With activities and celebrations for Hanukkah, Las Posadas, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s, the students at Stepping Stones School had a busy December packed with festive fun.

On December 9, students from The Deron School of New Jersey visited Stepping Stones for their annual gathering. In addition to playing fun games and activities, the Deron and Stepping Stones students completed a craft together — a cute wooden snowmen for each of the children to take home.

On December 15, the annual Stepping Stones Holiday Party welcomed families and a visit from Santa Claus. The children got to meet with Santa, sing holiday songs, and open special gifts, all while celebrating the holidays with their classmates and families.

Within the classroom, students enjoyed activities throughout the month, such as creating wish list collages in letters to Santa, decorating a Christmas tree, making a shaving-cream beard for Santa, putting candles in a wooden menorah, spinning the dreidel, hitting the Las Posadas pinata, coloring Kwanzaa candles, and counting down for an early New Year’s celebration. They also enjoyed special food, songs, and stories related to the various holidays.

The Arc of Essex County’s Stepping Stones School is a Department of Education approved private school for students with disabilities serving children ages 3-10.  Located in Roseland, NJ, the school is designed to meet the developmental and educational needs of children with cognitive impairments such as Down syndrome and other students with similar educational and developmental needs.  For more information, or to request a virtual tour and assistance with an out-of-district placement, contact Sue Brand, Director of Early Childhood and Education at (862) 210-8781 or sbrand@arcessex.org.