🐸☀️Let them Play! ☀️🐸

We kicked off our summer program with a week full of laughter, excitement, and lots of play during Let Them Play! week!

The children loved exploring Ace’s Playroom in the enrichment room, a cool and cozy space perfect for active indoor fun. It was the ideal spot to beat the heat while climbing, building, and imagining together.

One of the highlights of the week was Slime Day! The children were absolutely delighted to watch their teachers get slimed, Nickelodeon-style! There were giggles all around as the gooey fun brought out smiles from everyone.

We also ended the week with a Field Day packed with fun activities! From obstacle courses to relay races, our littlest friends gave it their all, and we couldn’t be prouder of how they cheered each other on and worked together as a team.

The summer is just getting started, and we can’t wait for more adventures ahead!

💗🧡Pre-K Prom: A Night to Remember!🧡💗

What an unforgettable evening we had at our Pre-K Prom! ✨

We transformed The Academy of Westhaven into a GLOW party, and our Pre-K students showed up ready to shine. The room was glowing, the music was pumping, and the dance floor was full of energy as our littlest dancers brought their very best moves.

It was a night filled with laughter, excitement, and lots of glow sticks, necklaces and wands from our Glow Bar! Watching the children dance the night away with their friends (and even some brave grown-ups joining in) was truly special.

Thank you to all the families who helped make this event such a success. It was a beautiful way to celebrate this special season of growth and fun as we get ready to send our Pre-K students on to their next big adventure.

What a night. What a memory. What a crew.

☀️🐸Summer Kick-Off🐸☀️

Kicking Off Summer at The Academy of Westhaven!

We are so excited to have officially kicked off summer here at The Academy of Westhaven! This summer’s theme is Let Them PLAY and we brought that to life in a big way during our summer kickoff party.

It was an afternoon full of laughter, creativity, and connection. Families joined us for a fun-filled event that included classic games, a foam party, face painting, a colorful sand art station, and even a tie-dye station where everyone got to create keepsake.

One of the highlights of the event was seeing parents and caregivers join in the fun..playing alongside their children, laughing together, and letting their inner child shine. It was a beautiful reminder of the joy that comes from simply playing together.

We are so thankful to our families for joining us and making the day so special. Now, we’re looking forward to an incredible summer ahead..packed with playful experiences, meaningful connections, and lifelong memories.

Here’s to a summer of PLAY!

Teacher Appreciation Week: Celebrating Our “Popular” Teachers!

 Teacher Appreciation Week: Celebrating Our “Popular” Teachers!  

This week, we’ve been defying gravity to show our amazing teachers just how truly appreciated they are! With a “Wicked” theme inspired by all things POPULAR, our staff has been treated like the stars they are all week long.

From fabulous goodies to fun surprises, here's a peek at how we’ve been pampering our crew:  

A Trucker Hat Bar where teachers got to pick and personalize their own stylish hats  

Swag Bags filled with summer teacher essentials to help them relax and recharge  

Catered Breakfast and Lunches that gave our teachers a delicious break from their usual routines  

A whimsical Charm Necklace Bar  where they created personalized pieces to wear with pride! 

And the week isn't over yet...more magical surprises are still on the way!

We are so incredibly grateful for our teachers each and every day. Their hard work, heart, and dedication make our preschool a joyful, nurturing place for children to grow and thrive. This week has been just a small way to say “thank you” for all they do.

To our teachers: You are popular, powerful, and deeply appreciated. We’re so lucky to have you in our preschool family!

🐸Teaching Big Feelings: How We Use Conscious Discipline in the Classroom🐸

🐸Teaching Big Feelings: How We Use Conscious Discipline in the Classroom🐸

At our preschool, we believe that learning goes far beyond the ABCs and 123s. Helping children understand and manage their emotions is just as important as teaching them letters and numbers. That’s why we use Conscious Discipline, a research-backed approach that helps children build emotional intelligence, develop empathy, and learn self-regulation in a safe and nurturing environment.

What Is Conscious Discipline?

Conscious Discipline is a social-emotional learning and classroom management system that transforms the way adults and children interact. Instead of using fear or punishment to correct behavior, Conscious Discipline emphasizes safety, connection, and problem-solving. Our goal is to help children feel secure and connected, so they can learn to manage big emotions and make positive choices.

The “Safe Place” in Every Classroom

One important way we support emotional growth is by providing a Safe Place in each of our classrooms. This is a cozy, quiet corner where children can go when they are feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, sad, or need a moment to calm their bodies and minds. It’s not a time-out spot, it’s a space for self-regulation and emotional support.

In the Safe Place, children have access to:  

- Breathing tools (like "S.T.A.R." breathing—Smile, Take a deep breath, And Relax)  

- Sensory materials (such as fidget toys, textured items, and calming visuals)  

- Family photo books that help them feel connected and secure  

- Soft seating and calming colors to create a peaceful environment

Our teachers gently guide children to the Safe Place when needed and model how to use calming strategies. Over time, children begin to recognize their own emotional cues and choose to use the Safe Place on their own. It’s amazing to see our students take charge of their feelings in such a mature and thoughtful way!

Why It Matters

By integrating Conscious Discipline into our daily routines, we’re giving children lifelong tools to handle conflict, build relationships, and respond to challenges with confidence. These are skills that benefit them far beyond the preschool years.

We’re proud to be shaping not just little learners, but kind, resilient, and emotionally intelligent individuals.

💜💗Bike Day💗💜

First Bike Day of the Year!

We had so much fun kicking off our very first Bike Day of the year! The sun was shining, the weather was perfect, and our little riders were full of energy and excitement.  

Children brought their bikes and helmets from home and spent the day zooming around our safe, protected riding area. From leisurely laps to friendly races, everyone enjoyed the fresh air, physical activity, and freedom of riding outdoors.  

It was such a joy to watch the children cheering each other on, building confidence on wheels, and soaking up the sunshine together. Bike Day is a wonderful way for our students to develop gross motor skills, practice turn-taking, and have a blast doing it!  

We’re already looking forward to our next one!

📚❤️💙Dr. Seuss Week💙❤️📚

 

📚❤️💙Dr. Seuss Week💙❤️📚

What an incredible week we've had at The Academy of Westhaven as we celebrated the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss! From mustache madness to cozy pajama days, we immersed ourselves in the colorful characters and imaginative stories of this Dr. Seuss! 

We kicked off the week with Mustache Monday, channeling our inner Lorax with funky fake mustaches adorning our faces. Laughter filled the air as little ones proudly sported their silly 'staches.

Tuesday brought Fox in Socks Crazy Sock Day, everyone got to showcase their most outrageous and mismatched socks. From polka dots to stripes, every pair was a testament to creativity and individuality, just like the vibrant illustrations in Dr. Seuss's books.

Wednesday was Oh, the Places you’ll Go Day and had us reminiscing about our favorite adventures as we wore shirts depicting our favorite places we've visited. Whether it was a trip to the beach, the zoo, or even outer space, each shirt sparked lively conversations and shared memories among our little explorers.

Thursday was a special day indeed, as we celebrated Cat in the Hat, Hay Day! Everyone came in wearing their favorite hats of all kinds! 

Finally, we wrapped up the week with cozy Pajama Day, inspired by Dr. Seuss's "The Sleep Book." Snuggled up in their favorite pajamas, our preschoolers enjoyed a day of relaxation and bedtime stories, complete with pillows and blankets galore.

But the fun didn't stop there! Each day at pick-up, our little ones were treated to Dr. Seuss-themed snacks that perfectly complemented our literary adventures. From Hop on Pop Popcorn to Truffula tree snacks, every bite was a delicious nod to the imaginative world of Dr. Seuss.

Thank you for joining us on this magical journey, and we can't wait to see what adventures await us next!