“…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!
(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.
culinary — adj, relating to cooking or the kitchen
occurence — n., an event, something that happens
cozy — adj., providing contentment or comfort
various — adj., of an indefinite number greater than one
Juicy round balls of succulent meat, usually served with pasta, mashed potatoes or on their own — perfect for a cozy dinner at home!
Just the word, ‘meatball’ is enough to bring to mind great family meals for most people. These little balls of various meats can be found throughout the world in almost every culture.
Most people may associate them with Italian cuisine, though spaghetti and meatballs is actually an American dish. No matter your background, you can jump in and enjoy National Meatball Day!
How to Celebrate National Meatball Day
National Meatball Day, like other culinary holidays, should be enjoyed with your loved ones gathered around.
The most difficult part of preparing for National Meatball Day is going to be picking which nation’s recipe you will use. Luckily for you, this is a yearly occurrence, so you can pick a new nation to try each year if you like. Or you could be truly adventurous and try more than one at a time!
What is your favorite way to enjoy meatballs? There are so many ways to make them. Have you added them to your pizza or on a sandwich? Do you prefer to follow the traditions of your family or to try and create something new? This is the time to shine – an entire day devoted to meatball goodness!
And even if you’re not a meat-eater, there are plenty of veggie and vegan alternatives available, for example, chickpea koftas and tempeh, quinoa or black bean meatballs.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a chef or a first-time cook. Making a meal with meatballs is easy but makes you look like a star in the kitchen!
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
Tradition – something people do again and again over many years
Celebrate – to enjoy a holiday or special event
Candle – a stick of wax with fire at the top for light
Meal – food eaten together at one time
Resolution – a plan or promise for the future
✨ 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.
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
🚪 Trick-or-treat – the Halloween activity where children dress up and go door to door for candy
🎃 Pumpkin – a round orange vegetable often carved into a jack-o’-lantern
👻 Ghost – the spirit of a dead person, often imagined as white and floating
🧙 Witch – a woman with magical powers, often shown with a broomstick and pointed hat
🧛 Vampire – a creature that drinks blood and avoids sunlight
🧟 Zombie – a dead person who comes back to life, usually walking slowly
🕷️ Spider – a creepy-crawly insect often used in Halloween decorations
🕸️ Web – what a spider makes to catch insects; also used as decoration
☠️ Skeleton – the bones of a body, often shown as decorations or costumes
🏚️ Haunted house – a spooky or abandoned house believed to have ghosts
😱 Scary – something that causes fear or makes you feel afraid
🦇 Bat – a flying animal often linked with vampires and the night
🍫 Chocolate / Candy – a sweet treat made from cocoa, popular during Halloween. Sweet treats given to children who go trick-or-treating.
🎭 Costume – special clothing worn to look like someone or something else
💀 Skull – the bone part of a head, often used as a spooky symbol
Here are 5 fun & interesting facts about Halloween:
🎃 Origins in Ancient Celtic Festival: Halloween comes from the ancient Celtic festival Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”), celebrated on October 31st. It marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter, a time when people believed the boundary between the living and the dead became blurred.
👻 Costumes to Scare Spirits: People originally wore costumes and masks to scare away or confuse ghosts and evil spirits that were thought to return on Halloween night.
🍬 Trick-or-Treating Traditions: The practice of trick-or-treating began in medieval Europe as “souling,” when poor people would go door-to-door on All Souls’ Day (Nov 2), offering prayers for the dead in exchange for food.
🕯️ Jack-o’-Lanterns Came from Turnips: Before pumpkins, the Irish carved turnips into lanterns to ward off evil spirits. When they immigrated to America, they found that pumpkins were more plentiful and easier to carve.
🦇 Popular with Americans: Halloween is one of the most popular holidays in the U.S., with Americans spending billions of dollars each year on costumes, candy, decorations, and parties.
Many beer halls and venues across the city host Oktoberfest celebrations with German food 🥨, beer, and lively music. Grab your lederhosen and join in the fun!
Come join Alexander Hamilton, Simba, and Galinda 🧙🏻 & Elphaba in all the fun! Fall marks the beginning of the new Broadway season, making it a great time to see a new production or a classic favorite.
Broadway.com: (A comprehensive site for tickets and information on Broadway shows): https://www.broadway.com/
Are you an athlete – or do you know one? Watch- or, if you’re feeling energetic, run – the New York City Marathon. 🏃♂️ 🏃🏼♀️ 🏃🏽♂️ Sunday, November 2nd
Go Apple or Pumpkin Picking (outside the city): 🍎 While not in NYC itself, a short trip to the Hudson Valley or Long Island allows for classic, fun fall activities like apple and pumpkin picking at local farms. Many offer hayrides, corn mazes, and fresh cider donuts.
For foodies, this annual festival in October brings together renowned chefs and culinary experiences, offering tastings, cooking demonstrations, and more.
Many people like summer sunshine, but too much heat can be dangerous and unhealthy. Hot and humid weather can cause heat illness and even death. If you or someone you know has these symptoms, you need to cool down quickly!
Heavy sweating
Muscle cramps
Light headedness, feeling faint
Headache
Decreased energy
Loss of appetite, nausea
Luckily, New York City has increased the number of ways to Keep Cool during heat emergencies. The parks department has concentrated on water features, drinking fountains, and tree cover as ways to beat the heat outside.
Here’s a link to a map of all the places where you can cool off:
Spray showers are fun and feel great for kids. The sprinklers are turned on when the temperature reaches 80 degrees F. These are indicated on the map as well as the beaches and outdoor pools that are open to all. NYC even provides free sunscreen at the pools.
There are thousands of drinking fountains across the city – even some for pets!
The map also shows the parks with thick tree coverage, as well as the shadiest blocks to walk.
Another option: If you’re looking for a fun and safe way to beat the heat, consider requesting an official hydrant opening. You can go to your local firehouse and they might open and close a hydrant safely for you.
And if you’re not an “outdoors person,” NYC has many cooling centers. They are located in air-conditioned facilities that offer people relief from the heat, such as:
Most important: drink lots of water even if you’re not thirsty, wear loose light-colored clothing, and avoid sun and strenuous outdoor activity between 11 AM and 4 PM.
