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School Newsletter: March 2024

A yoga instructor, standing on a mat, lifts both hands into the air, as adults and children try to repeat the pose either standing or perched on their knees with their backs erect.
Families joined in the exercises at the initial YogARTS event at the A. Sophie Rogers School held in February.

Hello A. Sophie Rogers’ families! Below please find information about upcoming events, key information, resources, and more.

UPCOMING EVENTS & CLOSURES

To see all upcoming events or to subscribe to the school’s event calendar, visit this page. If you would like to download a printable list of closure dates for the year, go here.

Thursday, March 7

Vision Screenings for Pre-K students from Ohio State’s College of Optometry

Thursday and Friday, March 14 and 15

SCHOOL CLOSED
(Professional development days for teachers)

Thursday and Friday, April 25 and 26

SCHOOL CLOSED
(Professional development days for teachers)

NEWS

Library Update

A small child stands between two crouching adults, so that the heads of all three are on the same level. On the left, a woman and the child hold a piece of paper on which a drawing of a dragon has been colored in orange and pink. A man wearing glasses is on the right.
A Lunar New Year Story Time was one of the family-led holiday programs in February.
A woman stands on the edge of an area rug on one side of a room, facing a small child standing on the opposite edge of the rug. Other families are seated on the rug listening to the woman.
ASR families learned about the Saraswati Puja festival in February.
A graphic representation of the School Event Calendar for March 2024 for the A. Sophie Rogers School for Early Learning
Click the image to view March’s school event calendar

February was a month of celebration with two family-led holiday programs, Lunar New Year Story Time and Saraswati Puja. Many thanks to the families who led these awesome programs! If your family has a celebration or tradition that you would like to share as a family engagement program or display, please reach out to Miss Sarah by email at Simpson.962@osu.edu or stop by the library to chat!

Book Bundles

Your family received your child’s Book Bundle in February.  Please email any feedback on your book selections to Sarah Simpson at Simpson.962@osu.edu. Your child will be receiving their final Book Bundle for this academic year in May. The program will resume in the fall. 

Free Vision Screenings for All Pre-K Students

A young child wearing a pink shirt looks into optometry equipment during an eye examination.
Pre-K students will receive vision screenings on March 7.

On Thursday morning, March 7, faculty and graduate students from the College of Optometry at The Ohio State University will be providing vision screenings for Pre-K students ages 3 to 5.  All Pre-K children will be screened, unless a parent or guardian signs and returns the opt-out form provided in mailboxes earlier in the week. 

Every family will receive a notification, either to confirm that a child demonstrated no vision concerns, or to recommend further follow up with a health care provider.

Total Solar Eclipse: April 8, 2024

The moon passes in front of the sun during a solar eclipse.
The A. Sophie Rogers school will remain open during the day of the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.

The solar eclipse that is passing through Ohio on April 8 will see nearly 95% of the sun covered by the moon here in Columbus. Areas to our north and west will see 100% coverage.

The Ohio State University’s Columbus Campus will remain open on April 8, as will the A. Sophie Rogers School. In Columbus, the moon will begin to cover the sun at 1:55 p.m. and will have passed from in front of the sun at 4:27 p.m., with the maximum coverage around 3:12 p.m. 

Several schools in Columbus will be closed full or partial day on Monday, April 8 due to the total solar eclipse. This is due to anticipated increase in traffic, darkness during school dismissal, and to ensure safe viewing for children. Although ASR will be open on April 8, classrooms will not be viewing the eclipse with children. The eclipse will occur during rest and indoor activity time, and it is not feasible to ensure eye safety for very young children outdoors during this event.

Family Parking 

ASR families ask us to remind everyone to drive safely and carefully in and out of the parking lot. Parking is limited during the busy drop-off and pick-up times, so please use only the ASR pick-up and drop-off spaces while briefly in the building.

YogARTS at A. Sophie Rogers School

Two yoga instructors sit on a mat with their legs extended in opposite directions, while adults and small children watch and try to repeat the pose.
ASR families participated in a YogArts session in February.

YogARTS @ SFC series is off and running!

During the initial yoga event on February 1, Deja Redman from Replenish led families in practicing breathing exercises, moving together and creating art. The next session will be Thursday, March 7 from 4:30-5:15 p.m.

The March theme is: “We are divine light”: a family lesson on wholeness.

Featured Project

Three small children standing at a short table stack Lego building blocks into towers of varying heights.
Playing with building blocks offers young children the opportunity to develop logical thinking skills, early mathematical skills, hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.

The Building Blocks of Block Building

This month’s Featured Project looks at the skills developed by toddlers when they play with building blocks, and how block-building activities reveal developmental stages in young children.

Click here to learn more.

MARCH ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES AROUND COLUMBUS

If you want more information on an event, you can click on the event name in the left column, which will open a webpage from the event organizers in a new browser tab.

PB & Jazz

(click the red text above to go to the event webpage)

  • Saturday, March 16; two concerts: the first at 10 a.m. and the second at 11:30 a.m.; Lincoln Theatre Ballroom, 769 E. Long St., Columbus
  • Interactive, casual concerts to introduce young children and their families to jazz and American music
  • Kids can dance, sing, and may have a chance to interact with the performers and their instruments.
  • Cost is $5 per person, with a $20 max per family.

Columbus Community Center Egg Hunts

(click the red text above to go to the event webpage)

  • Saturday, March 30, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Tuttle Community Center, 240 W. Oakland Ave.
  • Grab your basket or bag and head to your local community center for Columbus’ annual Egg Hunts. (For the locations of other centers holding Egg Hunts on this day, see the next bullet point.) The Egg Hunts are for all kids ages 12 and under accompanied by grown-ups. Hunts start at 9:30 or 10 a.m. sharp, depending on location! Check with the community center for the exact time. Don’t be late as the hunts go quickly! 
  • Other City of Columbus Community Centers hosting Egg Hunts on March 30: Carriage Place,  4900 Sawmill Rd.; Scioto Southland,  3901 Parsons Ave.; Far East, 1826 Lattimer Dr.; and Schiller, 1069 Jaeger St.