Watch for an email later this month containing your child’s placement information for the next school year as part of continuous enrollment. If the placement is what you expect, no action is required, and your child is all set for the next school year!
After you receive your child’s placement email, you can submit a request through the parent portal if you’d like to make changes or add a program (like extended classtime or summer program). If your child has a sibling who is ready to enroll, contact your campus office soon.
In the coming weeks, prospective Challenger parents will have several opportunities to visit Challenger campuses to learn more about our powerful programs. Spread the word to your friends who are interested in enrolling their children at Challenger.
For specific dates and times in your area, visit the campus pages on our website.
In PowerSchool, you will soon be able to view a report of your child’s academic progress. Our students have accomplished much already this year and are continuing to learn and achieve.
There will be no school on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 20. A key leader in the civil rights movement, Dr. King advocated for the use of non-violent protest to promote the equal protection of rights for all Americans. In Dr. King’s famous 1963 speech he declared, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
Challenger supports this principle, fostering a learning environment where students succeed based on their effort, merit, and character, not on factors like appearance, race, and gender that are unrelated to a student’s abilities.
On January 22, Challenger students in grades 5–8 will participate in the American Mathematics Competition (AMC) 8. The AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40-minute, multiple-choice examination in middle school mathematics designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem-solving skills.
Over 150,000 students worldwide participate in the AMC 8. We are excited to be able to offer our students this opportunity to demonstrate and challenge their mathematical prowess.
Students can prepare for, and parents can find more information about, the contest by visiting the AMC 8 website.
This month, Challenger preschoolers and kindergartners will be learning about other lands and peoples. They will explore and share traditions, songs, dances, and stories.
On Small World Day, preschool students may wear clothing that is representative of their family’s culture or country of origin. Kindergarten students will wear the Challenger uniform, but they may add a scarf, vest, pendant, or other accessory representing their ancestry or one of the nations they have studied. (Please be sure to consider safety and bathroom management when planning attire.)
Note: We will provide a snack for the festivities. Please do not send treats with your child.
The Challenger Physical Fitness Program is a great way for students to stay physically fit and active. In late January to early February, there will be a two-week testing period that will assess core strength, speed, endurance, arm strength, and flexibility. This testing period is designed to ensure students are progressing in the events but is not used to determine grades or to qualify a student for a Physical Fitness Program award.
In preparation for this month’s Science Fair, students are conducting experiments using the scientific method. In a few weeks, they’ll be displaying the results of their investigations. The fair will feature ingenious and thought-provoking experiments and inventions.
You can view your child’s schedule here.
During these winter months, please make sure that your child is prepared to go out for recess every day.
Depending on where you live, your child may need boots, gloves or mittens, and a hat in addition to a coat. Make sure to mark all items with your child’s name in case anything gets misplaced.
At Challenger preschool, we help preschool students build hand strength, dexterity, and hand-eye coordination, which helps preschoolers prepare for writing letters. We help students develop fine motor skills by offering activities that include cutting, drawing, painting, coloring, and experimenting with manipulative toys.
This month, all-day 4-year-olds will begin additional coordination activities in which they will be introduced to Challenger manuscript and work on their pencil grip and strokes. Developing these skills will, in time, enable them to successfully write words and, eventually, sentences.
Watch for the penmanship paper each day. Ask your child to show you the fun exercises and share with you all he or she is learning!
For those who need it for their tax returns, Challenger’s tax ID is 47-1405971.