Kindergarten and First Grade has had a great semester this year. We have enjoyed learning all kinds of new things. The students especially love learning about how they are a part of God’s world around them. In social studies, we have been learning about the different communities that we are a part of. In this unit the students learned about the different things that a community needs, such as community workers, economics, and government. At the end of the unit, the students designed a city based on what they learned. It was a lot of fun, and the students were very creative in how they wanted their city to look!

~ Ms. Cassie Mock

Last month the 3rd grade class did a Science unit on endangered animals. Our class is full of animal lovers, so they embraced this study with enthusiasm. Among the animals studied were Bengal tigers, black-footed ferrets, and polar bears. We also talked about the endangered animals in our big backyard of Rwanda-the Mountain Gorillas. To learn more about these majestic gorillas, we took a trip to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. The staff there were friendly and they answered the questions that our students had. We walked through their exhibit and learned things we never knew about Rwanda’s Mountain Gorillas. Here are some things that our class learned…..

Did you know?

• Each gorilla has unique nose markings (like our fingerprints). This helps the researchers keep track of each one.
• Snares and traps are a big problem in the forest. Gorillas get caught in them by accident and can hurt themselves trying to get out.
• Gorillas are herbivores that eat bamboo, thistles, berries, and other grasses.
• Rwanda’s protection and community education programs have helped to bring the endangered Mountain Gorilla population from around 400 to almost 900 in the past eighteen years.

We were blessed to learn more about how we can help these animals and what Rwanda is doing to preserve their species as well!

If you want to learn more about the Mountain Gorillas or other endangered animals, check out these websites: www.gorillafund.org | www.worldwildlife.org

~ Miss Andrea Miller

The Kindergarten class was kind enough to lend us a kitchen set for the Math Room. We set up a “Home Center” and “Supermarket.” The children quickly learned to purchase items, ring up their totals on a cash register, pay for their purchases and how to count out their change. Good purchasing and math concepts were learned.

Humpty Dumpty is a new nursery rhyme addition to our preschool. Also, when learning about another nursery rhyme, Jack and the Beanstalk, we planted five “Magic Beans” and one is growing into a nice VVA beanstalk!

~ Ms. Sue Bruce

It is hard to believe we have come to the end of our first semester. It is amazing to look back at all that we have studied. We have learned about ourselves and our friends and our families and how to relate to each other.

We have explored giants made by nature such as mountains, waterfalls and icebergs. We have learned about giants made by people like skyscrapers, bridges and the Great Wall of China.

We spent four weeks talking about choices. We can make thoughtful, helpful, safe and smart choices.

We are currently learning about tools that we use to build and create. Today we baked a pretend birthday cake using imaginary tools from the kitchen. All my students delighted in this activity complete with imaginary candles to blow out on our imaginary birthday cake.

It has been a joy to watch them make new discoveries and use their imaginations everyday.

May you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

~ Miss Christine Crowson

At the end of the first semester, I would like to talk about some activities that have taken place in Nursery class. We usually begin class talking about good behavior. Then we explore the world by sharing some experiences such as examining leaves to see how they are the same and how they are different.  We have been studying the human body and we have learned about foods that we eat.

We also studied colors and things in our environment such as the sun and trees. We practice these activities using songs and games. The children like drawing and beginning writing. We welcomed three new students in our class. They are doing well. I am so happy with the improvements of all my students.

~ Claudette Komezurukundo

Preschool 1 is off to a great start this year. One of our favorite songs at the beginning of the year was “This is My School Family!” We have truly become a family for each other. The children are learning to be kind to one another, help each other and listen when someone is using their “big words.”

I have been encouraged by each child’s progress as we have covered a wide variety of Language, Science, Math and Social Studies concepts, all in English! We look forward to discovering much more together as the school year continues!

~ Christine Crowson

I am very happy to be here at VVA teaching the two-year old class. Everyday we practice songs and games. The children have been investigating their new school environment using their senses like touching, listening, and observing. We studied about pets and have started to look at letters. I look forward to seeing how the students progress individually and as a class.

~ Ms. Claudette

Have you ever thought that History class is only a bunch of dates and names? Not in our History class! We are excited to share with you some of what we have been learning about the History of the World.

This year we are studying the time period from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of the Renaissance.

We have gone many places in the world. Britain, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Rome are just a few of the places that we have visited . As we visited each place, we learn about it’s history, rulers, culture and stories. We have had fun doing an activity for each country and time period. This helps us to better remember what we studied. We love this hands-on approach to learning! We have learned how to eat rice with chopsticks, make art from different countries, dress-up in the clothes of different countries, and hear stories that have been passed down through the generations.

Kethia says, “I like learning about the different countries. Making a Chinese stamp design was my favorite activity.

Iglesias, who is new to our class in the last few weeks, says that he likes learning about different cultures. He especially liked eating with chopsticks

Next time you want to learn about the History of a new place, try learning more about its food, clothes, stories and traditions.

It’s amazing to see how God made and is a part of many different cultures and people!

~ Mrs. Andrea Miller

Preschool II has five enthusiastic four and five year old children who are eager to learn. We are learning about family, friends, homes, communities, and ourselves. We have expanded to “Nature’s Giants” and now “Man-Made Giants.” When studying Community Helpers we were privileged to have 2 parents who are doctors to come and explain their occupations and talk about visits to the doctor. The children got to listen to their heart beats, look in ears, and were weighed. Mrs. Andrea demonstrated how a hairdresser cuts hair and the children gave Ms. Sue her first Rwandan haircut. (They actually did a very good job!) Last week Aidan Miller gave a presentation on his hobby of cave exploration, including many caves here in Musanze. This week we are studying “Man Made Giants” and Matthew Crowson shared his experience of walking The Great Wall of China. We are looking forward to more adventures in learning.

~ Ms. Sue Bruce

This year we have 6 students in our secondary school. 2 students are in 7th grade, 2 students are in 10th grade, and 2 students are in 12th grade! This year presents new challenges and opportunities for each of them! Our 7th grade students are taking their first online class through The Keystone School. They are learning how to manage their own time, how to check their work thoroughly before turning it in, and are enjoying a new way to learn science! This week they completed their first lab, on the solubility of sugar cubes! They really enjoyed this hands on learning experience! The 10th graders took the PSAT, an American university admissions test, for the first time this month. Leading up to the test, we talked about test-taking strategies and took a few practice tests! This was the first of many admissions tests that they’ll take over the next few years, as the 12th graders can attest to! The 12th graders are taking their last admissions tests, preparing their college applications, and are working hard to finish high school strong! All of our students are working very hard, but by working hard now, they know that they will have great opportunities in their post-secondary education!

~ Sarah Wheeler