“…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!
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! 😀
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
(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.
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!
A – Air conditioner ❄️ 🆒 🏠 A machine that cools the air inside a room or building.
B – Barbecue 🍔 🔥 🥩 A meal cooked outside on a grill, usually with meat or vegetables.
C – Camping 🏕️ 🔥 🌲 Sleeping outside in a tent and spending time in nature.
D – Drinks 🧃 🍹 🍋 Cold liquids like lemonade or iced tea that help you stay cool in summer.
E – Evening / Excursion 🌇 🧭 🚗 Evening: The time after the sun goes down, often warm and calm in summer. Excursion: A short trip for fun, like a day at the beach or park.
F – Flip-flops 🩴 ☀️ 🏖️ Light, open sandals worn on your feet in hot weather.
G – Grill 🍗 🍽️ 🔥 A cooking device used outside to make food like burgers or hot dogs.
H – Heat & Humidity ☀️ 🥵 💦 Heat: Very high temperatures.Humidity: When the air feels wet or sticky because of moisture.
I – Ice cream 🍦 🍨 😋 A cold, sweet dessert made from milk or cream
J – July 🇺🇸 🎆 📅 The seventh month of the year, in the middle of summer in many countries.
K – Kayak 🛶 🌊 🌄 A small boat you move with a paddle, often used on lakes or rivers.
L – Lifeguard 🛟 🏊 🚨 A person who watches people at the pool or beach to keep them safe.
M – Mosquito 🦟 😣 🧴 Annoying summer bugs – use spray!
N – Nature 🌳 🦋 🦉 🌻 Trees, plants, animals, and the outdoors.
O – Ocean 🌊 🐚 🏖️ A large body of salt water, great for swimming or relaxing.
P – Picnic 🧺 🍓 🍞 🌳 A meal you eat outside, usually on a blanket in a park or at the beach.
Q – Quiet morning 🌅 😌 ☕ A peaceful time with little noise, like a calm summer morning.
R – Relax 🧘 🛏️ 📖 To rest and feel calm, like lying in a hammock or sitting by the pool.
S – Sunshine ☀️ 😎 🌻 Bright light and warmth that comes from the sun.
T – Towel 🏖️ 🩱 A piece of cloth used to dry your body after swimming or washing.
U – Umbrella ⛱️ 🌤️ 🏖️ A tool that gives shade from the sun, especially at the beach.
V – Vacation ✈️ 🧳 🌴 Time off to travel and unwind
W – Watermelon 🍉 🍽️ 😋 A large, sweet fruit with green skin and red, juicy inside.
X – Xtreme sports 🏄♂️ 🚴♀️ 🪂 Exciting sports like surfing, ziplining, or mountain biking.
Y – Yacht 🛥️ 🌅 🥂 A large, fancy boat often used for fun or travel.
Z – Zipline 🌄 🪢 😲 A cable you slide down while hanging in a harness, usually outdoors for fun.
