Dates to Remember
Tuesday, February 14th
Valentine’s Day Snack Party
3:00 pm
Sign-up Sheet in Class Folder
Monday, February 20th
Presidents’ Day
SCHOOL CLOSED
February 2017 Newsletter
Chinese New Year Celebration!
Birthdays
Bella - 2 Years Old
Sophia G. - 3 Years Old
Eric. - 3 Years Old
Lionel - 3 Years Old
Chloe - 3 Years Old
Angel Q. - 3 Years Old
Brady - 4 Years Old
Patrick L. - 4 Years Old
Nanxi - 4 Years Old
Allen - 5 Years Old
James - 5 Years Old
Anthony - 5 Years Old
Darian - 5 Years Old
Friendly Reminders

Weekly tuition is due by
Tuesday 10am.

Monthly tuition is due by the
5th of the month.

Label ALL children’s
belongings.

DO NOT PLACE ANY
MEDICATION IN CHILD’S BAG
OR LUNCH PAILS.

Sign in/out in the folder
located at the front.

Update all telephone
numbers of yourselves and
additional persons to call in an
emergency.

All additional authorized
persons must be prepared to
show their Drivers License or
Identification Card when picking
up.

Please always check and
organize your child’s cubby.
Take home any old clothing.

Make sure your child’s fitted
sheet is a CRIB size sheet.

Please follow the NO NUT
policy.
Valentine’s Day Snack Party
Reminder
Walnut Montessori’s annual Valentine’s Day Snack Party
will be held on Tuesday, February14th, at 3:00 pm. The
sign up sheet is available in your child’s class folder.
Valentine’s Day is a day to express love to those close to
us, but the origin of Valentine’s Day and St. Valentine has a couple of different
theories. First, there is a legend that St. Valentine was a priest who secretly
married couples in the third century. It was thought that soldiers were more
effective in battle if they were not married, so the Emperor outlawed marriage
for young men. St. Valentine didn’t think this was fair, so that’s why he married
the couples in secret. Another theory is that there was a man who was in jail,
and he fell in love with the daughter of the man who imprisoned him. Before he
passed away, he sent her a letter and signed it, “Your Valentine.” Some
people believed Valentine was the man’s proper name.
Walnut Montessori
will be CLOSED on
Monday, February 20th
in observance of
Presidents’ Day.
February is Black History Month!
Black History Month is an annual event of remembrance in the United States, Canada,
and the United Kingdom to reflect on the history and achievements of important people
and events of the African Diaspora (the movement of peoples from Africa). The idea of
a Black History Month was first introduced in 1926 by a historian named Carter G.
Woodson and over the years gained in popularity. In 1976, President Gerald Ford
officially recognized Black History Month. Famous people who played an important
historical role over the years included Sojourner Truth, Hariett Tubman, Frederick
Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, Nat Turner, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Levi Coffin,
Dred Scott, W. E. B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Mary Church Terrell, Benjamin "Pap" Singleton, Booker
T. Washington, Marcus Garvey and Doris "Dorie" Miller. The famous people who featured in events during
the Civil Rights Movement included Civil Rights activists such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Malcolm
X, Thurgood Marshall, Jesse Jackson, Elijah Muhammad, Louis Farrakhan, Ella Baker, Fannie Lou Hamer,
James Meredith, Stokely Carmichael, Huey Newton, Eldredge Cleaver and Angela Davis.
Month of February
February is the second and the shortest month of the entire year. It is the only month to have a length of less than 30 days. The month has
28 days in common years or 29 days in leap years. With the quadrennial 29th day being called “leap day”. February is a very cold
month followed by January in the northern half of the world. However, there are sunny days in February that indicates that spring is almost
here.
National Children’s Dental Health Month
National Children’s Dental Health Month is to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Tooth decay is the most common chronic
disease in children and there are effective preventive measures that can protect teeth. Good oral hygiene practices such as thorough
brushing with a fluoride toothpaste can help keep children from getting cavities.
Brush up on oral health with these tips:
 Brushing teeth for two minutes, two times a day — an hourglass timer is helpful and fun to use
 Maintain a regular routine; brush at the same time each day, before school and before bedtime.
 Don’t forget to floss!
 Visit the dentist every six months for regular cleanings and check-ups.
 Eat healthy snacks.
George Washington
Abraham Lincoln
Born: February 22, 1732
in Westmoreland County, Virginia
Died: December 14, 1799
in Mount Vernon, Virginia
George Washington served as the first
president of the United States of
America.
Washington is considered to be one of the founding fathers
of the United States. He also presided over the convention
that drafted the current United States Constitution. He served
two terms as president, from 1789 to 1797, and helped
established many roles and traditions of the President of
the United States that still stand today. He helped build and
guide the formation of the actual U.S. Government and
formed the first presidential cabinet. Before becoming
President, Washington was appointed as general of the
Continental Army where he led a victory over the British
during the American Revolution. Washington’s nickname is
“the father of his country” and is one of the top historical
figures due to pioneering the creation of the United States.
Born: February 12, 1809
in Hodgenville, Kentucky
Died: April 15, 1865
in Washington, D.C.
Abraham Lincoln served as the 16th
President of the United States of
America from 1861 to 1865.
Lincoln is most famous for leading the country during the
American Civil War and helped the country to abolish
slavery by defeated the South. Lincoln served on the Illinois
State
Legislature for several terms while studying law
and working as a lawyer. He also served as a congressman
for one term. Lincoln became President in 1890, despite
opposition from southern states. On January 1st, 1863,
Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, an order that
freed the slaves in the Confederate States and paved the
way for the 13th Amendment which would free all slaves in
the United States a few years later. Lincoln is considered one
of the most
admired and celebrated presidents in U.S.
history.
Groundhog Day
Every February 2nd, Groundhog Day is celebrated when people look to the groundhog to predict
the weather for the next six weeks. Folklore says that if the sun is shining when the groundhog
comes out of his burrow, then the groundhog will go back into its burrow due to having winter for
six more weeks. However, if it is cloudy, then spring will come early that year. Even though it is not
a serious federal holiday, Groundhog Day is a fun tradition that takes place in Punxsutawney,
Pennsylvania where the famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil has predicted the weather each
year since 1886! Thousands of people gather o see Phil come out of his burrow at around
7:30a.m. The origins of Groundhog Day can be traced to German settlers in Pennsylvania, who
celebrated each February 2nd as “Candlemas Day.” On this day, if the sun came out then there
would be six more weeks of wintery weather. In 1886, the Punxsutawney Newspaper declared
February 2nd as Groundhog Day. Since then, the tradition has spread through the United States.