This month in School-Age 1, we had the pleasure of welcoming 16 new JK friends to our program, along with 10 returning SK friends! It has been wonderful to see our community come together as we begin a new school year.
Our SK friends have been demonstrating wonderful leadership skills by welcoming our new JK friends, walking hand in hand with them, and showing them where their new after-school classroom is located. Our new JK friends have been adjusting well to their new environment and routines. While some experienced tears and big feelings at the beginning of the day, many quickly became comfortable and engaged, and by the end of the day, some were even reluctant to leave!
Throughout the month, the children have been exploring a variety of experiences that support their development and learning. We enjoyed creative activities such as painting and beading, providing opportunities for self-expression, creativity, and fine-motor development. Outdoors, the children strengthened their gross-motor skills through climbing, playing catch, and enjoying games of soccer.
The children have also been putting their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills into action as they designed, built, and tested different ramps using materials such as rocks, balls, and cars. They experimented with how different objects moved and made adjustments to their ramps as they tested their ideas.
As the weeks have progressed, the children are becoming increasingly familiar with the routines and expectations of our JK/SK after-school program. We are seeing more independence as they remember where to hang their backpacks, where to line up, and what to do when returning inside after outdoor play.
It has also been wonderful to watch new friendships begin to form while familiar friendships reconnect after the summer. We look forward to continuing to build relationships with each child and getting to know their families better as the school year unfolds.
Families, we invite you to share a little more about your family by completing our “Getting to Know You” sheet that will be sent home. We look forward to learning more about the people, traditions, interests, and experiences that are important to your family!
