Happy New Year!
We hope everyone enjoyed the holiday vacation. We are ready to welcome 2024!
Thank you to everyone that contributed supplies for Family Promise. Our students felt proud to contribute items to help our community.
January 2024
Themes this month:
- Winter
- Alaska
- Balto, the sled dog
- Polar Animals
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This month we will learn about Dr. 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 his work.
Every January we also 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. The last few years, the story of Balto is particularly relevant as we dealt with an ongoing pandemic and the need for vaccines.
Along with Balto, we will learn about Alaska and polar animals. We are excited to share a few science experiments with the class to help us learn how polar animals stay warm in the cold.
During circle time we will work on learning the names of our parents, our addresses and begin writing letters. Please bring in a self-addressed 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. 1-No School-New Year Holiday
Monday, Jan. 15th – No school – Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday
Friday, Jan. 26th-No School-Teacher Planning day
Jan. 26th-10 AM to 12 PM-Preschool Open House. Registration for fall and summer programs begins for new families.
Monday and Tuesday, January 30 & 31 – Parent/Teacher conferences
We love spending our days with your kids, but often pick up time is busy and we may not get to talk with parents as much as we wish we could. Parent/Teacher conferences are a great time to catch up! This year, dates will be available the 26th and 27th, 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 at the check-in, conferences can be in-person, or virtual.
February
Week of February 14th- Valentine’s Day Party-Each Class will celebrate a little bit each day, and work to pass out all of their Valentine cards.
Monday, Feb. 19 – No school – Presidents’ Day
March
Tuesday, March 5th-College Students from Senzoku Jr College Japan visit our classroom.
Monday, March 25-29, No school , Spring Vacation
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.
Games and Gifts
We had fun playing so many games in December! Playing games can improve a child’s abilities to plan, organize, get along with others, and regulate emotions. It also helps with language, math and social skills. Plus, games are fun!
We also learned about several winter holidays and made gifts for our families. The children were so proud and excited toa bag full of gifts home!
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 join us for our open house on Friday, January 26th between 10 AM and 12 PM. We also have monthly tours for families unable to make it to the open house.
Fall 2024 preschool registration materials are available online. Hands On will accept registrations from current families (younger siblings included) starting December 2023, and will begin accepting new students for fall and summer on January 1st. 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 2th-March 20 -Contact PELP for prices
If you have any questions, please contact
Kathi@PortlandEarlyLearning.com
Thursdays
NW Children’s Theater – January 4-March 21th-Please email Jennifer to sign up for this class, jennifer@handsonartandplay.com.
$192 for 12 class session
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
Fridays, Embodied Feelings at noon and 12:45, and Soccer Shots at 3:30 PM
Embodied Feelings! With McKinley Hughes.
January 5 through March 22, No class 1/26, Teacher Planning day $176, 11 classes
Please email Jennifer to sign up for this class, jennifer@handsonartandplay.com.
Embodied Feelings: This class is an opportunity for students to explore their emotions through storytelling, physical movement, and theatre games. Students will learn to identify different feelings, learn different ways to express them, and practice relating to one another’s emotions through creativity, imagination, and play.
McKinley is a professional actor, musician and goof ball extraordinaire! She has been working in arts education for the past decade. She is currently continuing her education by earning a masters degree in drama therapy. McKinley is extremely passionate about using theatre as a tool to for self expression and emotional healing. In all of her classes, McKinley strives to cultivate a learning environment where kiddos are encouraged to be brave, get silly, and have fun!
Soccer Shots Winter Season, 3:30 PM in the Parish Hall
Laura and Pedro visit our class.
We really enjoy our special guests. We were lucky to have “visit” Brazil with Teacher Tiziu! He helped us learn a few words in Portuguese, danced with us and even shared all about Capoeira and the Berimbau – a musical instrument used in Capoeira. We also enjoyed a visit from Pedro Perra. He shared music, instruments, and helped us learn to count in both Maya and Spanish. Both these special guests joined us through our partnership with World Fusion Events, and Laura Martinez.
See you soon!
