CEDAR HILL PREPARATORY SCHOOL April Newsletter

Easter Egg Hunt

The Preschool class participated in an Easter Egg Hunt outside of our classroom. The children were so excited to search for as many eggs as they could find! There were blue, yellow, purple, green, and even some striped eggs. After the hunt, they sat and counted the number of eggs that they found. Then they placed them in the Easter bags that they had made during the week. It was a fun way to celebrate!

Earth Day

Happy Earth Day!! Preschoolers at Cedar Hill Prep School learned about reduce, reuse, and recycle. They also learned that we should take care of our earth every day, not just on Earth Day! We read about different ways in which we can keep our earth clean. Planting flowers, turning the water off when brushing our teeth, and putting garbage and recycling in the proper disposal bins are just a few ways we can help keep the earth clean and happy.

Science Fair

Our Preschool children participated in the Annual Cedar Hill Prep School Science Fair! Throughout the year, students learned about the 4 seasons and their characteristics. We learned about the seasons through books, songs, poems, and games during circle time.Their science fair assignment was to choose their favorite season and create a diorama with the help of their parents. On the day of their presentations, the children were so excited to talk about their projects. Way to go, Preschoolers!

Swift Farms

The children were so excited for the day to come when they could see and pet some farm animals. Swift Farms Petting Zoo brought their animals to share with our Preschool children. Karen, the farmer, brought baby chicks, baby goats (which the students learned are called “kids”), rabbits, and sheep. She explained how to gently hold these baby animals, what they eat to survive, and how she cares for them. The excitement was contagious as the children were able to watch, pet, and hold these animals. They even got to watch as their teacher fed the goats from a bottle. Our Preschoolers love interacting with animals!

Pre-Kindergarten Egg Hunt

The Pre-Kindergarten class enjoyed a spring egg hunt. Beautifully colored eggs were hidden outside and the children had so much fun searching for them and filling up their bags. Afterward, the children enjoyed opening their eggs to find yummy treats inside!

Pre-Kindergarten A Science Fair

The Pre-Kindergarten class blew us away with their science fair projects. Our little scientists were so creative in their thinking and execution of their projects. Each student chose an insect to research. They wrote facts about the insect and used different items to create the insect of their choosing. They presented their projects in front of their classmates and did an amazing job!

Way to go, Pre-Kindergarten! We are so proud of you.

Pre-Kindergarten B Science Fair

Our Pre-Kindergarten children participated in the Annual Cedar Hill Prep School Science Fair on April 25th. PreKindergarten B students rocked their presentations which were based on topics that they have discussed throughout the school year. Mr. Seeley, parents, and staff were pretty amazed with the detail and the students’ presentations to their classmates were truly impressive. All the display boards were clear and neat and children presented it to their class impressively.

Swift Farm Visits Pre-Kindergarten

What a great day the Pre-Kindergarten children had as our friends from Swift Farms came to visit! Baby chicks, goats, lambs, and rabbits filled our courtyard. The children were able to hold the baby chicks and pet the goats, lambs, and rabbits. We learned so many fun facts about how animals live and what they eat. The only person missing was Old MacDonald – maybe we’ll get him to join next year!

Kindergartners’ Learn about Animals Firsthand

The Kindergarten students were so excited to see the Swift Farms Petting Zoo animals that visited our school! We learned so much from the farmers who came. The children were able to hold and pet the baby chicks and they also got to pet the rabbits, goats, and other baby animals!

It was a wonderful, much-needed time of bonding with animals!

Kindergarten Egg Hunt

The Kindergarten children had a wonderful “Welcoming of Spring Celebration.” Each child was given a basket filled with colorful grass and Skittles. What an exciting day to go outside and go on an Easter Egg Hunt!! And everyone had a successful hunt as each child found four eggs!

Afterward, the celebration continued with a fun party – what a great day!

Kindergarten Science Fair

Our CHP Kindergarten students prepared amazing theme-based projects encompassing “Our Earth, Our Home, and our 5 senses.” These Science Fair project topics were assigned and Kindergarten students proudly presented their projects during our morning meeting time. Each child successfully and enthusiastically relayed important information regarding their topics using simple and accurate facts. The kindergarten children and their teachers were truly mesmerized by each presentation. In the evening, families and friends flooded the classrooms to see a wonderfully curated display of these amazing projects.

Grades 1 and 2 Visit NJIN

On Wednesday, April 5th, 1st and 2nd Graders had another fun-filled trip to the NJIN farm. On this visit, we went on a nature walk and searched for signs of spring with a focus on bird sounds and nests. We found several nests and identified two different birdsongs using a bird sound recognition app. We also enjoyed having friendly races on Ms. Nan’s long fields. After lunch, we read a story about letting go of our obsession with screens and interacting with nature more often. Each student made their own personal calendar where they were asked to come up with an outside activity they could do for each day in April. They also decorated their calendars with things they love about nature. The students had a wonderful time and, as always, really enjoyed the farm’s rolling hills and change of scenery.

Grade 1 Petting Zoo

1st Grade got to pet a variety of different farm animals at CHP’S Travelling Petting Zoo on April 27th. Each student had the opportunity to hold a few day-old baby chicks. The chicks were so comfortable that they began to fall asleep in the 1st Grader’s hands. We also enjoyed petting and learning about baby goats, bunnies, sheep, and chickens.

Grade 1 Science Fair

The 1st Grade Science Fair was buzzing with excitement as CHP’s little Scientists stood by their Science Fair Projects. Their topics ranged from plants and animals (Life Science), Earth, Moon, sky, weather, seasons (Earth and Space Science), and matter such as magnets and simple machines (Physical Science). Their projects were made up of models, dioramas, experimental representations on trifolds, poster boards, etc. The First Graders presented their projects to parents and students, answering any questions with beaming confidence and smiles on their faces. We are so proud of our 1st Graders!

Grade 2 Science Fair

For our 2nd Grade Science Fair, students began their projects with identifying a question they wanted answered. Using the scientific method, they formed their hypothesis, conducted scientific experiments, made observations, and recorded data. They then were able to make a claim based on their evidence. They presented their findings to their classmates during the school day and again with parents and guardians on Wednesday evening. We are extremely proud of all their hard work. The students really wowed us! Thank you to our families for all your support – it is so essential to the learning process!

Grade 3 Science Fair

Always question, Always wonder. This was the motto for the science fair! As 3rd Graders prepared for their annual science fair, they wondered how to organize all the knowledge they had gathered in science class and narrow it down to one project! Some students displayed a love for life science, whereas some were fascinated by chemical reactions. A few students loved working with electricity and made circuits while some others tested what sank and what floated. Many fascinating projects made the evening brim with excitement and curiosity as the third graders confidently demonstrated their projects to their audience. Here are a few words from our 3rd Graders about the experience!

“The Science Fair was a fun project. I liked putting my board together and doing the experiment. I especially liked presenting my experiment to other people. I thought that making the graphs was also really fun.”

“If at first, you don’t succeed, try the experiment again.”

We’re glad our students really took in the excellent lessons the Science Fair offered! What great thoughts to live by!

Grade 3 Mystery Reader

On Friday, April 28th, 3rd Graders were treated to a mystery reader – it was Geetha’s mom! She read a story entitled The Notebook Keeper: A Story of Kindness from the Border by Stephen Briseno and Magdalena Mora. This is a story about a young girl and her mother who are migrating across the border from Mexico to the United States and waiting to be allowed in as refugees. The students listened intently as Geetha’s mom read the intense story and explored the relationship between a mother and daughter and their difficult journey. Thank you to Geetha’s mom for teaching us about empathy and helping our hearts come alive during this reading.

Grade 3 Super Students

Every month, 3rd Grade students are selected as Super Students. They exhibit the qualities of exceptional behavior both inside and outside of the classroom. They complete a poster that showcases who they are, including their “Super Student power” and what they would do to make the world a better place. The Super Students for the month of April were Eesa and Morgan.

Eesa describes himself as a mighty mathematician, a ravenous reader, an awesome athlete, and an amazing artist. He would like to fix pollution in our world. He loves to go on his IPAD in his spare time.

Our final super student for the year was Morgan! She describes herself as a tremendous team player, a stellar scientist, and an amazing artist, among many others! She wishes she could help homeless people on the streets and likes to take care of animals in her spare time.

GREAT JOB, 3rd Grade Super Students!

Sharing Cultural Traditions in Grade 4

Our return from Spring Break was highlighted by a sharing of cultural traditions. A special thank you to Armaan and his family for sharing the Sikh New Year, Vaisakhi, with us! Both 4th Grade classes gathered to listen to Armaan read aloud The Story of Vaisakhi. Armaan thoughtfully answered the students’ many questions which then inspired a discussion of the various ways in which the New Year is celebrated globally. Armaan then shared Gulab Jamun and Mango Lassi, delicious treats to sweeten the New Year – and an enlivening experience for the palates of our 4th Graders!

Happy Birthday!

Grade 4 celebrated two birthdays in April. Happy Birthday to Samarth as he joined the Double Digit Club and to Ayaan as he is the first in his class to turn 11!

Grade 4 Science Fair

WOW! There were so many exciting sights and sounds at this year’s Fourth Grade Science Fair! Congratulations to our Grade 4 students, all of whom excelled in designing and building their compound machines – as well as their imaginative and informative presentations! It was great to see parents, other family members, and students watching and participating in the demonstrations. This truly was an unforgettable event!

Singing and Dancing Competitions

Congratulations to the following 4th Graders who placed in the top three of the Singing and Dancing Competitions for students in Grades 4 & 5:

Singing – Colton (1st place), Yajur (2nd place) Dancing – Kaleb (1st place), Colton & Samarth (tied for 2nd place), and Shivad (tied for 3rd place with 5th graders Samaira & Aaliyah!)

Each of these performers had the audience on their feet, clapping and cheering! What an incredible show put on by our talented CHP students!

Poetry Day in 3D!

Wednesday, April 5th was an incredible day of poetry for our Middle Schoolers!

The 5th & 6th Graders’ poetry pondered the beauty of Ms. Nan’s farm. Our students have had the incredible opportunity to visit the NJIN farm several times this year. It is an exquisite place where the students can get away from the stresses of the day and explore nature as well as their thoughts and feelings. For poetry day, the students either selected or wrote their own poems that were inspired by their farm experiences.

The 7th and 8th Graders wrote poems inspired by themes or universal truths they encountered through their readings this year. The themes centered around friendship, perseverance, war, racism, women’s rights, and being true to oneself.

As an added dimension, all Middle Schoolers brought their poems to life by creating amazing performance art. We saw skits, heard slam poetry, and viewed extraordinary visual artwork. The students did a phenomenal job of researching, writing, and memorizing their poems. It was a day filled with emotion, tears, and inspiration! We are so proud of our students!

Grades 5 and 6 NJIN Visit

On April 18th, grades 5 and 6 had their monthly visit to the NJIN farm. Students engaged in fun activities while discovering new facts. They focused on pollinators in celebration of spring and helped assemble the 2 beehives that the bees will use to make a home in at the end of the week. Students also learned that bats, butterflies, moths, flies, and worms are also pollinators and that there is more to a flower than just a pretty look or pleasant scent. Students ended the session with journaling about what thing in nature they are most like. The trip blossomed with excitement, new facts, and engagement. We can’t wait to visit again!

Earth Day

NJIN became the new home of over 4,000 honeybees to honor Earth Day! The hives were painted and assembled by CHP’s 5th & 6th Graders. The hives will be kept at the farm so the bees can prosper. As soon as the bees were moved into their new homes, they went right to the dandelions and other flowers that were abundant. Next year should be our first batch of honey from these sweet pollinators!. Beekeepers Jim Reynolds and Denise Galiano (CHP’s Middle School science teachers) will tend to the hives on a biweekly to monthly basis. Spring has sprung and the bees could not be any happier!

Grade 6 Student - Cheer Competition

CHP 6th Grader, Chloe, and her team attended the end of season competition for division 1 elite level cheer in FL. This is an event where the best teams in the country compete. It is a big honor to qualify for this event! Chloe and her team did an excellent job and finished 19th out of the 62 teams in her level 3 division. We are proud of her hard work and her persistence in balancing her schoolwork and her athletic ability. Chloe’s parents want to thank CHP for the continual support of Chloe in helping her reach her goals!

Click to See Final Performance

Global Youth Service Day CFBNY

On Saturday, April 22, members of the CHP House Leadership Team attended Global Youth Service Day, a program organized by the Community Food Bank of New Jersey (CFBNJ). Upon arrival, they engaged in interactive workshops where they and other teens learned about food inequities and insecurities, ways to support our community, and how to be a part of youth outreach and leadership initiatives. After lunch, they participated in a two-hour volunteer shift assembling food boxes to be distributed to partner agencies and members of the community. This event was hosted by CFBNJ and the Teen Leadership Council, part of CFBNJ’s Teen Leadership Programs.

Middle School Science Fair

The annual middle school science fair at CHP was a resounding success this year, showcasing the scientific talents of the school’s brightest young minds. Students worked hard for months leading up to the fair – conducting research, designing experiments, and analyzing data. The hard work paid off. The judges were impressed with the quality of the presentations and noted the creativity, originality, and scientific rigor demonstrated by the students. They praised CHP students for their ability to think critically, solve problems, and communicate their findings effectively.

The students left the fair feeling inspired and excited to continue their scientific pursuits. Many expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to participate in such an enriching event and look forward to future science fairs and STEM-related activities.