Cougar Connection
December 18, 2020
Holiday Edition
DCES Holiday Story House
Password - Cougars
Embrace the Different
Well, it’s been quite a year for us all...hang in there...2021 is coming! As we find ourselves in a season of family traditions that have been disrupted this year, it is easy to see what we don’t have and what we don’t get to do this year. What can we do to make this year special, when our traditions have been put away for the year? Instead of seeing this year as something that is happening to us, we can embrace the difference. We might not physically be with loved ones and do the same things the way we always do. But the holidays CAN be special if we decide to choose something different for this year. We get to choose. It will be different, but if we intentionally make it different, we are actually taking control and maybe we will feel a little less loss and greater joy. There are still good things around us, and many things to be thankful for!
We have been thinking about some things we could do that would be different this year. Many of the ideas are from our students! Attached is a list of activities and links to get you started...both activities that can be done at home and ideas when you need to get out of the house. A great place to start is to get the family together, acknowledge this year will be different, brainstorm a list of things that would be fun to do together, especially during times that will be different, like Christmas Eve/Day and New Years.
All of us at Desert Cove wish your family a restful and fun holiday break. In this season of distancing and masks, we all know more than ever the value of being together and seeing faces and smiles. We look forward to the time when we will be back together again. In the meantime, have a safe and happy holiday season. ~Ms. Denny
Stay at home activities with links.
Family movie night 50 best family movies to watch
Play a board game/ game night 14 Fun Indoor Family Games (No Board Necessary)
Bake cookies together 23 Cookies To Bake With Your Kids
Take a bath
Make a fort with pillows and blankets
Read in the fort
Tell favorite or funny stories in the fort
Make a project together 50+ Quick & Easy Kids Crafts
Look for a recipe on the internet and make it 72 Best Kid-Friendly Dinners
play card games 40+ Great Card Games
Build houses out of playing cards/index cards
Take an on-line yoga or other class on-line 5 Best Kids Yoga Videos on Youtube
Drawing 100 Crazy Cool Drawing Ideas for Kids
Read a book together
Learn about Winter traditions and celebrations around the wrold Winter Celebrations
Get out of the house activities
Take a walk and 10 Ways to Make Walking with Kids Wonderful
Bike rides The Best Kid-Friendly Mountain Bike Trails in Phoenix
Take a drive to look at holiday lights 2020 Christmas lights: Where to see holiday lights in the valley
Go up north and play in the snow 5 Places to Play in the Snow Around Arizona
Go to the park/ discover a new park 12 Playgrounds Every Phoenix Kid Should Visit
Have a picnic 60 Kid-Friendly Picnic Food Ideas
Take a hike on a new trail Tops Tips for Walking and Hiking with kids
Visit an Arizona State park
Take a day trip101 Family Day Trips Around Phoenix
Take drive up north Roadtrip! 10 Arizona destinations for family fun
Go window shopping...if you could buy one thing, what would it be?
Desert Cove's Mission
Mission statement: Desert Cove provides a collaborative culture that supports and celebrates student diversity, lifelong learning, and engagement in a global community.
Vision: To prepare and motivate students to achieve their personal best, to embrace learning, and build their emotional, social and physical well-being, enabling students to flourish as contributing and healthy citizens in our community.
Beliefs: Safe, Seen, Celebrated