Hello Vaill Hall families,
Our young students have been busy and thriving these past few weeks! St. Augustine has experienced unusually chilly, even freezing weather, but our staff has made sure students stay active, engaged, and cozy indoors. Below are some highlights of what each group has been up to.
1st Floor East – Learning Through Cooking
Students on the 1st Floor East have enjoyed hands-on cooking activities, including making muffins and cookies together. Each student had the opportunity to contribute, helping them build foundational skills such as:
Reading and following recipes
Understanding step-by-step instructions
Learning how to safely use an oven
This activity also strengthens teamwork and confidence in the kitchen.
1st Floor North – Socializing & Group Bonding
The 1st Floor North group has been teaming up with some of the larger groups for bonding activities. These have included:
Group games
Hot chocolate nights
Cozy movie nights
These social experiences encourage communication, teamwork, and building friendships.
1st Floor West – Building Independence
Our 1st Floor West boys have been hard at work developing important life skills. Staff have been teaching them how to do their own laundry — a big step toward independence! This helps them gain confidence and learn responsibility in a supportive environment.
2nd Floor West – A Sweet Reward
The girls on the 2nd Floor West recently took a well‑deserved field trip to Dunkin’ Donuts. This outing celebrated their positive behavior and gave them the chance to practice:
Appropriate behavior in public
Money management
Ordering food independently
They represented Vaill Hall beautifully, and staff were incredibly proud of their excellent manners.
Boys’ Social-Emotional Growth
In addition to the activities above, our boys have been focusing on social‑emotional learning. Their recent lessons have covered:
Building strong, healthy friendships
Practicing kindness and respect
Using good manners (like holding doors for others)
These skills help create a positive and supportive community within our residence halls.
Thank you for your continued support and for ensuring your children are prepared for the colder weather. We appreciate you sending warm clothing and extra layers when possible.If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to reach out.
Warmly,
Vaill Hall Staff