech Expert 

Please click here for more information and the application. 

Project 100: Torrey Centennial Awards (A Message from Chelsey)

Thanks to the Parents Association, awards of up to $1,500 per project are available to fund your boldest, most meaningful ideas. This is your chance to dream, design, and create something that embodies the heart of LJCDS—its legacy, connection, and momentum.

Think outside the box! Projects may be class-based, grade-level, small group, or individual.

• LEGACY: Capture and honor our school’s 100 years of excellence, identity, and tradition.
• CONNECTION: Celebrate the relationships, stories, and shared experiences that unite us as Torreys.
• MOMENTUM: Push forward with innovation, creativity, and vision that will inspire the next century.

Award Details:

• Funding: Approved projects will receive an award of $500 (taxable) and up to $1,000 for project materials/resources.
  
• Deadline to Apply: Friday, December 5, 2025
  
• Projects must be completed by: December 2026
  
• Apply HERE.

Summer Programs

Building on the success of our Welcome to Kindergarten summer programs, we are looking to add a combined first and second-grade and a combined third and fourth-grade program. These camps would run in the mornings and would include some academic work (such as revision of phonics and math concepts) as well as an overarching theme or project. Please email me (Briony) if you are interested in doing one or more weeks! This will be very impactful for our students and families.

ERB Check Ins:3rd and 4th Grade Teachers

Please send an email to Marsha and me to schedule a 30-45 minute check in next week about your students’ ERB results. We want to take time to look through these together before we release them to parents the following week.

Thank You Lessons and Kindness Chain

There is still time to sign up for me to come into your class and do a Thank You lesson with your students. We will focus on turning our attention to things that make our lives better that we do not typically think of. It is also a time for you to take a moment for a little extra planning time, a parent meeting, or simply an uninterrupted hot drink! You can sign up directly on my calendar any time before winter break.

More Kindness strips are available in the office. It got a bit too busy to make the chain before the break so we’ll keep it going for another week!

Grade 4 Assembly on Friday (a message from Grade 4)

We will be teaching LS about the four regions of California, which the students have been studying in class. All of LS will begin together in the maze. We have a 5-minute introduction( screen and mic needed) to share with everyone. After the intro, each grade level will move to a different area of LS:

• Kindergarten: Maze
• Grade 1: Specialty Courtyard
• Grade 2: Wedding Cake
• Grade 3: Green Top

The grades will remain in their assigned areas throughout the assembly. Fourth graders, separated into four groups (Coastal, Central Valley, Desert, and Mountain), will do the rotating and go to each grade level. The last Grade 4 group at each location will wrap up the assembly, and K–3 students can return to their classrooms after that.

The Week Ahead

Happy birthday Sally, Maria and Felicia for last week!

Monday: Welcome back!

Tuesday: Welcome back, day 2!

Wednesday: 11:10 – 1:05 LRC Lunch and Learn, 3:30 – 4:30 K-4 Meeting

Thursday: 4-5:30 Middle School Band concert FFT

Friday: Happy birthday Lisa! 8:15 Lower School Assembly (led by Grade 4)

Stand Up If You Have Been Kind Today!

As we go into the last week before Fall Break, this blog is a celebration of our community. On Friday, the Lower School stood up for kindness during the interactive, engaging and inspiring third grade assembly and thanks to these third graders, next week we will create a Lower School kindness chain. Each class will be given paper chain strips so that children can write down when they were kind or when someone was kind to them. There will be strips in the office and more strips outside at the art station. On Thursday afternoon, we will assemble the chain of kindness. I have a dream of it stretching around the LS, through the ECC and Kindergarten, after all, we are THAT kind!

Hooray for every LS grade enjoying the Frog and Toad preview and for seeing so many former Lower Schoolers living their best lives on stage!

Kindergarteners love their third grade buddies!

…And Now A Ton of Photos From the Craft Collective!

It has been a long time since our Lower School team went on a field trip together. Last Friday we screen printed, wove, created pinch pots, created a woodworking project, used natural dyes and more. I left reminded of how making connects us with a different part of ourselves – both the insecurity of doing something out of our comfort zone and deep pride in our work. This is what we want our students for feel. Also, over the hours that we worked with our hands, I heard richer conversations than in a regular pro grow. In the words of one of our team members:

 I truly hope there will be more opportunities in the future for off-campus gatherings where we can connect, recharge, and strengthen our relationships as colleagues. These shared experiences help us grow as a team and deepen our understanding and appreciation for one another.

ECC PreSchool visits

Check out a few of the reflections from the ECC team below (these are also inspiring for K-4 teachers)

• Curate and display student artwork in ways that highlight children’s expression while maintaining an organized and visually calm space.
• Introduce and integrate loose parts into the building area to extend opportunities for open-ended construction and problem-solving.
• Explore innovative uses of the light table to inspire discovery across different areas of learning.
• Enrich the mud kitchen by adding new materials and provocations that support imaginative play.
• Reflect on classroom displays to ensure the environment feels inviting, balanced, and free of visual clutter.
• Rotate artwork on the walls to maintain a fresh, engaging, and reflective classroom atmosphere.
• Highlight student voice and identity by displaying photographs of children alongside their quotes and reflections.

Sign up for Thank you Everything Lessons with Briony

Don’t forget to sign up for a Thank You Everything lesson with Briony next week. I will read pages from the book, children will choose one thing that they are grateful for (it could be a color, a feeling, an object etc.) and create an image of that thing. If you can’t find a space on my calendar, please check in with Emma. You can use this as planning time.

PS I can also do this the week after the break if that works better for you!

Grandparents Day Rehearsals and PLCs

PLCs will be impacted due to music rehearsals. Teams may meet to the extent possible but will need to cover their students during the normal music times (which are cancelled).

Reminder: that lead and associate teachers need to attend all music rehearsals to help support and learn their role in guiding student movement and backstage assistance (if we do not need all teachers, we will let you know).

Modified Recess Schedule on Thursday

Lounge Celebration on Thursday

Information on Screenings (From Kristy King)

Any new LRC screening requests will be scheduled after the winter break. Please continue to submit requests as needed; we want to ensure clear timelines as we work to complete our current screenings.

The Week Ahead

Monday: Happy Birthday Alyssa for Sunday! The LS Chain of Kindness Begins, 3:15 J[AI]mboree! AI Guiding Principles Workshop in the Library (optional)

Tuesday: Happy Birthday Sandra! Stop by the LS Office for the first Treat Tuesday of the school year!

Wednesday: Lead teachers run reports, 3:30 Meeting (more details coming soon)

Thursday: Happy birthday Porschia!

Friday: Grandparents Day, half day

THEN A WELL-DESERVED FALL BREAK!

Today is about making time for each other, for getting things done and learning together. It speaks to our Lower School Values of Growth Mindset, Teamwork and Collaboration. I hope that you have had a morning that has been satisfyingly productive and comfortable. As we take time to explore new skills and visit different schools together today, you will find inspiration and a spark of new ideas. Read on for some resources that might help along the way, including a look at the newly (and beautifully) formatted attributes of High Quality Student Work.

An Inspirational Quote!

“We have to move from seeing curriculum just as a set of packaged materials to curriculum as storytelling, curriculum as the world around me, curriculum as the legacy I’m leaving.
Gholdy Muhammad in “Bringing Joy Into Our Schools: A Conversation with Gholdy Muhammad” in Cult of Pedagogy, August 17, 2025

LJCDS: Attributes of High Quality Student Work

A Condensed Version of the Guide and Explorer

condensed Guide and Explorer Planning Sheet

Other Documents to Use When Planning

Vision for Social Studies

Narrative Writing Continuum

Project 100: Torrey Centennial Awards (A Message from Chelsey)

Thanks to the Parents Association, awards of up to $1,500 per project are available to fund your boldest, most meaningful ideas. This is your chance to dream, design, and create something that embodies the heart of LJCDS—its legacy, connection, and momentum.

Think outside the box! Projects may be class-based, grade-level, small group, or individual.

• LEGACY: Capture and honor our school’s 100 years of excellence, identity, and tradition.
• CONNECTION: Celebrate the relationships, stories, and shared experiences that unite us as Torreys.
• MOMENTUM: Push forward with innovation, creativity, and vision that will inspire the next century.

Award Details:

• Funding: Approved projects will receive an award of $500 (taxable) and up to $1,000 for project materials/resources.
  
• Deadline to Apply: Friday, December 5, 2025
  
• Projects must be completed by: December 2026
  
• Apply HERE.

Projects will have an opportunity to be showcased as part of our Centennial celebrations throughout the year. Let’s make history together.

ESpace: Our New Maintenance and Event Management System

We are in the process of transitioning from our current maintenance and event management system to our new one through eSpace. We have spent the last couple of months building the system and the last several weeks testing it out to get it ready to roll out schoolwide. Effective November 14th, FMX, our current system, will no longer be accessible. 

LS and ECC teachers will be able to view the calendar of events on eSpace but will not be able to submit their own event requests or work orders. LS and ECC teachers will submit event details and work orders to Maria and Emma. 

Looking Ahead to Winter Break

Heads up that there is no half day on 12/19 before winter break. Dismissal will be at 3pm

The Week Ahead

Monday: veteran’s day, no school

Tuesday: Happy birthday Laura! Trimester 1 Comments posted to google drive for review.

Wednesday: 8:15 – 8:45 Middle School play preview, 3:30 – 4:30 LS Department Meeting

Thursday: Happy Thursday

Friday: Happy birthday Molly C! (and happy birthday Kirsten for Saturday), 8:15 – 8:45 Assembly: Kindness Crew! 11-1pm FSA luncheon

And Finally! Frog and Toad Read Alouds and Lunches with Dr. Terwin

Take a breath, we made it through Halloween AND Open House! From the Pine Tones singing as Minions, to Kindergarteners reciting a Halloween poem for their parents, and the whole school belting out Golden in the Concert: you helped your classes to celebrate and have fun, while also retaining some normality and focus.

Our school looked beautiful for open house. Thank you to everyone who helped make that happen, from the fourth graders who picked up trash (below) to everyone who spoke to parents, grandparents and children. You represented our school with care, consideration and enthusiasm and made a tremendous impression on our visitors. In the words of one of our fourth-grade ambassadors, when asked his opinion about Lower School: “It’s a really good school. I love it.”

Halloween: Costumes, Concert, Poetry Recital and a Field Trip

Who knew that Mr. Needle was on campus?!

Other Beautiful Moments from the Week

Second graders are making cardboard arcades in D and I, Tiny Torrey students learn from a parent about being a patent attorney, Kristy King delivers a workshop to support parents whose children find reading challenging, kindergarteners learn about the Dia De Los Muertos altera, third graders learn important friendship skills with Ashley and descriptive writing skills and we filled the tent with positive affirmations and celebration.

LRC Lunch and Learn on Anxiety (Tuesday, November 4th, from 11:10 to 1:05)

Drop in with your lunch for an informal, collaborative lunchtime conversation focused on supporting neurodiverse learners in lower, middle, and upper school. Together, we’ll explore practical strategies for understanding learning differences, navigating accommodations, and sharing executive function tools that work. Whether you’re looking for fresh ideas, troubleshooting, or just a space to think through student needs with colleagues, this is a place to connect and grow. (In the LRC Conference Room)

Plan for Friday, November 7

We started the year with these two quotes from Your Brain on Art, about the importance of art for our own well-being and for student learning. Please take a moment to re-read them before our workshop on Friday.

The goal of our workshop is to build community and connection through making, and to learn skills that can be used to enrich hands-on learning in the classroom. This connects to our Lower School goals of building strong teams and designing enriching learning experiences.

• Check out the schedule here.

Report Cards

The portal is set to open for Lower School grades on Monday. Any hiccups on the portal please send a note to Catherine Florendo and copy Marsha. If you are experiencing a hiccup, pause any additional work on the portal until you hear back from Catherine.

Grandparents Day Schedule

• Here it is!

The Week Ahead

Monday: portal opens for educators

Tuesday: Happy Birthday Briony! 8:15- 9:15 Classroom Coordinator Meeting, 11-1:05 LRC lunch and learn (anxiety).

Wednesday: Happy Birthday Ashley M! 3:30 – 4:30 Department Meeting

Thursday: Happy Birthday Mariah!

Friday: No school, pro grow day (see agenda above)

Before school started on Monday, I walked in to find two teachers having an early morning dance party. A few minutes later, a new family stopped me at arrival to tell me how much their child loves coming to school and how much she is flourishing at Country Day. Later that day, another new parent spread Diwali cheer with decorations, henna, and delicious snacks. These magical moments happen because of you: the joy and passion you bring to your classes, the way you support students, and the way you create an environment in which families know that we want to honor, celebrate, and learn about each other.

There were so many other beautiful moments this week, from seeing our third and fourth graders approach their ERBs with fortitude (and in some cases, enthusiasm), watching Kindergarteners learn to write 6 and 7 (oh yes), and scooping goo and seeds out of a pumpkin with another Kindergarten class as part of their instruction writing.

I hope that today has been a productive one for you and that you will be able to enjoy the weekend, feeling proud of all the work you have done to build communities where we dance, celebrate, learn, and tackle hard things. Enjoy the weekend!

Spotlight on Dancing!

(Can you spot Emma in the video below?!)

Spotlight on Learning Together

Today ECC Associate and Assistant Teachers came together for a workshop on supporting Bilingual Learners. Thanks Maria for organizing such a meaningful experience for the team and Karen and Alyssa for creating such a worthwhile workshop.

Day of Belonging Follow Up (From Tiffany)

As we move through the week of October 20–31, let’s continue reflecting on our Day of Belonging theme: “You Belong.” This year’s focus on neurodiversity and challenging ableism reminds us that every brain and everybody contributes something valuable to our community. Belonging means embracing differences and creating spaces where everyone feels seen, supported, and celebrated. Take a moment this week to notice how you can make your classroom, team, or circle of friends more inclusive. When we lead with empathy and curiosity, we honor the truth that you belong, I belong, we all belong.

Day of Belonging Books and Lesson Ideas

Team leaders have copies of the books that we ordered to continue the conversation about neurodiversity and belonging. Click on the slides below to access lesson resources to help children to creatively reflect on the texts through art, writing, and speaking.

• Neurodiversity Books: Lessons Ideas

Beast Academy Study Findings

The University of Utah Education Policy Center recently completed a one-year case study of nearly 1,000 students in Davis School District using Beast Academy Online. Here’s what they found in their peer-reviewed, ESSA Tier 3-level study:

1. Just 30 minutes per month made a meaningful difference in student math scores.
2. Time spent on BA Online was consistently productive: as students spent more time on the program, they would complete more lessons.
3. Additional time spent on BA Online led to higher fall-to-spring math achievement, with no plateau for the highest achievers.
4. All these benefits were consistent across demographics, including gender, race/ethnicity, and ELL status.

Useful Links

Grandparents Day Rehearsal and Performance Schedule

Open House Ops Requests

The Week Ahead

Monday: 8:15 Grade Four Family Fun (sharing descriptive writing)

Tuesday: 8:15 – 9:15 Parent Workshop: supporting students who find reading challenging

Wednesday: 3:30 – 4:30 Preparing for our pro-grow and preparing for open house

Thursday: 3-4:15 Arts Alliance Halloween Spooktacular (then public performance of the Halloween Concert)

Friday: 8:00 – 8:30 Kindergarten Family Fun (mini costume parade), 8:30 – 9:00 Halloween Concert,

Saturday: Open House!

Finally… It’s Happening to the Oranges Too!

What does this flock of pigeons say about our team? Perhaps that we are persistent (Pigeon keeps trying, even when he hears “No!”), energetic (he’s always full of excitement and movement), imaginative (he dreams big and loves to imagine what’s possible), always learning (even when it’s hard, he’s learning to listen and make good choices) and funny (his ideas and reactions make everyone laugh). Could it also be that we are a bit rebellious? … Possibly!

Homecoming and Day of Belonging

Homecoming and Day of Belonging showcased the LJCDS superpower of building scholars, artists and athletes, as well as the power of three divisions on one campus. There were plenty of examples of embracing challenge too. A huge shout out to how our Lower School team included the upper school athletes in morning meetings for a rich and interactive experience.

Spotlight on our LS Goals

We are thinking about student goals for report cards so the spotlight this week is on our progress towards our Lower School goals. Check it out!

Goal 1: Strengthen Reading Skills and Culture

We have made a ton of progress on this goal! Just this week we hosted a parent workshop which over 40 families attended, a reading based family fun morning, visits from a fourth grade author and so many more moments that strengthen reading skills and culture.

Vocabulary is a key driver in reading comprehension but vocabulary instruction less effective in isolation. Check out how fourth grade are using morphology lessons to support vocabulary development, linked to their social studies lessons.

Stories improve people’s capacity for empathy and their desire to understand what others think and feel. The longer the book, the more time that children (or even adults) can grapple with the thoughts/feelings/dilemmas of others – the deeper the learning. Chapter book read alouds (especially) build attention, background knowledge and allow children to grapple with stories beyond their reading abilities.

Parent Workshop Resources

Our families loved learning how to support their beginning readers at home, learning about the special ways early literacy develops (Go Maria!) and being skillfully led through a phonics lesson (Go Lauren)! To help them understand the stages of reading development and how they can support their child at each stage, I adapted a reading continuum that we shared this at the workshop. Check it out below:

• Reading Continuum, parents only
• Also, here are the workshop slides

I am sharing to keep you in the loop and in case it is helpful in making reading goals for report cards. We’ll spend some time exploring and using this resource when we have finished our work on the new discipline framework.

Goal 2: Strengthen High Level Student Learning

The quality of student questions in response to Aaron Golub and our student author was incredible. Their questions showed a depth and complexity, which is evidence of the work that you do to strengthen higher-level thinking skills each day. Classes are also starting Beast Academy, which has been shown to raise achievement, even for the highest learners (see findings in next week’s blog). Go team!

Goal 3: To Strengthen our Discipline Processes using Responsive Classroom
The work that we did with Earl Hunter at the beginning of the year, continues to influence supports for students. Thank you for your work on the new Lower School Discipline Framework on Wednesday. I really appreciated your feedback, which will drive our work when we meet this coming Wednesday.

Before we officially launch the framework and Think, Learn, Fix It, please start using both internally (do not send Think, Learn Fix It home yet). This will give us a chance to see the strengths of the resources and where there might be gaps. We will make copies of the Think Learn, Fix It form for you.

Goal 4: Build Strong Teams
With so many teams having new members, this continues to be an area that we will give time to. We have a Pro-Grow day on November 7 and our plan is to give everyone individual work time and go on a Lower School Field Trip to the San Diego Craft Collective with an optional happy hour at the end. Draft schedule here.

Books About Neurodiversity (follow up from Day of Belonging)

Each team will get a copy of one of these books. We will share out more ideas about how you can use them to support inclusion and build understanding in our Lower School classrooms.

• My Brain is a Rocket
• Some Brains: A Book Celebrating Neurodiversity
• Wonderfully Wired Brains
• My Brain is a Race Car
• Just Ask

Diwali

Diwali is on Monday. Be sure to check out the rangoli by the Lower School stairs. There will also be a henna artist in the Lower School lounge from 11 – 1 for any teachers who would like a henna design!

ERBs

ERBs start this week. If you are not teaching Grades 3 and 4, please remind your children to be extra quiet as they walk around the school.

Therapy Dogs

There will be therapy dogs on campus at arrival in Genesee every day this week to support our children who are taking ERBs this week. Thank you to Wellness for organizing this for us!

The Week Ahead

Monday: ERBs begin

Tuesday: Briony off campus all day, ERBs day 2

Wednesday: ERBs day 3, 3:30 – 4:30 Department Meeting (Discipline Framework, part 2)

Thursday: ERBs day 4 2:15 No Bell Fire Drill

Friday: Happy Birthday Nurse Patty! No school, comment writing day

Finally… The bananas in the Lower School Office got a makeover this week!