4th of July 🎉 🎇 🥳

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vocabulary

  • Independence – freedom from another country’s rule
  • Colony – land controlled by another country
  • Fireworks – colorful explosions in the sky
  • Parade – a public celebration with marching bands and floats
  • Patriotic – Showing love, pride, and support for your country
  • Semiquincentennial – 250 year celebration

The 4th of July ( Independence Day ) is a national holiday in the United States. It marks the day the Declaration of Independence was adopted, on July 4, 1776, when the 13 colonies officially broke away from Great Britain.

These days, people celebrate it in all kinds of ways. Families and friends have barbecues or picnics, head to parades, spend the day at the beach or a park, or go to The Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island.

Cities and neighborhoods decorate their neighborhoods in red, white, and blue, and people dress in patriotic colors. One of the biggest traditions is watching fireworks at night. For a lot of people, the Fourth feels like the start of summer! 

This year, the United States is also celebrating its 250th birthday, the Semiquincentennial, marking 250 years since we gained our independence.

In New York City, this year’s celebration is especially large, with events honoring both the 250th anniversary and the 50th Macy’s Fireworks Spectacular. Fireworks are planned to launch from the Brooklyn Bridge, the Lower East River, and the Lower Hudson River, starting around 9:25pm.

Some 4th of July Activities in NYC 

  • Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular (around 9:25pm): Featuring over 85,000 fireworks and a new laser show from the Brooklyn Bridge.
  • Sail4th 250 (July 3rd to 8th): A massive maritime procession of over 70 tall ships and naval vessels in New York Harbor.
  • Times Square Ball Drop (July 3rd): For the first time, the New Year’s Eve ball will drop eight times to mark midnight in all US time zones, celebrating America’s 250th birthday.
  • Homecoming of Heroes Parade (July 6th): A parade in Midtown honoring veterans and first responders.

Fireworks Viewing Locations

  • Manhattan: Public viewing areas along the FDR Drive.
  • Brooklyn Bridge Park: Prime viewing for bridge-centered effects, requiring a free ticket issued by the city.
  • South Street Seaport: A prime spot for lower East River views.
  • Jersey City Waterfront: Exchange Place offers a full-day festival with views of the Hudson River show.
  • Rooftop Events: Special events are available at venues like Lost in Paradise Rooftop (Long Island City), Virgin Hotels NYC (Midtown), and Edge NYC.

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School’s out!

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Ornate vintage carousel with decorative horses and warm lights glowing

“…And the seasons, they go round and round, and the painted ponies go up and down…”

Ahhh…another school year finished, another step forward for our students. Celebration filled the rooms at University Settlement these past weeks — people getting promoted and people graduating and moving on from their English classes to bigger and better adventures.

After ten months of getting up early and coming to class, or finishing a long day of work and coming to class —

Everyone had reason to PARTY!!

Lucian’s opening remarks:

Our daytime classes celebrated in style:

amazing food!

The big moment for CCRA and CCRP graduates!

:

Our happy recipients of punctuality and attendance awards!

And E4 graduates, so proud!

To watch the E4 diploma ceremony and awards:

“Kahoot-ing” to see who eats first:

Students getting ready for summer!

Nothing like a disco ball to make a great party!

HAVE A FANTASTIC SUMMER AND SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER!

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End of Year Party for Weekend Classes 🎉 🥳 🎈

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The 2025 – 2026 school year has come to an end!

Our W1, W101, W2, and W3 classes came together this past Sunday to celebrate the end of a tremendous year. We are incredibly proud of everything our students have achieved and grateful for the enthusiasm, hard work, and support that made this year such a success.

The party also featured fantastic performances from each of our classes. 🎶 🎤

Allis’s W1 class performed a creative version of the song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” as a spoken-word piece written by her class. Lynne’s W101 class performed the karaoke favorite “Stand by Me.” Erica’s W2 class performed an original poem co-written by her students. And finally, Gabe’s W3 class performed the timeless Sinatra classic “My Way.”

Check out the tremendous performances from our weekend classes! 🎶 🤩

We enjoyed food from all over the world: sandwiches, pasta, cakes, pies, sushi, dumplings, cheesecake, and salads – there was something for everyone! 🥙 🫔 🎂 🍩 🥟

And of course, no party is complete without dancing! Our W1 class ended the day with a wonderful Turkish dance performance. 💃 🕺

Congratulations to all our W1, W101, W2, and W3 students! Have a safe and happy summer – we look forward to seeing you again in September! 😀

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May the best team win!

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VOCABULARY:

Competition — n., a contest to see which participant is the best

Host nation — n., the country where the event will be held

Stadiums — n., a large field surrounded by many seats for a large audience

Championship — n., the final game where the winner receives the trophy

Minimal — adj., the smallest amount possible

The FIFA World Cup is starting this month! This international football (soccer) competition occurs every four years. Teams from all over the world compete to win the World Cup Trophy. Only the best teams in the world can be part of this competition.

There is also a competition for the host nation, the country where the games will take place. Many countries want to host the matches because millions of people watch them. Some are in the stadiums to watch in person, but most watch on television. More people watch the World Cup matches than watch the Olympics!

The FIFA World Cup is being played in 16 different cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. 48 teams will play 104 matches, and the championship game will be played in New Jersey, just a short distance from New York City!

Many people also love to play soccer. Equipment is minimal — all that’s needed is a ball and some feet! No wonder football is played all over the world.

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The Secret Gardens of Manhattan

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VOCABULARY:

Pavement, n. – the sidewalk

Oasis, n. – some place that provides refreshing relief

Tranquility, n. – peacefulness, calm

Maintain, v. – to take care of

Stumble, v. – to trip or to find something unexpectedly

Distinctive, adj. – something which stands out from its surroundings

Flora, n. – plant life

Contemplation, n. – deep thought or meditation

Drown out the noise, expression – to cover up noise

New York City has plenty of pavement, but did you know there are also little pockets of green space? Nature turns up in unexpected places and we’re providing a list of secret gardens that will be fun to explore this summer.

First up, the Creative Little Garden, “an oasis of tranquility in New York’s East Village.”

Located at 530 East Sixth Street, between Avenues A & B, the Creative Little Garden has been a “community backyard,” maintained by volunteers from the neighborhood since 1978. You can sit and relax, have your lunch, or just enjoy the landscaping.

Check the website for visiting hours: https://www.creativelittlegarden.com

Heading north and west, we stumble into the Jefferson Market Garden, now celebrating 50 years in Greenwich Village. This garden welcomes everyone, and drinks are permitted, but not food. They have a “blooming guide” on their website, https://www.jeffersonmarketgarden.org/bloom-guide so you can plan to visit your favorite flowers. Open from April to October, this garden is located on Greenwich Avenue, between 6th Avenue & West 10th Street.

Check https://www.jeffersonmarketgarden.org/ for visiting hours.

The gardens at St. Luke-in-the-Fields are special and extensive. You are welcome to visit “some of the most distinctive and admired gardens in New York City, comprising more than two-thirds of an acre of walks, lawns, and a fine collection of garden standards…and native American flora.” These gardens are open for quiet contemplation; cell phone use, smoking, and pets are not allowed.

https://stlukeinthefields.org/about/gardens

Another lovely urban green space can be found on the east side of Manhattan, at Tudor City (between First and Second Avenues, just south of 42nd street). Tudor City Greens is open to the public daily between 7 am and 10 pm. They also host events, from Halloween parades to Afternoon Teas.

https://www.tudorcitygreens.org

Finally, we recommend a visit to Greenacre Park, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With plenty of seating to enjoy the sound of the waterfall (and drown out the noise of the city!) this beautifully landscaped pocket park is at 217 East 51st Street, between Second and Third Avenues.

https://greenacrepark.org

Enjoy the secret gardens of Manhattan and have a lovely summer!

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Memorial Day

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Key Vocabulary

  • (to) Honor (verb): To show deep respect or admiration for someone or something.
  • (to) Mourn (verb): To feel or express deep sadness, especially because of someone’s death.
  • (to) Serve (verb): To perform duties for a person, group, or country—especially in the military.
  • Communities (noun, plural): Groups of people living in the same area or having common interests.
  • Graves (noun, plural): Places in the ground where people are buried after death.
  • Recognition (noun): The act of acknowledging or honoring something or someone.
  • Solemn (adjective): Serious, respectful, and often sad or reflective in tone or mood.
  • Remembrance (noun): The act of remembering or honoring the memory of someone or something.
  • Marks (verb): Indicates or shows something significant; to signal or commemorate an occasion.
  • Unofficial (adjective): Not formally recognized or authorized, but commonly accepted or understood.
  • Associated with (verb phrase): Connected or linked to something in meaning, use, or relationship.

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday for honoring and mourning military service members who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. It is observed annually on the last Monday of May.

Originally known as Decoration Day, the holiday began on May 30, 1868, when communities decorated the graves of Civil War soldiers with flowers and flags. Although several towns claimed to be its birthplace, the holiday gained national recognition after General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic issued a proclamation establishing it, which lead to its nationwide observance.

In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved Memorial Day from May 30 to the last Monday in May, creating a three-day weekend for federal employees.

Note the riderless horse, with boots turned backwards. This is a symbol of a fallen soldier, who will never ride again.

Today, Memorial Day is observed across the country through visits to cemeteries and memorials, the placement of flags and flowers on military graves, and community parades and ceremonies that honor fallen service members.

While it remains a solemn day of remembrance, Memorial Day also marks the unofficial start of summer, often associated with cookouts, retail sales, and travel.

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May 4th

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MAY THE 4th BE WITH YOU!

To most people, May 4th is just another day – but to Star Wars fans, it’s known as Star Wars Day, an informal celebration of all things Star Wars.

Inspired by the iconic line, “May the Force be with you,” the clever pun “May the 4th be with you” pays homage to the beloved film franchise that began in 1977. What started as a single movie, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, has grown over nearly five decades to include twelve movie sequels and prequels, countless books, cartoons, comic books, TV shows, and video games

So this May 4th, remember: MAY THE 4th BE WITH YOU!

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