What a short but sweet week! We started with 2 snow days and ended with playing in our pajamas. Free play allows children to play making their own rules as they go along and creating new limits within their own boundaries. "You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation"-Plato

Not only is it fun, but play has so many benefits:

• Develops creative thinking
• Helps them stay physically fit
• Expands their cognitive function through healthy development of the brain
• Helps them learn to get along with others through collaborating, sharing, negotiating, resolving conflicts, and developing self-advocacy skills
• Develops problem solving skills
• Encourages independence
• Allows children to practice decision making skills, move at their own pace, discover areas of interest on their own
• Gives them ownership in their learning
• Creates happiness

We are lucky at Wiggin Street to have advocates for free play. It is not an easy day for our teachers because there are times when students have difficulty solving problems, and sharing, resolving conflicts. Our teachers are there to support students as needed and understand the importance of free play as well as a healthy balance of structured play.

Best wishes,

Christy Grandstaff

Next FOW meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 1st @ 5:00 pm.

Reminder: Students are to return their Math-a-thon envelopes Monday.

1. We only sled when there is at least a 4'' cushion of snow;

2. We only sled in a sitting position;

3. Students who want to sled must bring their own plastic trash bag, and no actual sleds are permitted.

4. Sliding down the hill is one at a time and occurs only between the retaining wall and the swings on the south side of the playground;

5. After sliding down the hill, students are to return to the top of the hill at a point outside of the sledding land;

6. Sledding occurs only under the direct supervision of a duty teacher

7. Students who wish to sled must be dressed appropriately with winter coats, boots, hats, and gloves. It is advisable that snow pants be worn or a change of pants and socks be sent in the child's book bag if they wish to sled.

The following link will provide you with details shared by Superintendent Seder on how the decision is made for closings and delays.

“School Closings and Delays - How is the Decision Made”

We will be using ‘Instant Connect Alerts’ as our closings and delays notification system. Please make sure you have signed up at Instant Connect portal.

Thrive Kids Weekly Update

At Thrive we are working on helping the students to become leaders in the gym, in the classroom, and anywhere they go. In order to be a successful leader we must be able to recognize the needs around us because leaders SEE others. We discussed the importance of being aware of those around us and using our words and our actions to help.

Our movement focus for this week was muscles “on” and muscles “off”. We worked on the difference between these two things and the importance of having our muscles “on” when we are getting ready to lift something heavy or do specific movements. We also had some fun with a workout and a game!

Thrive Kids will NOT be in session on February 3rd (Coach Hannah is traveling to the warm weather!) but we will be back on February 10th at 8:15am!

If your child is interested in joining the fun they can pick up a permission slip be attending any Thursday class or by emailing hannahkelling@gmail.com!

Thrive Kids Schedule

February 3 – NO THRIVE KIDS

February 10

February 17

February 24

Have a great week!

Coach Hannah

January

31 Pledge envelopes and money due

February

1 PTO Meeting, 5:00

4 Popcorn Friday

11 Valentine's Day Parties 2:30 pm

18 Teacher In-Service Day (No School)

21 Presidents' Day (No School)

25 Spring Picture Day