DECEMBER NEWSLETTER

🎄 Learning Lights Up the Season! 🎄

December has arrived, bringing sparkling lights, cozy moments, and the joy of learning together! As we wrap up the year, our online learning community continues to shine bright with creativity, curiosity, and connection. This season is all about celebration, reflection, and sharing the warmth of ideas.

Holiday Highlight: Digital Card Design Contest!

We are inviting all learners to create a holiday or New Year digital card and share it with us for a chance to win a prize! Use your imagination to design something festive and fun—whether it’s a winter wonderland, a cheerful message, or a creative twist that represents your traditions. Submit your card by January 3, 2026, to llvs@iu13.org. Winners will be announced in the first week of January, and selected cards will be featured in our Creative Corner!

So grab a warm drink, settle into your favorite cozy spot, and dive into this month’s newsletter filled with inspiration, celebration, and opportunities to grow. Here’s to a season of learning and a bright start to the New Year!

Inside this newsletter, you will find:

• Holiday Digital Card Design Contest Activity
• Holiday Word Search Puzzle Activity
• Creative Corner Spotlight
• LLVS Learner Engagement Recent Events
• Learner Spotlight
• LLVS Learner Engagement Upcoming Events

🎨 Holiday & New Year

Digital Card Contest 🎨

Let your creativity shine as we celebrate the season and welcome the New Year! Design your very own digital holiday or New Year's card and share it with us for a chance to win a prize.

How to Participate:

1. Create your card using any digital tool—Canva, Google Slides, PowerPoint, or even draw by hand and upload a photo.
   
2. Add a festive touch! Include a cheerful message, winter scene, or something that represents your holiday or New Year traditions.
   
3. Email your finished card to llvs@iu13.org.
   

Deadline: January 3, 2026


Prize Drawing: Winners will be announced in the first week of January! The first-place winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card.

Bonus: Selected cards will be featured in our Creative Corner in the next newsletter.



Start designing today—your card could be the one that spreads the most joy as we ring in the New Year!

Word Search

Word Search Instructions:

• Click on the Winter Wonderland Image below to take you to the online word search puzzle.
• Press “Begin” to start the game.
• Look at the word list on your screen.
• Find the hidden words in the puzzle:
• Horizontally (left to right or right to left)
• Vertically (top to bottom or bottom to top)
• Diagonally (slanting in any direction)
• Click and drag to highlight each word you find.
• Keep searching until you find them all!
• Tip: Words can share letters, so look carefully!

🎨 The Creative Corner Spotlight

Creative Corner Spotlight: Growing Joy, One Plant at a Time

This month, we are shining the spotlight on Sofia, a learner from Palmyra Area School District whose green thumb and love for plants have truly blossomed! Her journey started when she was little—thanks to a tiny cactus gifted by her Aunt Rachael. She named it “Baby Cactus,” and from that moment on, she was hooked on the beauty and uniqueness of plants.

Completely self-taught, Sofia learned through videos and hands-on experience, even rescuing her grandmom’s and mom’s plants when they needed extra care. Over the past year, she has mastered the art of propagation and expanded her collection to include exotic houseplants alongside her beloved cacti and succulents.

Sofia's favorite plant is Carl Corl (CC), a tropical houseplant with a story as unique as its name. At over 13 years old, Carl was a wedding gift from her friend’s mom before finding a new home with Sofia. She also cares for Maddie, a spiky Madagascar Palm Tree that can grow up to 8 feet tall!

What does Sofia love most about plants? “Every plant is different! I enjoy nurturing them back to health, propagating new ones, and sharing them as gifts with friends and family.” Her dream? One day, she hopes to grow her hobby into a business and sell plants professionally.

From visiting local nurseries to learning new care techniques, Sofia’s creativity and dedication remind us that growth—like plants—takes patience, love, and a little sunshine. 🌞

Learner Engagement Recent Event

Our Winter Wonderland event was nothing short of magical! Online learners stepped into a festive space filled with laughter, creativity, and the spirit of giving. Here is a look at the highlights:

🎨 Winter Crafts Galore

From sparkling snowflakes to cozy winter scenes, students let their imaginations run wild, creating beautiful crafts to take home and share with loved ones.

🍪 Sweet Treats for All

What’s winter without cookies? Everyone enjoyed delicious treats that added a warm and tasty touch to the celebration.

🖍️ Coloring Station Fun

Our coloring corner was buzzing with creativity as students brought winter-themed pictures to life with vibrant colors.

💌 Spreading Cheer to the Community

One of the most heartwarming parts of the day was making cards for residents at our local nursing home. These handmade messages of kindness will surely brighten their holiday season.

🎶 Festive Tunes & Holiday Vibes

The sound of cheerful winter music filled the air, setting the perfect backdrop for a day of fun and connection.

🌟 Surprises Around Every Corner

From unexpected treats to extra activities, the event was packed with little moments that made big memories.

This celebration wasn’t just about crafts and cookies—it was about coming together, sharing joy, and making a difference.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this Winter Wonderland truly unforgettable!

Get Ready! Exciting Upcoming

Learner Engagement Events

🦖 North Museum of Nature and Science

🔍 Discover, Explore, Imagine! 🌍

Join us for an unforgettable adventure at the North Museum of Nature and Science—a field trip designed to spark curiosity and inspire learning! This hands-on experience will immerse young learners in the wonders of science, nature, and technology.

Interactive Exhibits: Dive into fascinating displays on geology, biology, and more! Every exhibit is designed to be hands-on, making learning exciting and memorable.

Planetarium Journey: Blast off into space in the museum’s state-of-the-art planetarium! Explore stars, planets, and galaxies in a breathtaking show that brings the universe to life.

Collaborative Learning: Students will share ideas, ask questions, and engage in group discussions—building connections while deepening their understanding of the world around them.

Don’t miss this chance to combine fun and learning in one amazing experience!

Thank you to Harris Digital Learning for sponsoring this exciting event!

Ready, Set, Inflate!

Get ready to blast off into the world of science and engineering with our Zoom-and-Inflate STEM Challenge!

In this high-energy, hands-on event, K–12 learners will design, build, and race their very own balloon-powered cars. Using simple materials and big ideas, students will discover how air pressure and propulsion can turn a balloon into a racing engine!

What’s in store?

• Experiment with creative designs to maximize speed and distance
• Explore forces, motion, and energy transfer in action
• Problem-solve and fine-tune your car for peak performance
• Compete in friendly races to see whose car zooms the farthest!

Whether you are an aspiring engineer or love a good challenge, this event is your chance to ignite curiosity, spark creativity, and have a blast with STEM. Don’t miss out—join us for a day of innovation, teamwork, and high-speed fun!

Step into the world of live entertainment innovation! Join us for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Tait headquarters, where creativity meets cutting-edge technology.

✅ Meet the experts who design, engineer, and build unforgettable live experiences.

✅ Explore exciting projects in progress and see how ideas come to life.

✅ Discover the magic behind the scenes—where artistry and engineering work hand-in-hand every day.



Don’t miss this chance to experience the creativity and craftsmanship that power some of the world’s most spectacular shows!

🧁 A Sweet Adventure Awaits! 🧁

Step into a world of frosting, sprinkles, and imagination! This hands-on cupcake decorating experience is your chance to turn ordinary cupcakes into edible works of art.

✨ All Materials Provided

We have got the cupcakes, frosting, and toppings—just bring your creativity!

🎨 Learn & Create

Discover simple decorating techniques and let your artistic side shine.

🧁 Six Sweet Masterpieces

Design six cupcakes you will be proud to take home (and maybe share… if you can!).

Reserve your spot today! Space is limited to just 20 participants for this event.

Connect with us on Social Media

Just a reminder: we are excited to expand our social media presence, and we want YOU to be part of it! Following us on Facebook and Instagram is a great way to stay updated on the latest news and events! You will see real-time updates on important announcements, deadlines, and events.

Click on the links below to follow us!

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Don't miss out on the chance to be more involved and informed.