Happy Hall Newsletter | February 2026
- Shawna Mccune
- Feb 26
- 20 min read
What's Inside
Message from the Executive Director
February centers on belonging.
Every day, we are helping children understand what it means to be part of a community. That starts with simple skills. Listening when someone else is speaking. Including a classmate in a game. Taking responsibility after a mistake. These are not small lessons. They shape character.
Belonging also means honoring the diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences within our community. Children notice differences. We help them approach those differences with curiosity and respect. When children feel seen and valued, they are more confident learners and kinder peers.
Community does not happen by accident. It takes consistent expectations, caring adults, and partnership with families. Thank you for building that foundation with us.
We are grateful for your trust and for the opportunity to support your children each day.
Rachel Heck, Executive Director
Announcements
Upcoming Professional Development
On March 13 and 14, our team will begin a new certification process focused on strengthening our classrooms from the inside out.
This work centers on three key areas:
Designing classroom environments that promote independence, focus, and belonging
Refining how we teach so instruction is intentional, engaging, and responsive
Aligning our curriculum to ensure depth, consistency, and meaningful skill development
This is structured, research-based professional development. It is part of our long-term commitment to continuously improve how children experience our programs each day.
Strong programs do not happen by accident. They are built through reflection, training, and alignment.
This certification is one more step in building that foundation.
Camp Happy Hall Expands to Burlingame
We are excited to announce that Camp Happy Hall’s fourth summer location is confirmed.
This summer, we will be at Washington Elementary School in Burlingame.
Our Director of Programming, Colleen Rocks, is thrilled to bring the magic of Camp Happy Hall to even more families. Camp is known for its high-energy themes, structured activities, strong supervision, and the kind of community children look forward to year after year.
If Burlingame has been waiting for us, we are ready.
Super Early Bird pricing ends tomorrow. This is the largest savings opportunity for summer camp.
Learn more and register at: www.camphappyhall.com
Our Evolution to Strata Learning Collective
For 75 years, we have supported families and nurtured children in this community.
Now, we are evolving.
Strata Learning Collective reflects who we have become and where we are going. Strata represents layers. Layers of experience. Layers of growth. Layers of learning built over time.
We are not starting over. We are building on a strong foundation.
The professional development launching in March is one example of this evolution. As we deepen our practice and pursue certification, we are intentionally strengthening every layer of our organization.
Environment. Instruction. Relationships. Curriculum.
We are excited about what we have built. We are even more excited about what we are building next.
Summer Camp 2026
Summer is almost here, and we can’t wait for another season of hands-on fun, creativity, and discovery!
Our Super Early Bird rate ends on February 27!
Be sure to register before 2/27 to lock in the lowest price of the season. Spots fill quickly every year, so don’t wait, secure your camper’s place today!
Learn more and register at www.camphappyhall.com.
Rotary Highlight
Happy Hall is proud to be a member of the Rotary Club of Millbrae.
We are excited to share that this year’s Lunar New Year Banquet sold out. Proceeds will directly support local youth initiatives in our community.
We are also looking forward to the upcoming Spring in Bloom fundraiser.
This special evening includes:
Dinner
Priority seating for the Wizard of Oz play
A community-centered celebration
All proceeds fund the Spring Festival at Rotary Park in Millbrae, which will take place in April.
The Spring Festival includes:
Games
Photos with the Easter Bunny and Millie the Frog
An egg hunt
Community activities for children up to age 9
It is a joyful event that brings families together while supporting local youth programs.
We are honored to be part of a community that shows up for its children.
Small Business Spotlight
Spirited Play Labs
Spirited Play Labs is an inclusive play space designed for children ages 18 months to 8 years old. It was created for children who are disabled, neurodivergent, behaviorally different, or developing typically.
All children are welcome here.
This is a place where kids can play authentically. That means flapping, yelling, jumping, hiding, or moving through the space in their own way. Caregivers get something rare, too: a space where you can relax while your child plays safely and freely.
Inclusion is not a feature at Spirited Play Labs. It is the foundation. The team understands how isolating early childhood can feel, especially when therapy schedules, evaluations, and constant advocacy fill your days. Community and connection are central to everything they do.
Spirited Play Labs also offers private rentals for birthdays, celebrations, and community events.
Private rentals include:
Exclusive use of the play space
Private parking
A mini kitchen
A calm, thoughtfully designed environment that works for many needs
If you are looking for a play space that truly sees your child, Spirited Play Labs is worth knowing about.
Nominate a Small Business
Each month, we will highlight a small business connected to our Happy Hall community. If you would like to nominate a business to be featured, please email us with the name of the business and a short note about why you’re recommending them.
Email: info@happyhall.com
Stay Connected
Check out our photo galleries:
Happy Hall @ Dolores Way
Director's Message
This month’s newsletter highlights something we value deeply at Happy Hall. The balance between academic growth, social-emotional development, and joyful celebration. Whether children are mastering new skills, practicing kindness and cooperation, or participating in cultural traditions, each experience helps build confident, connected learners.
I am continually proud of the way our children show curiosity, resilience, and heart in their classrooms. Thank you for partnering with us in creating a community where learning is meaningful and childhood is celebrated.
Program Highlights
Engagement Activities
February truly flew by! We spent the month exploring shapes (with lots of hearts, of course), learning about money, and discovering facts about past presidents. In the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day, we focused on kindness, friendship, and the love we share with our families. There has also been plenty of dragon fun and Lunar New Year excitement as we look ahead to the Year of the Horse. It has been a joyful, busy month filled with meaningful learning and celebration!
In March we are so excited to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday with a lot of rhyming and word building activities. We will also enjoy some leprechaun hijinx and practice counting our gold we find at the end of the rainbow!
Community Events
On Wednesday, March 4, we will be celebrating Holi, India’s Festival of Colors, which marks the end of winter and celebrates love and friendship.
To celebrate, the children will have the opportunity to use colorful powder and get a little messy! Please have your child wear a white t-shirt to school that day and bring a change of shirt in a labeled ziplock bag. After the celebration, we will place their newly colorful shirt in the bag for you to take home.
Our plan is to toss the color powder onto the children’s t-shirts, but it may also get on other clothing and in their hair. The powder is non-toxic and washable, and it should rinse out easily.
If you’re curious, here is the link to the powder we will be using:. Holi Powder
Professional Development
We’re excited to keep learning and growing as a team to give our preschoolers the best possible experience. On Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14, all of our preschool staff will attend a special curriculum training. This program focuses on strategies that support children’s social-emotional development, self-reflection, and self-regulation skills. The training will give our team new tools to help children build confidence, manage their emotions, and fully engage in classroom activities, making sure we continue to provide a warm and supportive environment for every child.
Student Achievements
A huge shout out to our Oak Class children for making it all the way through the alphabet! They have explored each letter name and letter sound throughout the school year, building a strong foundation for early reading. We are so proud of their hard work and enthusiasm. They will be celebrating this accomplishment with a special Letter Party soon!
We are also incredibly proud of our Pine Class for filling in their Life Skills Gumball Machine! This means they have consistently practiced and demonstrated excellence in patience, flexibility, cooperation, responsibility, caring, and effort. What an amazing achievement! They are now planning a Rainbow Party to celebrate their teamwork and dedication.
We love celebrating both academic milestones and social-emotional growth. Way to go, Oak and Pine!
Reminders
If you have a part day schedule, please remember to arrive after 8:50am and pick up no later than 2:05pm. You can let us know if you ever need to add an hour for $20 to your child’s day.
Looking Ahead
Wednesday, March 4: Holi Color Festival 10:45am
Friday, March 13: School Closed. Professional Development Day
Friday, April 3: School Closed. Spring Break
Shelley Marquez
Program Director
Happy Hall @ Dolores Way
Happy Hall @ Ortega
Director's Message
February was a busy and engaging month in our preschool classrooms. The children have been learning through hands-on projects, creative art activities, books, and meaningful classroom discussions. It has been wonderful to see their excitement as they explore new concepts, practice early literacy skills, and build confidence in sharing their ideas with friends.
Beyond academics, we continue to focus on kindness, cooperation, and building strong classroom friendships. These early social experiences are such an important part of preschool, and we are proud of the growth we see each day. Thank you for your continued support and partnership in helping your children learn and thrive.
Program Highlights
Engagement Activities
In February, our preschoolers had a wonderful time learning about Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, and Lunar New Year. We read books and watched short, kid-friendly videos that helped us better understand each holiday and why people celebrate them. For Groundhog Day, we talked about shadows and weather predictions, and the children made their own little groundhogs to see if they could find their shadows.
For Valentine’s Day, the children loved making special cards and decorations. They were especially excited to bring Valentines from home and hand them out to all of their friends. It was such a sweet moment watching them share, practice kindness, and celebrate together.
As we learned about Lunar New Year, we talked about some traditions families follow, like celebrating with special foods and enjoying dragon dances. We learned that red is a lucky color and created festive lantern and dragon art projects. The children enjoyed learning about how different cultures celebrate the new year.
We also spent time working on the letters V, N, and J through songs, crafts, tracing, and classroom activities. The children had fun thinking of words that begin with each letter and practicing their letter sounds. It was a busy month full of hands-on learning, creativity, and lots of happy moments together.
Professional Development
We’re excited to keep learning and growing as a team to give our preschoolers the best possible experience. On Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14, all of our preschool staff will attend a special curriculum training. This program focuses on strategies that support children’s social-emotional development, self-reflection, and self-regulation skills. The training will give our team new tools to help children build confidence, manage their emotions, and fully engage in classroom activities, making sure we continue to provide a warm and supportive environment for every child.
Community Events
During the week of Valentine’s Day, our classrooms were filled with excitement and kindness as children took part in our special community celebration. Students brought in Valentine goodies from home and proudly handed them out to their classmates, placing them into the festive bags they created in class. The children also enjoyed special Valentine-themed snacks and had fun playing festive games together. It was a sweet week focused on sharing, friendship, and building joyful memories as a school community.
Student Achievements
Our students have been working hard to fill up their Life Skills chart for the chance to earn another Life Skills Party! They continue to practice important skills like patience, caring, cooperation, flexibility, effort, and responsibility each day in the classroom. It has been wonderful to see how much they have grown in these areas as the year has progressed. From working through challenges with patience to showing kindness and teamwork with friends, the progress in our classroom community has been something to truly celebrate.
Reminders
Please remember to notify us if your child will be late, absent, or on vacation. You can mark them absent in the 1Core app, email us at ortega@happyhall.com, or call or text 650-355-5026. If your child is out sick with a contagious illness, we kindly ask that you let us know so we can post an exposure notice to inform other families and help them stay aware of symptoms.
We also encourage families to have children at preschool by 9:00 a.m. whenever possible. Many of our learning activities take place in the morning, and arriving on time helps children fully participate, build strong routines, and get the most out of their day at school.
Looking Ahead
Friday, March 13: School Closed. Professional Development Day.
April 6-10: Attendance by sign-up
Nichole Lancaster
Program Director
Happy Hall @ Ortega
Happy Hall @ Santa Inez
Director's Message
Welcome to February, families!
February has brought so many exciting changes to our campus. Most especially the addition of our brand-new Infant Room to our program! Welcoming our littlest learners to Santa Inez has been such a joyful and exciting milestone for all of us. It has truly warmed our hearts to see them settling in, exploring their new environment, and beginning their learning journey with us. Our staff and I cannot wait to watch them grow, thrive, and reach so many special milestones in the years ahead here at Santa Inez.
Program Highlights
Engagement Activities
February has truly been a month full of learning, celebration, and connection here at Santa Inez! We kicked off the month by celebrating Lunar New Year, where our classrooms created beautiful Lunar New Year–inspired art, learned about traditions, enjoyed lively lion dances, and even participated in a small parade that traveled throughout the campus. It was such a joyful way to explore culture and community together.
We also had the sweetest Valentine’s Day exchange on Friday the 13th, it was heartwarming to watch our students exchange cards and small gifts with their classmates and teachers. The entire day was filled with kindness, friendship, and so much love.
Throughout the month, our students have also been learning about Black History Month through meaningful books, thoughtful classroom discussions, and creative art projects that help build understanding and appreciation.
Although the rainy weather kept us indoors more than we would have liked, our teachers did an incredible job planning engaging indoor activities to keep our students active, curious, and busy. I am so proud of the creativity and flexibility shown by both our staff and students. I look forward to seeing all the wonderful moments and new learning experiences that next month will bring!
Professional Development
Please note that we will be closed on Friday, March 13th for our Staff Professional Development Day. Our team will be fully engaged in a full day of trainings and collaboration, joining together with our Ortega and Dolores Way campus staff. These dedicated development days allow our teachers to continue growing professionally, strengthen best practices, and bring fresh ideas back into the classroom to better support our students. We appreciate your understanding and support as we invest in our amazing team!
Reminders
We kindly ask that you keep us informed if your child will be arriving late, absent, or going on vacation. You may report an absence directly in the 1Core app, email us at santainez@happyhall.com, or call/text us at 650-661-7919. If your child is home sick with a contagious illness, please be sure to notify us so we can share an exposure notice with other families to help keep everyone informed and aware of potential symptoms.
Additionally, we strongly encourage families to have children arrive by 9:00 a.m. whenever possible. Much of our core learning and group activities take place in the morning, and arriving on time allows children to fully engage, establish consistent routines, and make the most of their preschool day.
Looking Ahead
March 2 - 6: Scholastic Book Fair
Friday, March 13: School Closed. Professional Development Day.
Friday, April 3: School Closed. Spring Break.
Erin Olivas
Program Director
Happy Hall @ Santa Inez
Engagement Activities
In the coming weeks, our themes will include Technology, Citizens of the World, Game Makers, and Decade Discovery. In Technology, children will explore how technology shapes our world and empowers people to think creatively, solve problems, and imagine a better future. Citizens of the World will encourage students to develop global awareness, cultural appreciation, and social responsibility by exploring diverse traditions, languages, and perspectives. This theme fosters critical thinking, empathy, and collaboration, helping students recognize their role in an interconnected world.
Game Makers offers a fun opportunity for children to explore the mechanics behind both digital and non-digital games, with a focus on design, strategy, and storytelling. Students will engage in creative game-making by building games, testing their ideas through hands-on projects, and collaborating with peers. Decade Discovery invites students to dive into different historical periods, exploring the distinctive characteristics, innovations, and cultural shifts of each era.
Happy Hall @ Green Hills
Director's Message
We hope everyone has had a wonderful February so far! It’s been an exciting and energetic month in our afterschool program, filled with learning, laughter, and lots of hands-on fun.
One of the biggest highlights this month has been our STEAM activities featuring robot cars. The kids had an amazing time exploring basic coding, engineering, and problem-solving skills as they built paths, programmed, and played with the robots. It’s been fantastic to see their creativity, teamwork, and determination in action. Watching them test their designs, make adjustments, and celebrate their successes has truly been a joy.
We’re so proud of all the enthusiasm and curiosity our students bring each day. Thank you for being part of our community. We look forward to sharing more of this month’s adventures with you!
Program Highlights
Professional Development
On March 13, several staff members will take part in a special all-hands training centered on currirulum, where they will explore how this approach fosters social-emotional growth, self-awareness, and self-regulation skills in children from infancy through kindergarten.
Reminders
If your child will be absent from Happy Hall, please inform us via text, email, or through 1Core.
Please remind students that toys, collectibles, and other personal items from home should not be brought to Happy Hall, as we cannot be held responsible for any lost, broken, or stolen items.
Come by to check if your child is missing a jacket or a water bottle, our lost and found is growing and will be donated at the end of the month!
Looking Ahead
Summer Camp Super Early Bird ends February 27, 2026
Camp Day: March 13, 2026 | Registration deadline March 11
Spring Camp: March 30–April 3, 2026 | Registration deadline March 26, 2026
Tiffany Tamin
Program Director
Happy Hall @ Green Hills
Happy Hall @ Lomita Park
Director's Message
We hope you’ve all had a great start to February! It has been a lively and engaging month in our afterschool program, full of meaningful learning experiences, laughter, and hands-on activities.
A major highlight this month has been our STEAM projects featuring robot cars. Students have been enthusiastically exploring introductory coding concepts, engineering design, and problem-solving as they created courses, programmed movements, and experimented with the robots. It has been wonderful to witness their creativity, collaboration, and perseverance throughout the process. Seeing them test their ideas, refine their designs, and celebrate their accomplishments has been especially rewarding.
We are incredibly proud of the curiosity and positive energy our students bring each day. Thank you for being a valued part of our community. We look forward to continuing to share this month’s experiences and achievements with you!
Program Highlights
Professional Development
We continue to update our safety and emergency procedures and regularly practice staff drills to ensure we are prepared for any situation that may arise. On March 13, several of our staff members will attend a special all-hands training focused on curriculum, learning how this approach supports the social-emotional development, self-reflection, and self-regulation skills of children from birth through kindergarten age.
Reminders
If your child will be absent from Happy Hall, please inform us via text, email, or through 1Core.
For any unexcused absences/early pick-ups, please be sure to fill out the Attendance Form in a timely manner.
Please remind students that toys, collectibles, and other personal items from home should not be brought to Happy Hall, as we cannot be held responsible for any lost, broken, or stolen items.
Come by to check if your child is missing a jacket or a water bottle, our lost and found is growing and will be donated at the end of the month!
Looking Ahead
Summer Camp Super Early Bird ends February 27, 2026
Camp Day: March 13, 2026 | Registration deadline March 11
Spring Camp: March 30–April 3, 2026 | Registration deadline March 26, 2026
Early Dismissal Days: March 9-12
Conner Chicoine
Program Director
Happy Hall @ Lomita Park
Happy Hall @ Meadows
Director's Message
As we move through February, we have been focusing on appreciation and gratitude—what these ideas mean to the children and to our community. We are continuing to build our social-emotional learning by sharing each day who we appreciate and what we are grateful for. With the weather changing often this month, we have enjoyed using the MUR on rainy days, along with some warm homemade snacks such as potato soup, turnip casserole, and potatoes with cheese. We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to all the families who contributed to our Lunar New Year potluck.
Looking ahead to March, we will continue our regular curriculum while also exploring empathy. What it means, and how it affects the way we support and understand others. We will discuss how empathy helps us recognize and respond to others’ feelings, as well as how we can practice empathy toward ourselves.
Program Highlights
Community Events
MEF Lunar New Year Event @ Meadows: February 26, 2026 | MUR | 5:30–7:30 PM
Early Dismissal Days: March 9–11| We will pick up children directly after school.
Professional Development
We continue to update our safety and emergency procedures and regularly practice staff drills to ensure we are prepared for any situation that may arise. On March 13, several of our staff members will attend a special all-hands training focused on curriculum, learning how this approach supports the social-emotional development, self-reflection, and self-regulation skills of children from birth through kindergarten age.
Student Achievements
On Wednesdays, we gather as one large group. This time together helps us connect as a community and gives students an opportunity to share their perspectives on kindness and what they are grateful for. It also allows us to recognize the many positive contributions they bring to our program each day. I am honored to be part of such a caring community and to work with these wonderful children.
Reminders
Please be sure to notify us via 1Core, email, or phone call if your child will be absent or not attending.
With the ever-changing weather, please make sure your child brings a jacket each day.
A quick reminder that toys from home are not allowed, as we cannot be responsible for lost or stolen items.
Thank you for your cooperation and support!
Looking Ahead
Summer Camp Super Early Bird ends February 27, 2026
Camp Day: March 13, 2026 | Registration deadline March 11
Spring Camp: March 30–April 3, 2026 | Registration deadline March 26, 2026
Marina Hamack
Program Director
Happy Hall @ Meadows
Happy Hall @ Ortega
Director's Message
We hope you’ve all had a great start to February! It has been a lively and engaging month in our afterschool program, full of meaningful learning experiences, laughter, and hands-on activities.
Students will have the opportunity to dive into exciting STEAM challenges, including using new robotic cars that they will program and code themselves. They will explore concepts like motion, force, and problem-solving as they design, test, and refine their own creations. It will be wonderful to see their creativity, collaboration, and perseverance in action as they tackle new challenges and celebrate their successes.
We are so proud of the curiosity and positive energy our students bring each day. Thank you for being an important part of our community. We can’t wait to share more of this month’s fun and learning with you!
Program Highlights
Professional Development
We continue to prioritize staff growth and professional development to ensure the highest quality care and learning experiences for our students. This month, several of our team members will attend a special training focused on curriculum, learning strategies that support children’s social-emotional development, self-reflection, and self-regulation skills.
These sessions provide our staff with new tools and approaches to help students build confidence, manage their emotions, and engage more meaningfully in learning activities. Professional development like this helps us bring the best practices into the classroom and support the growth of every child in our program.
Reminders
If your child will be absent from Happy Hall, please inform us via text, email, or through 1Core.
Please remind students that toys, collectibles, and other personal items from home should not be brought to Happy Hall, as we cannot be held responsible for any lost, broken, or stolen items.
Come by to check if your child is missing a jacket or a water bottle, our lost and found is growing and will be donated at the end of the month!
Looking Ahead
Summer Camp Super Early Bird ends February 27, 2026
Spring Camp: April 6-10, 2026 | Registration deadline March 30, 2026
Nichole Lancaster
Program Director
Happy Hall @ Ortega
Happy Hall @ Spring Valley
Director's Message
February was a wonderful month at Happy Hall filled with creativity, thoughtful moments, and meaningful learning experiences. It has been great to see students engaged in hands-on projects and working together in positive ways.
We appreciate all of our families for being part of our community and for supporting the work we do each day. We are looking forward to an exciting month ahead!
Program Highlights
Community Events
Lunar New Year Kindness Activity
As part of our learning about Lunar New Year, students decorated traditional Gong Bao (red) envelopes and wrote thoughtful kind notes to place inside them. Each child took time to create a message meant to uplift or encourage someone in our community.
Students also received a mandarin to take home, symbolizing good luck and prosperity for the new year. Through this activity, students learned about cultural traditions while practicing meaningful peer-to-peer encouragement.
We look forward to continuing to provide engaging community events that bring our students together and create meaningful shared experiences throughout the year.
Professional Development
A large portion of our teachers will be attending hands-on training focused on different approaches to social-emotional development, self-regulation strategies, and practical tools to support students in group settings. This training will provide opportunities to explore real-life scenarios, collaborative problem-solving, and proactive techniques that strengthen student support systems within our program. We are excited to continue growing as a team and bringing these valuable strategies back to Happy Hall.
Reminders
As a reminder, please notify us if your child will be absent from school or Happy Hall. Clear communication helps ensure smooth transitions and safe dismissal each day.
If there are any schedule changes, please inform us as early as possible to avoid confusion at pickup.
Looking Ahead
Summer Camp Super Early Bird ends February 27, 2026
March Camp - March 13th, 2026 - Signup Deadline March 11, 2026
Spring Camp - March 30th - April 3rd, 2026 - Deadline March 26, 2026
Matt Howell
Program Director
Happy Hall @ Spring Valley
Happy Hall @ Sunset Ridge
Director's Message
Happy February, Happy Hall families!
We are excited to welcome a month filled with kindness, innovation, movement, and teamwork. February gives us a wonderful opportunity to focus on building strong friendships while continuing to strengthen our students’ critical thinking and social-emotional skills. From Valentine’s Day celebrations to Robotics challenges and engaging outdoor and social-emotional games, there is so much to look forward to this month.
Thank you for being such an important part of our Happy Hall community!
Program Highlights
Engagement Activities
This month, our program is focusing on themes of Kindness, Teamwork, and Innovation.
In celebration of Valentine’s Day, students participated in friendship-building activities, kindness challenges, and creative arts and crafts projects that emphasize empathy and appreciation for others.
Our Robotics program continues to inspire problem-solving and collaboration. Students are designing and building simple robots while learning basic coding concepts and testing their creations through fun engineering challenges.
We are also incorporating Outside Games and Social Emotional Games into our programming. Through structured outdoor activities, students are building teamwork and cooperation, physical fitness and coordination, positive sportsmanship & confidence. During Social Emotional Games, students are developing emotional awareness, conflict resolution skills, communication and listening skills, empathy and self-confidence. These interactive experiences support the growth of the whole child — academically, socially, emotionally, and physically.
Professional Development
Our staff continues to grow professionally to better support student success. Recently, team members participated in training focused on strengthening social-emotional learning strategies and enhancing hands-on STEM instruction.
We are committed to ensuring our students receive engaging, high-quality programming each and every day.
Reminders
Attendance / Policy Reminders
Please notify staff of any absences prior to the end of the school day via:
1Core absence reporting
All absences must be reported as soon as possible for record-keeping purposes.
Additionally, please remember that only staff and enrolled students are permitted in program classrooms.
Looking Ahead
Summer Camp Super Early Bird ends February 27, 2026
Spring Camp: April 6-10, 2026 | Registration deadline March 30, 2026
Laura Barraza
Program Director
Happy Hall @ Sunset Ridge
Happy Hall @ Taylor Middle
Director's Message
February is a wonderful time for reflection, growth, and community. Our classrooms have been filled with creativity, curiosity, and meaningful connections. Through this month’s theme, Rhythms of the World, students explored music by creating their own songs using code and listening to instrumental music, sharing what they heard and how it made them feel.
We appreciate your continued partnership and look forward to another month of learning and fun together!
Program Highlights
Professional Development
The safety of our students remains a top priority. We will continue conducting our monthly emergency drills to ensure staff and students are well-prepared and confident in our safety procedures.
On March 13, several of our team members will attend a special all-hands training focused on curriculum. This training highlights strategies that support social-emotional development, self-reflection, and self-regulation skills in children from birth through kindergarten. We are excited to continue strengthening our practices to better support your children’s growth and well-being.
Reminders
Attendance: If your student will be absent from our program, please call or text 650.609.1117, email, or log in the absence on the 1Core Family App.
Phone Policy: Students must keep their phones in their backpacks during program hours. If you need to contact your child, please call our work phone, and we will ensure they receive the message.
Looking Ahead
February 27: Summer Camp Super Early Bird ends
March 13: Staff Development (NO SCHOOL) & Camp Day at Lomita Park, Meadows, Green Hills, and Spring Valley
March 30 - April 3: Spring Break (NO SCHOOL) & Spring Camp at Lomita Park, Meadows, Green Hills, and Spring Valley
Ariel Zipagan
Program Director
Happy Hall @ Taylor Middle
Thank You!
Thank you for your continued support and for entrusting us with your child’s care and growth. Your partnership allows us to create a nurturing and engaging environment where every child can thrive.
