December 5, 2025
Dear Fort Lewis Mesa Families,
As we step into the month of December, our school is filled with excitement, learning, and the joyful anticipation of the winter (snowy) season. With Winter Break approaching—from December 20, 2025 through January 4, 2026—I want to extend my appreciation for your continued partnership and wish your family a restful, memorable holiday season when it arrives.
As temperatures continue to drop and weather varies, please plan ahead for your morning routine; Consider the time needed to commute safely yet punctually. With this, remember to send students with warm, weather-appropriate clothing each day. Coats, hats, gloves, and sturdy shoes help ensure students can safely enjoy outdoor play and arrive at school ready to learn. If your family needs assistance with winter gear, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we are here to support every child.
Important Dates
- December 9-12: The Santa Shop
- December 19 @ 11:15am (via Google Meet)-SAAC Meeting
- Meeting ID: meet.google.com/upj-roxk-zab
- December 20-January 4: NO SCHOOL-Winter Break
- January 19: No School-MLK JR. Holiday
Tree of Warmth
Our Tree of Warmth is back for its 4th year! This tree is our way of helping multiple students and families during the holiday season.
- Please stop by, pick one or multiple ornaments off the tree, and help a student or family out.
- Reminder…all gifts are due to Ms. Steph in the front office by Monday, 12/15.
What is Agile Thinking?
As a district, we are committed to our Portrait of a Graduate (the POG) and the six dispositions that it embodies. With this, I wanted to share some fun ways to bring agile thinking (one of the six) to life; this is a lifelong skill that benefits us all. It entails the following: flexibility, iteration, collaboration, creative problem-solving, and comfort with change. Try one or all of these ideas out during our break!
- Marshmallow Challenge (Mini Version)
Skills: Iteration, rapid prototyping, teamwork
Materials: A set amount of toothpicks or spaghetti, tape, string, marshmallows
How it works: Participants get 15 minutes to build the tallest freestanding tower using only the above materials.
- Chores or Tasks Game
Skills: Prioritization, planning, adaptive thinking (this is also executive functioning)
How it works:
- Give kids 6–10 small tasks (like sorting markers, tidying shelves, reading a page in a book). Put them in a to-list
- Kids estimate time, prioritize what’s important, and complete in a 10-minute “sprint.”
- Iterative Art
Skills: Iteration, growth mindset
How it works: Kids have 3 rounds to create a quick drawing (you chose the person, place, or thing)
- First idea (2 minutes)
- Improve it (2 minutes)
- Final version (3 minutes)
- Change the Rules” Games
Skills: Adaptability, cognitive flexibility
How it works: Play a simple game—Tag, Simon Says, Red Light/Green Light. Every 2–3 minutes, change one rule. Kids adjust quickly and learn to embrace changes.
- Agile Storytelling
Skills: Adaptability, creative iteration
How it works: Tell a story together in “sprints.” Every 3–4 sentences, add a “change request such as: New character joins, the setting changes, or the problem shifts. Flex your imagination on the fly.
Stay warm! Stay Safe! Enjoy the time away!
Jenny Imel-Principal