News

You’ve come to the right place for information! We’ve rounded-up all the important announcements and event details Sanderson families need to know. 

Weekly Newsletter

Please be sure to read through our latest weekly newsletter located here on the News page. We will continue to add to this information, so please check back often!

Health Office News from Nurse Loranna

Greetings from the health office! Children ages five and up are now eligible for the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine. There are many options for scheduling a vaccine appointment for your child if you wish to do so. You can call your child's pediatrician to see if it is available there, check out one of the “vax buses” in the area, or check at your local pharmacy. Once your child has received both doses of the vaccine, you can send a picture or copy of their vaccination card to me for their health records. You are considered to be fully vaccinated fourteen days after your second dose. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment in Franklin County:

Visit Franklin County's vaccine page for more information.

Preschool News from Mrs. Freeman

We are learning how to play new games: Tumblin' Monkeys, and The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel. These games are helping us learn about colors and counting, as well as helping us practice sharing and taking turns.

We are also working together to make fluffy pumpkin spice slime. It’s super sticky at first, but so much fun to play with. I’ve included the recipe I found on the Teaching Mama Website. Here’s what you need for fluffy pumpkin spice slime:

  • 3 heaping cups of shaving cream (regular with no special scent)
  • 2-3 drops of orange food gel coloring
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice seasoning
  • 1/2 cup Elmer’s glue
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1-2 tablespoons saline solution + more as needed (make sure the ingredient list includes buffered saline)
  • bowl
  • spatula
  • cutting board or mat

*Note – if you don’t want this to have the pumpkin spice scent, omit the pumpkin spice seasoning.

To make this awesome fluffy slime, follow these simple steps:

  1. Pour the shaving cream into a bowl.
  2. Mix in a few drops of orange gel food coloring. I found that gel gave me the best coloring. I tried liquid food coloring and it turned out pinkish-orange.
  3. Sprinkle in the pumpkin spice seasoning to add a lovely scent!
  4. Pour the glue into the bowl along with the baking soda. Mix really well.
  5. Stir in one tablespoon of saline solution. My kids call this the “magic water” because this ingredient is what makes the ingredients turn to slime!
  6. At first, the slime will be pretty sticky. Don’t give up! You need to squirt some more saline solution onto it and knead it on a cutting board. I like to squirt the solution onto my hands and the mat before I knead it.
  7. After it’s not sticky, you can play with it!

Speech-Language News from Trish Aurigemma

People have asked me how I can work as a speech-language therapist while wearing a mask. I have told those who have asked that it is more time consuming to communicate my message, but not impossible. Here is a list of tips that I use when speaking with a mask on.

    Tips for "Communicating While Wearing a Mask or Physical Distancing" from ASHA.org.

    1. Make sure you have your communication partner's attention.
    2. Face your partner directly, and make sure nothing is blocking your view.
    3. Talk a little louder.
    4. Talk a little slower.
    5. Reduce background noise when possible.
    6. Communicate with gestures. Use your hands and your body language.
    7. Teachers and other public speakers can use voice amplification devises when speaking to a large group of people.
    8. Repeat your message when your partner can’t hear everything you say.

    I find that I’m a better communicator when following these steps because I need to slow my thoughts and words down. In doing so, my message is not rushed, and it is more thought-out for my communication partner. You may find these tips helpful for you when you are communicating with people in your community.

    Foods Supply Shortage

    As you may be aware, Sanderson Academy is currently faced with unprecedented shortages of food and packaging materials, massive delays/cancellations of deliveries, and department labor shortages. Nationwide shortages and delays have affected the availability of certain food items, leading to substitutions of menu items we’ve been able to offer regularly in the past. These supply issues are occurring throughout the country and are especially challenging for school systems, due to the quantity of meals we serve and the nutrition standards we follow.

    All of this means that we may need to make quick substitutions to our menu based upon what we are able to acquire. We know that this affects students, and we are doing our best to provide updates about menu changes when possible as soon as we identify an issue.

    With that all being said, a lot of the days there will not be enough for students to have seconds. So I suggest maybe sending in an extra snack with your child. 

    Before and After Care Information

    Before and aftercare is available for grades pre-kindergarten through sixth grade! We will be meeting in room two. For more information, please read our before and after school program enrollment and billing information letter in its entirety. 

    Stay up to Date

    Thank you for visiting our website! We always have a lot going on here at Sanderson Academy. Be sure to check back often!