Happy December!

Note from our Executive Director

Dear Families,

This semester has been a whirlwind of activities, play, music, movement and ceaseless opportunities to learn - not just for our kiddos, but for us too! Along with rest and rejuvenation, we plan to spend this holiday break reflecting on what kept students motivated and engaged this semester. As quickly as we reach the holidays, I know the new year will sneak up, too.

Getting ready for 2023 might mean new strategies and greater opportunities to understand what success really looks like. If the answer is progress rather than perfection, I think it’s fair to say that each of us, parents, students, teachers and therapists alike, have done an incredible job. For now, all of us at Willowcrest School wish you a wonderful holiday season. May you and your families spend the time in joyous fun! We’ll see you back here on Monday, January 2nd.

Sincerely,
Natally

Curriculum Recap

The Themes were Friendship, Thanksgiving and Winter!

We also went over:

The letters K, G, and F, Th, and I
The shapes Square and Triangle
The colors Brown and Yellow
The words In, Is, You, The, and Of

Books of the Month

The Thankful Book
Let It Snow
Little Snowman
Snowboy 1,2,3

Cooking

Turkey Donuts
Friendship Bracelets

Art

Square Painting with blocks
Turkey Hats
Snowflakes

Science

Sink or Float?
Thanksgiving Dinner Edition
Making Snow

Important Upcoming Dates

Dec 16th, 9am–11am - End of Year Celebration - Join us to celebrate the end of 2022 with music, games and goodies! Families are invited for pastries and play! No school - just a fun farewell to 2022. Please RSVP using the e-card we shared via email.
Dec 19th–Dec 30th - Holiday Break! Spring semester begins on Jan 2nd. See you next year!

You can download the 2022-2023 Willowcrest calendar here

Housekeeping

1. Please return green folders on the 1st day of class.
2. We will send home all extra clothes, but will need two sets back on the 1st day of school. This includes socks, shirts, pants, and underwear.
3. Indoor Masking Reinstated: Due to significant increases in Covid, RSV and the flu, we think it prudent to have all adults mask while inside at Willowcrest between now and winter break.
4. Sharing your experience of Willowcrest on Google allows us to reach more families and grow our amazing school. If you have a moment please leave us a review!

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Recent Events

Mom’s Night Out

We had so much fun gathering for Mom’s Night Out! A big thank you to those who could make it. Truly a special way to connect with each other.

Resource Spotlight

Our music therapist and founder of Stepping Tones, Laura Fonseca, recently released a song and e-book titled “The Pumpkin Patch” as a resource for children and families. The song is a sequential story about going to pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. Some skills the song builds on are following directions, sequencing, inhibiting, bilabial sounds and plosives.

When Laura first explored the song with Willowcrest students, they used little felt pumpkins while singing the song and students followed the directions in a sequence (picked a pumpkin, oops I dropped it, it went splat, picked another pumpkin). The inhibition came into play because they had to wait for the “oops I dropped it, it went splat” before they drop and “splat” their pumpkin. The students really enjoyed the song, particularly the “splat” part.

Listen to the song with your child by clicking the button below, and practice the lyrics and movements together!

Listen Here!

Students engaging with our music therapist, Laura!

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