Happy Hall @ Dolores Way Newsletter | July

Shelley Marquez
Jul 29
3 min read

Director's Message

Our summer weeks have been filled with so much fun, and it’s been wonderful to see all of our students so engaged in the exciting activities and events we’ve enjoyed over the past month. From creative projects and outdoor exploration to planting flowers and raising butterflies from caterpillars, every experience has been full of discovery. We even welcomed special guests like the Insect Discovery Lab!

Family Fun Night with Cotton Candy Express was a highlight for many of us, we hope you had as much fun as we did!

As we begin to wrap up summer, we’ve officially started preparing for the 2025–2026 school year. We’re looking forward to another great year ahead, and we’ll be sharing important updates and information with all families very soon. Please keep an eye out over the next couple of weeks for more details.

In the meantime, we hope you're soaking up the final weeks of summer and enjoying some well-deserved rest and sunshine!

Program Highlights

Engagement Activities

Gardening & Growing Week was full of seeds, soil, and lots of hands-on fun! We explored the parts of a plant and the journey from seed to sprout. Starting our own flower pots was a highlight—and we’re so excited to see them sprouting already!

During Color Exploration Week we also tapped into our creativity with some unique art projects. Using watercolors, crayons, and even squeegees, the children explored different materials and created colorful masterpieces now proudly displayed around our classroom. It’s been such a joy to see their imaginations at work!

Bugs & Butterflies Week brought us up close with some amazing insects. We learned about different types of bugs and had the incredible experience of watching our tiny caterpillars grow and transform into butterflies. We released seven beautiful butterflies with lots of cheers and well wishes.

Professional Development

On July 11, we officially began preparing for the upcoming 2025–2026 school year! We’ve ordered some new materials and supplies and have started planning classroom placements to ensure a smooth transition for everyone.

We’re also looking forward to our Staff Development, taking place August 13–15. During this time, our teaching team will be hard at work setting up classrooms, collaborating on plans for the year ahead, and participating in professional development training.

We’re excited for all that’s to come and can’t wait to welcome our students and families back on Monday, August 18!

Community Events

We had such a wonderful time at our Family Fun Night in July! Cotton Candy Express with Lori and RJ was a hit—fun and engaging for kids of all ages (including the grown-ups!)

Thank you to all the families who joined us and shared in the rare summer sunshine. We’re so glad we had the chance to spend this special time together, building memories and community.

We’re already looking forward to the next time we can gather and celebrate with you!

Reminders

Please remember that Wednesday Sharing is for theme-related items only.

This week, most children brought books and toys related to our farm theme, and it was wonderful to see how excited they were to share and connect their items back to what we've been learning!

Here’s what’s coming up for Sharing Days: Wednesday, July 30 – Cooking theme Wednesday, August 6 – Under the Sea theme

Thank you for helping your child choose something that supports our classroom topics each week!

Looking Ahead

We have lots of exciting things happening as we wrap up our summer together. Here’s what’s coming up:

Mondays – July 28, August 4 & 11 – Big Kicks Soccer ⚽ Elm Class: 9:30 AM ⚽ Oak Class: 10:00 & 10:30 AM (split into two groups) ⚽ Pine Class: 11:00 AM If your child does not attend on Mondays, you’re welcome to bring them during their class’s timeslot to participate. It’s a great chance to see if they’d enjoy joining our Wednesday soccer group!
Thursday, July 31 – Crazy Hair Day Let your creativity shine—spikes, colors, braids, and bows welcome!
Wednesday & Thursday, August 7 & 8 – Water Play Days Please send a swimsuit, towel, water shoes, and a bag to store wet items. Let’s hope for warm sunny weather!
Friday, August 8 – Foam Party! 9:30 – 11:00 AM All children are invited to come join the bubbly fun!
August 13–15 – Center Closed for Staff Development Our team will be preparing for a great year ahead. Thank you for your understanding!
Monday, August 18 – First Day of the 2025–2026 School Year