Director's Message
Welcome to this festive season! A big thank you to everyone who celebrated Halloween with us in Preschool; it was such a fun time seeing the children (and even some grown-ups!) in costume. Our school-age kids enjoyed two days of Halloween excitement, decorating sugar cookies and playing Halloween-inspired games. A special visit from the librarian added to the fun, with Día de los Muertos crafts in aftercare and Halloween stories and songs during Preschool circle time. We’re grateful to the librarians, who also brought new books for our classroom libraries!
Program Highlights
Engagement Activities
This month is packed with exciting activities in preschool! Jay has planned age-appropriate lessons and activities around voting, as next week is Election Day! Throughout November, preschoolers will also focus on harvest time and Thanksgiving. Please keep an eye out for an invitation to our family fall event happening in mid-November.
In our school-age program, we'll explore “Harmonious Hues” and dive into the sounds of music by creating homemade instruments and learning about the unique sounds they make. Later in the month, our after-care activities will focus on “Natural Wonders and Modern Masterpieces,” where we’ll explore both natural and man-made marvels like the Northern Lights, coral reefs, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the Grand Canyon through STEAM activities. The kids are settling well into the new routine and are especially enjoying our frequent SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) games and movement activities!
Professional Development
On Friday, November 1, we held a dedicated staff development day for both our preschool and aftercare teams! It was a fantastic opportunity to review our pre-year training and explore how tools like 1Core and camera phones can enhance family communication and enrich our curriculum.
The preschool team met with their counterparts from Happy Hall at Ortega, engaging in valuable discussions focused specifically on preschool curriculum. Jay also led the initial work on child portfolios in preparation for January conferences, and the day provided a great opportunity for the preschool staff to give their classrooms a thorough deep clean.
Community Events
Preschool families, we look forward to welcoming you to a fun fall afternoon in mid-November! Keep an eye out for more information coming in the next few weeks.
Student Achievements
Our "Star Students" program in aftercare was a huge success! This month, many children earned the Star Student award for demonstrating kindness, responsibility, creativity, and more. Keep an eye out for their stars, which will be displayed in the classroom soon! Winners get to choose a prize, be first in line for snack, and enjoy other special class privileges. Look for our life skills to be displayed around the room soon! Way to go, Star Students!
Reminders
Please be sure to email us at Oceahshore@happyhall.com or use the 1Core app to let us know if your children will not be attending the program. This is important for teachers to account for all children. It takes a teacher out of the class to search for children who don’t show up afterschool. Please remind your child(ren) to come to Happy Hall right after school, we like children to check in within 5-7 minutes after the bell rings. Thank you for helping to keep your child safe.
Happy Hall will be CLOSED on:
Friday, November 1: Closed for Staff Development
Monday, November 11: Closed for Veteran’s Day
November 25-27: School Age - Camp week, please use the link previously sent out to sign up to attend camp.
November 25-27: PRESCHOOL - are regular school days, but we ask that you sign up if your child will attend, as many families may be traveling and some staff want some additional time off.
The form to sign up will be sent out in early November.
November 28-29 Closed for Thanksgiving
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead to December, we’re excited to explore cause and effect through hands-on experiments with basic chemical reactions like baking soda and vinegar and cornstarch and water. We’ll also dive into a study of oceans and the animals that call them home. Keep an eye out for details about a Family Fun Night, where we’ll invite families to join us in celebrating the winter season in both preschool and aftercare!
Stay Connected
Check out our photo galleries:
Thank You!
Thank you, Happy Hall families, for your continued support and partnership in making this a wonderful experience for your children!
Annie Quintana
Program Director
Happy Hall @ Ocean Shore
