Allegiance STEAM Academy Monthly Enrichment Updates
Your go-to resource for staying connected with all the exciting enrichment programs at Allegiance STEAM Academy. This page is updated monthly and currently reflects April 2026 updates, so you can stay informed about what your child is learning and experiencing.
Parent Resources
Welcome to Your Monthly Enrichment Hub
Stay Connected
Explore the latest updates on our diverse enrichment programs designed to enhance your child's educational experience. From language learning to STEAM exploration, our enrichment offerings provide unique opportunities for growth beyond the traditional curriculum.
This hub is organized by enrichment area, making it easy to find exactly what matters most to your family.
Updated Monthly
Our enrichment teachers personally update this page at the start of each month with fresh content, upcoming events, and highlights from recent activities. You'll find practical tips for supporting learning at home, insights into classroom projects, and ways to stay engaged with your child's enrichment journey.
Check back regularly to stay informed and connected!
World Languages
Spanish and Mandarin programs building global citizenship
Music & Arts
Creative expression through drama and vocal performance
Physical Education
Building healthy habits and athletic skills
STEAM Labs
Hands-on innovation in science, technology, engineering, art, and math
Grades 4-8
Language Learning
Spanish Enrichment (Grades 4-8)
This Month's Learning Focus
For April and May, Spanish students will be working on fun and creative projects that build language skills, cultural understanding, and confidence.
  • 4th–6th Grade — Digital Children's Book Project 📚: Students will create a digital children's book using vocabulary and cultural themes learned in class. This project combines language skills with creativity and storytelling.
  • 7th Grade — Food Truck Design Project 🚚: Students will design a food menu and create their own food truck concept based on a Spanish-speaking country's cuisine. They'll apply food vocabulary, cultural knowledge, and creativity.
  • 8th Grade — "Top Chef" Cooking Video Project 🎬: Students will create a cooking video in a "Top Chef"–style format, using their food vocabulary to walk viewers through their recipe in Spanish.
Supporting Learning at Home
  • Explore children's books in Spanish and talk about characters, settings, and vocabulary
  • Look up menus from Spanish-speaking countries and identify familiar foods and ingredients
  • Watch cooking videos in Spanish and listen for recipe steps and food words
  • Practice food vocabulary together using meals, snacks, and grocery items
  • Encourage your child to describe their project ideas, favorite dishes, or story themes in Spanish

Upcoming Events
April–May 2026 project presentations and completions will showcase students' digital children's books, food truck designs, and "Top Chef" cooking videos as they share their Spanish learning and creativity with classmates.
Grades TK-3
Language Learning
Mandarin Enrichment (Grades TK-3)
Monthly Language Adventures
We are excited to share what students will be learning in Mandarin class this April! Below is an overview of each grade level's focus, along with ways you can support your child's learning at home.
Grade Level Highlights
  • Kindergarten — Describing Words (Adjectives)
  • Students will practice using adjectives to describe animals, focusing on their facial features and body parts.
  • Poem Recitation: 憫農詩 (Mǐn Nóng shī)
  • 鋤禾日當午，汗滴禾下土。誰知盤中飧，粒粒皆辛苦。
  • Pinyin: Chú hé rì dāng wǔ, hàn dī hé xià tǔ. Shéi zhī pán zhōng sūn, lì lì jiē xīn kǔ.
  • How to Support at Home:
  • Encourage your child to describe animals (e.g., big eyes, long tail)
  • Recite the poem together
  • Ask your child to describe pictures in books
  • 1st Grade — Action Words (Verbs)
  • Students will learn verbs such as walk, run, jump, fly, and crawl. They will use these verbs to describe actions through interactive activities and songs.
  • Poem Recitation: 江南 (Jiāng Nán)
  • 江南可採蓮，蓮葉何田田。魚戲蓮葉間。魚戲蓮葉東，魚戲蓮葉西，魚戲蓮葉南，魚戲蓮葉北。
  • Pinyin: Jiāng nán kě cǎi lián, lián yè hé tián tián. Yú xì lián yè jiān. Yú xì lián yè dōng, yú xì lián yè xī, yú xì lián yè nán, yú xì lián yè běi.
  • Writing Practice: 大 (big), 小 (small), 長 (long), 短 (short), 高 (tall)
  • How to Support at Home:
  • Practice action words by acting them out
  • Recite the poem together
  • Encourage simple writing practice
  • 2nd Grade — Colors Review & Clothing Vocabulary
  • Students will review colors and learn clothing vocabulary (shirt, pants, shorts, socks, shoes). They will describe outfits and express preferences.
  • Poem Recitation: 江南 (Jiāng Nán) — same as 1st grade above
  • How to Support at Home:
  • Ask your child to describe what they are wearing in Mandarin
  • Practice clothing and color vocabulary together
  • Review the poem together
  • 3rd Grade — Snacks (Food Vocabulary)
  • Students will explore snacks such as chocolate, cookies, ice cream, cake, and candy, and describe them using colors and flavors.
  • Writing Focus: Sentence writing and structure
  • How to Support at Home:
  • Talk about favorite snacks using simple Mandarin
  • Encourage sentence speaking and writing
  • Practice copying short sentences
Home Learning Resources
Support Mandarin learning at home by practicing poems together, describing everyday objects, and labeling items around the house with Chinese characters. Celebrate small wins as your child builds confidence using Mandarin in daily life.
Family and Community Exploration (Animated Mandarin Video for Kids)  
This video helps students understand vocabulary related to family members, daily routines, and community helpers through engaging visuals and sounds. Don't forget—even a few minutes of exposure each day makes a meaningful difference!
TK-8
Performing Arts
April in Music Class
Students across all grade levels are preparing for their exciting May performances! Each class is developing performance skills through music, movement, and storytelling while building confidence and teamwork.
TK — "Caterpillar" Play 🐛
Our youngest learners are bringing a charming caterpillar story to life through songs, simple acting, and movement. Students are learning how to follow cues, use their bodies to tell a story, and perform together as a group.
Kindergarten — Songs About Kindness & Friendship 🎵
Kindergarten students are learning songs focused on kindness, sharing, and being a good friend. Through music and movement, they are practicing expression, listening, and positive social skills.
1st Grade — "American Symbols" Production 🇺🇸
Our 1st graders are exploring important American symbols through a fun and meaningful performance. Students are learning songs, speaking parts, and movements that help them understand history and national identity.
7th Grade — Shakespeare Unshackled 🎭
Our 7th graders are performing Shakespeare Unshackled, a dynamic theatrical performance inspired by the works of William Shakespeare. Students are showcasing character development, dramatic storytelling, and ensemble performance skills they've been building all trimester.
8th Grade — Promotion Ceremony Preparation 🎓
Our 8th graders are preparing for their promotion ceremony, focusing on musical performance, stage presence, and responsibility. Students are learning cues, practicing songs, and working together to create a meaningful and memorable event.
Thank you for supporting your student's creativity and confidence! 🎶
Encouraging Musical Growth at Home
  • Encourage daily practice and positive rehearsal habits
  • Ask your child to perform their songs or lines for you at home
  • Celebrate effort and progress, not just perfection
  • Attend the May performances to show your support!

Save the Date
All performances will take place in May 2026 (more details coming soon on ParentSquare).
TK "Caterpillar" Play — May 1, 2026
Kindergarten Kindness & Friendship Songs — May 2026
1st Grade American Symbols Production — May 2026
7th Grade — Shakespeare Unshackled
7C: 8:15–9:00 a.m.
7A: 9:15–10:00 a.m.
7B: 10:15–11:00 a.m.
7D: 12:45–1:30 p.m.
8th Grade Promotion Ceremony — May 20, 2026
Grades TK-8
Health & Wellness
Physical Education (TK-8)
Building Healthy, Active Learners
Our comprehensive PE program promotes physical fitness, skill development, and lifelong healthy habits across all grade levels. Students are engaged in age-appropriate activities that build strength, coordination, teamwork, and sportsmanship while having fun and staying active, and of course, are aligned to physical education content standards.
Fitness & Skill Development
Grade-specific activities focus on fundamental movement patterns, sport-specific skills, and cardiovascular endurance tailored to each developmental stage. See a full breakdown below.
Promoting Active Lifestyles at Home
Encourage family walks or bike rides, limit screen time, set fitness goals together, and participate in community sports leagues. Model healthy habits and make physical activity a fun, regular part of family life.
Beyond Physical Education
Beyond physical activity, students learn about mental wellness, goal-setting, and the importance of maintaining healthy habits throughout their lives. We encourage you to model these at home!
This Month's Focus by Grade Level
  • Grades TK-K: Locomotor Skills & Cooperative Games Students practice skipping, hopping, and galloping while engaging in cooperative team games that build coordination, listening, and teamwork.
  • Grades 1-3: Throwing & Catching Skills & Cardiovascular Fitness Students focus on overhand throwing, catching, and target accuracy. 3rd grade will complete their final mile run of the year.
  • Grades 3-8: Final Mile Run of the Year 🏃 Students in grades 3–8 will complete their last mile run of the year. This is a great milestone to celebrate their cardiovascular progress!
  • Grades 3-8: Final Pacer of the Year Students in grades 3–8 will also complete their final pacer test of the year, wrapping up cardiovascular fitness assessments.
  • Grades 4-6: Track & Field Skills Students continue rotating through sprinting, long jump, and relay race fundamentals.
  • Grades 7-8: Fitness Assessments & Track and Field Students complete remaining Fitness Gram assessments and continue track and field skill development.
Fitness Gram Progress Update 💪 🎉 Fitness Gram Complete! A huge congratulations to our students in Grades 5 & 7 — the Fitness Gram assessments are done! Great job to all students for their hard work and dedication throughout the assessment period.
Upcoming Events & Challenges
🏃 Final Mile Run — Grades 3-8: Students will complete their last mile run of the year. Encourage your child to give it their best effort!
📊 Final Pacer — Grades 3-8: The final pacer test of the year is coming up. Students have worked hard all year to build their endurance.
🎉 STEAM Live — May 14th: Students are preparing for STEAM Live on May 14th! PE students will continue their units while also gearing up for this exciting school-wide event.
Grades TK-4
STEAM Lab
STEAM Lab for TK-4 & Think Tank
This month, our younger learners are diving into hands-on projects that combine creativity, engineering, and scientific exploration. From observing living things to building and testing solutions, students are discovering how science works through play and experimentation!

✨ Special Highlight:
Chaos and Creativity: The Great Leprechaun Hunt in STEAM Lab Jr.
This month, the Jr. STEAM Lab transformed into a hub of engineering and high-stakes mystery. The mission was clear: "How do we trap a Leprechaun to capture his gold?"
The process began with meticulous blueprinting, as young engineers sketched out their designs. Moving from paper to production, students collaborated in groups to build traps using an array of colorful materials including construction paper, craft sticks, and recycled boxes. Many teams opted for a "hospitality" approach—adding comfortable arrangements and diversions inside the traps to keep the Leprechauns amused, hoping they wouldn't call for backup to bust them out.
Hopes were high as the traps were set, but the results were... chaotic. While not a single Leprechaun was actually apprehended, the classroom looked like a whirlwind had passed through. Traps were trashed, structures were broken in half, and "fake gold" was snatched. The elusive visitors even left behind uprooted chairs and clever, taunting messages.
The 1st-grade engineers, who crafted individual traps out of cups, reported similar findings of mischief. However, a few lucky students found a silver lining: while the Leprechauns escaped, they left behind a few gold coins—the delicious, chocolate kind.
Though the traps remained empty this year, the spirit of innovation was overflowing. We're chalking this up to a valuable learning experience and are already brainstorming even more captivating, "escape-proof" designs for next year!
🎥 Kindergarten Video: Watch Here
TK/K — Plants, Pests & Monarch Butterflies 🦋
Students have been learning about plants' needs and pests that can harm plants. We went on a visit to the many gardens of ASA to explore the caterpillars that will turn into Monarch butterflies. Then we saw green caterpillars that were eating our cabbage — these caterpillars are pests and will turn into moths.
📢 Please send in 2-liter bottles! We need them for our 2nd-grade project — some of you have been great donors! Thank you!
1st Grade — Puppet Theaters & Shadow Puppets
Thank you for the cereal boxes! The kids are using them to make their puppet theaters. After blueprinting their theaters, they got to build and decorate them. They will begin making their opaque story puppets after Spring Break.
📢 Please send in 2-liter bottles! We need them for our 2nd-grade projects. Thank you!
2nd Grade — Solar Ovens & Erosion Studies
Students successfully turned their solid crayon pieces into liquid using the sun and their solar ovens. At the end of the day, they had solid crayons again in their pretty molds. Lately, we have been studying erosion and are starting a project to lessen soil runoff.
📢 Please send in 2-liter bottles — we are going to need 50 of them! Thank you!
3rd Grade — Animal Survival Game & Severe Weather Research
We had a few animals who survived the many challenges animals face in the wild during our Animal Survival Game. Students were given challenges that animals face and needed to come up with inherited and behavioral traits to explain why they felt their animal would survive. Now we are researching different types of severe weather — namely blizzards, tornadoes, hurricanes, and drought — for our next project.
4th Grade — Earthquake Engineering & Skyscraper Blueprints
It was not easy to withstand the earthquake shaking our students' bridges had to endure — a few notable ones lasted longer than 3 seconds! Taking this knowledge along with research on identifying methods tall skyscrapers use around the world for major earthquakes, students are blueprinting a building with three stories to see how long it can handle a "rolling" earthquake.
Think Tank (TT) — Plants, Pets & Pollinators
Students are learning about plants, pets, and pollinators!
Grades 5-8
STEAM Lab
STEAM Lab for Grades 5-8
April Theme: Forces, Motion, and Engineering Design
Our upper-grade STEAM Lab invites students to explore the physics behind motion, energy transfer, and engineering design. This month's projects challenge learners to apply force, balance, and problem-solving skills as they design, test, and improve solutions that mirror the work of real engineers and scientists.
Define the Challenge
Students identify the design problem, gather constraints, and ask the right questions before building.
Ideate & Design
Brainstorming and sketching phases where multiple solutions are explored through creative thinking.
Prototype & Build
Hands-on construction using materials and tools to turn designs into working models.
Test & Iterate
Students collect data, evaluate performance, and refine their designs to improve results.
Grade Level Snapshots
5th Grade — Forces & Motion: Roller Coaster Design 🎢
Students will investigate how gravity, friction, and inertia affect the motion of objects. They will apply these concepts to design and build a mini roller coaster using foam tubing and marbles, testing and iterating their designs for speed and stability.
Aligned CA NGSS Standards:
  • 3-PS2-1 — Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence of the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of an object.
  • 3-PS2-2 — Make observations and/or measurements of an object's motion to provide evidence that a pattern can be used to predict future motion.
  • 5-ETS1-2 — Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each meets the criteria and constraints.
6th Grade — Simple Machines & Mechanical Advantage ⚙️
Students will explore the six types of simple machines and investigate how they reduce the effort needed to do work. They will design a Rube Goldberg-inspired machine that uses at least three simple machines to complete a task.
Aligned CA NGSS Standards:
  • MS-PS2-2 — Plan an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an object's motion depends on the sum of forces on the object and the mass of the object.
  • MS-ETS1-1 — Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution.
  • MS-ETS1-3 — Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions.
7th Grade — Waves & Energy Transfer 🌊
Students will investigate how waves transfer energy through different mediums. They will model mechanical and electromagnetic waves, explore wave properties (amplitude, frequency, wavelength), and design an experiment to demonstrate wave behavior.
Aligned CA NGSS Standards:
  • MS-PS4-1 — Use mathematical representations to describe a simple model for waves that includes how the amplitude of a wave is related to the energy in a wave.
  • MS-PS4-2 — Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.
  • MS-ETS1-4 — Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process.
8th Grade — Newton's Laws & Rocket Engineering 🚀
Students will apply Newton's three laws of motion to design and launch stomp rockets, analyzing how thrust, mass, and angle affect trajectory and distance. They will collect and graph data to compare results.
Aligned CA NGSS Standards:
  • MS-PS2-1 — Apply Newton's Third Law to design a solution to a problem involving the motion of two colliding objects.
  • MS-PS2-2 — Plan an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an object's motion depends on the sum of forces on the object and the mass of the object.
  • MS-ETS1-2 — Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
Extending STEAM Learning at Home
Encourage your child to watch videos about roller coasters and motion, build simple machines with household materials, explore physics apps or simulations, try a stomp rocket challenge, or test how ramps, surfaces, and angles change movement. Discuss how engineers use forces, motion, and data to improve designs and solve problems.
How to Stay Involved and Support Your Child's Enrichment
Your Partnership Makes a Difference
Parent involvement amplifies the impact of enrichment programs and shows your child that their learning matters beyond the classroom. We offer multiple ways for you to stay connected, ask questions, and contribute to our vibrant enrichment community.
Whether you have five minutes or five hours, there's a meaningful way for you to participate and support your child's enrichment journey at Allegiance STEAM Academy.
Upcoming Events & Opportunities (March 2026)
Join us for Spring Concert performances, STEAM Lab showcases, Spring Field Day, and Spring Celebration events throughout the year. Volunteer opportunities include helping with events, sharing career expertise, or supporting classroom activities.
  • Spring Concert Performances (March 20-21)
  • STEAM Lab Showcases (March 24-26)
  • Spring Field Day (March 28)
  • Spring Celebration Events (March 30)
Communication Channels
We welcome your questions, feedback, and ideas! Connect with enrichment teachers through Parent Square or use our emails below! Your input helps us continuously improve our programs.
Archive
March 2026
March 2026 Updates Archive
Here’s a look back at the exciting enrichment content and key events from March 2026, offering a comprehensive overview of your child’s learning journey and opportunities for engagement.
Language Immersion Focus
Spanish Curriculum
Students participated in the exciting Locura de Marzo music competition, learning about featured artists and songs while mastering verb conjugations. Grades 4-8 combined language learning with musical performance.
Mandarin Chinese
Students explored Spring and Nature (春天和自然), learning vocabulary about spring flowers, weather, and animals. Grade-level highlights included adjectives (Kindergarten), opposite adjectives & animals (1st), colors & clothing (2nd), and food vocabulary (3rd).
Physical Education Highlights
Third Grade Mile Challenge
On March 5th, third grade teachers ran the mile alongside their students in a community-building event.
Color Run
On March 13th, students and families enjoyed the annual Color Run on the field.
Fitness Gram assessments for Grades 5 & 7 reached the halfway point.
Music Department Performances
Upcoming April Performances
1st Grade American Symbols Production and 7th Grade Shakespeare Unshackled were in final rehearsals throughout March.
TK/K students continued ensemble music-making with xylophones and kindness songs.
8th Grade began rehearsing Promotion Performance songs.
STEAM Lab Projects
March was a bustling month in the STEAM Lab, with students across all grades tackling innovative and engaging projects designed to foster critical thinking and practical skills.
Lower Grades Focus
  • Plants & Leprechaun Traps (TK/K): Exploring plant growth while building creative trap designs.
  • Carnival Games & Light Exploration (1st): Investigating light through hands-on game-inspired activities.
  • Solar Ovens & Erosion Studies (2nd): Learning about energy and land changes through experiments.
  • Animal Survival Game (3rd): Applying science concepts to habitat and survival challenges.
  • Bridge Engineering & Earthquake Challenges (4th): Designing structures to test strength and resilience.
Upper Grades Innovation
  • Water Conservation (5th): Learning conservation strategies with a guest speaker from the Union City Water Inspector.
  • Zoo Enclosure / Habitat Design for Endangered Species (6th): Creating thoughtful habitat solutions for animal needs.
  • Rock Cycle & Erosion Labs (7th): Investigating geologic processes through lab work.
  • Gravity, Magnetic Fields & Space Forces Art Integration (8th): Connecting science concepts with creative art exploration.
Contact & Monthly Update Archive
Spanish (Grades 4-8)
Teacher: Sr. Gancz & Sra. Bobadilla
Mandarin (Grades TK-3)
Teacher: Ms. Janice
Email: ​
Music (TK-8)
Teacher: Mr. Sanchez
Physical Education (TK-8)
Teacher: Mr. Borges, Mrs. Cameron, Mr. Cordts
STEAM Lab (TK-4)
Teacher: Mrs. Cunningham
STEAM Lab (Grades 5-8)
Teacher: Mrs. Hameister