ALWAYS have your ID. If there is a sub for your child's teacher, they will be asking for this to compare to the student's approved pick-up adults. All approved adults must be 18 years or older, per DHS guidelines. We will also scan all visitor ID's for any events.***

• If you do not already, please follow our Facebook page to see updates and activities around our school.
• On the first of each month, the students switch playgrounds! While the weather is ever changing, there may be indoor recess. If you do not see your child's class outside at pick-up, you will sign them out at their drop-off doors. Please remember to send coats and cold weather items for your child in case we are outside and it is chilly!

Siblings or children not enrolled as a student at Conrad:

• Siblings and other children are NOT allowed to visit the classrooms during regular school day sessions due to licensing regulations, ratios, potential health concerns, and disruptions to the classroom environment. Please note that this includes the following situations: birthday celebrations, holiday events during the school day, volunteer activities, etc. Additionally, this is relevant for unenrolled children of all ages - including infants and children in strollers/carriers.

• Siblings are welcome to attend outdoor events during the school day (field day, etc.), as well as after-school events such as Family Nights.

To ensure safety of all students, staff, and families:

• No dogs allowed on school property during pick up/drop off times.
• Remember to use the crosswalks and keep your child close to you in the parking lots.

Exciting News! The city of Fountain has put in a cross walk on Jimmy Camp Road by Conrad! The lights will flash when someone pushes the button so please watch for students crossing the street.

Reminder, we visit the library on Wednesday's. Students have an opportunity to listen to stories, as well as check out library books for the week! If you would like to be a Wednesday library volunteer, please visit our website under the PTO tab. You can sign up for any amount of time; it does not need to be an entire day commitment. Books are due back on the following Tuesday.

Please see the flyers below for all upcoming events at Conrad!

Here at Conrad, we all believe in each and every student. Please, reach out if you have any questions in regards to the upcoming events!

'Why Is It Important to Read to Your Child?

The benefits go far beyond literacy.

Parents hear all the time that it’s important to read to kids. But why exactly is that? The benefits of reading together go far beyond learning to read.

Reading to young children is an important way to help them build language skills. It exposes them to new words and ways of using language. It also helps them learn general information about the world, which makes it easier for them to learn about new subjects once they get to school.

Books also help children build empathy and learn how to handle challenging feelings. Parents can use reading time as a chance to talk about emotions and how to cope with them. For example, you might say: “Have you ever felt as angry as the girl in this book? What would you do if you did?”

Even a few minutes of reading together gives you and your child a chance to slow down and connect with each other. And the sensory experience of sitting with you and hearing your voice also engages their brain in a way that makes learning easier.

There’s no one right way to read to your child. You can read to them in any language, or multiple languages. You can do it at the same time every day or change up the routine. Your child doesn’t even need to be sitting with you — just sitting nearby with a book while they play can be a way to connect. The important thing is for your child to hear words and language and to have books be part of their daily life. Any steps you’re able to take can make a big difference.

Writer: Hannah Sheldon-Dean

Clinical Expert: Laura Phillips, PsyD, ABPdN

For more information click the link below:

https://childmind.org/article/why-is-it-important-to-read-to-your-child/

For information about the Pikes Peak Public District & Fountain Public Library click the link below:

https://ppld.org/

Pack The Pantry: Thank you for all your generous donations of cranberry sauce! We collected 189 cans given out to FFC8 families at the Thanksgiving Food Giveaway! Your contributions have made a hug difference in so many families lives!

We will start collecting canned protein such as tuna & chicken in January to Pack The Pantry, the food panty for Fountain-Fort Carson District 8 students and their families. This food pantry run by FFC8, gives bags of groceries to students with food insecurities each week. For more information about receiving donations for your family please reach out to Nurse Lisa: Lcasper@FFC8.org; 719-304-3500

Conrad will be hosting the 2nd annual Community Resource Health Fair in February 2025! We will have representatives from community organizations such as Pikes Peak Library District, The Joint Initiative, Care & Share and the Care Coordinator's from El Paso County Public Health Department. For more information see the flyer below!

December is a wonderful time of year to expand your child’s language. There are so many fun opportunities for families to celebrate in various ways. December is full of holidays and traditions celebrated in unique ways around the world. Whether it be Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, New Year’s Eve, or any other celebration, December is a wonderful time to come together, create memories, and enjoy traditions that bring joy and connection to your family. Below are some examples of how you can promote language over the winter break.

Take a short walk outside to look for signs of winter and talk about how days will get longer after the solstice. In the evening, enjoy candles or holiday lights together, talking about their colors and shapes. Explore nature vocabulary like “tree,” “cold,” and “light.” Use simple phrases like “I see…” and “It feels…”

Give your child glow sticks or flashlights and turn off the lights to create a fun indoor "light show." Encourages movement and sensory play while exploring light and dark. Use language to talk about spatial concepts like, “on the…” and “next to the…”.

Play fun music and have a mini dance party with your child to burn off energy and celebrate together. Promotes movement and joyful family bonding.

Use paper bags, jars, or construction paper to make lanterns. Decorate them with cutouts or tissue paper, and use flameless candles for a safe glow. Encourages creativity while symbolizing light returning after the longest night. Use language such as “first, then, next” to help with following directions.

Practice counting backward with a pretend countdown. Use small paper “fireworks” or confetti to throw in the air as you countdown to “midnight.” You could also use glitter, paint, or foil to make “firework” art on dark construction paper. Work on counting, and practice saying “Happy New Year!” as a fun phrase to repeat together.

Find a photo or photos showing their favorite things from this past year. Encourage conversation about the past and the future.

Celebrate with a kid-friendly “toast” using milk and cookies or sparkling juice in fancy cups. Practice saying “Cheers!” together. Builds social and language skills in a festive way.

These activities are easy to set up and perfect for creating warm, meaningful memories with your preschooler!

Jessica Meyer M.S. CCC-SLP Marina Kelly M.S.CCC-SLP

jmeyer@ffc8.org marinakelly@ffc8.org

The Gross Motor Movements inspired by the book "Bear Stays Up For Christmas"

"The Yawn movement
One of the first parts of the book is waking up the bear. Bear is sleeping and his friends want to wake him up. He does a big yawn and stretches. We started on the ground and worked to stretch up with spreading our arms our wide.

You can see them start on the ground crouched down. The slowly rise up from the ground.

And they end up with the big yawn stretch at the end. You can have them stand on their tiptoes as they spread out their arms.

Bear walking
The next we have a bear walk. My girls pointed out you can’t have a bear book and not do a bear walk. Bear walking is always fun because you can change it up so many ways. We did a simple bear walk back and forth. If you want to have some fun try my bear walking dice to change it up.

Stomping through the Woods
In the book they go stomping through the woods to get a tree! I love stomping. It is great fun for kids and well me too. This is an action that has high knees that you bring up and down. You want BIG movements for kids to make. So really high knees and stomping noise when the foot comes down.

Popcorn
I love that almost all her books have popcorn in them. It is a fun movement. You can do it over and over. The idea is that you pop like popcorn and jump into the air with legs and arms spread out. I encourage my girls to get as high as they can.

Stir the fruitcake
In the story, they also stir fruitcake. We did a BIG exaggerated stirring motion. We did as big a movement stirring in a circle in front of us. I love the stirring motion because it works on pushing and pulling your arms from your body.

Sleeping friends
After all, the moving around we had fun being sleeping friends on the floor. We rocked slightly side to side. It was a fun way to see them slow down.

Jumping for Presents
The last movement we did in the book was for the presents. Everyone was excited and jumping to see them. So we did some big jumps in the air. It was fun to see how high they could jump."

For more information visit the website: https://rainydaymum.co.uk/bear-stays-up-late-for-christmas-gross-motor-activities-for-kids/

Get to know our staff at Conrad!

Where were you born?

Alaska

What is your roll at Conrad?
Early Childhood Special Educator

What is your favorite part of working at preschool?
The impact we make on children's developing brains!

Do you have any Pets?

Yes, 3 dogs! Beasley-pit bull, Luna-Chow chow mix, Ollie-Goldendoodle
Do you have any hobbies?

I love to sew and quilt! I also love to read/listen to audible. I enjoy these because they are ways to help me unwind and relax!

If you had to enter a talent show, what would be your act?

Playing guitar hero
What is your favorite type of food?

Mexican--Italian is a close second!

If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go and why?

Germany to learn about my family history.
What is a quote that inspires you?

"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone."

Get to know our staff at Conrad!

What is your name?
Vicki Clutter

Where were you born?

Born in San Diego but moved here at 6 months old

What is your roll at Conrad?
Paraprofessional

What is your favorite part of working at preschool?
Having fun with the kids

Do you have any Pets?

I have a cat named Mouse that’s 12 years old
Do you have any hobbies?

I love to read and doing anything in the mountains. The mountains help relax and recharge me.

What is your favorite type of food?

I love Italian food. Pizza and pastas are my favorites.

If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go and why?

Scotland and Ireland. I’d like to see the castles and learn the history.

Sign up to donate supplies here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508094EAFAA2AAAFA7-53320594-gingerbread#/

Sign up to attend the event here:

https://forms.gle/oMaJH9gxDfwwkD4x6

Click on the picture to sign up 👉

Parents may sign up to help out on Wednesdays in Conrad's school Library.

• We need one volunteer per week
• Help kids check in & check-out library books
• Clean and reshelve library books
• Wednesdays during the AM or PM session

Reminder: children may NOT accompany the volunteer.

Please review the available slots click on the button to sign up.

Thank you!