As the Christmas season approaches, you may be caught up in a whirlwind of activities with family, friends, and co-workers. No matter how busy you are, I hope you take a moment to reflect on the actions of the people who have enhanced your life.
Many holiday traditions and cultural customs are created to provide special ways to express good will toward others. In the pressures of daily life, we may sometimes take for granted the people most important to us. The holiday season gives us an opportunity to step out of our daily concerns and to remember and reflect on the ways certain individuals add value to our lives.
Click here to read more of our CEO’s Christmas message.
* Parents are encouraged to attend.
On December 7, 1941, Japanese forces attacked the U.S. Naval Station at Pearl Harbor, plunging our country into war.
In classes this month, we will remember those whose lives were lost on that day and throughout World War II.
Students have been rehearsing and are excited to present their Christmas Sings and concerts. Parents are invited to come and enjoy the programs.
The date and time of your child’s performance is listed in this month’s Classroom News and is also posted on your campus page. (Preschool classes will receive a flyer.) Please read the uniform care tips on ChallengerSchool.com to ensure that your child’s uniform looks its best.
We also invite everyone to attend the evening Christmas Concerts presented by our middle school students. Outstanding elementary classes will be featured, too. Join us for this celebration of the festive holiday season.
Classes will have parties on the last day of school before Winter Break. Challenger will provide fun activities and treats, so please do not send food or gifts to this in-class, student-only event.
Challenger School will not be in session from December 24–January 4. Please make alternate arrangements for child care during these two weeks. We hope that you and your children enjoy this family time, and we wish you the best in the new year!
Current Challenger families have the opportunity to enroll for the 2019–2020 school year before enrollment opens to the public. You’ll receive more information in January.
Current students must reapply every year before open enrollment begins to ensure priority placement.
It’s full steam ahead for Challenger students’ Science Fair projects!
Kindergarten–grade 2 students are receiving their materials this month, and grade 3–8 students should already have their projects well underway. Please make sure that your child completes the project on his or her own.
The Science Fair will be held in late January.
Recently, third through eighth graders participated in class spelling bees. Class bees featured spelling and vocabulary words students have learned or will learn in class during the year.
Class finalists qualified for the campus bee, which utilized words and vocabulary from the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Congratulations to our fantastic spellers!
Last month, we sent email versions of the Challenger News to all parents who have registered their email address on our parent portal. To ensure that you receive the newsletter and stay informed and up-to-date on all that’s happening at Challenger, register your email today!
An Update from Rachel A. of Sandy (UT)
A junior at Stanford University, Rachel A., a 2012 graduate of Challenger’s Sandy campus, is in the pre-med program studying human biology.
Though the world of a prestigious college can be daunting, Rachel finds herself well-prepared. She credits her eleven years at Challenger for fostering confidence and communication skills as well as teaching her to ask questions and to be bold about letting her ideas be heard. She hopes to effectively put these skills to use in the medical profession.
In addition to her studies, Rachel is a member of Stanford’s cycling team and leads a volunteer student group that fixes impounded bikes and donates them to needy students on campus. She plans to study abroad in Florence, Italy, this spring.
Whenever Rachel is home in Utah, she enjoys skiing and loves hearing about her younger siblings’ experiences at the same Challenger campus she attended just a few years ago.
If you have an alumni update to share, please contact us We love to hear from our former students!
In order to ensure that your child retains the skills he is learning in class, try these activities together over Winter Break:
Watch educational DVDs like Challenger Phonics Fun with your child (available at your campus or online at LearningCrew.org). The kit makes a terrific Christmas gift! Sing along with the songs. As you watch, ask questions about letters, sounds, and blending.
Play counting games. Ask your child to count the cookies on a plate or presents under the tree. While you’re in the car, say, “Can you find eight houses that are decorated for the holidays?” or look at a calendar and ask, “How many days are left in this year?” Three-year-olds are learning to count to 20, and four-year-olds can handle even larger numbers.
Boise Bloom (ID) campus—Kindergartner Allison was deep in thought as she worked with coins in class. Her teacher inquired, “Allison, what are you thinking about?”
Allison responded proudly, “Well, someday they are going to have to make more money to put my face on when I am the President!”
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