A Note From Our Principal,

We hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with loved ones and we enjoyed celebrating with you all last month. As the winter holidays approach we have many special events planned for our students and families and look forward to spending time with you all. We’ve also enclosed important winter and holiday procedure reminders in this newsletter. Please read through it carefully and reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,

Ms. Vici

Holiday Closures

Our school is closed on December 24th and 25th for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and January 1^st for New Year’s Day.

Winter Break Camp

We have holiday/winter themed projects planned for our Winter Break Camp.  Students may attend all or part of Winter Break Camp, please let us know by December 19^th if your child will be attending.  Registration forms have been emailed and are also located in the office.

Holiday Giving Project

Please join Camelback Desert School in supporting our Holiday Toy Drive!

December 2^nd – December 18^th

Toys for infants-16 years old

Drop off toys at drive, office, or classroom

Donate new, unwrapped toys to benefit CHRYSALIS SHELTER, a program for individuals and families impacted by domestic violence.

Chrysalis will wrap and place toys under the shelter’s tree for residing children to open on Christmas day, allow their clients to choose a toy to give to their children who are not residing at the shelter (e.g., staying with a relative or in a foster home), and Chrysalis will use the toys in their childcare center.

Important Dates  

December 4th — Holiday Performance, 9am at Hillsong Scottsdale

December 9^th—Parent Organization meeting, 9am at CDS

December 19^th—Deadline to sign-up for Winter Break Camp

December 20^th—Half Day, complimentary care available

December 23^rd-January 3^rd—Winter Break Camp for School-Age students

December 24th & 25th —CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS EVE & CHRISTMAS DAY

January 1^st–CLOSED FOR NEW YEAR’S DAY

From Our Education Department  

Ways Our Students Are Giving Back This Holiday Season

The holidays are a time for giving, and as you know, our schools are doing their part in giving back to those in need. We greatly appreciate all the parent support with these initiatives, in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. The donations not only matter to those who receive them, but our students are so proud to help others.

Below are just a few ways we’re giving back this year:

1. Students will visit senior centers to enjoy holiday meals with residents, sing carols, distribute handmade cards, and decorate ornaments.
2. Students will work together to collect food for families in need. Students will deliver their donations to the food bank, tour the facility and learn about how their contributions will help others.
3. Some schools will host gift drives for local children’s hospitals. Students will collect art supplies, coloring books, games, and movies for children to enjoy while they are receiving treatment at the hospital.
4. Students will spread holiday cheer by delivering cookies to community helpers. They’ll measure and mix ingredients, roll the dough, place the baked goodies in boxes, and deliver them with handmade cards.
5. Some of our schools will collect winter coats, mittens and hats this month. Students are encouraged to will deliver them to a local homeless shelter.
6. Many of our schools will have a giving tree in the lobby where families can choose a tag and purchase a gift for a child in need.
7. Students will participate in a “wish week” to collect money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. They’ll wrap gifts, auction off artwork, decorate ornaments, sell cookies, and much more to raise funds.