Happy “First Presidents’ Day” to those of you on the two-day, three-day weekend schedule this month, RMT’ers! It’s also the week that our school district hits the 100th Day of School milestone – a VERY important day for the Kindergartener set if you didn’t know!

Just wanted to check in real quick today with a few fun things, all of which are February holiday-related.

First, while T isn’t exactly in tune with American politics quite yet, they do begin to learn about the important cornerstone political persons of American history… in this case, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. With that, I decided that just as I did with Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday and various other holidays throughout the year that it’d be important to bolster his library with another age-appropriate addition to commemorate the occasion.

“Presidents’ Day” by Anne Rockwell and Lizzy Rockwell (illustrator) (Harper Collins Children’s, Publishers) is a wonderfully appropriate story for kids in the age range from about Pre-K-to-2nd grade. The book is full of facts related to both Lincoln and Washington, but the story’s told from the point of view of a class of children putting on a play about the Presidents’ Day holidays. I believe it’s that narration style, along with the wonderful drawings, that captivated T’s attention; after all, what kid doesn’t like stories told from or by kids themselves?!

Another feature of this book I thoroughly enjoyed was the fact that both girls and boys played the lead roles (i.e., the all-men cast) in the play. Meaning, a girl plays George Washington. Even T recognized that it was a girl playing a “boy part” but I took advantage of the teachable moment right-quick. I explained that anyone – boy or girl – can do anything or be anyone they want to be. Then not a few pages after that brief intermission and tutorial, we arrived at a spot in the story that covers that very fact! I won’t ruin the ending for you because it’s a wonderful lesson and one again that is better told from a child’s perspective.

Along with it being Lincoln’s Birthday (recognized) today is that tomorrow is the 100th Day of School! Anyone with a child who’s enrolled in Kindergarten currently or has a child who’s recently attended Kindergarten in the past few years knows that the schools really build this one up as a huge milestone and celebratory event. To celebrate, T’s teacher has asked everyone to bring a collection of 100 items that they’ve personally counted out with their family. The items must fit in a zip-top bag was the only rule here. And, gee, guess what T wanted to bring? Well, no need to guess, as I guess my photo above gives that away.

Oh and I almost forgot… T’s class also celebrated Chinese New Year on Friday, too, complete with dragon head wear (Happy “Year of the Snake” all!). All I have to say is, way to go Mrs. W! That’s two Presidents’ Days, a 100th Day of School, and a Chinese New Year all within one week of each other. That’s enough crafts and special holiday books to last a whole season if you ask me!

And I haven’t even mentioned that Valentine’s Day is later this week, too! But that’s a post for another day… and later this week I suppose! Again, I just don’t know how teachers do all they do (and thank you!)….

Enjoy your week filled with celebrations, milestones, holidays, love, a new year, and everything else in between! What will you do with your kids do this week to mark these special occasions?