Happy New Year!
We hope everyone enjoyed the holidays! We are ready to welcome 2022!
Thank you to everyone that contributed supplies for the little red wagons. Our students felt proud to contribute items to help our community.
January 2022
Themes this month:
- Alaska
- Balto, the sled dog
- Polar Animals
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
This month we will learn about 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 MLK Jr. and his work.
We will also be learning about Alaska and polar animals. We are excited to share a science experiment with the class to help us learn how polar animals stay warm.
We will also read the story and 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. This year, the story of Balto is particularly relevant as we deal with this ongoing pandemic and the need for a vaccines. Even if you’ve read the story of Balto many times already, perhaps this year it will strike a new chord for you!
In circle time we will work on learning the names of our parents, our addresses and begin writing letters. Please bring in a stamped envelope, with your(parents) name and address on the envelope. Keep an eye out for something special delivered by mail in early February.
January
Monday, Jan. 17th – NO SCHOOL – Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday
February
Monday, February 1st. Lunar New Year Celebration.
Monday & Tuesday, February 14th and 15th- Valentine’s Day Party-Each Class will celebrate Valentine’s Day. More information to come!
Monday, Feb. 21 – NO SCHOOL – President’s Day
Parent/Teacher conferences –
We love spending the day with the students, and often pick up time is busy and we may not get to talk with you as much as we wish we could. Parent/Teacher conferences are a great time to catch up! This year, dates will be available in February, 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 mid-January at the check-in table for February conferences. Conferences can be in-person following COVID safety guidelines, or virtual.
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. You will be offered make up days for each day Hands On is closed due to weather.
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 sign up for an individual tour. Tours are offered in-person or virtually. Depending on COVID, we will host an open house later this month too.
Fall 2022 preschool registration materials will be available online January 17th. Hands On will accept registrations from current families (younger siblings included) on January 17th,and will begin accepting new students for fall and summer on January 24th. New students are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Please register early to get your first choice of days.
Winter Enrichment Classes
Monday
Hip Hop Tumbling
In hip hop/tumbling classes, offered by The Independent Dance Project, students will learn the fundamentals of dance isolations, rhythm, and tumbling through games, play, and fun. With music and movements dancers will develop strength, coordination, and confidence with a fun performance at the end of the session! To register go to their registration site here, create a parent account and enroll your child. Email indiedancepdx@gmail.com with questions!
Tuesdays & Wednesdays
Spanish with Portland Early Learning, *Children can attend 1 or 2 days
January 4th-March 16 -Contact PELP for prices
–PELPHandsOnPoster 2021
- Click on above link for poster to register for classes. If you have any questions, please contact
Kathi@PortlandEarlyLearning.com
Thursdays & Fridays
NW Children’s Theater – January 6-March 18th-Please email Jennifer to sign up for this class,*Children can attend 1 or 2 days jennifer@handsonartandplay.com.
$165 for 11 class session
*No class November 11 & 25th
First Stage classes are specially designed for ages three to six years old. Children will explore theater through music, movement and storytelling with an emphasis on physical and emotional self-expression. First Stage teachers use role-playing and improvisation techniques to act out fairy tales and other stories. These classes promote a love for the performing arts and nurture creative energy while supporting developmental milestones, including: Confidence • Self-expression • Critical thinking Cooperation • Social Skills • Imagination • Motor skills
Colds, flu and sickness, Oh MY!
It is the season of germs!
If your child has a runny nose–
Keep them home until they are 24 hours symptom free.
If your child a fever, or cough, keep them home 10 days. If you want to come back to school earlier, then your child needs a negative COVID test. • If a child with symptoms of COVID-19 tests negative, they may return 24 hours after resolution of cough and fever without the use of fever-reducing medication. • If a child or staff member with symptoms of COVID-19 is advised by a medical professional they can return to care (e.g., diagnosed with something else and given antibiotics), they are allowed return to care. Documentation from the medical professional is required. The person must be fever-free for at least 24 hours.
If a child has symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting, headache, sore throat, or rash, they must be excluded and advised to consult a medical professional. • If seen by a medical professional and is cleared, they can remain in or return to the program following the documented direction of the medical professional. • If not seen by a medical professional, they may return 24 hours after resolution of symptoms.
See you soon!