Oh, it feels like December! The chill in the air, the wet ground, and the short days all point toward it being the last month of the year. Fortunately, it is also the season of gathering with friends, enjoying warm drinks and tasty food, and of sharing warmth of heart by giving generously to friends, family, and neighbors. I wish you all a Happy Holidays!

On the school front, we have just three weeks of school this month, and our teachers will continue to focus on learning amidst the celebrations, recognitions, and other events of the season. Please remind your student that school attendance and attention are still important during these three weeks so that they can continue to build on the gains they made during the fall trimester.

I also want to remind families that we encourage the sharing of non-food gifts during classroom celebrations. Our district's Nutrition Policy (BP 6700) outlines acceptable foods to be offered during the school day. I ask for your cooperation in following this board policy.

Happy Holidays,

Bill Weinsheimer

Principal

How can you encourage kids to enjoy themselves to the fullest this season, but also stay healthy? It doesn’t have to be a challenge! Here are some ideas.

Get festive and have fun with this! Make fruits and veggies the superstars of your child’s plate. Cut them up into unique shapes and mix and match the colors to reflect whatever holiday you celebrate.

This can be tricky because every child is different. The recommended food portion sizes for kids depend on their age, weight and gender. You may choose to “eyeball” the food or actually measure it—depending on how much time and patience you have! Click below for a more detailed guide, broken down by age.

What better time than the holidays to involve your kids in all kitchen activities? Kids love choices because choosing makes them feel empowered. So let them choose a healthy recipe, go over each ingredient and what the health benefits are. For example, “Blueberries have fiber and antioxidants. Those are good for digesting food.

This is especially important if your child is on an extended break from school. Try to match breakfast, snack and lunch times with those at school, and balance the day out with plenty of physical activity. Important: don’t skip meals to try to “save room” for a larger meal later; this can lead to overindulgence. Maybe you take a walk as a family after the holiday meal or just get active inside instead of crowding around the food table. Kids love routine, so try to keep it up!

Encourage healthy snacking before offering the fun, indulgent treats. This will help your child fill up on healthy fats, fibers and proteins. Keep your pantry and fridge stocked and, as stated above, stick to some kind of consistent schedule. You can even have a healthy snack together before heading to the larger gathering; this helps to avoid overeating later.

It’s a great time of year to try new dishes and take comfort in family favorites. Parents often find themselves slaving over a holiday meal for hours only to have their child eat a dinner roll! Always have an “safe food” you know your child will eat when serving more challenging dishes. Keep mealtime chats positive and never force them to try a food. Don’t panic if they only pick at their plate—they’ll return to normal eating when they’re hungry.

Drinking water helps to curb appetite, so encourage healthy hydration with water rather than large servings of juice. It’s completely ok to change up the flavor a bit: stick to four ounces of juice in one day.