Director's Message
Dear Families,
February brings us Valentine Day, Black history and the continuation of Chinese New Year. During the month of February we will be learning about Black history. The classrooms will be reading two great books about black history , “Black History Picture Book for Kids” and “The ABCs of Black History”. We will also be celebrating Valentine's Day on Friday, February 14th. Your child’s lead teacher will give you more info on that fun event. Last but not least we will continue to celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year until February 12th.
The Importance of diversity in the preschool setting
Diversity in a preschool setting is essential for fostering an inclusive, enriching, and supportive learning environment. At an early age, children begin to form their understanding of the world, and exposure to different cultures, abilities, and backgrounds helps shape their perceptions positively. Here are some key reasons why diversity is crucial in preschool education:
1. Encourages Acceptance and Inclusion
Children who grow up in diverse environments learn to respect and appreciate differences among people. By interacting with peers from various backgrounds, they develop empathy and understanding, which reduces biases and promotes inclusivity from a young age.
2. Promotes Social and Emotional Development
Exposure to diversity helps children develop strong social skills, including communication, cooperation, and problem-solving. They learn to navigate different perspectives, which enhances emotional intelligence and the ability to build positive relationships.
3. Prepares Children for a Multicultural Society
The world is becoming increasingly diverse, and early exposure to different cultures and perspectives helps children adapt and thrive in multicultural settings. This preparation fosters open-mindedness and equips them with skills necessary for future social and professional interactions.
4. Enhances Cognitive and Language Development
A diverse preschool setting exposes children to multiple languages, traditions, and ways of thinking, which stimulates cognitive growth. It also fosters bilingualism or multilingualism, which has been linked to improved problem-solving skills and higher academic performance.
5. Promotes Equity and Representation
When children see themselves and their cultures represented in books, activities, and classroom discussions, they feel valued and included. This representation boosts self-esteem and fosters a sense of belonging among all students.
6. Encourages Critical Thinking and Open-Mindedness
Diversity encourages children to ask questions, explore different viewpoints, and develop a deeper understanding of the world. It helps them challenge stereotypes and think critically about fairness and equality.
How we Foster Diversity in our Preschool Setting
Incorporate multicultural books, toys, and learning materials that reflect a variety of cultures, traditions, and family structures.
Celebrate different holidays and traditions to expose children to various cultural experiences.
Encourage open discussions about differences and similarities in a positive and age-appropriate way.
Support bilingualism and language diversity by incorporating multiple languages in songs, greetings, and classroom activities.
Model inclusive behavior as educators and caregivers, demonstrating respect for all backgrounds and abilities.
By embracing diversity at Happy Hall, we as educators and caregivers help build a foundation for a more inclusive and compassionate future. Children learn to appreciate, respect, and celebrate differences, shaping them into empathetic and well-rounded individuals.
Program Highlights:
Maple:
February is all about love, compassion, friendship and unity in Maple class! This month we will introduce some of the inventions that are still used today, all by important African Americans. We will highlight these inventions with art projects completely in the hands of the students with guidance from teachers. This month we will also play around with new and exciting textures for play time such as rice, feathers, uncooked pasta and pom poms in our sensory bins. Finally, during circle time we will incorporate more letters with their matching objects such as foods, animals and colors.
Birch:
We are excited to celebrate love and friendship in Birch Class this month! We have a lovely Spirit Week planned, and on Valentine’s Day, we will exchange Valentine’s cards in class. This month, we will be working on the letters T, U, V, and W and practicing numbers up to 25. The children are also making great progress in Mandarin and Spanish, and we are so proud of their daily learning! We look forward to a fun and enriching February!
Cedar:
This month Cedar class will be honoring Black History Month, and celebrating Valentines day. We will be talking about inclusion and what makes us and our friends special. We will also start our skill practices with our scissors and our pencils. Learning safety skills and practicing our fine motor skills while tracing shapes, numbers, and our names.
Willow:
For the month of February students will be having open discussions of black history month. We will review the underground railroad and introduce the beginning of jazz music. Students will also be challenged with reading readiness and practice their motor skills. The children will be decorating and creating cards for Valentines week and writing short sentences.
Redwood:
Redwood Class will celebrate valentine's day and discuss Black History month and will do a variety of crafts representing them. We will be working on counting, adding and will continue to work on writing the numbers the correct way. We have started to form words and are encouraging the kids to read certain words.
Upcoming Events:
Closed February 17th - Presidents Day
February 21st Happy Hall will close at 1:00pm for Staff Development Day
February 11th -13th Scholastic Book Fair
Reminders
• The safety and well-being of the children and staff are of paramount importance.
• Be cautious of traffic as daylight decreases. Yield to children and pedestrians at crosswalks.
• 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.
• Children must be dressed prior to school arrival.
• 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 help us reinforce health and hygiene best practices with your children at home. Such as regular handwashing and respiratory etiquette.
• Please refer to the Family Handbook for timeframe children may return to school after illness guidelines. Family Handbook
• We are a Nut Aware center.
• Water Bottles to contain water.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership in our school community.
Stay Connected
Check out our photo galleries:
Frank DiFede
Program Director
Happy Hall @ Santa Inez
