The Weekly Update #4

As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s the perfect time to create lasting memories with your little ones. Here are some fun and engaging activities you can do at home with your kindergarteners to celebrate the holiday together!

1. Thanksgiving Craft Time

• Turkey Handprints: Use washable paint to make handprint turkeys. Have your child dip their hands in brown paint for the body and use colorful paints for feathers. Add eyes and a beak with markers!
• Gratitude Garland: Cut out leaf shapes from colored paper. Have each family member write something they’re thankful for on a leaf, then string them together to create a garland to hang up at home.

2. Storytime with a Twist

• Thanksgiving Books: Pick a few Thanksgiving-themed storybooks and read them together. After reading, discuss what the characters are thankful for and ask your child what they are thankful for.
• Story Creation: Encourage your child to create their own Thanksgiving story. They can illustrate it too!

3. Cooking Together

• Simple Recipes: Involve your child in the kitchen by making easy Thanksgiving treats. Try making “Turkey Sandwiches” using deli meats and veggies!
• Thankful Treats: Bake cookies together and decorate them with fall-themed designs. Share them with friends and neighbors as a way to spread gratitude.

4. Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt

• Create a scavenger hunt around your home or yard. Include items like a cornucopia, fall leaves, or a pumpkin. Make it educational by having your child count or identify colors!

5. Family Gratitude Circle

• Gather as a family and take turns sharing what you are thankful for this year. You can make this a tradition to continue every Thanksgiving!

6. Thanksgiving Movie Night

• End the day with a cozy movie night! Choose family-friendly Thanksgiving movies or shows. Don’t forget the popcorn!

7. Thanksgiving Songs and Dances

• Find Thanksgiving-themed songs and have a mini dance party in your living room. Encourage your child to make up their own silly Thanksgiving songs!

We hope these activities help you celebrate the spirit of Thanksgiving and make wonderful memories together. Enjoy this special time as a family!

Hobart is all about helping the community! If you ever need any resources or support, please feel free to reach out and I will do my best to help find you the resources you need!

The Early Learning Center does a weekend food assistance program! Your child should have gotten a paper copy of this in their folder. If you need returned the form back to the school, then you are all set! If you haven't filled it out and would like to participate, please fill out the link below and we will make sure your child is added to our program!

There is also a list of resources that can be beneficial to you as well! You can click on the link below and see what resources there are. If you don't find what you are looking for or have further questions, please reach out!

You can also go to www.findhelp.org for even more resources!

Every week I go into classrooms to work on social emotional skills! Every month you can check out what I am doing here!

Here are some fun and engaging conversation starters for your family about kindness and gratitude that go along with my lessons:

1. Kindness Challenge: "What is one kind thing you did today? How did it make you feel?"

2. Grateful Moments: "Can you think of something you are really thankful for? Why does it make you happy?"

3. Kind Acts: "If you could do one nice thing for someone today, what would it be?"

4. Kindness Superheroes: "If you were a kindness superhero, what special powers would you have to help others?"

5. Thank You List: "Who is someone you want to say thank you to today? What would you say to them?"

6. Kindness Stories: "Can you tell me a story about a time someone was kind to you?"

7. Compliment Circle: "What is something nice you can say about a friend or family member?"

8. Kindness Feelings: "How does it feel when someone is kind to you? Can you show me with your face?"

9. Kindness in Action: "What are some ways we can show kindness to our neighbors or friends?

Hello! I’m Miss Taylor Louie, and I’m thrilled to be the school counselor here at the Early Learning Center. My role is to support students in their academic, emotional, and social development, helping them navigate the challenges of school and life with confidence and resilience.

I’m passionate about creating a safe and inclusive environment where every student feels heard and supported. Whether it's helping with academic planning, providing guidance on personal issues, or facilitating group counseling sessions, my goal is to empower students to reach their full potential.

If you or your child ever need someone to talk to, whether it's about school, friendships, or anything else, I’m here to listen and help. Feel free to reach out to me via email at tlouie@hobart.k12.in.us and let’s work together to ensure a positive and successful school experience!

Looking forward to a great year ahead!

Hello! I’m Ryan Williams, and I’m in my second year as the Behavior Interventionist at the Early Learning Center. My role is to support students in managing their behavior while promoting social and emotional growth through personalized strategies that foster meaningful opportunities for development.

Before stepping into this role, I taught middle school math for 17 years. I earned my master’s degree in School Counseling and am excited to serve the Hobart community in this new capacity. Having been a Brickie myself since kindergarten, I’m passionate about helping our young Brickies grow and thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

If you’d like to discuss how we can partner together to support your child’s continued growth, I’d love to be part of that journey. Feel free to contact me at rwilliams@hobart.k12.in.us or 219-942-7263 ext. 8822.

Thank you, and I look forward to the great year ahead!

Hi, everyone! My name is Mrs. Lyndsey Deaton, and I am the Wellness Supervisor at the ELC. I work closely with Miss. Louie, the school counselor, and Mr. Williams, the behavioral interventionist. My goal is to help students form their own tools and goals necessary to help self-regulate their emotional and behavioral choices in a safe and positive way. This ensures a better learning experience for not only themselves, but those around them. A few examples of how I achieve this would be providing support within the classrooms, talking students through their emotions with calm down techniques, weekly goal checks and collaborating with teachers in weekly meetings. I am passionate about seeing students progress and grow throughout the year as they hit their behavioral goals and seeing the joy that it brings them. Feel free to contact me at 219-942-7263 x8818 or at ldeaton@hobart.k12.in.us for any questions or if you'd like to work together to ensure a positive school experience! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your child's learning journey!

As always, please feel free to reach out if you have any questions, concerns, or need anything. I am here to help!

Take care,

Taylor Louie

tlouie@hobart.k12.in.us

(219) 942-7263 ext. 8804