December began with some long-awaited snowfall, giving us the opportunity to enjoy outdoor play and exploration. The children eagerly spent time outside experiencing the winter weather, embracing the season and making the most of the fresh snow.

We continued with Sewing Club throughout the month, where many children used this time to thoughtfully create gifts for loved ones. Projects included bags, wallets, ornaments, and stockings, allowing the children to further develop their skills with needle and thread while practicing patience, focus, and creativity.

Shortly after the start of the month, we began decorating our space for the holiday season, creating a warm and festive environment. A large portion of our time was dedicated to creating meaningful holiday gifts, including portrait ornaments and other handmade items for families, friends, and teachers. The children completed their gifts by writing heartfelt—and sometimes delightfully silly—messages on cards to accompany them.

Throughout the month, we also engaged in a variety of holiday crafts, both child-led and educator-guided, with everyone fully embracing the holiday spirit. In addition, the children learned about other important celebrations that take place during this time of year, including Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Activities included making dreidels and displaying a central menorah in our space, which we “lit” each day to represent the eight nights of Hanukkah.

Once school was out, we celebrated Winter Break with a series of fun-filled Spirit Week–style activity days. Festivities began with Grinch Day, complete with themed activities and a movie viewing. This was followed by Christmas Sweater Day and the completion of our final holiday-themed projects for the year. The celebrations concluded with a lively karaoke session before our early closure on Christmas Eve, allowing families ample time to prepare for their holiday celebrations.