The Academy of Gateway Online Newsletter: 🎄 Festive Fun at the Academy of Gateway 🎄

Tuesday, December 23, 2025

🎄 Festive Fun at the Academy of Gateway 🎄

The past two weeks at the Academy of Gateway have been filled with joy, laughter, learning, and so much holiday cheer! Our classrooms transformed into winter wonderlands as students participated in a variety of festive activities that created lasting memories for our children, families, and staff.

We kicked off the season with Reindeer in a Cup, a fun grab-n-go activity that blended creativity with fine motor skills. Smiles were everywhere when we had a very special visit from the Grinch, who brought excitement, laughter, and just a little mischief to our day!

Our students proudly showed off their holiday spirit by wearing reindeer ears and participating in hands-on crafts, including a meaningful paper plate menorah craft as we learned about traditions celebrated by different families in our community. To keep things extra fun, we hosted an Ugly Christmas Sweater Day, and our classrooms were full of color, personality, and holiday flair.

Writing and literacy were at the heart of our celebrations as children wrote letters to Santa, sharing their wishes and practicing early writing skills. Santa himself even joined us to read a Christmas story, while everyone wore their favorite Santa hats—a truly magical moment!

Our Pre-K students shined bright during their Christmas concert, proudly performing for their families and showing just how much they’ve learned and grown. We also enjoyed a cozy PJ and Christmas Movie Day, complete with comfy pajamas and festive films.

To wrap up this incredible season, Santa delivered personalized letters back to our students, bringing smiles, excitement, and a sense of wonder that made the holidays extra special.

What a festive, fun, and memory-filled time it has been at the Academy of Gateway! We are so grateful to our families for sharing this season with us and allowing us to create such meaningful moments for your children.

No comments:

Post a Comment

FROG STREET INFANT

Designed around the latest scientific early brain development research, Frog Street Infant curriculum is designed to build strong foundations for little ones ages 0-18 months. This child-centered program includes easy-to-use activities that:

equip caregivers to nurture the little ones in their care.
optimize key windows of opportunity for growth and development.
are designed with intention and purpose and organized around developmental learning domains.
feature Dr. Becky Bailey’s Conscious Discipline® strategies to enhance social and emotional development.

KINDERGARTEN BOOT CAMP: AN ACADEMY EXCLUSIVE

The Academy is recognized by the community for our kindergarten specific programs including our one-of-a-kind Kindergarten Boot Camp. Our Pre-K program includes hands-on explorations that create new learning connections in language, math, science, social, emotional and physical development. Children investigate “Big Ideas” and are actively involved in seeking answers to their own questions. Intentional daily plans cover a specific range of guidelines that prepare our children to meet and exceed kindergarten readiness standards for both public and private schools. Kindergarten Boot Camp, offered exclusively by Never Grow Up, is a dedicated summer program that teaches important, yet often overlooked, skills needed to navigate kindergarten with confidence. Skills such as remembering a lunch number, carrying a lunch tray or returning a library book are examples of how we “train” our Academy kids to “be all they can be”!

We're Creating Childhood

The Academy Child Development Centers and Preschools are privately owned and operated by our parent company, Never Grow Up, Inc. Based out of Louisville, KY, family owned Never Grow Up, Inc. operated nearly 30 child development centers in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana. Never Grow Up, Inc. is committed to providing private child care for parents who want only the best for their children. We understand that "we're creating childhood" every day for the children in our care, and we hold that privilege with the highest regard

Gold Sneaker Certified

Healthy habits are instilled at a young age, with most habits being formed during adolescence. We feel it important to instill good habits at an early age, addressing behavioral factors that contribute to overweight and obesity from the beginning. The Gold Sneaker initiative was developed to enhance policy related to physical activity and nutrition within licensed child care facilities across Tennessee. Policies we've adopted include minimum requirements on physical activity, sedentary activities, breastfeeding, meal time, behaviors, portion sizes, and a tobacco-free facility. Together, we can create healthy habits for life.