October 31, 2008
Dear Families,
This week the kindergartners worked with the letter Ii. We did many Halloween papers and projects. Please notice the colored flashcards that are included with this packet. The word to is a sight word that the students just need to memorize. The other words are high frequency words that the boys and girls can sound out. Practice reading the little booklets and reviewing flashcards often. That really helps kindergartners learn and remember, making reading easier and more fun.
We welcomed two new kindergartners to our classroom this week. Samuel Snyder is a part of the red team, and Cassity Havens is a new member of the blue team. We may be getting another new student on Monday. Lanika Eilander is scheduled to join us in kindergarten that day.
Next week we will be studying the letter Ss. Sharing next week is something that starts with the letter Ss in a secret sack. Please prepare clues for your child to say at school during sharing time. The clues can be written down if you desire. Friday sharing kids may bring their sharing item any day next week.
We have noticed that some of the boys and girls are still in need of new crayons. You may replace them with boxes of 16 or 24 crayons. Check with your kindergartner to see if the glue stick needs to be replaced also.
Monday, November 3rd is now a normal day of school. Conferences will be held on Thursday, November 6th and Monday, November 10th. On Monday, November 10th, the town students are dismissed at 12:20 so that teachers can attend more important meetings. Bus kids will be dismissed at 12:25. Conferences will be held on Monday evening. If you find that your conference time does not work for you, please contact us, and we will work out a new time. Ms. Howard will meet her families in the kindergarten room. Mrs. Owens will meet her families in an office down the hall located across from the drinking fountains and bathrooms. THERE WILL BE NO SCHOOL ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH.
The kindergarten newsletter can now be found on the web! Go to ntknews08.blogspot.com see any important information or copies of the newsletters.
Have a nice weekend!
Mrs. Owens, Ms. Howard, Mrs. Herink, Mrs. Pokorny, Mr. Degner, and
Mr. Zabel
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
October 17, 2008
October 17, 2008
Dear Families,
During Nn week we practiced our numbers and made Number Booklets. Phone numbers were practiced. (Boys and girls will need to know their phone numbers for the second report card.) Some North Tama football players came in and talked about football. They brought in some of their cool equipment for the kindergartners to see and touch. We worked really hard on evaluations for the first quarter report card. The kindergartners reviewed fire prevention.
Next week we will be studying the letter Mm. Kindergartners need to bring something that begins with the letter Mm.
We will continue to evaluate the students for the report cards next week. We will be checking to see if they know the letters Aa, Gg, Hh, Ll, Nn,Oo, Pp, and Tt and the sounds for consonants. We will also check to see if they recognize the numbers 0-10. We will continue checking them on their addresses, colors, and shapes.
Please remember that our Halloween party is on Friday, October 31st. The kindergartners may BRING their costumes to school that day. After the big recess we get dressed up and then travel to the nursing home by bus. When we return we will do some Halloween activities in the room, parade through the classrooms, and enjoy Halloween snacks.
The weather is getting cooler outside, and we try to go outside at LEAST 1 time a day for recess if it is not raining. Please make sure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather because he/she will go outside whether or not they have the necessary clothing. Remember that if there is measurable snow on the ground, the boys and girls need boots.
We are now warning our families that the school is keeping our thermostats at 68 degrees this winter. Some students may find this temperature a little chilly. We recommend that you send a sweatshirt or sweater to school with your child everyday. They can keep it in their backpacks or cubbies and wear it when they feel cold.
Please make sure that your child has an extra set of clothing in their school bag. Kindergartners have bathroom accidents, lunch tray spills, illnesses that soil clothing, and dirty recess catastrophes every now and then, and they feel more comfortable in their own clothing, especially underwear. We do have some extra clothing here, but it is a lot easier to get extra clothing out of school bags than it is to dig out clothing they will wear out of our supply.
Some children are beginning to arrive to school before 8:10. If the children are not eating breakfast, then they need to wait on the playground for the 8:10 bell unless your family has talked to the teachers. Teachers are not always in the classrooms because we are making final arrangements for the day, and we do not like to leave the kindergartners unsupervised. We realize that clocks at home are set at different times, and that occasionally children get here early. If you bring your kindergartner and you discover that you are a couple of minutes early, you can wait in our little entryway for the 8:10 bell.
Please remember that the students do not have school on Monday, October 27th. The teachers get to spend the day in important meetings.
Please note the attached note about the October 23rd elementary bakesale. The more items we have to sell, the more money we make! Bakesale items may be homemade or prepackaged.
We hope you have an absolutely great weekend!
Ms. Howard, Mrs. Owens, Mrs. Pokorny, Mr. Zabel, Mr. Degner, and Mrs. Herink
Dear Families,
During Nn week we practiced our numbers and made Number Booklets. Phone numbers were practiced. (Boys and girls will need to know their phone numbers for the second report card.) Some North Tama football players came in and talked about football. They brought in some of their cool equipment for the kindergartners to see and touch. We worked really hard on evaluations for the first quarter report card. The kindergartners reviewed fire prevention.
Next week we will be studying the letter Mm. Kindergartners need to bring something that begins with the letter Mm.
We will continue to evaluate the students for the report cards next week. We will be checking to see if they know the letters Aa, Gg, Hh, Ll, Nn,Oo, Pp, and Tt and the sounds for consonants. We will also check to see if they recognize the numbers 0-10. We will continue checking them on their addresses, colors, and shapes.
Please remember that our Halloween party is on Friday, October 31st. The kindergartners may BRING their costumes to school that day. After the big recess we get dressed up and then travel to the nursing home by bus. When we return we will do some Halloween activities in the room, parade through the classrooms, and enjoy Halloween snacks.
The weather is getting cooler outside, and we try to go outside at LEAST 1 time a day for recess if it is not raining. Please make sure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather because he/she will go outside whether or not they have the necessary clothing. Remember that if there is measurable snow on the ground, the boys and girls need boots.
We are now warning our families that the school is keeping our thermostats at 68 degrees this winter. Some students may find this temperature a little chilly. We recommend that you send a sweatshirt or sweater to school with your child everyday. They can keep it in their backpacks or cubbies and wear it when they feel cold.
Please make sure that your child has an extra set of clothing in their school bag. Kindergartners have bathroom accidents, lunch tray spills, illnesses that soil clothing, and dirty recess catastrophes every now and then, and they feel more comfortable in their own clothing, especially underwear. We do have some extra clothing here, but it is a lot easier to get extra clothing out of school bags than it is to dig out clothing they will wear out of our supply.
Some children are beginning to arrive to school before 8:10. If the children are not eating breakfast, then they need to wait on the playground for the 8:10 bell unless your family has talked to the teachers. Teachers are not always in the classrooms because we are making final arrangements for the day, and we do not like to leave the kindergartners unsupervised. We realize that clocks at home are set at different times, and that occasionally children get here early. If you bring your kindergartner and you discover that you are a couple of minutes early, you can wait in our little entryway for the 8:10 bell.
Please remember that the students do not have school on Monday, October 27th. The teachers get to spend the day in important meetings.
Please note the attached note about the October 23rd elementary bakesale. The more items we have to sell, the more money we make! Bakesale items may be homemade or prepackaged.
We hope you have an absolutely great weekend!
Ms. Howard, Mrs. Owens, Mrs. Pokorny, Mr. Zabel, Mr. Degner, and Mrs. Herink
Thursday, October 2, 2008
October 3, 2008
October 3, 2008
Dear Families,
During Pp week we acted out the story The Three Little Pigs. They liked hearing Mr. Foster read The Principal’s New Clothes and The Principal from the Black Lagoon. We learned about the Presidents. We graphed our favorite pet. The children could choose one of the following pets: dog, cat, fish, rabbit, or hamster/gerbil/guinea pig. On Wednesday the Strength Team visited North Tama and shared a drug free message with the students.
Next week we will be learning about the letter Aa. Next week’s sharing will be free choice since there aren’t many items that begin with the letter Aa.
Remember that picture day is Tuesday, October 14th. Kindergartners are normally scheduled to get their pictures taken at 8:20 SO PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CHILD IS AT SCHOOL ON TIME! (Bus students will not have a problem with this.) If you have special instructions concerning hair or smiles, write us a note, and we will do our best to help your student take a great picture. Children are welcome to change out of special picture outfits when pictures are finished.
Around this time of year the weather gets cooler. We try to go outside for recess everyday, and the boys and girls need to be dressed appropriately. (Some of the children don’t want to wear their coats outside on a chilly day. On chilly days we make them wear coats or sweatshirts.) We have them wear whatever the family sends them in. By the way, one rule our school has is if there is any measurable snow on the ground, the students need to wear boots outside. We know that the thought of snow is depressing, but we wanted you to be aware and prepared.
The flu and cold season is coming soon (if it is not already here)! According to our elementary handbook, children need to stay home if they have the following: an earache, severe headache, a fever of 99.6 or above, an acute cold, a communicable disease, mattering or an inflammation of the eyes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or untreated head lice. In the handbook there are also guidelines that will help families determine if a child may return to school. Please refer to this so that children do not come back to school too early.
Remember that on Friday, October 31st, the boys and girls are currently scheduled to have the Halloween parties.
“Redhawks Reading” month began on Wednesday, October 1st. (This used to be called Read - A- Million- Minutes month.) Please make sure that you read the “Redhawks Reading” explanation note that you received! Please keep track of the minutes read at home! Fill out the record sheet and send the correct portion to school on the dates listed in the explanation letter.
The kindergartners are being asked to provide 12 individually wrapped bake sale items for a fundraiser on October 23rd. The lower elementary students are raising money to pay for their admission to a museum in November. We will be visiting the museum as a culminating activity for Redhawk Reading month. Kindergartners will be able to buy items from the bake sale, so please send quarters, too!
On Monday, October 6th the kindergartners will be attending a play in Waterloo. We get on the bus between 8:30 and 8:45 to go to the play. THE KINDERGARTNERS NEED TO BRING THEIR OWN LUNCHES ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 6TH! MILK CAN BE PURCHASED FROM THE COOKS WITH THE COST DELETED FROM HIS/HER LUNCH ACCOUNT.
Ms. Howard, Mrs. Owens, Mrs. Pokorny, Mrs. Herink, Mr. Zabel, and Mr. Degner
Keep for future reference!
October Sharing Schedule
October 6 - 10: Free choice (Aa week)
October 13 - 17: Something that begins with the letter Nn
October 20 - 24: Something that begins with Mm
October 27 - 31: Free choice (Ii week)
Dear Families,
During Pp week we acted out the story The Three Little Pigs. They liked hearing Mr. Foster read The Principal’s New Clothes and The Principal from the Black Lagoon. We learned about the Presidents. We graphed our favorite pet. The children could choose one of the following pets: dog, cat, fish, rabbit, or hamster/gerbil/guinea pig. On Wednesday the Strength Team visited North Tama and shared a drug free message with the students.
Next week we will be learning about the letter Aa. Next week’s sharing will be free choice since there aren’t many items that begin with the letter Aa.
Remember that picture day is Tuesday, October 14th. Kindergartners are normally scheduled to get their pictures taken at 8:20 SO PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CHILD IS AT SCHOOL ON TIME! (Bus students will not have a problem with this.) If you have special instructions concerning hair or smiles, write us a note, and we will do our best to help your student take a great picture. Children are welcome to change out of special picture outfits when pictures are finished.
Around this time of year the weather gets cooler. We try to go outside for recess everyday, and the boys and girls need to be dressed appropriately. (Some of the children don’t want to wear their coats outside on a chilly day. On chilly days we make them wear coats or sweatshirts.) We have them wear whatever the family sends them in. By the way, one rule our school has is if there is any measurable snow on the ground, the students need to wear boots outside. We know that the thought of snow is depressing, but we wanted you to be aware and prepared.
The flu and cold season is coming soon (if it is not already here)! According to our elementary handbook, children need to stay home if they have the following: an earache, severe headache, a fever of 99.6 or above, an acute cold, a communicable disease, mattering or an inflammation of the eyes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or untreated head lice. In the handbook there are also guidelines that will help families determine if a child may return to school. Please refer to this so that children do not come back to school too early.
Remember that on Friday, October 31st, the boys and girls are currently scheduled to have the Halloween parties.
“Redhawks Reading” month began on Wednesday, October 1st. (This used to be called Read - A- Million- Minutes month.) Please make sure that you read the “Redhawks Reading” explanation note that you received! Please keep track of the minutes read at home! Fill out the record sheet and send the correct portion to school on the dates listed in the explanation letter.
The kindergartners are being asked to provide 12 individually wrapped bake sale items for a fundraiser on October 23rd. The lower elementary students are raising money to pay for their admission to a museum in November. We will be visiting the museum as a culminating activity for Redhawk Reading month. Kindergartners will be able to buy items from the bake sale, so please send quarters, too!
On Monday, October 6th the kindergartners will be attending a play in Waterloo. We get on the bus between 8:30 and 8:45 to go to the play. THE KINDERGARTNERS NEED TO BRING THEIR OWN LUNCHES ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 6TH! MILK CAN BE PURCHASED FROM THE COOKS WITH THE COST DELETED FROM HIS/HER LUNCH ACCOUNT.
Ms. Howard, Mrs. Owens, Mrs. Pokorny, Mrs. Herink, Mr. Zabel, and Mr. Degner
Keep for future reference!
October Sharing Schedule
October 6 - 10: Free choice (Aa week)
October 13 - 17: Something that begins with the letter Nn
October 20 - 24: Something that begins with Mm
October 27 - 31: Free choice (Ii week)
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
September 26, 2008
September 26, 2008
Dear Families,
We began learning about the alphabet and enjoyed reading the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. We made a chart using the first letter of our names, to see what letters had the most first names and which letters had the fewest. We read a lot of alphabet books, too. We played an alphabet freeze game. The kindergartners danced and moved around around until the music stopped. Then they found a letter on the floor close to where they were frozen, picked it up, and told everyone the name of the letter. We learned about the letter Tt. Teeth and dental care was discussed. We know that adults are supposed to have 32 teeth and that brushing gets the “sugar bugs” off of the teeth. Healthy food is better for your teeth than sugary foods. Visiting the dentist is important for good dental health. Attached to the newsletter are 2 extra homework papers. One is a tooth brushing chart. Every child that brushes his/her teeth 2 times a day, fills out the chart with a check mark or smiley face or parent’s signature in each box, and returns it gets a special certificate from the Tooth Fairy. The other paper will need some parental guidance to help fill in the blanks.
This week we worked with counting coconuts. Each child was given a bag with one coconut tree and ten coconuts. The students learned to add more coconuts when they needed a larger number and take a way coconuts when they needed a smaller number. They can use these to practice counting at home.
This week we also began practicing writing names the kindergarten way. Next week we will continue practicing. We will expect them to write their name the kindergarten way on all their papers. Reinforcement at home is greatly appreciated. Remember, if your kindergartner practices writing at home, and they bring the paperwork in, they can earn a sticker.
Next week we will be studying the letter Pp. Sharing next week should be one item that begins with the letter Pp.
Halloween is fast approaching, and many families are beginning to think about their child’s costume. The elementary has a policy about costumes. We do not allow any blood or weapons with the costumes. Right now the Halloween parties are scheduled for October 31st.
Don’t forget about October 14th! We will be having our pictures taken on this day. You will receive the order forms soon. Please try to have these forms returned before picture day. On Tuesday, October 14th, the kindergartners need to be here by 8:20. We are usually the first class to have pictures taken, and they come for us at 8:20. If you want your child to change out of the picture clothing, please send another outfit. If you have special instructions concerning hair, jewelry, or outfits, please write us a note with the directions.
On Monday, October 6th the kindergartners will be attending a play in Waterloo. We leave the school at about 8:45 and return later in the morning. We will NOT return in time for lunch so each child will need to bring their own lunches. Families may not send any pop to drink. Other than that, families make the rules about what is put in the lunch box.
There is no school on Monday, September 29th. The teachers get to spend the day attending important meetings!
One last important date to note is the Christmas program. It will be on December 17th at 1:30 p.m.
Have a great fall weekend!
Ms. Howard, Mrs. Owens, Mrs. Herink, Mrs. Pokorny, Mr. Degner, Mr. Zabel
Dear Families,
We began learning about the alphabet and enjoyed reading the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. We made a chart using the first letter of our names, to see what letters had the most first names and which letters had the fewest. We read a lot of alphabet books, too. We played an alphabet freeze game. The kindergartners danced and moved around around until the music stopped. Then they found a letter on the floor close to where they were frozen, picked it up, and told everyone the name of the letter. We learned about the letter Tt. Teeth and dental care was discussed. We know that adults are supposed to have 32 teeth and that brushing gets the “sugar bugs” off of the teeth. Healthy food is better for your teeth than sugary foods. Visiting the dentist is important for good dental health. Attached to the newsletter are 2 extra homework papers. One is a tooth brushing chart. Every child that brushes his/her teeth 2 times a day, fills out the chart with a check mark or smiley face or parent’s signature in each box, and returns it gets a special certificate from the Tooth Fairy. The other paper will need some parental guidance to help fill in the blanks.
This week we worked with counting coconuts. Each child was given a bag with one coconut tree and ten coconuts. The students learned to add more coconuts when they needed a larger number and take a way coconuts when they needed a smaller number. They can use these to practice counting at home.
This week we also began practicing writing names the kindergarten way. Next week we will continue practicing. We will expect them to write their name the kindergarten way on all their papers. Reinforcement at home is greatly appreciated. Remember, if your kindergartner practices writing at home, and they bring the paperwork in, they can earn a sticker.
Next week we will be studying the letter Pp. Sharing next week should be one item that begins with the letter Pp.
Halloween is fast approaching, and many families are beginning to think about their child’s costume. The elementary has a policy about costumes. We do not allow any blood or weapons with the costumes. Right now the Halloween parties are scheduled for October 31st.
Don’t forget about October 14th! We will be having our pictures taken on this day. You will receive the order forms soon. Please try to have these forms returned before picture day. On Tuesday, October 14th, the kindergartners need to be here by 8:20. We are usually the first class to have pictures taken, and they come for us at 8:20. If you want your child to change out of the picture clothing, please send another outfit. If you have special instructions concerning hair, jewelry, or outfits, please write us a note with the directions.
On Monday, October 6th the kindergartners will be attending a play in Waterloo. We leave the school at about 8:45 and return later in the morning. We will NOT return in time for lunch so each child will need to bring their own lunches. Families may not send any pop to drink. Other than that, families make the rules about what is put in the lunch box.
There is no school on Monday, September 29th. The teachers get to spend the day attending important meetings!
One last important date to note is the Christmas program. It will be on December 17th at 1:30 p.m.
Have a great fall weekend!
Ms. Howard, Mrs. Owens, Mrs. Herink, Mrs. Pokorny, Mr. Degner, Mr. Zabel
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
September 19, 2008
September 19, 2008
Dear Families,
Seasons and weather were discussed this week. We made lists of summer words, fall words, winter words, and spring words. These lists were written on seasonal symbols and hung in the hallway. We took an “end of summer” walk to look at the trees, flowers, grass, etc. (If the weather didn’t cooperate, we didn’t go on the walk.) We talked about how the trees are still full of green leaves. We noticed that some of the leaves are already turning colors, and some have even fallen off the trees. The kindergartners talked about how the trees change for each season. They made trees to show the four different seasons. The kindergartners enjoyed painting the trunks brown. Have them tell you about how the trees change for each season.
Last week the kindergarten students participated in the DIBELS Benchmark Assessment. We had several different people working with our students on this evaluation. We will share these evaluations with you at your fall conference.
If your child practices writing numbers, their name, or the letters as we learn them at home, send that paper to school. We will give them a sticker for their work.
Next week we will be doing several alphabet activities. We will begin learning to write our first name the “kindergarten way.” We will also be reading and doing activities with the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. We will read other alphabet books and learn some alphabet songs. Next week’s sharing needs to be something that starts with the letter Tt.
An important date coming up is Tuesday, October 14th. We believe that this is school picture day. Watch for more information to be sent home soon!
Please remember that each Monday the kindergartners get a new library book. If your child forgets to return the book that day, the teachers will try to get them to the library for a new book as soon as they can. It may NOT be the very day theirs is returned due to our busy schedule.
We hope your child is enjoying kindergarten. Things are slowly improving! Have a great weekend!
Ms. Howard, Mrs. Owens, Mrs. Pokorny, Mr. Zabel, Mr. Degner, and Mrs. Herink
Dear Families,
Seasons and weather were discussed this week. We made lists of summer words, fall words, winter words, and spring words. These lists were written on seasonal symbols and hung in the hallway. We took an “end of summer” walk to look at the trees, flowers, grass, etc. (If the weather didn’t cooperate, we didn’t go on the walk.) We talked about how the trees are still full of green leaves. We noticed that some of the leaves are already turning colors, and some have even fallen off the trees. The kindergartners talked about how the trees change for each season. They made trees to show the four different seasons. The kindergartners enjoyed painting the trunks brown. Have them tell you about how the trees change for each season.
Last week the kindergarten students participated in the DIBELS Benchmark Assessment. We had several different people working with our students on this evaluation. We will share these evaluations with you at your fall conference.
If your child practices writing numbers, their name, or the letters as we learn them at home, send that paper to school. We will give them a sticker for their work.
Next week we will be doing several alphabet activities. We will begin learning to write our first name the “kindergarten way.” We will also be reading and doing activities with the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. We will read other alphabet books and learn some alphabet songs. Next week’s sharing needs to be something that starts with the letter Tt.
An important date coming up is Tuesday, October 14th. We believe that this is school picture day. Watch for more information to be sent home soon!
Please remember that each Monday the kindergartners get a new library book. If your child forgets to return the book that day, the teachers will try to get them to the library for a new book as soon as they can. It may NOT be the very day theirs is returned due to our busy schedule.
We hope your child is enjoying kindergarten. Things are slowly improving! Have a great weekend!
Ms. Howard, Mrs. Owens, Mrs. Pokorny, Mr. Zabel, Mr. Degner, and Mrs. Herink
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
September 12, 2008
September 12, 2008
Dear Families,
Senses were discussed this week. Monday the five senses were introduced, and the students listened to a tape of different sounds and had to guess what each sound was. On Tuesday the sense of touch was discussed, and each child was able feel a mystery object in a special box and guess what the object was. On Wednesday the students learned about the sense of sight. They played a game that required them to look at a group of objects, remember what the objects are, and guess the object the teacher took away when their eyes were closed. Thursday was a “smelly” day, and the boys and girls guessed mystery smells. On Friday, the students finished the week, by learning about the sense of taste. They tasted something sweet (m and m’s), sour (dill pickles), salty (pretzels), and bitter (unsweetened baking chocolate). Also this week the kindergartners worked on sequencing, remembering the details of a story, the letter Gg. Lowercase g is harder to make so we made a practice homework paper and attached it to the newsletter. The kindergartners talked about ways to be safe at school, at home, on the farm, and in our community.
This week we began reading books about Curious George. The children really enjoy these books. We have discussed the meaning of the word curious, and the children have thought of a few things they are each curious about. You can read your child’s ideas on the windows outside our room.
Next week we will be learning about the 4 seasons. On Friday morning we hope to take an end of summer walk. Please dress your child appropriately.
Sharing for next week is an item in a “secret sack” from your child’s favorite season. Your kindergartner needs to be able to give clues about the mystery item. You are welcome to help your child with the clues. Families may also write the clues down on a piece of paper so that if your student forgets them, we can help him/her. For example, if your child’s favorite season is summer, the sharing item could be a swimming suit. The child puts the swimming suit into a sack (or the backpack). Clues could include: I wear this when it is hot. I like to get it wet. It is purple and green. The other students will then get to try and guess what is in the sack.
Again this year we are collecting Box Tops for Education box tops. Send in the box top that has that special logo on it. Each box top is worth 10¢. The school is also collecting Campbell's soup labels. Send any that you have to school with your child. The elementary school is also collecting Hy Vee slips. If you know anyone that shops at Hy Vee, ask them for their receipts. We think that the school gets $1 for every $200 turned in.
The weather has been cooler . We recommend that families send jackets or sweatshirts. It would be very helpful if the coats had names written in them. Many times they fall on the floor, and the teachers do not know who they belong to, and occasionally 2 children have identical coats. Having names written on the coats helps the children identify theirs.
Have a great weekend!
Ms. Howard, Mrs. Owens, Mrs. Pokorny, Mrs. Herink, Mr. Degner, and Mr. Zabel
Dear Families,
Senses were discussed this week. Monday the five senses were introduced, and the students listened to a tape of different sounds and had to guess what each sound was. On Tuesday the sense of touch was discussed, and each child was able feel a mystery object in a special box and guess what the object was. On Wednesday the students learned about the sense of sight. They played a game that required them to look at a group of objects, remember what the objects are, and guess the object the teacher took away when their eyes were closed. Thursday was a “smelly” day, and the boys and girls guessed mystery smells. On Friday, the students finished the week, by learning about the sense of taste. They tasted something sweet (m and m’s), sour (dill pickles), salty (pretzels), and bitter (unsweetened baking chocolate). Also this week the kindergartners worked on sequencing, remembering the details of a story, the letter Gg. Lowercase g is harder to make so we made a practice homework paper and attached it to the newsletter. The kindergartners talked about ways to be safe at school, at home, on the farm, and in our community.
This week we began reading books about Curious George. The children really enjoy these books. We have discussed the meaning of the word curious, and the children have thought of a few things they are each curious about. You can read your child’s ideas on the windows outside our room.
Next week we will be learning about the 4 seasons. On Friday morning we hope to take an end of summer walk. Please dress your child appropriately.
Sharing for next week is an item in a “secret sack” from your child’s favorite season. Your kindergartner needs to be able to give clues about the mystery item. You are welcome to help your child with the clues. Families may also write the clues down on a piece of paper so that if your student forgets them, we can help him/her. For example, if your child’s favorite season is summer, the sharing item could be a swimming suit. The child puts the swimming suit into a sack (or the backpack). Clues could include: I wear this when it is hot. I like to get it wet. It is purple and green. The other students will then get to try and guess what is in the sack.
Again this year we are collecting Box Tops for Education box tops. Send in the box top that has that special logo on it. Each box top is worth 10¢. The school is also collecting Campbell's soup labels. Send any that you have to school with your child. The elementary school is also collecting Hy Vee slips. If you know anyone that shops at Hy Vee, ask them for their receipts. We think that the school gets $1 for every $200 turned in.
The weather has been cooler . We recommend that families send jackets or sweatshirts. It would be very helpful if the coats had names written in them. Many times they fall on the floor, and the teachers do not know who they belong to, and occasionally 2 children have identical coats. Having names written on the coats helps the children identify theirs.
Have a great weekend!
Ms. Howard, Mrs. Owens, Mrs. Pokorny, Mrs. Herink, Mr. Degner, and Mr. Zabel
Thursday, September 4, 2008
September 5, 2008
September 5, 2008
Dear Families,
This week we continued to review the school and classroom rules and procedures. We also continued to read books about the beginning of school. We worked on colors with the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear. We hope your child will share their similar book with you. We read a big book called All About You, and we learned more about each other. We talked about families and body graphed how many people were in our families. Patterning with our bodies was a fun activity we tried this week. An example was standing, sitting, standing, sitting. The students were getting really good at figuring out the patterns. In reading we worked with the letter Oo.
It was nice seeing so many families at the Open House on Thursday. We now have faces to put with names as children tell us about their families. The pictures that were hanging in the hallway will be coming home in the near future.
Breakfast begins at 8:00. Children eating breakfast should not come into the school until 8:00. Other students may come in at 8:10. If your child arrives too early, we will send him/her out to the playground.
We will begin sharing next week with the topic “My favorite _____________.” This item can be a book, food, animal, toy, etc. Each week we will have a specific topic. A list of September topics will be at the end of the newsletter. (Please keep the sharing portion of the newsletter so that you can refer to the sharing list each week.) Your child needs to be able to tell about the sharing item in front of the class. Your child is assigned a sharing day. The kindergartners need to remember to bring their sharing on their assigned day. If a child forgets the sharing item, he/she may not bring it another day. If your kindergartner is gone on their sharing day, then he/she needs to bring their sharing item on the day they come back to school.
During the month of September the entire elementary is working on the characteristics self control and service. We will be demonstrating self control in different situations and praising those that show self control during the day. Perhaps you would like to work on self control at home!
We hope that your child is enjoying school! Have a super weekend!! Mrs. Owens, Ms. Howard, Mrs. Pokorny, Mr. Zabel, Mr. Degner, and Mrs. Herink
__________________________’s sharing day is __________________.
September Sharing
September 8 - 12: “My favorite _____________.” This could be a favorite book, food, animal, toy, etc.
September 15 - 19: Something in a “secret sack” from your favorite season that we have to guess using the child’s clues.
September 22 - 26: An item that begins with the letter Tt
September 29 - October 3: An item that begins with the letter Pp
Dear Families,
This week we continued to review the school and classroom rules and procedures. We also continued to read books about the beginning of school. We worked on colors with the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear. We hope your child will share their similar book with you. We read a big book called All About You, and we learned more about each other. We talked about families and body graphed how many people were in our families. Patterning with our bodies was a fun activity we tried this week. An example was standing, sitting, standing, sitting. The students were getting really good at figuring out the patterns. In reading we worked with the letter Oo.
It was nice seeing so many families at the Open House on Thursday. We now have faces to put with names as children tell us about their families. The pictures that were hanging in the hallway will be coming home in the near future.
Breakfast begins at 8:00. Children eating breakfast should not come into the school until 8:00. Other students may come in at 8:10. If your child arrives too early, we will send him/her out to the playground.
We will begin sharing next week with the topic “My favorite _____________.” This item can be a book, food, animal, toy, etc. Each week we will have a specific topic. A list of September topics will be at the end of the newsletter. (Please keep the sharing portion of the newsletter so that you can refer to the sharing list each week.) Your child needs to be able to tell about the sharing item in front of the class. Your child is assigned a sharing day. The kindergartners need to remember to bring their sharing on their assigned day. If a child forgets the sharing item, he/she may not bring it another day. If your kindergartner is gone on their sharing day, then he/she needs to bring their sharing item on the day they come back to school.
During the month of September the entire elementary is working on the characteristics self control and service. We will be demonstrating self control in different situations and praising those that show self control during the day. Perhaps you would like to work on self control at home!
We hope that your child is enjoying school! Have a super weekend!! Mrs. Owens, Ms. Howard, Mrs. Pokorny, Mr. Zabel, Mr. Degner, and Mrs. Herink
__________________________’s sharing day is __________________.
September Sharing
September 8 - 12: “My favorite _____________.” This could be a favorite book, food, animal, toy, etc.
September 15 - 19: Something in a “secret sack” from your favorite season that we have to guess using the child’s clues.
September 22 - 26: An item that begins with the letter Tt
September 29 - October 3: An item that begins with the letter Pp
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