December 🎄

Dear Welty Familia,

As we approach the holiday season, I'm filled with joy and gratitude for all that we've accomplished together this year. Our students continue to shine academically and socially, and I'm proud of their dedication and hard work.

Please mark your calendars for our upcoming holiday events: the festive City of Nogales Christmas Parade on December 7, the Holiday Dance on December 10, and the dazzling Holiday Concert on December 18. These events promise to be filled with holiday cheer, music, and fun.

We have a few more weeks of mid-year assessments as we wrap up the year. I encourage our students to stay focused and do their best. Please support them by ensuring they get plenty of rest, eat healthy meals, and manage their time effectively.

We are wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and a happy New Year! May it be filled with peace, joy, and good health.

We're excited to share that Nattaly Rodriguez has been chosen as an Arizona EL Student Success Story for the 2024 OELAS Conference! She was honored at the Governing Board meeting on November 25, and at the OELAS conference on the morning of December 10th. Additionally, Raul Cisneros received an honorable mention. Their dedication, hard work, and positive contributions to our school community are truly inspiring. Congratulations to both of them!

📕DIBELS TESTING is around the corner!!

Let's ensure all students are practicing daily to meet their goal!

📗Oral Reading Fluency

Goals for our students are to reach the following correct words per minute:

• Kindergarten - 37 letter names and 25 letter sounds
• 1st - 21 words per minute
• 2nd - 78 words per minute
• 3rd - 105 words per minute
• 4th - 121 words per minute
• 5th - 122 per minute

STEM Activities:

1. Snowflake Science: Teach kids about symmetry by creating paper snowflakes or using pipe cleaners and borax to make crystal snowflakes.

2. DIY Ice Lanterns: Explore the science of freezing by creating colorful ice lanterns using balloons, water, and food coloring.

3. Build a Catapult: Use popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and a spoon to build a mini catapult, testing physics with marshmallows as projectiles.

4. Frozen Bubble Experiment: Blow bubbles outside on freezing days and observe how they crystallize.

CREATIVE ARTS:

6. Winter-Themed Story Writing: Encourage kids to write a short story or comic strip about a winter adventure.

7. Snowman Art: Use cotton balls, construction paper, and glue to make snowmen or create snowman puppets with paper bags.

8. DIY Winter Decorations: Make salt dough ornaments, garlands with cranberries and popcorn, or handprint art.

9. Winter Photography Challenge: Provide a camera and a list of winter-themed items for a fun photo scavenger hunt.

10. Music Time: Teach kids holiday songs or make simple instruments like jingle bell shakers.

General Learning Platforms

1. PBS Kids

• Interactive games and videos focused on educational topics.

2. National Geographic Kids

• Articles, videos, and games about animals, geography, and science.

3. BrainPOP Jr.

• Animated lessons on a variety of subjects, ideal for K-3 students.

4. Khan Academy Kids

• Free app-based learning for reading, math, and logic skills.

5. Starfall

• Focuses on reading, math, and seasonal content for younger kids.

Reading and Writing

6. Epic!

• A digital library with books, audiobooks, and educational videos.

7. Storyline Online

• Celebrities read popular children’s books aloud.

8. ABCya

• Educational games for reading and writing, organized by grade level.

9. Reading Rockets

• Resources to help kids learn to read and improve literacy skills.

Math and Science

10. Coolmath4Kids

• Fun and engaging math games and activities.

11. Mystery Science

• Hands-on science lessons and activities for elementary students.

12. NASA Kids’ Club

• Space-themed games and educational content about the universe.

13. Math Playground

• Math games, puzzles, and problem-solving activities.

14. Prodigy Math

• A fantasy role-playing game that teaches math skills.

Coding and Technology

15. Code.org

• Free coding lessons for beginners, including fun games for young learners.

16. Tynker

• Coding games and challenges tailored for elementary-age students.

17. Scratch

• A visual programming platform for creating stories and animations.

Social Studies and Arts

18. Ducksters

• Educational games and articles on history, geography, and biographies.

19. Smithsonian Kids

• Interactive content from the Smithsonian Museums.

20. Art for Kids Hub

• Drawing and crafting tutorials for kids.

Ms. Estrada has been chosen as Teacher of the Month for her exceptional dedication, creativity and commitment to the students success. She goes above and beyond to create an engaging learning environment for her students! Way to go Ms. Estrada!

• Apptegy: Get the NUSD #1 App. It's everything NUSD in your pocket. To see detailed instructions, please watch the video at https://youtu.be/-sT3pisSgqQ?si=21BX3FC3Kh1Iyf99 Download for Android https://aptg.co/vMN1SK Download for iPhone https://aptg.co/8ym_Qp
• Attendance: Regular attendance is crucial for academic success.
• Winter Break: December 22nd-Janunary 3rd.

The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative provides the only federally funded source dedicated exclusively to out-of-school-time programs.