Holiday Happenings at SMART START commenced December 1st! Young learners celebrated this magical month through a variety of engaging, hands-on activities.
Please join our festivities below:
📅 Christmas crafters created a Santa Claus countdown calendar. Materials used included: red paper, white poster board, Santa face paper plates, cotton balls and glue.
Poem/Instructions:
Santa's beard is very bare
on his chin there is no hair
so each day add a puff of white
when it's full he will come that night!
HO HO HO CHRISTMAS IS COMING!
🤶 Mrs. Claus visited our school all the way from the North Pole! Students had a holly jolly time delighting in classic carols, music and movement games and placing their letters/wish lists for Santa inside Mrs. Claus' "Letters to Santa" mailbox.
Mrs. Claus At School
🍞 Merry and bright bakers measured and mixed ingredients to make gingerbread loaves. Older peers had the opportunity to put on oven mitts and place the bread in the oven all by themselves.
Baking Spirits Bright
🎄 Everyone enjoyed trimming the tree and decking classroom halls while listening to traditional tunes. Afterwards, surprise presents for friends from home were placed underneath the tree to be exchanged at our holiday party.
Oh Christmas Tree
🎀 Yuletide traditions continued on as fine motor skills were challenged while weaving wreaths using Ribbons, string, bells and bows. "Snow" was sprayed as a finishing touch.
Tis The Season
☕festive friends wore pajamas and brought cookies to swap with each other on "Holiday Hot Cocoa & Cookies Day" A Hot Chocolate center was arranged for all to make a custom cup of cheer.
Oh What Fun
🧸 SMART START embraced the season of giving by participating in two donation drives. Classmates contributed and collected gifts for "Toys for Tots" and non-perishable food items for "Lazarus House Ministries" The children were grateful their offerings brought good tidings of comfort and joy.
Giving Is Better Than Receiving
🕯 Hanukkah was observed on the first day of its season. The meaning of the menorah was taught and reinforced through a worksheet and group discussions.
🕮 Winter holidays celebrated around the world were introduced at the indoor book display and outdoor story time.
Here are some facts we learned:
- Hanukkah lasts for eight days
- The colors of Kwanzaa are red, black and green
- Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year and is usually on December 21st.
- Santa Claus has many different names: Kris Kringle, Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas etc.
🧝 SMART START Elves were busy in their workshop making school-made presents for their parents. Hand sanitizer was formed mixing aloe & alcohol and sachets were constructed using scented pine cones, netting and ribbon.
Elves Hustling & Bustling
🦌 Our holiday extravaganza was a joyous event! Pupils painted ornaments, played bingo, exchanged gifts, freeze danced and ate delicious treats. All were astonished when Santa Claus himself came to visit and deliver toys for our classrooms!
Party Highlights
🎵 SMART START Chorus assembled to sing "Feliz Navidad." This enhanced our Spanish language studies as lyrics were translated to "Merry Christmas." In addition, classmates practiced their counting and colors in Spanish playing jumbo UNO.
Feliz Naviad
🎅 The enchanting essence of Christmas Eve was embraced through a fun finger play:
When Santa comes to my house
I'd like to take a peek 
but I know he'll never come
until I'm fast asleep
Finger Play Performance
⭐SMART START⭐
