Hi Families,                                                    Happiest Hanukkah/Solstice/Christmas      

       We are at the end of another year.  This is always a time to look backward and ahead.  Ahead of us comes my most favorite time of the school year – the most productive for your children.  The throes of the newness of school are mostly over.  Everyone has pretty much settled into a comfortable routine.  We have a captured audience with weather conditions trapping us indoors most of the time.  We have a lot of time to work, perfect our movements, try new things, refine skills, face new concepts and test old ones.  Yet the need is still there to exercise our bodies as well as our minds.

     While it is neither practical nor safe to be out-of-doors much, you may find activities to enjoy as a family like sledding or skiing or just right for you!  A favorite of mine, when my children were small, was our local YWCA to swim.  There was nothing like an after school 2-hour marathon session a few days a week to take the edge off.  They always slept wonderfully, had great appetites, and were generally of sounder mind when allowed the full expression of their energies in water!!  Just a thought.

     We’ve had a wonderful last two weeks exploring the traditions of Hanukkah, Solstice and Christmas.  Ledgewood is certainly blessed to have once again, the “Country Village Family Singers”.  I frame what we do in this service to the children in this spirit.:  “It doesn’t matter what our individual beliefs are; we are singing to bring a little joy into the hearts of older friends who may have forgotten the words to their favorite songs, may not have any family to celebrate the holidays with and to bring many of them in touch with their memories”.  

     End of year thanks to all our drivers and chaperones to YOGA, Scholastic Book participants, Box Tops and Campbell Soup Label and Hannaford efforts.  Special thanks to Irina, Natalie’s mom, for all the paper goods, soaps, and disinfectants. Special thanks to Monica, Aidan’s mom for the tremendous supply of toilet paper! In today’s economy we sure do appreciate the help.

     A note to Elementary Parents:  Remember, your child is allowed to bring in a small game or cards on frigid days for “indoor recess”.  Your children are also encourage to be reading at home and may bring in their chapter book they are working on for silent reading daily. 

Two vacation homework assignments:  with your help

1.  Keep a monthly chart for sunrise and sunset (a copy was sent home).
2.  Visit the Rock Shop in Milford talk to Barbara, and research their rock they were given by drawing their specimen and writing a few sentences about the rock or mineral in their Nature Journals (also sent home) to share upon return.

The Happiest of Holidays to you all…………