Dear Parents and Caregivers,
December has always felt like some of the most magical days of the school year to me. I still remember the sparkly lights on fresh snow outside my classroom windows, the quiet buzz of anticipation for winter break, and the mix of cozy socks and clunky winter boots lined up along the wall. Attending a rural school in the 80s, we had so many snow days that winter felt endless in the best way. That same feeling came rushing back to me this past week with our unexpected snow day and the sight of students sledding down Roberts Field. Even now, decades later, that sense of wonder still finds its way into our school days.
A special reminder that our Winter Day of Joy is Friday, December 19. This tradition always captures that same seasonal magic. A day of simple fun, shared celebration, and classroom joy is a beautiful way for students to head into winter break feeling connected and cared for.
Learning Highlights
Even as the days grow shorter, learning has continued to shine brightly across ECLS. Students are bringing curiosity, confidence, and heart into everything they do.
- What do koalas, megalodons, jaguars, monotremes, and Komodo dragons all have in common? These are just a few of the passion projects from our kindergarten students. Kindergartners took a trip to the Columbus Zoo, where animals and conservation became real in the most joyful way. Students proudly shared their research, observed animals up close, and deepened their understanding of how people care for living things. There was a true sense of wonder in their questions and discoveries that stayed with them long after the bus ride home.
- During math, second and third graders are all diving into learning about time. Second graders are building skills for telling time to the hour, half-hour, quarter-hour, and five-minute intervals. They are also applying words like "past" and "to" to tell times such as "5 minutes to 11" or "quarter past 12" as well as interpreting time with a.m. and p.m. Third graders are applying that learning to tell time to the minute and use all their skills to solve elapsed time problems. They will be modeling time problems on open timelines as they figure out duration, starting, and ending times in different problems. Even with digital watches and clocks, we know how important it is to read an analog clock!
- Our fourth graders visited the Ohio Statehouse (picture below) to bring their study of government to life. Standing in the very spaces where laws are debated and passed gave students a powerful real-world connection to their civics learning. Their thoughtful questions and reflections showed just how engaging it can be when classroom learning meets the world beyond our walls.
Important 26-27 Enrollment Reminder
Families will receive an email from Head of School Eliza McLaren on Wednesday, January 21 with details about re-enrollment for the upcoming school year. Tuition assistance awards will be included in contracts for families receiving support. Please note: To secure your child’s space for next year, contracts must be submitted by Friday, January 30.
Mark Your Calendars
- Winter Day of Joy: Friday, December 19
EC (Little Jags, Prekindergarten, Kindergarten) Parties at 10 a.m.
Lower School (Grades 1–4) Parties at 2 p.m.
ECLS Community Sing at 2:30 p.m. in the Gard Gym: all families are invited to join us as we sing our way into winter break - Winter Break: December 22–January 2
- Classes Resume: Monday, January 5
- Reading Takes Off! Building Reading Comprehension: January 8 at 8:15 a.m. in the Doerschlag Den. Join us for a parent coffee on supporting reading comprehension. We will explore the important shift from learning to read to reading to learn, what this looks like in the classroom, and a few practical ways families can support this stage of reading growth at home.
- Lower School Ski Program Begins (Grades 2 - 4): January 15, 2026
As we move through December and look ahead to winter break, I hope your family feels some of that same seasonal magic. Whether it shows up in an unexpected snowy day, a child proudly sharing something new they have learned, or a quiet evening at home with warm socks and winter boots by the door, these moments stay with us longer than we realize. Thank you for sharing your children with us each day and for being part of a community where wonder is still very much alive.
Best,
Shelley Brown
Head of Early Childhood and Lower School
Assistant Head of School for Academics
Above is a photo from one of those long winters before cable TV and the internet, when you made your own fun. Wrapping paper rolls, a lot of tape, winter gear = a brand new friend for me! Cheers to creativity over break.