The students at Stepping Stones School had a busy month marking the holiday season with their classmates and friends.

The annual holiday party on December 18 welcomed families of the children in the Early Intervention and school programs, and included a visit from Santa, who delivered gifts from the Candle Lighters to each child. The group also enjoyed holiday fare and a live music dance party together.

The school also welcomed visits from the Deron School, whose students worked with Stepping Stones children to create holiday crafts together, and from the Fairfield Police Department, which delivered gifts to each child through its Toys for Tots program.

Throughout December, children explored a variety of holidays, including Hanukkah, Las Posadas, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s Eve. They enjoyed hands-on activities such as creating festive art projects, decorating cookies, mailing wish lists, listening to holiday stories, and playing themed games. A holiday spirit week to close out the year featured special days such as wearing green for the Grinch, festive hats, holiday sweaters, and pajamas. And to spread cheer throughout the building, they also added colorful decorations to their classrooms and brightened school bulletin boards with seasonal displays.

The Arc of Essex County’s Stepping Stones School is a Department of Education approved private school for students with disabilities. Located in Fairfield, 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 Robin Moses, Director of Early Childhood and Education at (862) 210-8781 or rmoses@arcessex.org.