Posted April 15, 2026
Dear SKCEE Families,
Happy April!
I’m writing this as I watch the Artemis II reenter the Earth’s atmosphere and witness Integrity splash down off the coast of San Diego at the end of the four astronauts’ historic journey deep into space. Welcome home to Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist 1 Christina Koch, and Mission Specialist 2 Jeremy Hansen. For me this brought so much joy and wonder to witness science in action. To see these grown adults experience curiosity, awe, and beauty on this adventure beyond the moon was inspiring, and the photos they shared were breathtaking.
Our youngest learners at SKCEE, your students, are our future astronauts, scientists, teachers, doctors, leaders…the possibilities are endless. Knowing we get to witness their learning and growth every day, and celebrate their curiosity and brilliance has a similar effect on me at SKCEE. Your children are amazing, and they give me hope for the future.
Spring brings many exciting events at Stephen Knight, and we hope to see you join us for all the end of the year celebrations. From Literacy Night, to Field Day, to our Celebration of Learning and Spring Fling, we have multiple opportunities to engage in these final months of the 25-26 school year.
Please be sure to read the PTA newsletter and communications as we are looking for multiple volunteers for the events as well as board members to fill vacancies for the 26-27 school year.
New this year, all registration for the 26-27 school year must be completed online. To support you with this, we are hosting in-person support on Monday, May 11th from 8:30-10:30, 1:00-3:00, and 4:00 – 6:00. Please plan on attending one of these times to free up your summer from worry!
We have many exciting construction projects happening this summer, including air conditioning installed, some playground remodeling, and a bathroom installation for our special education program. Work will begin on June 1st, and the building will be inaccessible until mid August. Early registration will support us in being ready to welcome our Butterflies back on August 18th. Stay tuned for more information.
I hope you slow down this spring to experience the wonder and beauty of the season.
With Love,
Principal Shelley
ECE Update:
Spring has arrived, and our classrooms are buzzing with excitement as we dive into learning all about insects and gardening! Throughout the month, children will explore the fascinating world of bugs observing their features, learning about their habitats, and asking big questions about how they live and grow. We’ll also get our hands a little dirty as we begin gardening projects, planting seeds, and caring for our growing plants. These experiences will support curiosity, responsibility, and a deeper connection to the natural world. We look forward to a joyful month of discovery, exploration, and growth—both in our gardens and in your children!
Kindergarten Update:
This month in Kindergarten we wrapped up Skills 8 and have now started our next unit focusing on uppercase letters and fifteen new tricky words. The goal of this unit is for students to recognize uppercase letters and convert them into sounds while reading. We will also have a new reader for this unit, Zack and Ann. As we read our new decodable reader we will be focusing on asking and answering questions in complete sentences.
We will be wrapping up our Taking Care of Our Earth Unit this week. Our last unit of the year will focus on Presidents and Symbols. In this unit we will explore the lives and legacies of five famous presidents and introduce students to several national symbols. To kick off our unit we will learn about the branches of government and the role of the president.
In math we have begun a new unit focusing on solid shapes. In this unit students explore solid shapes while reinforcing their knowledge of counting, number writing and comparison, and flat shapes. They will compose figures with pattern blocks and continue to count up to 20 objects, write and compare numbers, and solve story problems.
Upcoming Kindergarten Events:
Gifted and Talented Update:
Our Latest Quarterly GT Family Newsletter is out:
Get a head start on summer 2026 with our curated GT guide to K–12 enrichment, ranging from local STEM camps to national residential programs. Check out the summer opportunities, student highlights, and much more here (weblink)!
Our GT Family Series Event:
Mark your calendars for:
Missed the last session on Twice Exceptional Learners from March 10th?
Catch the details here:
Nationwide Family GT Virtual Webinar:
Supporting Your Gifted Child: 5 Tips for Your Parenting Journey with Dr. Lynette Breedlove on April 7th, 2026 Register here (weblink).
Questions?
Connect with our GT Itinerant, Chelsea Chappell-Cox at chelsea_chappell-cox@dpsk12.net.
PE Update:
May is a National Physical Education and Sports Week! And we are BUSY this month. May 6th is National Bike to School Day. Join us by riding a bike or scooter to school. Don’t forget your helmets! Friday, May 15th is Field Day and Water Day. The Field Day schedule is below, but please check with your child’s classroom teacher for more details on their specific Lunch/ Water Day/ Field Day plans.
| Time | 9:00-10:00 | 10:15-11:15 | 11:30-12:30 | 12:45-1:45 | 2:00-3:00 |
| Rooms | 108, 109, 110, 112 | 102, 103, 114, 115 | 113, 116, 117 | 102/103, 104, 118, 119 | 105, 106, 107 |
We need some help purchasing equipment, ribbons, popsicles and more. Please consider visiting our Amazon Wishlist page if you’re interested and able to help.
Lastly, we are selling SKCEE Physical Education T-shirts for $15. We will sell them in-person on Wednesdays, April 15, 22, and 29. Or you can order one on the PTA website here, and it will go home in your child’s backpack.
Thanks for your support during this FUN and busy time of year!
Art Update:
Happy Spring, wonderful families! Many artists celebrate the seasons in their art. We have been doing exactly that with the onset of Spring. In March, ECE made wind spirals and paper airplanes; these were physically demanding tasks that helped little hands get stronger. Before and after vacation, preschoolers created flowering trees using pastels, watercolors, and real flower petals. As always, students had opportunities to explore a variety of materials in the art room. Check out kindergarten’s radial patterns in the hallway and the collaborative signs celebrating the arrival of spring. Kindergarteners have been developing conversation skills related to their art. Here are some questions to ask kids when they bring home art:
1. What did you use to make it?
2. How did you make it?
3. What’s the story in your art?
4. Where did you get your idea?
It is an honor to teach your children. I look forward to these last two months with excitement and curiosity. Warmly, Cookie
From the Health Office:
Spring has sprung, and we are seeing a decline in illness cases at SKCEE and in the community. We have been cleared to return back to our normal 24 hour post illness exclusion period for now. Please remember to refer to the How Sick is Too Sick document for decisions on when children should stay home from school, and as always, feel free to reach out to Nurse Eve with any questions or concerns related to student health!
Important Dates:
April 13-16: Book Fair! 8:30-9:30 and 3:00-4:00 daily
April 15: Kindergarten Continuation Pictures
April 16: SKCEE Family Literacy Night 4-5, Arabic and Spanish Interpretation will be provided
April 17: RMECC: No students at SKCEE
May 4-8: Educator Appreciation Week
May 6: Bike to School Day, Final PTA meeting
May 11: Registration for the 26-27 school year in person. Arabic and Spanish interpreters will be present.
May 15: Field Day and ECE Water Day!
May 21: Celebration of Learning and Spring Fling 3:30-6:00
May 25: Memorial Day, no school
May 28: Last day of school for ECE
May 29: Kindergarten Continuation