Welcome Message

Happy New Year, 2024!

We will begin the last unit of the second quarter: Seasonal Changes/Winter.  The students will explore winter weather, clothes, and animals through story books, arts, and learning activities.

Important Dates & Reminders

• January 15th: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday/ Holiday
• Jan 25th: End of the 2nd Q/ AM ECCB classes: dismiss at 11 am / No PM ECCB classes
• Jan 26th: Student holiday/Professional workday
• February 19th: President’s Day/ Holiday

What are we learning?

Themes

• Seasonal Changes: Winter
• Scientists use their bodies to help us observe, learn, and understand the world around us. 
• Scientists understand how living things grow and change.
• Scientists observe and record their observations.

What Students Will Learn

• Our lives are affected by the changing weather conditions.
• Weather affects daily routines, clothes, and activities.
• Weather impacts animals’ lives

Language Arts 

• Demonstrate an awareness of common signs and logos
• Begin to distinguish between print and pictures
• Follow the words with a finger to read left to right and top to bottom with assistance

Numeracy

• Count forward orally by 1 - 20
• Identify the number after, when given a set of 10 or fewer objects

Social Studies

• Begin to recognize there are different seasons

Science

• Investigate that natural and human-made things may change over time

Learning Activities for Home

• Daily reading 10 mins/ draw a picture with caregivers
• Winter clothes scavenger hunt: hide winter gear and clothes around the house and let your child find them
• Matching winter gear with the correct body parts and wearing them properly (e.g., hat-head/ mittens-hands/ boots-feet)
• Math practice- count 1-20 orally, count a group of objects (less than 10), and find the number after (ask your child, “What number comes next?”

Self-help and Advocacy

• I can wear my clothing/Jacket. 
• I can say ‘Help me, please’ when needed. 
• I can wash my hands.

Shared Reading

• Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London
• The Mitten by Jan Brett
• The Biggest Snowman Ever by Steven Kroll
• Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
• Bear Snores On by Jack Tickle
• Sleep, Black Bear, Sleep by Jane Yolen

Health and Safety

• keep your child home when h/she has a fever, constant coughing, is exposed to COVID-19, is asymptomatic, or has any other sickness: Fever equal to/ greater than 100.4 F/ Vomiting/ Diarrhea/ shortness of breath, fatigue, feverish and chill, etc.

Transportation

• If a student’s bus is delayed, contact the Transportation Office at 703-446-2150.  For any concerns after hours (after 5:30 p.m.), contact Safety and Security at 571-423-2000.

Colder Weather = Warmer Clothes

• Please send students with jackets/sweatshirts for school. The weather turns colder over the next few weeks and we finally welcome some winter temps. We still plan to maximize our time outside. Students will be more comfortable if wearing the right attire. Thank you in advance for helping your child stay warm!