Early Childhood and Lower School March News

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

March has arrived, and with it, the promise of spring! The extra sunshine and fresh air have been a delight for our students, giving them the chance to enjoy outdoor play and movement before heading into spring break.

Parent-Teacher Conferences will take place this Thursday evening (4–8 p.m.) and Friday morning (8 a.m.–12 p.m.). These meetings are an important time to connect with your child’s teacher to gain insight into their classroom performance, assessment results, and how they demonstrate their learning daily. Beyond academics, how students engage in the classroom and within their peer relationships is just as significant. We look forward to these conversations and partnering together in support of each student’s growth

To make the most of your conference time, we encourage you to:
 

• Pre-read your child’s progress report on Veracross to familiarize yourself with their achievements and areas of growth.
• Come with a curious mindset—ask questions, seek clarity, and embrace the learning journey of your child.
• Be ready to collaborate with teachers to ensure we are working together for the best interests of your child.

This past month, student voices have been on full display across our school! We celebrated the 1st grade play and the 1st and 2nd grade Music Moves Me performance, where students shared their creativity and love for storytelling. Students showcased their knowledge of geography and shared friendship poems that reflected their classroom connections at a lower school town meeting. A prekindergarten class shared their discoveries about veterinarians and caring for animals at an early childhood town meeting and then went on a field trip to see veterinarians in action. The 4th grade play, where students not only performed but wrote their own screenplays, brought six original stories to life. This was just before their 4th grade trip to Glen Helen, where students spent two nights immersed in nature, hiking, bonding, and braving February temperatures in the 50s! As both an educator and a parent, I am continually amazed and proud of the confidence and poise our students demonstrate in public speaking and their learning each day.

Please mark your calendars for the important end-of-school events - they will be here before we know it! You can read more detailed explanations in the attachment below.
 

• Spring Break begins on March 13, and we return to school on March 31.
• Parent Coffees:
  • April 15, 8:15–9 a.m. (Kindergarten–4th grade parents)
  • April 16, 8:15–9 a.m. (Little Jags & PreK parents)
• Grandparents & Special Friends Celebration on May 2, 8–11:15 a.m.; dismissal for all ECLS students at 11:15 a.m. and no aftercare will be provided.
• Early Childhood (LJ - K) Culmination morning will take place on May 21 at 8:15 a.m. until 9:15 a.m.
• Lower School (grades 1 - 4) Culmination morning will take place on May 23 at 8:15 a.m. until 9:15 a.m.
• Field Day for ECLS students will take place on May 27 in the afternoon.
• Fourth Grade Moving Up will be on May 29 at 8:30 a.m. and will highlight our fourth graders and their kindergarten buddies.
• The last day of school for Little Jags through 4th grade is May 29, with dismissal at 11 a.m., and no aftercare will be provided.