Director's Message
Hello Everyone!
It’s that time of year of bright lights and magic. Here at Santa Inez we are celebrating the different holidays of December. The children are learning about Kwanza , Hanukkah and La Posada.
Program Highlights
Engagement Activities
Teaching preschool children about different holidays is essential for their development and understanding of the diverse world around them. Here are several reasons why it is important:
1. Promotes Cultural Awareness and Diversity
Learning about various holidays exposes children to traditions, values, and customs from different cultures. This fosters respect and appreciation for diversity, helping children understand that people celebrate and value different things.
2. Encourages Empathy and Inclusion
Understanding the meaning behind different holidays can teach children to empathize with others and embrace inclusivity. For instance, learning about holidays like Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or La Posada alongside Christmas fosters a sense of belonging for children from diverse backgrounds.
3. Supports Cognitive and Social Development
Engaging in activities and discussions about holidays helps preschoolers develop cognitive skills (like comparing and contrasting traditions) and social skills (like sharing stories and experiences). It can also enhance their vocabulary as they learn new words related to these celebrations.
4. Builds a Sense of Community
Celebrating different holidays together in a classroom setting fosters a sense of community and shared joy. This collective participation can create bonds among children and their families.
5. Encourages Creativity
Holiday-themed activities, such as crafts, music, and storytelling, stimulate children’s creativity. For instance, creating lanterns for Chinese New Year or making dreidels for Hanukkah helps them explore traditions in an interactive way.
6. Teaches Values and Traditions
Holidays often center around themes of gratitude, giving, family, and reflection. By learning about these celebrations, children gain an early understanding of universal values that they can apply in their daily lives. By introducing preschoolers to different holidays, educators and parents help lay a foundation for lifelong respect and curiosity about the world.
Classroom Snippets
Maple: For the month of December, Maple class will continue reviewing colors, numbers, animals as well as introducing the letters that make up their names. In the classroom we will be incorporating more hands-on activities that require using their fine motor skills such as gluing, painting with sponges, paintbrush and their hands. In December we will highlight the holidays with activities and crafts. When playing outside the children will be able to play with the fallen leaves as we use them for our indoor crafts as well.
Birch: In December, Birch Class will focus on the letters L, M, N, and O while practicing counting up to 20. We'll embrace the holiday spirit with festive art creations and learn cheerful Christmas songs. It’s a month full of joy and excitement ahead!
Cedar: For the month of December Cedar class will be learning about different holiday traditions. We will be talking about how our classmates observe certain holidays and our family traditions. We will also be working on name tracing and letter tracing . We will be making a winter wonderland scene in our class and learning some holiday songs.
Willow: For the month of December students will be exploring snow, winter, the holidays and hibernation. For students' goals we will focus on self help skills (motor) and health and safety. Such as washing hands, putting on jackets on themselves, tying shoes and opening difficult bottles.
Redwood: Redwood Class will be learning about holidays around the world, Christmas in Sweden, Christmas in Mexico, celebrating Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, St.Lucia. and St. Nicholas. We will continue to work on forming letters together and sound them out.
Community Events
Happy Hall Santa Inez will be closed December 23rd through January 1st.
Attendance is by sign up only for January 2nd and 3rd. To sign up, Click here!
In front of your child’s classroom you will see a posting for each teacher in your child’s classroom called “A Few Of My Favorite Things”. Please check them out during pick up/ drop off!
Our Winter Family Gatherings are coming up! Come join us for circle time, crafts, treats and music.
Tuesday, December 17th: Maple and Birch 3:30-5:00pm
Thursday, December 19th: Cedar , Willow and Redwood 3:30-5:00pm
And last but not least a big THANK YOU to those of you that donated to our toy drive!
Reminders
Please be mindful to not block intersections or driveways for drop off or pick up.
Staff are unable to release children without authorization in 1Core. Please ensure the names entered under authorized contacts are spelled correctly and match the authorized person government issued ID.
Arriving before circle time starts can help set your child's day off to a consistent routine. Allowing children time to ease into the day smoothly and join their classmates in engaging activities right from the beginning.
Absence days or medical appointments can be marked within the 1Core Family App > “Record Absence”. If days are missed due to illness or other needs please communicate with the school.
Please refer to the Family Handbook for time frame children may return to school after illness guidelines. Family Handbook
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Thank You!
Thank you for your continued support and partnership in our school community. We appreciate you and your children.
Frank DiFede
Program Director,
Happy Hall Preschool @ San Bruno
