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Fueling Bright Futures: Celebrating National Staying Healthy Month!

January is National Staying Healthy Month. How are you establishing healthy habits?

Happy National Staying Healthy Month! We know that healthy habits started today lead to a lifetime of success for our students.

From the cafeteria to the classroom and the living room, here is how we are working together to keep our kids thriving.

From Farm to Fork: Better Fuel for Better Learning

Our Child Nutrition Services team promotes that "brain food" should be delicious and wholesome. We are proudly moving away from pre-packaged meals toward more scratch cooking.

By preparing meals in our own kitchens, we ensure our students receive:

• Farm-Fresh Ingredients: We partner with local growers to bring seasonal fruits and vegetables directly to our salad bars.
• Organic Options: We prioritize organic choices whenever possible to reduce exposure to pesticides.
• Whole Flavors: Less sodium and sugar, more real herbs and spices!

The Power of the 20-Second Scrub

Staying healthy also means keeping germs at bay. Our teachers are reinforcing the "Gold Standard" of hygiene: Handwashing.

We encourage students to wash their hands before eating, after recess, and after every sneeze.

At home, we encourage you to reinforce the handwashing practice by having your student sing "Happy Birthday" twice or the "ABCs" once while scrubbing with soap. It’s the perfect timer for a thorough clean!

Power Down to Power Up

In a digital world, balance is key. In honor of National Staying Healthy Month, we are challenging families to limit screen time outside of school hours. Reducing time on tablets and TVs helps:

1. Improve Focus: Less "digital noise" helps children concentrate on reading and creative play.
2. Encourage Movement: More time away from the couch means more time playing outside!
3. Protect Eye Health: Giving young eyes a break from blue light prevents strain.

The Magic of a Bedtime Routine

A great school day actually starts the night before. Consistent bedtime routines are essential for school-aged children, who typically need 9–12 hours of sleep.

Try this simple "3-2-1" Routine:

• 3 hours before bed: Finish a healthy dinner.
• 2 hours before bed: Stop homework or high-energy play.
• 1 hour before bed: All screens go off. Use this time for a warm bath or reading a book together.

Every Step Counts!

Whether it's a family walk after dinner, a weekend bike ride, or simply dancing in the kitchen, physical activity is the best way to boost moods and immunity. 

Thank you for being our partners in health.

Winter Break Adventures: Keeping the Learning Alive and the Fun Flowing!

How to keep your student engaged in learning over the winter break.

While a well-deserved rest is certainly in order, these next two weeks offer a fantastic opportunity to explore, create, and keep those bright minds engaged. This break isn't just a pause—it's a chance to turn everyday activities into exciting learning adventures! 

Here are some fun, low-cost, and easy ways for students of all ages to continue learning and stay busy until the new year begins:

At-Home Learning and Creativity

The best classroom might just be your living room!

• Become a Kitchen Chemist: Cooking and baking are perfect ways to practice math (measuring, fractions, ratios) and following directions. Try a new recipe together—it's delicious learning!
• Family Book Club: Dedicate 30 minutes each day to family reading time. Have each family member choose a book, a comfortable spot, and read. Or read a book together. Follow up with a simple discussion: What was your favorite part? What do you predict will happen next? This boosts literacy and comprehension.
• The Power of Play: Dust off the board games! Games like Monopoly, Scrabble, or even a simple deck of cards teach strategic thinking, basic arithmetic, and vocabulary in a competitive, fun setting.
• Design & Build Challenge: Use materials found around the house (cardboard, paper tubes, tape) to tackle a challenge: build the tallest tower, a vehicle that rolls, or a cozy home for a toy. This promotes engineering and problem-solving skills.

Exploring the Local Community

Check your local area for unique, enriching experiences—many are free or low-cost!

• Library Liftoff: Local libraries are a treasure trove! Beyond books, check out their free programs, movie screenings, and computer access. Ask a librarian for recommendations based on your child's favorite school subject.
• Museum Marvels: Many local history, science, or art museums offer discounted or free days. Exploring exhibits connects classroom concepts to the real world and sparks curiosity.
• Volunteering Vibe: Spend an afternoon helping others. Contact a local food bank or animal shelter. This teaches invaluable lessons in community service, empathy, and social studies through direct action.
• Nature Walks and Observation: Even in the cold, a trip to a local park is great for physical education and science. Bundle up and look for animal tracks, identify different types of trees, or collect pinecones and leaves for a craft project.

 The 'Three P's' of Productivity

These simple habits can keep minds sharp and bodies active:

1. Project: Start a personal project. This could be writing a short story, learning a few chords on a ukulele, creating a photo album, or coding a simple game. The goal is self-directed learning and skill-building.
2. Physical Activity: Don't let the cold sideline fitness! Use a rainy day to create an indoor obstacle course, look up a fun kids' yoga video on YouTube, or just play freeze tag. Movement is essential for brain health and boosts mental health.
3. Planning Ahead: Take an hour near the end of the break to organize school supplies, decorate a planner for the new year, or write down a few academic goals. This eases the transition back into the classroom routine.

Wishing all our students, families, and staff a restorative, joyful, and knowledge-filled winter break! We can't wait to see you back, refreshed and ready in the new year!