This month at Cottage Lane we are focusing on compassion. “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” ~ Dalai Lama At today’s assembly, we discussed the meaning of compassion and how we can show compassion in school, at home and in the world. Our Compassion Cards will encourage us to perform random acts of compassion. From the Buddy Bench to Jump Rope for Heart, our compassion can make a difference in the lives of others.

Our book of the month, Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world. The main character realizes the lost opportunity for friendship and thinks about how much better it could have been if a little compassion was shown toward others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd-hb2xzvZI

Enjoy a few photos from our winter party, a visit from a judge, Crazy Sweater Day and our Star Wars Day.

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Welcome to an exciting New Year, and may you reach all your goals in 2016. Today’s assembly, Colors of Character for January, reminds us that perseverance is essential to success. Continue reading The Royal Bee and be inspired by this true story to reach your own personal goals.

Let’s create a class motto to remind us to persevere when things are challenging.

Last month over ninety students participated in the CLE Sock Challenge. It is time to get those creative juices going again! Mrs. McBride is offering another opportunity to put your designing skills to work. Find out more details for this month’s challenge here – The Paper Challenge.

 Science, Invention, Technology Exhibition

Cottage Lane has chosen to focus on fostering empathy in our school throughout the year. After reading the book of the month with a focus on empathy, our class engaged in an activity in which we explored what it might be like to be in another’s shoes. Students were selected to open shoe boxes and read letters about the struggles of the owners of each of the pairs of shoes and learn a bit of their backgrounds. The students then discussed why the individuals may have acted the way they did in the scenarios presented. We began to put ourselves in the shoes of others and understand why they may have made the decisions they made.

Here are just a few photos of a glorious day exploring the bridges around Manhattan.

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This month our Colors of Character Education Program is focusing on gratitude. Gratitude is being aware of and being thankful for the good things that happen; taking time to express thanks. We are encouraging students to show gratitude to someone at home, in school and to a veteran. Please comment on this post about how you will show gratitude toward others, your classmates and veterans.

Listen to our book of the month, America’s White Table.

We had quite a Halloween! The fun began with Professor Snape’s Potion Class. The students made layers of rainbow liquid and learned about density. Next, we watched raisins dance (or sink and float) in seltzer water. Exploring how powders (baking soda, baking powder, powdered sugar, flour and corn starch) interacted with liquids (water and vinegar) proved quite messy and interesting. Finally, we wrapped up our Potions Class with an attempt to carefully follow directions with our group members and create slime. Some groups were more successful than others.

The Halloween party was a hoot! Eating donuts hanging from a clothesline with hands behind backs proved more challenging than we thought. Wrapping classmates as mummies was a bonding experience. Mrs. Tobin, Matt’s mom, led the students in another potion activity which led to the creation of “Hagrid’s Toothpaste.” Really, the resulting mixture was an amazing, oozing foam which overflowed from its mixing container – a memorable experience. Mrs. Chiang assisted children in creating Halloween crafts, a down-time activity which the students enjoyed. Daring students also had the opportunity to reach into a brown box and feel tongues, witches’ fingers, mummy’s skulls and the like.

Be sure to ask your child about this special day.

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