Bright Futures
February 2026 Newsletter

Mark Your Calendar
February
06- 100th Day of School at Bright Futures
09- Board Meeting - 7:00 pm
16 - President's Day - NO SCHOOL
17 - Toddler Tuesday @ Discovery Depot 5:30-7:00
20- Bright Futures - End of Trimester 2
26 - Evening Parent / Teacher Conferences
27- Daytime Parent / Teacher Conferences NO SCHOOL
Daily Schedule
5 Essentials Survey
Your Feedback Matters
We invite parents and guardians to complete the Illinois 5Essentials Survey. Your feedback helps us strengthen family–school partnerships and continue improving our preschool program. The survey is confidential, and your voice truly matters. Thank you for your support!
Help Your Little Learner Grow
February Fine Motor Fun: Helping Little Hands Grow
Cold weather means more time indoors, but it’s a great opportunity to build fine motor skills! Try these easy activities at home:
Play-Doh or clay: Rolling, squeezing, pinching, and shaping strengthen little hand muscles.
Snip & tear: Let your child cut paper with child-safe scissors or tear paper for collages.
Button & zip practice: Practice buttoning coats, zipping jackets, or snapping clothing.
Sticker play: Peeling and placing stickers builds finger strength and coordination.
Beading & lacing: String cereal, pasta, or beads onto yarn or shoelaces.
Helping hands: Stir batter, pour ingredients, or use tongs to move small items during kitchen time.
Drawing & coloring: Crayons, markers, chalk, and even painting with cotton swabs are great practice.
These playful moments help develop the hand strength and coordination children need for writing and self-care skills—all while having fun together indoors
Welcome
New Family Educator
We are excited to welcome Abby Wilson as our new Family Educator! Abby will be supporting families through goal setting and home visits, as well as assisting with upcoming screenings for the new school year. Be on the lookout for some new and exciting additions to our lending library as well. We’re thrilled to have Abby join our team and look forward to the support she will provide to our families!
Reminder
As we continue through the winter months, please remember to send an extra set of season-appropriate clothing (including sweatpants, shirt, socks and underwear) in your child’s backpack. At this time, we do not have extra sweatpants available at school. If your child has an accident and needs a change of clothes, the only clothing we currently have on hand is shorts, so we will have to call to have parents bring a change of clothes if they do not have extras.
Additionally, if you have gently used sweatpants that your child has outgrown and would like to donate them, we would gladly accept them to help during emergency situations. Thank you for your support in helping us keep all children comfortable and ready to learn!
Curriculum
A Sneak Peek Inside a Day at Bright Futures
Family Engagement
Toddler Tuesday
This event is completely FREE for all Bright Futures students and their families. Come join us for a fun-filled night of laughter, play, and family memories!
Smart from the Start
Does your Bright Futures student have younger siblings? Take them to FREE, Smart from the Start Fridays at Discovery Depot!
Parent to Parent Group
Join the Parent to Parent group!
The Regional Office of Education #33 invites parents and guardians to our monthly Parent-to-Parent group, a space to connect with others, share experiences, and explore helpful strategies for parenting and family well-being.
Topics include:
- Different parenting approaches and strategies
- Activities to do with your children
- Supporting overall family wellness and child development
Nutrition
Snacks & Meals
Morning students will receive items from the breakfast menu as their mid-morning snack.
-
Afternoon students will receive items from the lunch menu as their mid-afternoon snack.
-
Full-day students will be served breakfast, lunch, and a mid-afternoon snack.
Click the button below to access the monthly menus.