Happy New Year!
We hope everyone enjoyed the holiday vacation. We are ready to welcome 2026!
January 2026
Themes this month:
- Winter
- Alaska
- Balto, the sled dog
- Polar Animals
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This month we will learn about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and our students will have the opportunity to engage in discussions about kindness, equity and peace. Hands On deeply values equity and inclusion, and we want to create a safe space for our kids to think about how our school and our community can learn from his work.
Every January we also learn about Balto the sled dog. If you don’t know the story of Balto, I am sure your kids will tell you all about it. Our students get really interested in his story and love acting it out. The last few years, especially during COVID, the story of Balto was particularly relevant as we dealt with a pandemic and the need for vaccines.
Along with Balto, we will learn about Alaska and polar animals. We are excited to share a few science experiments with the class to help us learn how polar animals stay warm in the cold.
During circle time we will work on learning the names of our parents, our addresses and begin writing letters. Please bring in a self-addressed stamped envelope, with your(parents) name and address on the envelope. Keep an eye out for something special delivered by mail in February.
January
Monday, Jan. 19th – No school – Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday
Monday, Jan. 26th-No School-Planning Day and Preschool Open House 10 AM to 1 PM. Registration for fall and summer programs begins for new families. Current families can register earlier for 1st choice of camps and preschool classes. Registration will be available by the 16th, if not before.
Tuesday and Wednesday, January 27th & 28th – Parent/Teacher conferences
We love spending our days with your kids, but often pick up time is busy and we may not get to talk with parents as much as we wish we could. Parent/Teacher conferences are a great time to catch up! This year, dates will be available the 27th and 28th, if you would like to meet with the teachers. It is totally optional, but is a great time to ask questions and celebrate your child’s accomplishments. Look for a sign up sheet at the check-in, conferences can be in-person, or virtual.
February
Week of February 9-13th- Valentine’s Day Party-Each Class will celebrate a little bit each day, and work to pass out all of their Valentine cards. More info to follow.
Monday, Feb. 16th – No school – Presidents’ Day
March
Monday, March 23-27, No school , Spring Vacation
Games and Gifts
We had fun playing many games in December! Playing games can improve a child’s abilities to plan, organize, get along with others, and regulate emotions. It also helps with language, math and social skills. Plus, games are fun!
We also learned about several winter holidays and made gifts for our families. Our class also collected many items for Family Promise. The children were so proud and excited to bring home gifts for their families and deliver all of our donations!
Visiting Artists Each Week
We really enjoy our special guests. In December we loved having an artist from northpolestudio.org. North Pole Studio supports careers in the arts, and exists to increase opportunities for artists with autism and intellectual / developmental disabilities to thrive as active members of the arts community. They foster self-determination and facilitate meaningful connections through total engagement in the arts. Our class enjoyed meeting an artist, listening to story written and illustrated by our visiting artist and learning about handmade toys!
We are also lucky to have monthly visits from our reading buddies the Portland Forest School middle schoolers and music with Teacher Brittany! Our students look forward to learning and gaining new skills with each visiting artist!
Snow Days
We follow Portland Public Schools’ decisions regarding snow days, if PPS is closed, or opening late, due to weather, Hands On will be closed. If Hands On closes because of weather, we will let you know as soon as possible by sending an email, updating our phone message and website. If we have to close, we will close for the whole school day, both morning and afternoon. Hands On offers make-up days for days missed due to snow. Our first week of summer camp is reserved for make -up days.
Summer Camps and Fall Preschool Registration
Can you believe it is almost time to register for next fall and summer camps? New families interested in learning more about Hands On can join us for our open house on Monday, January 26th 10 AM to 1 PM. We also offer monthly tours for families unable to make it to the open house. Help us spread the word!
Fall 2026 preschool and summer camp registration materials will be available online by January 16th, if not before. Hands On will prioritize space to current families, younger siblings included, then new students are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Please register early to get your first choice of days.