A Special Police Officer Visit 🚓

This month, our students had an exciting visit from a local police officer as part of our Safe and Healthy curriculum! The children were thrilled to welcome a real community helper into the classroom and learn all about staying safe.

The officer talked with the students about important safety rules, including how to stay safe at school, at home, and in the community. The children learned when to ask a trusted adult for help, what to do if they feel unsafe, and how police officers work every day to help keep everyone safe. There were lots of great questions, big smiles, and curious minds during the visit!

This experience was especially important because it helped bring our safety lessons to life. Meeting a police officer in a friendly and positive setting helps children feel comfortable, confident, and supported. It also helps them understand that police officers are helpers they can trust when they need assistance.

We are thankful to our local police department for taking the time to visit and for helping make learning about safety fun, meaningful, and memorable for our students!

Breakfast with Santa!

This past Saturday, our school was filled with holiday cheer as families joined us for our annual Breakfast with Santa event. From the moment guests arrived, the space was buzzing with excitement, festive decorations, and the joyful spirit of the season.

Families enjoyed a delicious breakfast together while children eagerly waited for a very special visitor. When Santa arrived, smiles lit up the room! Children were thrilled to meet Santa, share their holiday wishes, and take photos to capture the moment.

In addition to visiting with Santa, children participated in fun, hands-on holiday activities. They enjoyed decorating ornaments to take home and writing letters to Santa, sharing their wishes and practicing early writing skills. These activities added an extra layer of creativity and holiday magic to the morning.

One of the most heartwarming moments was when Santa surprised each child with a stuffed animal to take home. The smiles and hugs made it a truly memorable experience for everyone. We also loved watching our families connect, meet one another, and spend quality time together in a warm and welcoming environment.

Breakfast with Santa was a wonderful way to celebrate the season, build community, and create lasting memories for our families. Thank you to all the families who attended and helped make this morning so special!

Preschool 5 Builds Fine Motor Skills ✨

Our Preschool 5 students had a wonderful time practicing their fine motor skills with a hands-on activity that was both fun and educational! The children worked on stringing connecting cubes onto pipe cleaners, an activity that helps strengthen finger dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and focus—skills that are essential for everyday tasks like writing, drawing, and using scissors.

As the students carefully threaded each cube, they also explored important early math concepts. Many children practiced creating patterns with the cubes, such as alternating colors or making sequences, while others focused on counting and color recognition. This simple activity turned into a playful learning experience that combined math, creativity, and fine motor development. The classroom was buzzing with excitement, concentration, and lots of laughter!

Beyond the fine motor and pattern skills, this activity also encouraged patience, persistence, and problem-solving. Children learned how to adjust their grip, slow down, and focus on the task at hand—important skills for building confidence and independence. Seeing the pride on their faces as they completed their patterned strings of cubes was truly heartwarming.

Activities like this show just how much children can learn through hands-on exploration and play. Our Preschool 5 students not only strengthened their fine motor skills but also practiced counting, colors, patterns, and creativity—all while having a blast! It’s amazing to see how engaged and enthusiastic our students are when learning is interactive and fun.

A Slice of Fall Fun! 🥧

This week in our preschool classroom, our two-year-olds dove into one of the most meaningful (and joyful) early childhood activities: finger painting, as they created their very own “pumpkin pie” art. While it may look like simple messy fun, finger painting is actually an essential part of learning and development at this age. Toddlers make sense of the world through their senses, and finger painting provides a rich sensory experience. The cool, smooth texture of the paint, the motion of spreading it, and the freedom to explore all support healthy brain development. These sensory moments help children form connections, build understanding, and gain confidence through hands-on learning.

Finger painting also supports important fine motor development. When children dip their fingers into paint, swirl it around, or make small tapping motions, they are strengthening the muscles in their hands and fingers, muscles they will later use for writing, dressing themselves, and manipulating small objects. It is also a wonderful way to encourage creativity and self-expression. At two years old, children may not always have the words to explain what they are thinking or feeling, but through art they can explore colors, shapes, and movement in their own unique way. Best of all, finger painting is open-ended, with no right or wrong approach, which helps build independence and confidence.

Our pumpkin pie project brought all of this learning to life. The children loved swirling orange paint onto their “pie plates,” experimenting with big circles, tiny dots, and everything in between. Some used whole-hand motions, while others delicately dipped one finger at a time. After creating their “pumpkin filling,” they added a fluffy cotton-ball whipped cream topping, which provided another fun fine motor challenge. Each pie turned out beautifully, and it was wonderful to see how differently each child interpreted the same materials.

Activities like this remind us how powerful simple experiences can be for young learners. A bit of paint, a little mess, and a whole lot of exploration can spark creativity, strengthen developing skills, and bring joy to the classroom. We are so proud of our little artists and excited to share their festive fall creations with families.

🌤️ Little Explorers: The Importance of Outdoor Time for Our Infants 🌿

At The Academy, we believe that learning begins the moment a child enters the world — and that includes time spent in the great outdoors! Even our youngest learners, our precious infants, benefit greatly from time outside each day.

For our babies, outdoor time isn’t just fresh air — it’s an opportunity to explore the world in new ways. The warmth of the sun, the feel of a gentle breeze, the sound of birds chirping, and the sight of leaves moving in the wind all help stimulate their senses and support healthy brain development. These experiences help infants begin to understand the world around them through curiosity and wonder.

Time outdoors also gives our infants room to move, stretch, and build strength. Whether they’re reaching for leaves, kicking their legs while lying on a blanket, or practicing their balance while sitting up, nature provides the perfect environment for early motor development. Plus, outdoor play supports better sleep, stronger immune systems, and a calm, happy mood.

Just as importantly, outdoor time creates moments for connection. Our teachers use this time to talk softly with the infants, point out what they see, and share simple words about the world — turning every moment into a mini learning experience. These calm, joyful interactions help nurture both development and the special bond between teacher and child.

At The Academy, we value these peaceful outdoor moments just as much as the busy ones inside. Watching our infants look around, smile at the sunshine, or giggle as the wind brushes their faces reminds us that even the smallest moments can have the biggest impact. 🌼

🐸 A Fun-Filled Visit from Max the Frog! 🎉

This week was full of excitement at The Academy as we welcomed a very special guest — Max the Frog, our school mascot! From the moment Max hopped through the doors, the children’s faces lit up with smiles and laughter. His cheerful energy spread through every classroom, making the day one to remember!

Max wasted no time jumping right into the fun. He joined classrooms for dance parties, showing off his best frog moves and getting everyone up and moving! The music was lively, the giggles were nonstop, and the joy in the room was contagious. Every child had a chance to dance, wave, and share a moment with our favorite green friend.

After the dance parties, Max headed outside to enjoy the sunshine on the playground. The children were thrilled to see him running, hopping, and playing right alongside them. The highlight of the day came when Max climbed to the top of the slide and went down with a big splash of laughter! The playground erupted in cheers — and we’re pretty sure Max had just as much fun as the kids did!

Visits from Max are more than just exciting; they help build our sense of community and connection. His visits remind our students that school is not only a place to learn but also a place filled with friendship, fun, and belonging. Seeing their teachers and friends dance, laugh, and play together creates memories that last far beyond the day.

Max brings out the very best in our Academy family — joy, energy, teamwork, and plenty of smiles. We’re so thankful for his visit and the happiness he brought to everyone he met. We can’t wait for Max to hop back in soon for more hugs, high fives, and adventures! 💛🐸

🎨 Pumpkin Painting Day 🎃

The spirit of fall came alive this week as our students dove into one of our favorite seasonal traditions — Pumpkin Painting Day! The classrooms were filled with laughter, creativity, and color as each child turned an ordinary pumpkin into their own unique masterpiece.

Instead of carving, we brought out the paint, brushes, stickers, and glitter — and let imaginations lead the way! The results were incredible: some pumpkins wore silly faces and bright smiles, others sparkled with glitter and bold patterns, and a few even turned into rainbows, superheroes, and magical creatures.

Beyond the fun, Pumpkin Painting Day offered our students something even more special — the chance to explore their creativity freely. At The Academy, we believe that giving children the space to make their own artistic choices is a powerful way to help them grow. Whether they chose bold colors or gentle strokes, added stripes or polka dots, each decision reflected their individuality and confidence.

Creative freedom allows children to experiment without fear of making mistakes. It teaches problem-solving, encourages self-expression, and helps develop important fine motor skills as they hold brushes, mix colors, and work with different textures. Most importantly, it reminds them that art doesn’t have to look a certain way — it’s all about having fun and expressing themselves!