Hello Families!
November flew by with such beautiful weather. Progress in learning is happening all around us. We encourage you to stop for a moment and take a look.
November was a fun month! Our younger students explored feathers, while our older students wrote down things they are thankful for. Students learned about the first Thanksgiving, Indian culture, and turkeys. Some of our students even dictated “How to Cook a Turkey”.
As we look ahead to December, we know that is a busy time with family gatherings and celebrations. As a school, we will dive into new links and work on developing new skills. Classrooms will be talking about the different traditions that families participate in around this time of year. Keep an eye out for some student displays.
We have some fun things planned for December!
- 12/1 : Cookie Day
- 12/4 : Hockey Day – Wear your team gear or colors!
- 12/6 : Hanukkah Begins
- 12/7 : Holiday Gift Shop Begins – Your child may shop for gifts all week!
- 12/7 : St Nicholas Day – We will put our shoes in the hall and see if there are treats left in them.
- 12/11 : Holiday Gift Shop Ends
- 12/11 : Holiday Sweater Day
- 12/11 : Mitten/PJ Day – Bring in mittens, hats, and PJs to decorate our tree. We will donate these items to Water Street Rescue Mission
- 12/15 : Holiday Traditions Celebration – Bring in something you do to celebrate the holidays
- 12/17 : Gingerbread Creations Competition – Each classroom will make something with gingerbread
- 12/18 : Camouflage Day
- 12/23 : Holiday PJ Day
- 12/24 : Christmas Eve – Chesterbrook will close at 3pm
- 12/25 : Christmas Day – Chesterbrook is Closed
- 12/26 : Happy Kwanzaa
- 12/29 : Cut out a snowflake Day
- 12/31 : New Year’s Eve – We will make party hats
Thank you for letting us be a part of your child’s education! Happy Holidays.
Miss Rachael and Miss Amanda
Reminders
- Please be sure to wash your child’s hands upon entry into the classroom. We want to do our best to keep germs at bay!
- Please be sure all schedule changes have been approved by the office.
- Please sign your child in and out each day; the sheets are located outside of the office.
Education Connection
Exploring Holiday Traditions from Around the World
The holiday season is here, providing a wealth of opportunities to enrich the children’s understanding of diverse cultures and traditions around the world. In addition, our students will share their own traditions with others.
Below are age appropriate activities that we use in the classroom, as well as activities for you and your child to do at home.
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: As they near the age of two, children begin to recognize the sights and sounds of holidays celebrated by their family. Parents visit our classrooms to share holiday traditions, including unique books, songs and activities.
At home: Gather family photos and point out traditions, such as unwrapping presents, eating holiday dinner at grandma’s house, and making a snowman. Encourage your child to talk about what he sees in the photos.
Recommended reading: Children Around the World Celebrate Christmas by Christine Tangvald, Happy Hanukkah, Corduroy by Don Freeman, My First Kwanzaa by Karen Katz
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Children sing holiday songs from around the world and are introduced to holiday symbols that they may see in their communities, such as Christmas trees or Hanukkah menorahs.
At home: Take a drive with your child or bring him to various holiday festivals in your community. Encourage him to look for and identify holiday decorations.
Recommended reading: Christmas Around the World by Calliope Glass, Hanukkah Hop by Erica Silverman, Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa by Donna Washington
PRE-K/PRE-K2 (ages 4-5)
In the classroom: After learning about holiday traditions around the world, our older preschoolers identify countries on a globe. For example, they might learn about Diwali, the festival of lights, and then find India on the globe. They might make tamales, a dish often served on Christmas, and then find Mexico on the globe.
At home: Ask your child to help you prepare your family’s favorite holiday foods. Talk about the long-standing traditions in which these foods are rooted. For instance, you might explain, “I used to bake cookies for the holidays with my mom. Now we can start baking cookies together!”
Recommended reading: Children Just Like Me: Celebrations by Anabel Kindersley, Light the Lights: A Story about Celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas by Margaret Moorman, The Story of Kwanzaa by Mary Washington
Exposing children to various holiday traditions helps them build strong social skills, establish a sense of self, and respect the differences of others as they transition into elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education
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December News
Hello Families!
November flew by with such beautiful weather. Progress in learning is happening all around us. We encourage you to stop for a moment and take a look.
November was a fun month! Our younger students explored feathers, while our older students wrote down things they are thankful for. Students learned about the first Thanksgiving, Indian culture, and turkeys. Some of our students even dictated “How to Cook a Turkey”.
As we look ahead to December, we know that is a busy time with family gatherings and celebrations. As a school, we will dive into new links and work on developing new skills. Classrooms will be talking about the different traditions that families participate in around this time of year. Keep an eye out for some student displays.
We have some fun things planned for December!
Thank you for letting us be a part of your child’s education! Happy Holidays.
Miss Rachael and Miss Amanda
Reminders
Education Connection
Exploring Holiday Traditions from Around the World
The holiday season is here, providing a wealth of opportunities to enrich the children’s understanding of diverse cultures and traditions around the world. In addition, our students will share their own traditions with others.
Below are age appropriate activities that we use in the classroom, as well as activities for you and your child to do at home.
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: As they near the age of two, children begin to recognize the sights and sounds of holidays celebrated by their family. Parents visit our classrooms to share holiday traditions, including unique books, songs and activities.
At home: Gather family photos and point out traditions, such as unwrapping presents, eating holiday dinner at grandma’s house, and making a snowman. Encourage your child to talk about what he sees in the photos.
Recommended reading: Children Around the World Celebrate Christmas by Christine Tangvald, Happy Hanukkah, Corduroy by Don Freeman, My First Kwanzaa by Karen Katz
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Children sing holiday songs from around the world and are introduced to holiday symbols that they may see in their communities, such as Christmas trees or Hanukkah menorahs.
At home: Take a drive with your child or bring him to various holiday festivals in your community. Encourage him to look for and identify holiday decorations.
Recommended reading: Christmas Around the World by Calliope Glass, Hanukkah Hop by Erica Silverman, Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa by Donna Washington
PRE-K/PRE-K2 (ages 4-5)
In the classroom: After learning about holiday traditions around the world, our older preschoolers identify countries on a globe. For example, they might learn about Diwali, the festival of lights, and then find India on the globe. They might make tamales, a dish often served on Christmas, and then find Mexico on the globe.
At home: Ask your child to help you prepare your family’s favorite holiday foods. Talk about the long-standing traditions in which these foods are rooted. For instance, you might explain, “I used to bake cookies for the holidays with my mom. Now we can start baking cookies together!”
Recommended reading: Children Just Like Me: Celebrations by Anabel Kindersley, Light the Lights: A Story about Celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas by Margaret Moorman, The Story of Kwanzaa by Mary Washington
Exposing children to various holiday traditions helps them build strong social skills, establish a sense of self, and respect the differences of others as they transition into elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education