December Newsletter
Recap of November
The month of November was filled with grace, courtesy, and gratitude. For the Montessori philosophy, Maria Montessori emphasized the need to teach children these virtues. Our school demonstrated these values by using dialogue that reflects appreciation and courtesy. In addition, the school celebrated Thanksgiving with a cultural potluck, sharing the children's traditions and what they're thankful for, and working with fall-themed materials. In addition, we also hosted our first official food drive! It was a success and we hope that this taught the children the valuable lesson of giving back to our community.
Mercury - Ms. Esme & Ms. Kait
In the Mercury classroom, the kiddos worked on their fine motor skills and learned about being graceful and courteous by having manners.
Jupiter - Ms. Suzzaine & Ms. Keila
In the Jupiter classroom, the children worked on phonetic awareness by turning the letter "t" into a turkey.
Saturn - Ms. Maneet & Ms. Citlali
In the Saturn classroom, the students created a fall tree by honing in on their fine motor skills as they pasted tissue paper onto a painted tree.
Toddlers: Montessori Work Period
Primary: Montessori Work Period
Earth - Ms. Nancy & Ms. Nijma
While in the Earth classroom, they learned about being graceful in their environment by taking care of it.
Mars - Ms. Tatiana & Ms. Cassidy
The Mars classroom , also worked on caring for their environment by learning how to clean and wash a pumpkin.
Venus - Ms. Ashley & Ms. Chamalee
Venus had their kiddos share their traditions and their culture.
Neptune - Ms. Marjorie
Neptune did some festive work by coloring in some pumpkins and learning about the Fall season!
November Birthdays
This Month
It's the most wonderful time of the year!
December is finally here and boy do we have a some festive events in store! This month, we will be clearing out our fall-themed work materials and replacing it with everything winter. For our events, we have a spirit week, Winter Show, Winter Wonderland Workshops, collecting Letters to Santa and a Winter Break.
Spirit Week
December 11th - December 15th
To kickstart the festive mood, the school will be dressing up in various attire. Here is what we have planned for the week of the 11th:
- Monday Dec. 11th: Pajama Day
- Tuesday Dec. 12th: Crazy Sock Day
- Wednesday Dec. 13th: Ugly Christmas Sweater
- Thursday Dec. 14th: Candy Cane Day (dress in red and white)
- Friday Dec. 15th: Winter Wonderland (dress in blue and white)
If you don't plan on dressing up, please continue to wear the school uniform.
Winter Show
December 22nd from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (EARLY DISMISSAL)
Our annual Winter Show has finally arrived! Similar to our Halloween Dance Performance, all of the kiddos will be stationed in the front parking lot. We will start with the Earth classroom, Mars classroom, Neptune & Venus will be combined, and finally the toddlers. After the classes perform, everybody will be together do one final performance! Please note that since all classrooms will be ready to perform, we highly suggest parents to stick around for all of the performances. There will be some photo opps and hot chocolate provided after the show as well! Lastly, please remember that the event ends and the school closes at 12:00 PM so children need to be picked up no later than that time.
Winter Wonderland Workshops
December 22nd at about 9:30 AM
Right after our Winter Show, the lead teachers will be hosting their own workshops filled with winter-themed activities! There will be the following stations set up:
- Cookie Decorating with Ms. Esme
- Candy Cane Reindeers Creations with Ms. Suzzaine
- Ornament Making with Ms. Maneet
- Popsicle Snowflakes with Ms. Nancy
- Create Christmas Trees with Ms. Tatiana
- Christmas Sandbox Scavenger Hunt with Ms. Marjorie
- Snow Globe Making with Ms. Ashley
Please navigate with your child as you move from booth to booth.
Letters to Santa
December 1st - 18th
To foster the Christmas spirit, we wanted to do something special for kiddos. There will be mailbox collecting Letters to Santa that we will be "delivering" to the North Pole. Each child who writes a letter, will be receiving something from Santa. You can start turning in these letters beginning December 1st until the 18th.
Winter Break
December 25th - January 5th
School will be closed from the 25th of December until the 5th of January. We hope everyone stays safe and have lots of fun during this break!
School Events & Closures
December 11th - 15th
To kickstart the festive mood, the school will be dressing up in various attire. Here is what we have planned for the week of the 11th.
December 22nd: 9:00AM - 9:30AM
Our annual Winter Show has finally arrived! Similar to our Halloween Dance Performance, all of the kiddos will be stationed in the front parking lot. We will start with the Earth classroom, Mars classroom, Neptune & Venus will be combined, and finally the toddlers. After the classes perform, everybody will be together do one final performance! Please note that since all classrooms will be ready to perform, we highly suggest parents to stick around for all of the performances. There will be some photo opps and hot chocolate provided after the show as well! Lastly, please remember that the event ends and the school closes at 12:00 PM so children need to be picked up no later than that time.
December 22nd: 9:30AM - 12:00PM (EARLY DISMISSAL)
Right after our Winter Show, the lead teachers will be hosting their own workshops filled with winter-themed activities! These are the stations that will be set up.
December 25th - January 5th
School will be closed from the 25th of December until the 5th of January. We hope everyone stays safe and have lots of fun during this break!
Reminders
Flu Season
As we're leaving the Fall season and approaching the Winter season, we understand that around this time, people tend to get more sick. With that, this is a friendly reminder about our illness policy:
"To ensure that the health of other children is protected and additional infection does not develop in your child, we ask you to keep him/her home when he/she exhibits one or more of the following:
- A temperature of 99.9 or higher
- An undetermined rash
- A runny nose (if the mucus is yellowish or green)
- Irritated eyes with mucus, green or yellow discharge, redness, or water (other than allergies)
- A cough
- Head Lice
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Ear ache (infection)
You will be called to pick up your child within 30 minutes of notification if any of these symptoms are present while your child is at school. Your child MUST remain at home symptom free for at least 24 hours before they are allowed to return to school. Please let us know if your child has come in contact with a person who has an infectious disease. If your child exhibits symptoms upon their return to school, we are required to have a doctor's note advising that the child may return and attend school again."
The Gaowa Staff wishes everyone a safe, fun, and happy holidays and new year! Thank you all for your continuous support and dedication to making this school as successful as it is.
Family Fun Events
Newport Beach
Date & Time: December 1st - 31st | 5:30 PM, 7:00 PM, 8:30 PM
Location: Newport Beach | 309 Palm St. A, Newport Beach, CA 92661
Price: From $20
Information: Holiday lights cruises take place throughout the month of December with three cruises nightly. Departure times are 5:30 pm, 7:00 pm, and 8:30 pm nightly. Each holiday cruise is roughly 75 minutes in length.
Newport Harbor in full holiday décor is not to disappoint. Holiday cruises offer 85% of what the parade offers without the huge numbers of people and parking challenges. Weekends are more popular for holiday cruise times and reservations are mandatory.
**Note $20 holiday lights cruise special is not valid for Dec 15 - Dec 19 for cruise times from 5:15 pm - 9:30 pm each of those 5 nights.
**A supplemental charge of $5 per person applies for “all” cruise times from 5 pm-8:30 pm. No $5 charge on all other cruise times.
$3 increase to charge is due to COVID implementations
- Large Reduction In Passengers Per Trip
- Protocols for highest standard of cleanliness & disinfecting
- Outside open environment on our boats makes for ideal low risk cruises (Outdoor & Indoor Seating)
Tustin Market Place
Date & Time: December 3rd - December 17th | 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Location: Tustin Marketplace | 2961 El Camino Real Tustin, CA 92782
Price: Free
Information:
Nutcrackers & Sugar Plums
Sunday, December 3, 2023: 12pm – 3pm
Location: Courtyard near Regal Edwards
You are invited to the whimsical land of Nutcrackers & Sugar Plums with nutcracker stilt walkers, a life-sized wind-up ballerina, themed craft and giveaways, sweet treats and festive tunes. Plus, the most popular guy will be at the event for Selfies with Santa.
North Pole Express
Sunday, December 10, 2023: 12pm – 3pm
Location: Courtyard near Mathis Home
Aboard the North Pole Express and experience the magic of the holiday season. Guests will receive themed giveaways and train rides. Plus, the most popular guy will be at the event for Selfies with Santa.
Deck the Halls
Sunday, December 17, 2023: 12pm – 3pm
Location: Courtyard near California Pizza Kitchen
Fill your custom stocking with holiday must-haves and create your own festive potpourri scent while snacking on holiday treats and enjoying festive tunes. Plus, the most popular guy will be at the event for Selfies with Santa.
*All items are complimentary, one per guest, while supplies last. Guests will be supplied with all the tools needed. Events are weather permitting and subject to change without prior notice.
Discovery Cube
Date & Time: December 22nd - January 7th |
Location: Discovery Cube OC | 2500 N Main St., Santa Ana
Information: Experience the wonder of holiday lights as you venture through Winter Lights. The sparkle of a million lights, a sprinkle of snow, and decorations so big the whole holiday crew can walk through them! Event includes:
- Holiday Show and Festival
- Large holiday tunnel walkthrough
- Brite Lites interactive
- Snowfall interactive
- Snowball toss
- Singing snowmen
- Large Ice Castle Play Structure
- Giant Snowglobe
- Jean Luc’s Snowbulb workshop- guest make and take home their own light bulb snowglobe
Costa Mesa
Date & Time: December 15th - 22nd | 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Location: City Hall Lawn | 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa
Price: Free
Information: The ever-popular annual holiday display, returns to the City Hall lawn. The event is free to the public and will include train rides, entertainment, carolers, crafts, and pictures with Santa Claus from 6pm to 8pm on weekends.
Huntington Beach
Date & Time: December 2nd - 3rd | 5:00 PM, 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM
Location: Central Library | 7111 Talbert Avenue, Huntington Beach
Price: $10
Information: Festival Ballet Theatre’s lavish 45-minute, narrated rendition of The Nutcracker is specially designed to introduce young children to the beauty of classical ballet and music.
Celebrate the season with our heroine Clara, her Nutcracker, the Mouse King and the Sugar Plum Fairy as they take you on a magical journey to the mystical Kingdom of Sweets.
Costa Mesa
Date & Time: December 19th - 24th | 11:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Location: Segerstrom Center for the Arts | 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Price: Starting at $29
Information: The Musical features the hit songs "You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch" and "Welcome Christmas” (written by Albert Hague and Dr. Seuss) from the original animated series. Max the Dog narrates as the mean and scheming Grinch, whose heart is "two sizes too small," decides to steal Christmas away from the Holiday loving Whos. Magnificent sets (John Lee Beatty) and costumes (Robert Morgan) inspired by Dr. Seuss’ original illustrations help transport audiences to the whimsical world of Whoville, while the Music and Book of Mel Marvin and Timothy Mason breathe new life into this timeless story of the true meaning of Christmas.
