May Newsletter 2023

CEDAR HILL PREPARATORY SCHOOL

MAY NEWSLETTER

PRESCHOOL - KINDERGARTEN NEWS

Preschool through Kindergarten Poetry Day

The excitement of Poetry Day filled the air as the children embraced the momentum of the day. In honor of Poetry Month, the Preschool - Kindergarten classes recited poetry for their parents and peers. Preschool - Kindergarten children recited 4 class poems and in addition to that, some individual children recited their own poems. Public speaking is a huge part of Cedar Hill Prep and it begins in Preschool!

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Magic Bob

Laughter could be heard throughout our school today as the Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten classes gathered together to enjoy the show presented by Magic Bob. He delighted us with amazing tricks and surprised us all with the apparition of a beautiful dove. The children were mesmerized as Magic Bob pulled fun objects from hats and did astounding card tricks. After the show, we were joined by two magician assistants who created a variety of balloon art pieces including butterflies, flowers, and Disney characters.

Caterpillars into Butterflies

Our Preschoolers got to enjoy the first-hand experience of observing caterpillars transform into beautiful butterflies in their classroom over a period of a few weeks. The class received 10 little caterpillars in 2 jars with food already provided. The children watched each day as the caterpillars ate and ate and grew and grew. Eventually, the caterpillars transformed into chrysalises. After the chrysalises were cautiously moved to their netting, the children eagerly waited for the next transformation. They were so excited to see butterflies a few days later! A slice of orange was carefully put into the net for the butterflies to eat. Then it was time to set the butterflies free into their habitat. For a craft, we made colorful butterflies of our own using paint and coffee filters.

Spring Scavenger Hunt

It was a beautiful Spring day when the Preschoolers had the opportunity to go on a Spring Scavenger Hunt. After discussing the characteristics of Spring, the children were eager to look for some of them. We spied the grass turning green, buds growing on the trees, worms slithering on the ground, and some yellow flowers blooming. In the distance, we heard the chirping sound of birds. Everyone had a good time searching for the signs of Spring!

Planting

Our Preschool class loves to plant and watch seedlings grow into beautiful plants. This month, the class got to grow grass. They placed soil in a cup, then sprinkled grass seed on top of the soil. Then, they watered the seeds and put them in the window for some sunlight. As the days passed, the children watched their grass grow higher and higher. Preschoolers learned that in order for plants to grow, they need water, sunlight, and some TLC. Looks like it’s time for our grass to get a hair cut!

Pre-Kindergarten Class A - Butterflies

During the month of May, the Pre-Kindergarten class has learned all about butterflies. We learned that butterflies go through four different stages: egg, caterpillar, pupae, and adult butterfly. The children were able to see this firsthand in the classroom. They watched their caterpillars go into their pupae and come out as beautiful butterflies! The children enjoyed releasing the butterflies on campus!

Pre-Kindergarten Class B - Butterflies

The Pre-Kindergartners were very excited to witness the life cycle of a butterfly right in their classroom. We learned the 4 stages of their life cycle and that the caterpillars go through the process of metamorphosis. The children were so excited when they saw some of the butterflies come out of their pupae! Once they were out, the children gave them sugar water and fruit, and later, cheered farewell as they released the butterflies on campus. It was a very special moment for our class.

Pre-Kindergarten Haitian Flag Day

On May 18th, the Pre-Kindergarten students celebrated Haitian Flag Day. We learned that Haitian Flag Day is celebrated every year on May 18th. It is celebrated to honor the nation’s flag and the first time their flag was raised. After discussing Haitian Flag day, each child colored the Haitian Flag its respective colors. The best part of this celebration was the yummy Haitian patties that the students were able to taste!

Kindergarten Honors Memorial Day

In Kindergarten, we learned through reading a book, discussing, and watching a video that America’s Memorial Day honors the memory of soldiers who died in the nation’s wars. We learned that on Memorial Day, Americans attend parades, church services, and other social events. People also decorate soldiers’ graves with flowers and flags.

The kindergarten students made special American Flags to show their appreciation for veterans keeping us safe!

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS

Grade 1 Red Mill Museum Field Trip

On May 1, Grade 1 had an exciting time on our Red Mill Museum Field Trip. We visited an old mill, a blacksmith, and an historic schoolhouse and office. We also enjoyed seeing antiquated modes of transportation in the garage and sitting at the desks in the old schoolhouse. The kids were bewildered by the outhouse, where we learned people used ears of corn for toilet paper. Students also had the privilege of watching a real blacksmith make a coat hook – he even let us take it back to school for our classroom.

The staff at The Red Mill Museum were kind, friendly, and patient, even offering discounts to students that didn’t have the exact amount of money for their souvenirs. It was an enjoyable time and we enjoyed having our lunch on a calm grassy hill overlooking the water.

Grade 1 and 2 Trip to NJIN

On May 4th, the students were buzzing with excitement as middle school classmates built two new bee houses to keep at NJIN. The bees moved in immediately and have already started setting up their home to make honey. Mr. Seeley taught the students a few things about bees during their nature walk in the morning portion of the trip. Before lunch, the students tried a team-building exercise that challenged their communication and problem-solving skills. After lunch, we read “The Great Kapok Tree” and discussed animal habitats and how human behavior can affect animal habitats. Students were then given the assignment of role-playing and writing a letter to humankind as an animal pleading with humans to change some of their behaviors. The students came up with some incredible ideas and were given the chance to read their letters to the rest of the group.

We have really enjoyed our trips to the NJIN farm this year. This was a beautiful trip to close out the 2022-2023 school year!

1st Grade’s Release of the Butterflies

Grade 1 watched as five of their butterflies emerged from their chrysalises. The students enjoyed setting them free out into nature for the first time. They cheered them on and watched in wonder as they flew off. It was truly a sweet moment to watch.

This month, Grades 3 and 4 had another opportunity to visit the NJIN Farm. It was truly a perfect day to spend outdoors! The warm sunshine and cool breeze were delightful as Ms. Nan led the entire group on a hike up the hill. At the top, we enjoyed an incredible vista of the horses grazing in the pasture against the backdrop of lush green foliage and rolling hills.

The day ended with the students’ favorite activity – sitting along the shoreline of the pond, reflecting on their varied farm experiences throughout this school year. A very special thank you to Ms. Nan for providing us with such an amazing experience!

Grades 3 and 4 at NJIN!

Grade 3 Budget

3rd Graders are learning about budgeting money in our Social Studies Economics Unit. They worked in groups and were given a certain amount of money to spend. Going through 6 different categories – savings, entertainment, food, clothing, school supplies, and charity donations – they had to come up with a budget within their group. In the first round, they were given 15 “tokens” to budget, and in the second round, they were given 10. It was interesting to see how different groups spent their money. In the first round, all groups had tokens left over, but not as many did in the second round. They learned a true life lesson about spending money wisely!

Grade 3 Final Mystery Reader

Third Graders welcomed our last mystery reader of the year – Tori’s dad! He read Cinco De Mayo by Sharon Katz Cooper. The book details what Cinco De Mayo is and why it is important in Mexico. It describes the traditional celebrations in Mexico which include reenactments of the Battle of Puebla, parades, and the preparation and enjoyment of traditional foods. It also discusses how this holiday is celebrated in the United States, specifically in Los Angeles and New York City. The students discovered how a shared holiday can have multiple traditions and be celebrated in all sorts of ways. They loved the animated reading by Tori’s dad. Thank you for reading to us! We have loved having parents in our classrooms as mystery readers.

Grade 3 Surprise Mystery Reader

On Friday, May 12th, 3rd Graders were treated to a surprise mystery reader – it was Ms. Duncan! She read a story entitled Mr. Forgetful by Roger Hargreaves. The students hung on every word as Ms. Duncan performed a dramatic reading of the hilarious story about a man who has an important message to deliver and can’t remember what it is!

Thank you, Ms. Duncan, for making us laugh first thing on a Friday morning.

4th Grade’s Busy Month of May!

May found Grade 4 pulling out their craft supplies as they created their Mother’s Day gifts – keepsake boxes and cards. We hope all of our Grade 4 moms enjoyed a wonderful celebration of their special day!

Grade 4 had a chance to celebrate two more double-digit birthdays this month! Happy Birthday to Kyle and Yajur!!! With summer quickly approaching, we wish our two July birthdays, Anya and Miraya, a very Happy Birthday!!!

May would not be complete without our annual Spring Concert. Congratulations to our Grade 4 students, the Middle School students, and Ms. Joyce for entertaining us with such a delightful array of songs from around the world!

Congratulations and thank you to our 4th Graders who decided to run two different stands during Jr. Olympics. One group sold lemonade and various goodies, earning about $200 for the CHP Drama Department. The second group sold floats, soda, and ice cream, earning about $137 for the sound system in the gym. We are so proud of their efforts! Grade 4, you rock!

Along with the flowers that bloom in May, Grade 4 students have been blooming as well! It was during this month, as the students were taking their graduation photos and completing each day’s classwork, that they began reflecting on all that they have accomplished since September. The feeling they all share is how aware they are of all that they can now successfully accomplish in one day and how much more independent and confident they have become since September!

Congratulations Grade 4 as you are heading towards Middle School!

On Monday, May 22nd, nine students from Cedar Hill Prep School were selected to participate in the Junior Solar Sprints regional competition. The students were Biryani Blastoff - Aarnaa Desai, Shray Chandwani, Aryan Cherkuri; Fiery CheesemobileKimaya Desai, Jwala Rajinikanth, Sophia Lai; Music - Nitara Barauha, Aarav Ashok, Yan Xu. These students were among the 60 teams selected out of 135 teams from various schools in the area based on their video submissions.

The teams were judged by real engineers on speed, engineering, craftsmanship, and use of upcycled materials. Although CHP did not place in the top three in any of the categories, our students learned a lot in the process and left with a determination to claim victory next year!

Middle School Composting

CHP’s Lead 4 Change group is a coalition of students dedicated to contributing to a solution within our school and wider community. This year, our leaders have decided to add a composting initiative to their mission. Their goal is to inform and motivate their peers to collect and compost food scraps, thereby minimizing our school’s carbon footprint and providing fertilizer for our school’s gardens. The goal is to create 100 lbs of compost this school year!

Since addressing the lower school about the composting initiative on March 22nd and creating posters, Lead 4 Change Middle School members have already collected 76.8 lbs of compostable material! We are so proud to continue growing our legacy of being a sustainable, earth-conscious school.

Junior Solar Sprints

Grade 5 and 6 NJIN Trip

Grades 5 and 6 had an awesome session of experiential learning at NJIN. Our very own beekeeper, Denise Galiano, and her assistant Mr. Mack showed students and staff an up-close view of what a beekeeper does, using a display box to show a real working bee frame in action. Everyone enjoyed getting to taste the sweet honey from the bees’ choice of NJIN’s nectar! Later, one of the farmhands Kevin explained how dual breed heifers are bred for meat and milk. The heifer that was there was in the midst of being prepped for a show! Students also got to see a baby ram who was being weaned.

Students had a math lesson in circumference and they deducted reasons why it may not be consistent on items being measured. Finally, all students got to run in the field of dreams and enjoy a panoramic view of NJIN and the Poconos!

7th and 8th Grade NJIN Visit

The 7th and 8th grade students visited the New Jersey Institute of Nature on May 3rd. They were treated to Mrs. Galiano and Mr. Mac checking the beehives to make sure the bees acclimated to their new environment. Then, the budding young scientists undertook a study of mycology by inserting wine cap mushroom plugs into a wood chip substrate. They added these to the oyster and shiitake mushroom logs that were placed on the farm last month. In the fall, all these mushrooms will be ready for consumption!

After lunch, the students explored new territory by embarking on a hike up the mountain. One of the highlights was observing a wildflower called columbine that was growing in the crevices of rocks.

2023 All School Art Exhibit

Lower School Artwork (Preschool through Grade 2)

In addition to tempera painting and work composed of either marker washes or oil pastel resist, Lower School students explored a variety of printmaking techniques this year. Examples of artwork from students in Preschool through Grade 2 are as follows.

Preschool: Jungle Theme Pre-Kindergarten: Cork Painted Collage “City Snowscapes” Kindergarten and Grade 1: Stamp Art and Template Collages Grade 2: Collography Prints Over Winter Mittens

Opening Reception (Grades 3 - 8)

For the final project of the 2022-23 Art Department curriculum, students in grades 3-8 chose their own media and topic to represent artistically. They utilized the 6 Design Process Steps: Researching, Brainstorming, Sketching, Making, Communicating, Critiquing. Reference material included images from the MET Museum and MOMA as well as their own photos of scenes and vacations and drawings. Students were encouraged to come and have photos taken of themselves as models. They sketched various ideas and explored different media. Many chose to paint in acrylics on canvas. Several small canvases were connected into themes. Third grade students did still life and landscape paintings. Grades 4-8 assembled sculptures using mixed media and upcycled materials. Some used wire, paper mâché, cardboard, and wood. Others mixed 2D and 3D with cut paper and collage. Students plunged in quickly and learned from their mistakes – ultimately, the process really trumped the end result, but the end results were truly spectacular! Fourth graders drew illustrations for a huge Welcome to the Reception sign. Second Graders illustrated the CHP Art Gallery Sign. Mrs. KB and Ms Wallant, along with the enthusiastic support of Administration, hung all the work. The whole CHP Community celebrated our students’ art from every CHP grade (Preschool-8) that was on display in the gym turned CHP Art Gallery! Those who attended the exhibit got to enjoy the art with background music performed by students. Attendees sampled exotic cheeses, hors d’oeuvres, and beverages. Upper school students got to answer questions about their work for the viewers’ pleasure. What an amazing event!

Spring Concert

The annual CHP Spring Concert on Friday, May 19th was spectacular! All grades participated and our students transported the audience with their voices, musical dynamics, and energy. It was clear the students worked on these pieces with a lot of love and attentiveness.

It is amazing getting to see our students’ musical abilities flourishing every year!

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SPECIALS

French National Exam 2023 Results

This year, the middle school students studying French participated in the National French Contest. Students in grades 1-12, in all 50 states and abroad, took a written test and competed against students with similar educational backgrounds for prizes. This year, there were 43,752 students in public and private schools in the United States who participated in this annual event sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French. Grade 6 participated in the FLES contest and competed against 1,983 participants; Grade 7 competed against 2,788 participants; and Grade 8 competed against 11,519 participants. CHP is very proud of all our French students. They ranked nationally and brought home silver, bronze, and honorable mention awards!

The following are the results for the 2023 French National Contest (Le Grand Concour 2023)

Silver

Aryan Cherukuri - (94th percentile) 4th national ranking

Shray Chandwani - (90th percentile) 5th national ranking

Sophia Lai - (90th percentile) 5th national ranking

Bronze

Anaya Raju - (78-84 percentile) 7th national ranking

Valentina Garcia (78-84 percentile) 6th national ranking

Nitara Baruah - (78-84 percentile) 7th national ranking

Honorable Mention

Vihaan Bal, Amber Davis, Aditi Parbhakaran, Sahith Mangu, Aakash Mehta, Zahra Shirley, Arjun Kalapala, Jwala Rajinikanth, Daria Kuang, Shameek Parab, Angelina Romaine, Mahadev Menon, Narayan Lekhi, and Dhruv Param

Certificate of Achievement

Arsh Dandona, Kaleah Hughley, Michael Rose, Revant Jear, Aarna Desai, Noah Evans, Sharon Kim, and Reina Fontaine

SPECIALS

National Spanish Exam 2023 Results

The National Spanish Exam (NSE) is governed by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese. It is an online, standardized assessment competition for Grades 6 - 12, given by about 4,000 middle and high school teachers throughout the United States to 150,000 students, all for the purpose of measuring performance (interpretive communication) and achievement of students who are studying Spanish as a second language. It is America’s largest Spanish academic contest.

Cedar Hill Prep’s Spanish students participate in this competition each year and continue to make CHP proud, ranking in the top of the nation’s performance charts.

Nineteen of our 23 Spanish students entered the competition and have received national recognition as follows: National Award Recipients

Perfect Score Medal Meghana Indupuru

Gold Medal (95th to 99th percentile)

Demitria Rott and Meghana Indupuru

Silver Medal (84th to 94th percentile) Anya Patel

Bronze Medal (75th to 84th percentile)

Ava Parekh-Patel and Grace Liu

Honorable Mention (50th to 74th percentile)

Zaria Mitchell, Riya Dagli, Ethan Sanbeg, Tanvi Potluri, and Motunrayo Odukoya

Preschool - Grade 2 Cinco de Mayo Celebration

The Lower School Cinco de Mayo celebration of 2023 started with 1st Graders Aadrika Ganguly, Ibby Shahid, Zavier Shirley, and Anjali Shah leading us in the Prometo Lealtad ( The Pledge of Allegiance). They recited the Pledge with impressive eloquence and fluency. Spanish students from Preschool to 2nd grade worked diligently to create a colorful Cinco de Mayo celebration, then 2nd Graders took over with their readings of Cinco de Mayo in English and in Spanish. To top the day off, all Lower School students were dancing to “It’s Cinco de Mayo Today!”

The Mexican ponchos were created by all Lower School students under the direction of the Spanish teacher, Maria Soto. Cinco de Mayo 2023 was a fun-filled day. We look forward to continuing this tradition in the years to come. Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Grades 3 - 8 Cinco de Mayo Celebration

Members of the Hispanic Honor Society united creative minds to commemorate Cinco de Mayo. In an original meta-drama, they depicted the process of getting an event approved through the administrative channels of CHP and the celebration of the event itself. It was so fun to see the cast of students portray members of our faculty! Ms. Nan (Director of CHP) was performed by Siana Parulkar of Class 3B; Mr. Seeley (School Principal) was performed by Leonardo Romaine of Class 3A; and Señorita Yollia (MS Spanish teacher) was performed by Morgan Williams of Class 3A. These 3rd graders impressively dressed and acted the part and ushered in an array of arts including poetry, drama, culinary, music, and dance.

Ayan Joshi, Vice President of the SHA (or Hispanic Society of Friendships) selected and narrated the poem “Cinco de Mayo and the Conquest of Puebla,” by Ronald Reith. Spanish students from Grades 3 - 8 skillfully role-played the war scene that took place in Puebla, Mexico, 1862. After the performance, the celebration began with confetti and cheers in CHP’s gymnasium. 4th Graders danced to “La Raspa’’ and got everyone rocking in their seats with the beat! Grade 6 tempted our taste buds with their salsa and nacho cook off competition.

Our 3rd Grade TV show trivia hostesses, Tori and Risa, kept us grounded in the facts of the event, and finally our 8th Graders, dressed in traditional costumes, captivated the audience with their choreographed version of Baile Tapatillo. Thanks to CHP’s administration for allowing us to use the Spanish language as a key to unlock geo-cultural borders!

WILDCATS SPORTS

Track and Field

This season, CHP’s 9-member track team competed in 4 meets against over a dozen schools and approximately 300 athletes: the 12th Annual Big Blue Relays at Pingry on 4/24, Greenbrook on 5/3, and 5/15, and Gil St. Bernards on 5/4. The track program expanded our array of events beyond the 100m, 200m, 400m, and 4x100m to include the 800m and the 1600m races. We also added the Long Jump as our first field event. Our athletes continue to improve in mechanics, form, speed, and endurance while developing good sportsmanship and a love for the sport. Several of our athletes clocked times faster and ran and jumped longer distances than last year. Our fastest recorded time last season was 15.1 seconds over 100m. This season, CHP recorded 13.5 seconds over 100m. Our longest distance last year was the 400m race. This year, we competed in the mile. The future is bright for track and field at CHP as we continue to go the distance!

Volleyball

Our CHP Volleyball Team finished the season last Wednesday with an exciting victory over Princeton Charter School, 2 sets to 1. Down 10 points in the final set, our Wildcats worked together and made a strong comeback to win the final set. Our Volleyball team finished the season 2-2 and showed lots of improvement!

Tennis

The CHP Boys Tennis Team has completed their second successful season with team wins against Pingry and individual match victories against Rutgers Prep. The Boys Tennis Team demonstrated positive energy, sportsmanship, tennis etiquette, and determination as they were challenged by their opponents. Their sportsmanship and teamwork were recognized and commended by various coaches and parents from other schools. Coach Frankie was proud of her boys and has watched them grow and develop into dedicated athletes. Her three eighth graders, Rishabh Dagli, Narayan Lekhi and Jacob Toler, will be missed. She encourages them to continue playing tennis as they begin their next journey into high school. Coach Frankie is looking forward to future success with both the boys and the girls tennis programs.

Our Next PTO meeting will be on June 7th at 7:00pm. The meeting will be via Zoom and we will be discussing upcoming events. Be on the lookout for an email with details regarding the meeting.

Teacher Appreciation Week

We want to thank all of the families for their generous donations that made the Teacher Appreciation week so successful!

Monday: Cupcakes

Tuesday: Pizza Truck

Wednesday: Snack Cart/Raffle Ticket

Friday: Gourmet Popcorn

Thursday: Amazon Gift Card

Junior Olympics

On Tuesday, May 30th, we held our annual Jr. Olympics at CHP! Preschool - Kindergarten participated in events including an obstacle course, a bouncy ball race, balance beam, and a water balloon tunnel run! 1st-8th Grade competed in races including the 50m dash, 100m, 200m, and 400m relay. They also competed in shot put. We concluded the day with an afternoon Field Day, which included a potato sack race, tug of war, and finished with a sponge bucket race which ended with soaking Mr. Seeley! Everyone had a fun-filled day with some healthy competition between our Houses!

Water Play Day

On Wednesday, May 31st, CHP held its annual Water Play Day. The music was blasting as the students danced around the Water Park and Slip and Slide. There was also a store set up for ice cream and freeze pops for all to enjoy. It was a wonderful day!

Pizza with the Principal

On Thursday, May 25, students enjoyed another monthly “Pizza with the Principal.” They enjoyed sharing their accomplishments this school year with Principal Seeley, reflecting on what they learned, and sharing their exciting summer plans!

Staff Birthdays

Happy

Grades 1 - 2

Grades 3 - 4

Grades 5 - 8