Director's Message
Happy December, Happy Hall Families! As we welcome December, we are filled with excitement for the fun, creative, and festive projects and events we have planned for both our preschool and after-school programs! It’s sure to be a month full of joy and cheer as we celebrate the season together.
We are incredibly grateful for all of our wonderful families and your continued support. Thank you for being such an essential part of our Ortega Happy Hall community! Here's to a magical December!
Program Highlights
Engagement Activities
This December, the School Age Program will explore "Reactions and Mixtures," engaging in hands-on experiments to learn about chemical reactions and mixtures. Later, we’ll dive into "Oceans and Marine Life," focusing on marine ecosystems and conservation.
Preschoolers will celebrate the season by learning about "Christmas Cheer and Holidays Around the World." They’ll also focus on the letters N, Y, A and numbers 9 & 10. It’s sure to be a month of festive fun and learning!
Professional Development
Recently, many of our team members updated their CPR and First Aid certifications, further strengthening our commitment to the safety and well-being of everyone in our care. We believe it’s essential to have our team fully trained and prepared to respond effectively in any emergency situation.
Community Events
We have some exciting events happening in December for both preschool and school-age families!
Wednesday, Dec. 18th: School-age families are invited to our Happy Hall-idays party starting at 3:30 PM. Come enjoy hot cocoa and fun crafts with us!
Thursday, Dec. 19th: Our preschoolers will begin their morning with the Annual Book Exchange. Later in the afternoon, at 3:30 PM, families can join us for a Gingerbread House decorating session.
Friday, Dec. 20th: Preschoolers are invited to come in their PJs for a morning of festive movie watching, hot cocoa, and cookies. It’s sure to be a cozy celebration!
Preschool Schedule: We are open Dec. 23rd and Dec. 24th, but on Dec. 24th, preschool will close at 1 PM. We will also be open on Jan. 2nd and Jan. 3rd, with attendance sign-up via Google.
Holiday Closure Both Programs: We will be closed from Dec. 25th-Jan. 1st.
Winter Camp at Ocean Shore: Join us for two fun-filled camp sessions with hands-on activities, building cozy creations, and frosty science experiments.
Session 1: December 23-24, 2024
Session 2: January 2-3, 2025
Families can register for one session or both.
Register at: https://go.happyhall.com/CHHWinter24-25
We look forward to celebrating the season with you!
Student Achievements
Our children have been working hard to develop important life skills and earn Life Skills Tickets and Points. We’re proud to share that our Group 1 students in TK/K have earned enough points for their first class party, and they’ve decided to celebrate with a fun cupcake party! Our preschoolers are also making great progress, and they’ve almost filled half of their Life Skills Rainbow, putting them one step closer to earning their movie party! Keep up the great work, everyone! We’re so proud of all the achievements and growth we’re seeing.
Reminders
Please remind students that toys, collectibles, and other personal items from home shouldn’t be brought to Happy Hall, as we cannot be held responsible for any lost, broken, or stolen items.
If your child will be absent from Happy Hall, please inform us via text or phone call 650-355-5056 , email ortega@happyhall.com , or through 1Core.
Looking Ahead
As we look ahead into the new year, our school-age program will continue exploring exciting topics, including the wonders of Inventions & Inventors and uncovering the secrets behind Movie Magic. There’s so much to look forward to in both fun and learning!
The preschool themes for next month will focus on Snowy Winter and Arctic Animals, where children will have the chance to explore the wonders of winter and the creatures that thrive in cold environments. We will also have a family fun event celebrating the Lunar New Year. We’re looking forward to an exciting start to the year and all the wonderful experiences ahead!
Stay Connected
Check out our photo galleries:
Thank You!
As always, we are deeply grateful for your partnership in making our program the best it can be for your children. Your support and collaboration mean so much to us!
Brigette Gauthier
Program Director
Happy Hall @ Ortega
&
Nichole Lancaster
Assistant Director
Happy Hall @ Ortega
