Family Program Newsletter

December is an especially memorable time of year with plenty of winter activities, holidays, and classroom events during the days before winter break. Here are some suggestions to help students feel festive in a fun way:

• If the weather allows, go outside and have fun playing in the snow.
• Add books to your home library that feature different winter holiday celebrations from around the world.
• Ask students to create their own holiday and write about what it would involve.
• Be creative and find new and interesting experiences for you and your child to do together!

Attendance Matters! Whether your child misses a day here and a day there, or several days in a row, everyday matters! Preschool helps young children build early reading and math skills, as well as develop the social and emotional foundation they need to succeed in school. Preschoolers with good attendance:

• are better prepared for kindergarten
• are more likely to be able to read at grade level by 3rd grade
• are less likely to repeat a grade

Parents and Guardians, thank you for ensuring that your child attends preschool regularly and is getting to school on time.

Choice Enrollment and Kindergarten Registration. For families with students going to kindergarten in 2025-2026, Choice Enrollment Round One opened on November 1, 2024 and will close on December 20, 2024. Round two opens on January 21, 2025. Please click on this link for more information.

Head Start requires that our program complete an annual self-assessment. In partnership with our Head Start Policy Council, Families Partnering in Education (PIE), we have started our Self-Assessment. This Self-Assessment is an annual opportunity for us to reflect on last year’s goals and focus on the program’s needs in the 2025-2026 school year. What worked and what area(s) can we improve upon? The Self-Assessment provides the information necessary to identify these areas of strength and needs of the program. We're looking forward to sharing what we discover!

I hope that the month of December is magical for you and your family!

Sincerely,

Lamb Caro

Director of Early Childhood

The Holiday season is such a busy time of year for everyone! Preschoolers love to help! Here are some ways to work on literacy, math, language, and fine motor skills with your preschooler this month:

• Have them help you wrap gifts and sign any cards or tags by practicing writing their own name. Teach them how to tear tape by using their pincher fingers.
• They can help you write grocery lists by brainstorming letter sounds for items on your list. For instance, you might say “MMMMilk”. Talk about measurement and have them help you count cups, teaspoons, etc.
• Talk about your family traditions and why you do certain things. Introduce unfamiliar family members and explain their relationship to you. “This is daddy’s sister, she is your aunt.”

Most of all, enjoy your time together as your preschooler experiences the wonder of the

season!

Best,

Amy Gerhard

Assistant Administrator

As the holidays approach it is a time of joy, celebration, and sometimes meltdowns. The change in routine can be difficult for our youngest family members. Often there are less structured days including changes in mealtimes, sleep schedules, daily activities, and often many more social activities. All this can cause some big feelings.

Below you will find two links to some tips for making life easier during the holidays. A little preparation can help ensure a fun and relaxing holiday season.

Happy Holidays!

Winter is here! Ice and snow make roads, sidewalks, and steps slippery. Walk carefully. Always hold your child’s hand when you approach the bus/car, when you leave the bus/car, and whenever you are in a parking lot. Help us by reminding your children to walk carefully and to hold the handrail getting on or off the bus. We want to keep our friends and ourselves safe!

*Please remember to send a change of clothing, boots, hats, mittens, and a warm coat with your child to school. It is going to stay cold for a couple more months. If you need any of these items for your child, please call us, we can help!*

Health and Safety During the Holidays

Traveling, visiting family members and holiday chaos in general can increase your child's stress level. Although there is no magical formula, try to stick to your child's usual routines, including sleep schedule, naps, and meal times, to help reduce stress and allow them to enjoy the holidays. Consider printing travel games or joke books to entertain your child in the car so that they are less restless when you arrive at your destination. Keeping sugar intake to a minimum and helping your child make healthy food choices such as fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins also will help them to feel and focus better. If you have a young child, remember that the homes you visit might not be child-proofed. Keep an eye out for danger spots and hazardous items to ensure your child's safety.

Healthy Children Learn Better!

Christiana Shorten

Early Childhood Health Coordinator (970)613-5063

Families,

Each year we compile a list of free or low-cost events in our community for you to enjoy over winter break. We hope you will find an activity or two that will be fun for your family. Please see the attached flier.

Julie Lindsay - julie.lindsay@tsd.org

Family & Community Partnership Coordinator

December 23 - January 8 | No School - Winter Break (Half-Day Classes)

December 23 - January 7 | No School - Winter Break (Full-Day Classes)

The Clothing Closet provides essential clothing items to students and families in need within Thompson School District and relies on donations to maintain its inventory.

Please see the flyer below for specific items currently needed.

Safe Kids Larimer County offers monthly classes to those who need a car seat or booster seat, but may not be able to afford one. See flyer below for upcoming class schedule. Open to Larimer County residents only.

Registration is required at least 48 hours prior to class time. A $30 donation to Safe Kids is requested but not required. Register online or call 970-495-7508.

We’re thrilled to team up with Chipotle for an exciting fundraiser benefiting Thompson School District Early Childhood! 🌯✨ You can help support early childhood education in our district just by enjoying a delicious Chipotle meal! It’s the perfect chance to eat, give back, and make a big impact. 🙌

Join us Wednesday, December 18th from 4-8pm at the Chipotle on West Eisenhower. Don’t miss out on this tasty way to support a great cause! 🌟

Check out our social media accounts for more information!

During periods of inclement weather, Thompson School District is occasionally faced with the difficult decision of whether or not to close schools. Find more information about this process and how these announcements are communicated.

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