Director's Message
Hello Happy Hall Ortega Families!
As we dive into September, we’re thrilled to see how well everyone is settling into their new routines. It’s been a joy to witness the children’s progress and enthusiasm as they adapt to the school year. Our daily routines are falling into place smoothly, and we’re delighted with the strong sense of community that’s growing within our program. We’re looking forward to a fantastic month filled with exciting activities and opportunities for learning. It’s been wonderful getting to know each of your children better, and we can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings.
Program Highlights
Engagement Activities
This month, our preschoolers have been busy settling into their new routines and getting to know their new teachers. We’re excited to introduce two new themes: apples and transportation. The children will be exploring the wonders of apples through various sensory activities and learning about different modes of transportation, from cars and trains to planes and boats.
In our School Age program this September, we will maintain our focus on the "Community" theme while introducing two exciting new themes: "The Natural World" and "Space Exploration." Through "The Natural World," students will delve into various ecosystems and environmental factors, building their appreciation for nature, understanding biological diversity, and cultivating a sense of environmental responsibility. Our "Space Exploration" theme will spark their curiosity about the universe, guiding them through the mysteries of celestial bodies, space missions, and astrophysics, and igniting their interest in astronomy and space science.
In our Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) sessions, we will continue to promote strong friendships and essential life skills, emphasizing the importance of kind minds, kind words, and kind hearts.
Professional Development
Before the school year began, our teachers dedicated time to preparing their classrooms and engaging in comprehensive training on the new Happy Hall components. This training encompassed experiential learning, the use of the 1 Core Family app, Life Skills, curriculum planning, preschool assessments and portfolios, as well as budgeting and supply ordering. We collaborated closely, learning and practicing new skills to enhance our program. We hope you're already noticing the positive impacts of these updates, and we’re excited to continue our professional development in the coming months!
Community Events
Preschool
Picture Day - Thursday, September 12- All children are encouraged to come and take a picture. We take our pictures with Ortega school, and they have given us a time slot of 9:10 for our pictures. If your child doesn’t come on Thursday please bring them by 9:10 dressed for their picture. We will move them to the front of the line so they can take their picture and then they can go with you.
September 13 is Back to School Night. This is a virtual event. It is also a minimum day and students must be picked up by 1pm. We will not have nap time and will have quiet activities from 12:15 pm until children are picked up by 1pm. We will send out the google calendar invites soon however the tentative time will be at 2:30.
Join us for Park Day on September 21 from 10:00am-12:00pm! This is a great opportunity to come, play in our yard, and meet other Happy Hall Ortega Preschool families on a Saturday morning. We’ll provide light snacks and water, but please note that teachers won’t be present for supervision, so be sure to stay and enjoy some quality playtime with your child. While attendance is not mandatory, we encourage you to come, make new friends, and watch your children play together! Please use the links here to RSVP. go.happyhall.com/OR-parkday-rsvp
Student Achievements
We’re thrilled to introduce a new element of our social-emotional curriculum designed to create an environment where children feel respected, empowered, safe, and eager to build strong relationships. This is achieved through our focus on practicing Life Skills.
Every day, we integrate activities and group discussions that provide students with opportunities to practice and demonstrate these essential skills. In our preschool program, children will earn Life Skill dots for their classroom rainbow. Once the rainbow is full, the class will enjoy a movie and a special snack! While it takes time to fill the rainbow, we anticipate celebrating with two fun parties throughout the year.
For our school-age children, we have the Star Student program to recognize those who excel in applying their Life Skills. Each week, teachers will select two students from each age group (TK-K, 1-2 , 3-5) to honor their achievements. Star Students will choose a prize and have their names displayed on our Star Wall! We’re excited to kick this off in October, as we are currently introducing and discussing Life Skills with the students.
Reminders
September 12: Picture day at Ortega- Preschool at 9:10am and school age takes them with school during the day
September 13: Preschool Only - Back to School Virtual Event at 2:30pm, Preschool closes at 1:00pm
September 21: Preschool Only - Park Day from 10:00am-12:00pm
October 14: Indigenous Peoples' Day (Ortega) - Happy Hall Full-Day "Camp Day" for the School Age Program (Preschool hours remain the same)
Looking Ahead
As we look ahead to the new month, we’re thrilled to continue our space theme while diving into the fascinating topics of weather and seasons. We’ll also add a touch of “Hall”-oween fun with engaging activities throughout October!
Please note that Ortega School will be closed on October 14 for Indigenous Peoples' Day. During this time, Happy Hall will offer a full-day "Camp Day" for childcare, while preschool hours will remain the same. Keep an eye out for registration details and all the exciting activities we have planned for that day!
Stay Connected
Check out our photo galleries:
Thank You!
We look forward to the fun year ahead!
Brigette Gauthier
Program Director
Happy Hall @ Ortega
