Weekend Classes
James’ W1 class, Lynne’s W101 class, Erica’s W2 class, and Gabe’s W3 class
Evening Classes
Barbara’s E0 class, Megan’s E101 class, Sasha’s E1 class, Julie’s E2 class, Sara’s E3 class, and Hans’ E4 class
Daytime Classes 9-11am
Christine’s 0A class, Yeshe’s 1A class, Joe’s 2A class, Rachael’s 3A class, and Abby’s CCR-A class
Daytime Classes 11-1pm
Christine’s 0P class, Yeshe’s 1P class, Joe’s 2P class, Rachael’s 3P class, and Abby’s CCR-P class
Winter Holidays Around the World
Winter is a special season. The days are shorter, the nights are longer, and in many places, it is cold and snowy. Around the world, people celebrate different winter holidays with family, friends, food, and traditions. Let’s look at some of the most popular winter holidays.
Christmas
Christmas is celebrated on December 25th in many countries. People decorate a Christmas tree, hang lights, and give gifts. Families often eat a big meal together. In some traditions, children wait for Santa Claus to bring presents. Popular Christmas colors are red, green, and gold.
Hanukkah
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that usually happens in December. It lasts for eight nights. Families light a special candleholder called a menorah. They eat foods fried in oil, like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts). Children often play with a small toy called a dreidel.
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is celebrated in the United States from December 26th to January 1st. It honors African traditions and culture. Families light candles in a holder called a kinara. Each day represents a different value, such as unity, creativity, or faith. Music, dancing, and storytelling are also part of Kwanzaa.
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
All around the world, people celebrate the New Year on December 31st and January 1st. Many people stay up until midnight to welcome the new year. Fireworks, parties, and special foods are common. People also make resolutions—promises to themselves about things they want to do in the new year.
Vocabulary to Remember
✨ Winter holidays bring light, joy, and warmth during the cold season. Even though traditions are different, the message is often the same: spending time with loved ones and sharing happiness.
Friday, November 28th
Key Vocabulary:
Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving, which traditionally marks the start of the Christmas shopping season in the United States – it’s also one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
Around 2003, many stores began opening as early as 5 a.m. with “doorbuster” deals – deep discounts on select items.
Its these huge discounts that cause the mayhem with people fighting over cheap TV’s and other discounted items.
In the early 2000’s stores extended their hours even earlier, opening on Thanksgiving night – staying open through Black Friday. These sales were often called “Black Thursday”. However, these sales were somewhat of a failure, and stores slowly began returning to closing on Thanksgiving, opening instead on Black Friday.
As the internet became more popular, many people started shopping online and in 2005, Cyber Monday was born. It was intended to mirror the brick-and-mortar sales stores offered on Black Friday. Black Friday became so popular that in 2015, Amazon even held a Black Friday sale in July!
Whether you’re looking for a new TV, a computer, or a pair of socks, it’s guaranteed you will be able to find a deal somewhere, either online or in person on Black Friday or Cyber Monday!
Halloween, which takes place every October 31st, is one of the most popular holidays in the United States. Originally based on the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”), Halloween has evolved into a modern celebration where children of all ages dress up in costumes and go door-to-door “trick-or-treating,” asking for candy from friends & neighbors.
Halloween is also a time to enjoy the spookier side of life. People celebrate ghosts, zombies, haunted houses, and all things creepy and fun – often with Halloween parties for children and adults alike.
For more information about Halloween, check out wikipedia.
Halloween Vocabulary
Here are 5 fun & interesting facts about Halloween:
The Rose Reading Room, photo by Max Touhey
Field trip!
We encourage you to visit and get to know the New York Public Library. There is so much to learn, and the library is the place to do exactly that!
Nearest to University Settlement is the Seward Park Library. This building opened in 1909 and is at the eastern edge of Seward Park.
Seward Park Library
192 East Broadway
NYC, NY 10002
https://maps.app.goo.gl/DcPUYMmihfPkb6P26
Did you know?
— The New York Public Library features more than 6 million items in its circulating collections. You can find everything from books, e-books, and audiobooks to music and movies.
— The Library has a free e-reader app, SimplyE, that you can download and then read e-books on your mobile device.
— Explore local museums & attractions with Culture Pass! If you have a library card from the Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Public Library, or New York Public Library (serving the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island), you can reserve free passes to 100+ cultural institutions across NYC.
— You can print documents at the Library from your mobile device. Black and white printing is available for 20 cents per page.
— NYPL offers free internet access. With your library card, you can reserve a computer to use at almost any location.
— NYPL is better than Google! Ask questions and chat with the expert staff in real time, Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM. https://www.nypl.org/get-help/contact-us/chat
— In the summer months, many NYPL locations are official “Cooling Centers.” Some of these are even pet-friendly!
— Many locations have free yoga (in Spanish), film screenings, as well as sewing and craft groups.
Get your library card now!
If you’re 13 years old or older and live, work, or attend school in New York State, you can apply for a free library card right now using this online card application—then visit your nearest NYPL location to receive your physical NYPL card. A physical library card is your key to checking out physical books and materials, signing up for Culture Pass, and more.
VOCABULARY
Indigenous – adj., of or relating to the earliest known inhabitants of a place
Disrupt – v., to throw into disorder
Recognize – v., to admit that something exists
Hurtful – adj., causing pain, especially emotional
Glorified – v., to make something seem great
Colonial – adj., relating to people settling in a new place, often belonging to someone else
Oppression – n., cruel or unjust use of authority or power
Trauma – n., a psychological state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or injury
Erased – v., to wipe out, to make something disappear
Self-sufficient – adj. to be able to take care of oneself
Sustain – v., to keep up, to supply nourishment
Movement – n, series of acts working toward a desired end
History of Indigenous Peoples’ Day: today, October 13, 2025.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day began in 1977 as an idea expressed at a UN conference on discrimination. In 1990, South Dakota was the first state to recognize the day.
In 1992, protests and demonstrations disrupted planned Columbus Day celebrations in San Francisco and Santa Cruz. People began referring to that day as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, to celebrate the rich culture and the lives of the Native American people. Soon, those cities also recognized the holiday.
For the Native Americans, Columbus Day was always hurtful as it glorified the violent past of 500 years of colonial torture and oppression by European explorers like Columbus. Indigenous Peoples’ Day draws attention to the pain, trauma, and broken promises that were erased by the celebration of Columbus Day. Before his arrival, the indigenous folk were successful self-sufficient communities that sustained life for thousands of years.
Year by year, the movement to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day spreads to more and more states, towns, and cities across the United States of America.*
*https://nationaltoday.com/indigenous-peoples-day/
Vocabulary
Picky –
Toddler –
Banana –
Oat –
Shoveled in –
A Toddler Favorite
These banana oat pancakes are great for a picky toddler. Many toddlers spit out veggies but pasta gets shoveled in. But all toddlers love these pancakes!
Ingredients
Optional additions:
InstructionsThe above version has just nut butter and flaxseed meal added.
In a medium bowl, mash the banana with a fork. Crack the egg into the bowl, and beat it together with the banana.
Stir in the oats, vanilla, and cinnamon.
At this point, you can stir in any add-ins, like flaxseed meal, nut butter, and fruit.
The above version has just nut butter and flaxseed meal added.
And here’s a version with blueberries!
Heat a pan over medium heat, and add the oil. Put the batter into the hot pan (I like to make small pancakes), and cook for a few minutes on each side, until golden brown.
Enjoy!!!!
