Woodglen Paw Press December 2024

Students enjoyed a performance by The Rock 'n' Rollers. The Rock 'n' Rollers - Music for Life Creative Therapy is a band that consists of a diverse group of young adults with various special needs. By demonstrating their accomplishments and bringing joy through music, they helped the audience to see others in new and different ways. This assembly tie​d into the Bridges program that students recently enjoyed.

Kindergarten worked with Ms. Alice to create a song about the alphabet!

The teachers in kindergarten made snow globes for their students

How to Make Christmas Tree Brownies

The Ingredients

• All purpose flour
• Cocoa powder
• Kosher salt
• Unsalted butter, melted
• Sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Large eggs
• Icing
• Green food coloring
• Holiday sprinkles

The Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven: Begin by preheating the oven to 325°F.

2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, mix the first three dry ingredients and set the mixture aside.

3. Combine Wet Ingredients: Using a hand or standing mixer, blend the melted butter, sugar, and vanilla.

4. Add the Eggs: Incorporate the eggs one at a time until well combined. Gradually mix in the previously prepared dry ingredients until the mixture is fully combined.

5. Bake: Pour the batter into a greased and parchment-lined 9×13 baking dish. Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until the brownies are cooked.

6. Cut Out Trees: After allowing the brownies to cool completely, use a Christmas tree-shaped cookie cutter to cut out festive tree shapes. Start at the edges, cutting the shapes close together to maximize the number of trees.

7. Prepare Frosting: In a small bowl, mix green food coloring with icing. Transfer the colored icing into a plastic ziplock bag. Remove excess air, seal the bag, and push the icing into one corner. Carefully snip a small hole in the corner for precise decorating.

8. Decorate Trees: Create a zigzag pattern by piping the green icing across the tree-shaped brownies. Add festive sprinkles to complete the decoration. Serve and enjoy your delightful Christmas Tree Brownies!

What You Need to Make Rugelach

• Unsalted butter
• Cream cheese
• Vanilla extract
• Sugar
• All purpose flour
• Egg (optional for egg wash)
• Fillings of choice: chocolate chips, walnuts, preserves, dried fruit, etc.

How to Make Rugelach

1. Make the Dough: Place the butter, cream cheese, vanilla and sugar in a food processor or standing mixer and mix until combined. Slowly add the flour, little by little until just combined.

2. Divide and Refrigerate: Divide the dough into 2 balls, wrap each with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

3. Prep Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F.

4. Roll Out Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll each dough ball into a 9 inch round and using a pizza cutter or knife, cut into 8 equal wedges (like a pizza pie).

5. Add Fillings: Before separating the wedges evenly spread the round with 2 tbsp preserves or other 1/4 cup filling of choice. Press them dough gently to adhere to the dough.

6. Roll up Rugelach: Starting with the wide end of each wedge, roll up into 16 cookies.

Bake Until Golden: Place on a baking sheet with the tip pointing down and brush with egg wash (optional). Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden.

What You’ll Need:

• Bananas
• Juice from a lemon
• Ground cinnamon
• Butter

Fried Banana Recipe

1. Peel your bananas and carefully slice them into bite-sized pieces.
2. Add a small amount of your fresh lemon juice to each banana piece.
3. Sprinkle your banana slices with your ground cinnamon.
4. Have an adult heat a frying pan with a generous amount of butter and fry each side of your banana slices.
5. Let your fried banana slices cool and enjoy this yummy Kwanzaa snack!

Parents joined their children at Woodglen for an Enrichment Celebration that culminated a trimester of learning about Native Americans. During the unit the children used the Design Thinking Process to complete several challenges and ultimately to code the Ozobot robots. The students shared their skills with family members while coding the bots to move around a Native American village map!!!

A tranquil and serene environment is essential for both mental and physical health, as it greatly alleviates stress, boosts focus, fosters creativity, and encourages relaxation. A calm space to recharge increases a sense of overall happiness and well-being, offering a sanctuary to unwind and rejuvenate from everyday challenges.

American Sign Language (ASL) provides a mode of communication to connect a community through shared experiences and cultural likeness. ASL is a rich, grammar based language with a full history of how it grew across America as a way to unite Deaf and Hearing Impaired people. ASL is not one sign per word and does not follow an English format. It takes emotion, animation and passion to express the full colors and meanings of messages between its users. ASL is like a painting, you begin with the background, and add shade and details as you continue.

Go talk to Ms. Raimo, she speaks ASL fluently!

Art is beneficial because it is a creative outlet. You use a completely different part of your brain than with other subjects. It is an escape which can be calming, therapeutic, and boundless. There is no wrong way. You are the creator and the sky's the limit.