ABS WEST CAMPUS:
Themes for the year of 2023/2024:
Each month, we will present activities that will help enhance “language and reading”, “pre writing'', “math and perception”, “discovery of the world through art/painting”, cooking, gross motor skills activities, music & movement, songs, yoga, and Social Emotional Learning.
We will organize regular events/potlucks and we hope to see you!
September: Back-to-School - Emotions / C’est la rentrée - Les émotions
Our students will get to know each other through back-to-school and learn different aspects of living together, such as respect, trust, sharing, taking turns, playing, and building friendships and positive relationships. They will also discover their daily routine at school and be able to discover and explore their classroom and the outdoors!
Our students will learn to express their feelings and emotions and be reassured that it is OK to feel sad, mad, scared, anxious, happy, etc. We will let them know that we are there to listen to them and help out. We will be doing fun feelings activities such as “dance your feelings”, emotion drawing, feeling faces, emotion songs, how would you feel?
· We will organize a “Back-to-School Meeting” on Friday, September 29th. It is a great occasion to get to know your child’s teachers! All ABS Staff and our ABS policies procedures and curriculum will be presented.
· ABS will be closed on Monday, September 4th: Labor Day.
October: Halloween - Nocturnal Animals / Halloween - Les animaux nocturnes
This is the time of year where the days get shorter and the nights get longer. What do animals do at night? Do they all sleep? Our students will learn that some animals (cats, bats, owls, hedgehogs, and others) sleep during the day and become active at sunset and during the night.
This theme is also perfect for Halloween! This month, we will also have a lot of fun making crafts around Halloween and its traditions.
· Children and staff will come in their Halloween costume on Tuesday, October 31st, and Wednesday, November 1st! You will be invited to our Halloween party on Tuesday, October 31st / Wednesday, November 1st from 4 pm to 5:30 pm. This will be followed by a potluck. Please bring your favorite drink and/or food!
· ABS School will be closed on Friday 6th: Teacher In-Service Day
· ABS School will be closed on Monday 9th: Indigenous Peoples’ Day
November: Thanksgiving - The Forest in the Fall / Thanksgiving - La forêt en automne
Fall is the season when the weather cools down and we spend time exploring nature slowly changing! Our students will learn about the leaves changing colors, from green to red, orange, yellow or brown before falling. They will learn about what we can find in the forest: mushrooms, squirrels, acorns, and much more! Our students will have fun sorting leaves according to color, size or shape, making animal’s craft, and also learn about the delicious food that we harvest and cook on the special Thanksgiving celebration. They will also learn what is the meaning of “Thanksgiving Celebration” (of giving).
· ABS School will be closed on Friday 10th: Veterans Day
· ABS School will be closed on From Wednesday, November 22nd to 24th: Thanksgiving Break
December: Holidays Around the World - Winter / Les célébrations de fin d'année dans le monde - L’hiver
December is a busy and exciting month filled with friends & family, holiday music, giving and much more! It is also the perfect time to explore winter themes with our students: winter animals, snowmen, snowflakes, etc.
During this month, our students will decorate a Christmas tree in their classroom, and learn about other holidays around the world, such as Hanukkah, Diwali, and Kwanzaa. Our students will be able to share their culture and family traditions with each other and celebrate the end of the year together.
· You will be invited to our Holiday party with performance, music & dancing on Tuesday,December 19th.
· ABS will be closed on Friday, December 22nd through Friday, January 5th: Winter Break.
· ABS Classes will resume on Monday, January 8th.
January: Polar Animals - “The King’s Cake” / Les animaux polaires - la Galette des Rois
Cold months are here and children will learn all about polar animals (bears, penguins, sea lions, and more) : their ability to live in the cold, how they eat, hunt for food, and sleep. They will do lots of fun activities around the Arctic world, with snow, animal masks and crafts, sensory bins, etc.
We will create art and have activities around “La Galette des Rois” as well… We will also make our own Galette des Rois…
· You will be invited to join us to taste our King’s cakes with some apple juice and cider on: Wednesday, January 31st .
· ABS will be closed on Monday, January 15th: Martin Luther King Day.
February: Nutrition - Valentine's Day / La nutrition - La Saint-Valentin
This month, children will learn all about nutrition and healthy food. Our students will try foods from all five healthy food groups – vegetables, fruit, grain foods, dairy products, and protein. Healthy foods have nutrients that are important for growth, development and learning. We will teach them healthy nutrition by giving them simple nutrition guidelines, encourage them to try new foods, discuss nutrition through a variety of fun activities, read books about nutrition and be a nutrition role model. They will also make lunch for the school each week!
During this month, we will also discuss “Valentine’s Day” through arts and crafts.
· ABS will be closed from Monday, February 19th to Friday, February 23rd : Presidents Week.
March: Garden / Le jardin
March is a great time to start working in the garden! Gardening is a great sensory activity, children can learn new skills, have fun, play and develop self-confidence by spending time outside, planting seeds and growing their own food. Children will develop fine motor control and also work larger muscles. Children will enjoy being outdoors and will love digging in the soil, looking for worms, getting dirty, creating things, and watching plants grow. They will also make crafts to express their love of nature!
· ABS will be closed on Friday, March 22nd : Teachers Workday.
April: Taking Care of our Planet - Easter / Prendre soin de notre planète - Pâques
This month, we will be celebrating the planet! While taking care of our environment is a big responsibility, there are so many things children (and adults!) can learn to help the environment, such as recycling, turning off water when washing hands, riding a bike, turning off the light, composting, etc. Children will learn to reduce, reuse, and recycle items to lessen the amount of trash we produce. Connecting our students with the environment works best when we lead by example, so we will reuse lots of recycling materials for making crafts to celebrate our love for the Earth!
· Children will go on an Easter egg hunt with their parents on Thursday, Apri 4th . This will be followed by a potluck. Please bring your favorite drink and/or food!
· ABS will be closed from Monday, April 1st to Friday, April 5th : Spring break.
May: Farm Animals - Mother’s Day / Les animaux de la ferme - La fête des mères
Many of our students have come to love gathering the eggs of our chickens at school! This month we will be discussing other farm animals that help feed us. Children will learn what produce we can get from various farm animals to foster a deeper appreciation for the food we eat. We will also talk about the mother, father, and baby names for common farm animals (such as hen, rooster, and chick). We will practice the sounds these animals make. Last, but not least, we will see farm animals! (Date to be determined)
Happy Mother’s Day... We will express love and gratitude for our moms. They will have their special day on May 12th!
· ABS will be closed on Monday, May 27th: Memorial Day.
June: General Safety - Father’s Day / La sécurité - La fête des Pères
This month, let’s discuss safety! One of our major worries would naturally be the safety of our children. We are constantly thinking of ways to keep them as safe as possible when they are out in school or at home. We should ensure that our children are prepared and equipped with the understanding and maturity to handle an adverse, dangerous situation, if it arises. Children will learn to follow basic safety rules like “Stop, look, and listen” when their name is called out loud, not to cross the street without an adult, hazard symbols meaning “Danger” or “Stay away”, prevent trips and falls by picking up toys after playing, looking around when running, etc.
We will not forget to celebrate fathers, as they will have their special day coming on June 16th!
· ABS School will be closed on Wednesday 19th: Juneteenth Holiday
· We will organize a potluck to celebrate the end of the school year with a party with performances, music & dancing! Friday, June 14th
· Last of ABS Academic School Year 2023/2024: Wednesday, June 26th.
· ABS will be closed on June 27th and 28th to prepare our Summer Camp Program 2024.
· First day of Summer Camp 2024: Monday, July 1st!
· ABS will be closed on Thursday, July 4th: Independence Day.