❤️ February Celebrations & Hands-On Learning at the Academy of Gateway

February has been filled with excitement, creativity, and meaningful learning experiences at the Academy of Gateway. Our students explored science, art, culture, and celebration through activities that supported development across multiple learning domains while building strong classroom connections. Curiosity and discovery took center stage during our fizzy hearts STEM science activity, where children observed reactions, practiced prediction skills, and strengthened early science reasoning and critical thinking. Creativity flowed during paint and sip, allowing students to explore self-expression, color mixing, and fine motor development in a relaxed and engaging environment. School spirit was high on Super Bowl Friday dress-up day, encouraging social interaction, confidence, and community engagement. We also celebrated National Pizza Day with dinner on the Academy, creating opportunities for social bonding, conversation, and shared experiences. Valentine’s festivities included decorating Valentine’s cards, strengthening fine motor skills, creativity, and emotional expression as students prepared messages for loved ones. Sensory exploration continued with our diversity bean sensory bin, supporting sensory processing, cultural awareness, and cooperative play. Cupid’s Carnival brought joyful movement and interactive play that encouraged gross motor development, teamwork, and problem-solving. We wrapped up the celebrations with classroom Valentine parties that promoted social-emotional growth, relationship building, and joyful community connection. From science exploration to creative expression and celebration, February has been full of meaningful learning and fun at the Academy of Gateway. We are grateful for our families and love creating engaging experiences that help our students learn, grow, and thrive together. 

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Love-Filled Learning at the Academy of Gateway ❅♥

Winter has continued to be filled with creativity, connection, and meaningful moments. Both inside the classroom and at home. Even with a few snow days spent snuggled up with our loved ones, the learning and love never stopped.

Our students explored creativity and sensory expression through ice painting, discovering color mixing, temperature changes, and texture while strengthening fine motor skills and curiosity. We also continued important conversations with equality art, helping your children express ideas around kindness, fairness, and respect through creative play.

To show our appreciation, we shared a donut treat for our families, celebrating the strong partnership between home and school.

As Valentine's day approaches, classrooms were filled with love and creativity. Students are creating valentine's art for loved ones, and valentine abstract chalk art to spark confidence in self-expression.

Through creative fun, we have practiced problem-solving, collaboration, and open-ended thinking! We are proving once again that play is POWERFUL LEARNING!

What a heartwarming and creative season it's been at the Academy of Gateway! We are so grateful for our families and love watching our students grow through art, connection, and joyful experiences. ❤❇

Winter Adventures & Meaningful Moments at the Academy of Gateway ⛇

Winter fun is in full swing at the Academy of Gateway, and our students have been learning, moving, and celebrating together through hands-on experiences that support growth across every learning domain.

Families were greeted with smiles at pick-up during our Melted Snowman snack to go!

Our halls came alive during Storybook Character Dress-Up Day, where children stepped into their favorite characters, supporting language development, imagination, and confidence through storytelling and play. Movement stayed strong with Fitness Fanatics activities like Iceberg Hop and Winter Movement Dice, helping build gross motor skills, balance, coordination, and listening skills.

Math and prediction skills were highlighted with our Marshmallow (Snowball) Guessing Jar, encouraging early math concepts, number sense, and critical thinking. Creativity continued with beautiful snowflake crafts, strengthening fine motor skills, pattern recognition, and artistic expression.

Sensory play was a big hit with our Snow Shovel Races Sensory Bin, where children worked on sensory processing, problem-solving, and cooperative play. We also popped into fun with Popcorn Day, celebrating both our amazing staff and families and reinforcing community connection and social development.

Today, we proudly honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through equality-themed crafts, helping children explore kindness, fairness, respect, and social awareness in age-appropriate and meaningful ways.

What a snow-packed, joy-filled, and purposeful season it’s been at the Academy of Gateway! We love watching our students grow through play, movement, creativity, and community.

❄️ Kicking Off the New Year with Winter Fun at the Academy of Gateway ❄️

We’re kicking off the new year the Gateway way with creativity, movement, and hands-on learning! The start of January has been full of winter-themed fun as our students explored new activities designed to support development across multiple learning domains.

Our classrooms cooled down with a snowman sensory bin, where children strengthened sensory processing, fine motor skills, and imaginative play while exploring textures and materials. To ring in the new year, students created a New Year’s craft, supporting creativity, self-expression, and early literacy through conversation and design.

January also introduced our Fitness Fanatics Fridays! Every Friday, students get moving with activities that build gross motor development, coordination, balance, and healthy habits. Strong bodies support strong minds!

Art and creativity stayed in full swing as children designed their own winter hats, encouraging fine motor control, color recognition, and decision-making skills. 

We continued the fun with a cozy hot cocoa sensory bin, promoting sensory exploration, social-emotional development, and pretend play as children played and learned together.

What a snow-tastic and energetic way to kick off the new year at the Academy of Gateway! We can’t wait to keep the learning, movement, and fun going all winter long. ❅