SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER

Happy September! A new month means new opportunities to learn and grow. As we settle into the new school year, September invites us to embrace fresh ideas. Whether you are diving into a new subject or mastering a favorite skill, remember you are part of an online learning community that is here to support you every step of the way.

So grab your device, find your focus, and let's make this

month a meaningful one. We are excited to see all the amazing things you will discover, learn, and create this school year!

Inside this newsletter, you will find:

• Creative Corner Spotlight
• Learning Spotlight: The Science of Apples
• LLVS Learner Engagement Recent Events
• LLVS Learner Engagement Upcoming Events

🎨 LLVS Creative Corner

🎨 The Creative Corner Spotlight

Leila M. - Conestoga Valley School District

This month’s spotlight is on Leila M. (Conestoga School District), whose artwork reflects a cheerful spirit and a growing love for creating. Her work captures the joy of creating and reminds us that every artist starts with a spark. Alongside her colorful collage, you'll find her thoughtful responses that offer a peek into what inspires her and how she brings her ideas to life.

What inspired your drawing?

“Our school has Art Camp days and we usually are given an idea by our teachers. They show us the materials, and we get to be creative in our own way. On this day, I was making a letter collage.”

Can you tell us a little bit about what your artwork shows or represents?

“We were each given a letter to decorate as part of a collage that will be in our Learning Center. I was given the letter’s J and P.”

What materials or tools did you use to create it?

“I used clay beads, confetti string which I cut up, paint, glue, and a butterfly sticker!”

How do you feel when you’re drawing or creating art?

“I feel happy, calm, and relaxed. And once it’s finished, I feel like I did something really great, like I accomplished something. At home, I am always painting or coloring.”

Do you have a favorite artist or style that influences your work?

“I really like Kawaii style art!”

What advice would you give to other students who want to start drawing or creating art?

“I would say just to try your best, even if at first you don’t like what you made, the more you practice, the easier it gets. Everyone is a good artist in their own way.”

What are you planning to create next?

“I’m in the middle of finishing up a coloring book with alcohol-based markers. Once I finish that one, my Mom said I can pick out a new book!”

Learner Spotlight:

The Science of Apples

This month, we celebrated all things apple at our Apple Festival, from tasting different varieties of apples to planting seeds and decorating apple pots! Learners also explored the life cycle of an apple, discovering how a tiny seed grows into a tree that produces delicious fruit. There is more to apples than taste—let’s reveal the science that makes them grow, change, and thrive.

Life Cycle of an Apple Tree

Did you know it can take 5 to 10 years for an apple tree to grow from a seed and produce an apple? Below is the apple tree life cycle:

1. Seed
2. Sapling 
3. Mature Tree 
4. Flowering Tree
5. Apple

Pollination Power

Without pollinators like bees, birds, and insects, we would not have apples.

Here’s how it works:

• After an Apple tree matures (which can take up to 10 years if grown from a seed), it will produce beautiful flowers in the spring.
• Bees, birds, and other pollinators will collect nectar and pollen from the apple tree blossoms. As they move from flower to flower, they transfer pollen from the male part (anther) to the female part (stigma) of the blossom. This process is called pollination, and it allows the flower to develop into a delicious apple.

Grow Your Own Apple Tree

Did you miss our Apple Festival? No worries—you can still start your own apple-growing adventure at home!

What You Will Need:

• Apple seeds (from any apple you have eaten)
• Paper towel
• Ziplock bag (gallon size)
• Water
• Small pot with soil (for later)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Collect seeds from apples!
2. Take a paper towel and fold it lengthwise.
3. Spray each side of the paper towel 5-6 times with water. You will want the paper towel to be damp, but not soaking wet.
4. Lay your apple seeds in a line across the top half of the paper towel. Fold the paper in half to cover the seeds.
5. Place your paper towel carefully inside your ziplock bag.
6. Put your plastic bag in the refrigerator for at least 3 weeks.
7. Check your ziplock bag periodically to make sure your paper towel remains damp.
8. After about 3 weeks, you should see tiny roots or sprouts.
9. Fill your small pot with potting soil.
10. Make a small hole, approximately 1/2 to 1 inch deep. Place the root side down in the soil and lightly cover the seed.
11. Water a little each day at first for the first week or two. (Do not saturate, just a light watering.)
12. Reduce watering to every 2-3 days, and gradually reduce to once a week as the seedling grows and establishes a strong root system.
13. Be patient! It may take a few weeks to see a sprout!
14. As your sprout grows larger, you can transplant it into a larger pot.

Learner Engagement Fall Event

LLVS learners came together to celebrate the magic of apples with a hands-on Apple Festival! Learners explored the apple life cycle, tasted different apple varieties, decorated apple pops with creative toppings, and planted apple seeds in decorated pots. Each learner also took home a seed kit with soil and instructions to continue the planting experience at home. The event blended science, creativity, and hands-on learning. To see a glimpse of our day, click on the video below!

Get Ready! Exciting Learner Engagement Events are on the way!

Explore the wild side at the Wolf Sanctuary! Embark on an unforgettable journey into the heart of nature with a guided educational tour at the Wolf Sanctuary. Witness majestic rescued gray wolves thriving in their natural habitat and gain insight into their behaviors, personalities, and the vital role they play in the ecosystem.

Led by experts, this immersive experience offers a rare chance to observe these incredible animals up close while exploring the science of wolf biology and the importance of conservation efforts.

Don’t miss this wild adventure—where learning meets nature!

Online learners—get ready for a fun and inspiring field trip!

We are heading to the beautiful Franklin & Marshall campus for a special visit. You will get a sneak peek into college life with an admissions overview and enjoy a guided walking tour of the campus.

Come see where big dreams begin and discover what makes F&M so special!

Get ready for a full day of adventure and tasty fun! LLVS Online Learners are invited to explore Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery for a behind-the-scenes look at how soft pretzels are made—you will even get your very own pretzel to enjoy!

After the tour of Julius Sturgis Bakery, we will head to Lititz Springs Park for awesome activities and a picnic lunch together. Don’t forget to pack your favorite lunch!

To top it all off, we will end the day with a sweet treat at Greco’s Ice Cream, where LLVS is treating every student to a delicious scoop of ice cream!

It will be a day full of learning, laughter, and snacks that you will not want to miss!!

Connect with us on Social Media

Just a reminder, we are excited that we are expanding our presence on social media, and we want YOU to be a part of it! Following us on Facebook and Instagram is a great way to stay updated on the latest news and events! You will see real-time updates on important announcements, deadlines, and events.

Click on the links below to follow us!

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Don't miss out on the chance to be more involved and informed.