NRESC & The Phoenix

Welcome back, and happy New Year! We are so excited to begin this new chapter together and to see our students return ready for fresh learning, growth, and connection. Wishing everyone a smooth transition back to school and a year filled with curiosity, kindness, and success.

We are so excited to welcome Ms. Laura to the Phoenix teaching team! Take a moment to get to know her and discover some interesting facts about our newest teacher.

What inspired you to become a teacher? How long have you been teaching? I've always wanted to be a teacher since I was little. My 6th grade teacher really inspired me to teach math and I've been teaching for 16 years in both general and special education.

What do you enjoy most about working with your students? I enjoy making lessons and activities based around my students' interests. It is rewarding to make personal connections and get them excited about learning new things!

What is your favorite subject or activity to teach? My favorite subject to teach is math. I like that numbers are very predictable but can also be a mystery.

What is a fun fact about you that your students might not know? I have a cat (Professor Franklin -see below) who started "teaching" virtually with me in 2020. He loves to teach with me at home and became a little famous on the internet.

What are some of your hobbies or interests outside of school? I love to read, see Broadway shows, listen to music/podcasts, and hang out with my cats.

Ms. Tracy shared Sadie the Snowman with her Phoenix learners, bringing a sweet winter story to life ❄️⛄ Through this cozy read-aloud, students explored the magic of snow days while celebrating the warmth of friendship—making for a joyful and meaningful winter learning moment.

Ms. Dana read The Snowman That Loved Summer with her students at Phoenix. I think they have the right idea!

Students learned about the famous owl who was found living in the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and enjoyed discussing how he was safely rescued and returned to the wild. Inspired by the story, students then created their own owl crafts, using art to bring learning to life while strengthening fine motor skills and creativity. The activity sparked curiosity, encouraged conversation, and helped students connect a real-world event to hands-on learning in the classroom.

Exploring the five senses with students creates meaningful opportunities to engage with the world in a hands-on and supportive way. Sensory-based activities invite students to experience learning through touch, sight, sound, and smell, fostering curiosity, attention, and connection to their surroundings. These experiences encourage interaction and enjoyment while providing a calm, structured environment. Through thoughtful sensory exploration, learning becomes engaging and purposeful for all students.

Students learned about the Harbin Ice Festival, exploring its stunning ice sculptures and glowing winter displays from around the world. To add excitement to the lesson, Professor Franklin the Cat made a special appearance. After learning about the festival, students completed a hands-on craft to replicate the icy designs, using materials to recreate the look and feel of ice and light.

Ms. Heather delivered an adaptive lesson on Martin Luther King Jr. that was thoughtfully structured to meet the diverse needs of her students while introducing the importance of kindness, fairness, and helping others.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day: No School on Monday, January 19th

Early Dismissal - Staff Development: Early Dismissal on Friday, January 30th for students only

Parent Night - Details to Follow: March 13th