Kindergarten Newsletter 08/27/07

Welcome to the end of August! There is a lot of information for you this week.




Themes & Topics
The letter of the week is Nn as in nest.
We will discuss our five senses.

• In the Welcome to Kindergarten packet that you received during the first week of school you will find a page with four sets of sight words. Each week we will focus on one sight word. Our first word is the. Practice the words with your child. Help him or her to recognize them in print. Help your child to print the words and use them in complete sentences.


• Use alphabet cards (either store bought or homemade) with your child to practice letter and sound recognition.


• This week I am sending home a laminated half-sheet for your child to use as he or she practices writing his or her name the "school way". A "dry erase" marker works well on this sheet.


• Another important item is the September Homework Calendar. Please save this calendar. It is your child's responsibility to write his or her name at the top of the sheet (the school way). Then an adult can check off each task as it is completed. The calendar (not the assignment, unless otherwise requested) must be turned in at the beginning of the following month. You will find the homework calendar at the top of my blog.

Catalog Fundraiser The catalog/cookie dough sale information went home on Friday. Please go through it carefully. There is so much important information. The fundraiser ends September 12th. Remember, there are class and individual prizes.

Lunch and Milk CountThanks to all the families who faithfully fill out the lunch/milk sheet and check the blue pocket chart to make sure your child has enough milk or lunch tickets.

Show and Tell The children really enjoy their turn at "show and tell". Your child may bring one item on his or day. Please limit it to something that pertains to our themes, topics, or letter of the week.

Blue Folder I send the blue folder home at the beginning of the week (usually a Monday). Please take out and read all the contents and have your child return the folder to me the following day. I find this to be a very effective way to communicate valuable informatin.

First Friday, September 7th Mass will be celebrated at school Friday, September 7th, at 8:15am. You are welcome to join our school family. There usually is plenty of seating behind the classes. Remember, girls must wear their jumpers and boys must wear their corduroy pants (no shorts) on days when Mass is celebrated. It is an early dismissal day (12:30pm) for students in the enrichment program as the teachers have a staff meeting that afternoon. There will be no lunch service.

Open House Open House is Sunday, September 9th. Mass will be celebrated in the auditorium at 11am. All are welcome.

Have a great week. God bless you!

Kindergarten News 08/20/07

Wow! Our first week of school was really exciting!
We are gradually learning our daily routines.

Snack and Milk Tickets
Thanks for monitoring your child’s tickets and for using the lunch and milk sign-up sheet in our classroom. Please make sure that an adult or responsible sibling fills out the lunch and milk count each day. Some children are dropped off and are confused about the lunch and milk count.



You can purchase lunch and milk tickets from Teresa before school in the auditorium or in the office throughout the day.
The classroom sign-up sheet for lunch and milk will be on the table just inside the classroom door by 7:30 each morning.



Clearing Up the Snack/Lunch Confusion
Your child needs to bring a healthy snack to school each day. Only sutdents who are enrolled in the enrichment program need a lunch. Please make it clear to your child which foods are for snack and which are for lunch. Some children are confusing the two.
Please do not send foods that need to be refrigerated or heated. We do not have the means to accommodate those requests.


Uniform Update
Thanks for complying with the uniform policies. For their safety and modesty, girls must wear shorts under their jumpers. Girls’ hair should be pulled away from their faces. One bow or ribbon is allowed. Please note that shoes must be plain (white, navy blue or black) with no embellishments. Socks must be a plain solid color (white, navy blue or black) also, with no embellishments. Remember, students are to wear their regular uniform (plaid jumper for girls/navy blue corduroy pants for boys) on Mass days.
See the handbook regarding hair, uniform and other policies.


Backpacks
Students should bring a backpack to school every day. A lot of information is sent home throughout the week. The backpack should be large enough to carry the family envelope. Even if your kindergartner does not bring home the family envelope, he or she should have a backpack that is large enough to hold the laminated blue folder that goes home each week.


Volunteers
If you intend to volunteer in the class or as a driver/chaperone please complete and return the form at the back of the Welcome to Kindergarten booklet. You must also attend one of the Safe Environment training sessions offered (even if you attended one in the past). You will also need to be fingerprinted (once only). If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Blackburn. Want to volunteer but can't work in class?...No problem...There are projects that you can do at home. Your help on and off campus counts towards your volunteer hours.

Forms Are Now Due
Please return all forms including emergency form, the volunteer sign-up sheet and the Contract Page as soon as possible. We also need to know about any allergies (bees, food, etc.) your child might have.

Themes and Topics
Each week we will focus on a one letter of the alphabet, a sight word, and a theme or topic. This week we will review our knowledge of the alphabet and continue with the themes of Getting Together and All About Me.

It’s Share Time!
Starting tomorrow, the children will have the following share schedule:
Red group---Tuesday
Yellow group---Wednesday
Green group---Thursday
Blue group---Friday
Students are encouraged to bring in one item that pertains to any one of our weekly themes or topics. Please monitor the appropriateness of your child’s share item.


September Homework Calendar
Our first homework calendar will go home Monday, August 27th. Please have your child print his or her name at the top of the calendar. Do not turn in the assigned tasks unless

otherwise instructed. Just check off each activity as it is completed. Return the calendar to school by the first of the next month.

Be sure to check out my blog frequently as I update it at least once a week.

Please pray for peace!

God bless you and have a great week!

Kindergarten Newsletter 08/13/07

August 13, 2007

Dear Families and Friends,
Welcome to the 2007-2008 school year! Thank you for entrusting your children with us for a few hours a day. This will be a full and exciting year. The children will be growing academically socially, physically, and spiritually.
To reap the greatest benefits of kindergarten, please bring your child to school by 7:50am. Our daily routine begins promptly and tardiness disrupts the learning environment.
Students who come to school before 7:50am must go to the auditorium where they will be supervised. Morning kindergarten dismissal is at 11:45; dismissal for those in the enrichment program is at 2:30pm.

Kindergartners must be picked up at the classroom or at the extended care facility near the library if your child stays late. Please do not linger and visit near the classroom door as it is very distracting to the students and the teachers.

For the sake of modesty, girls must wear shorts under their jumpers. The shorts must not show below the hem of the jumper.

Students may wear Dennis uniform shorts through the month of September except on days when we celebrate Mass. On those days the girls are to wear their jumpers with a white shirt and the boys are to wear the blue corduroy pants and blue shirt.

Please consult the July newsletter important information. Be sure to mark all your child’s belongings. Lost and found gets full fast!

Kindergartners have a 10 minute snack break (That’s from set-up to clean-up). Please see the enclosed page regarding snacks and birthday treats. I have included some snack suggestions. Students in the enrichment program must also bring or purchase a lunch.

Lunch and milk tickets are available from Teresa. See the July newsletter for more information.
When you bring your child to school, please fill out the lunch/milk form posted in the classroom. Please check the
lunch/milk ticket chart regularly to avoid running out of tickets.

A note about invitations…Please do not pass out invitations at school unless the whole class is invited. We do not want to hurt anyone’s feelings.

Each Monday your child will bring home a laminated blue folder containing a weekly newsletter and his or her work. Your child is to return the folder and any requested items the following school day.

Each week in kindergarten revolves around a theme. We will start with “Getting to Together” to get acquainted. There will also be a letter of the week and a weekly sight word. These will be announced in the newsletters.

During the second week of school we will start a sharing schedule. Your child will be assigned a “share day” and may bring in one item that relates to one of the topics or themes of the week. Weapons and other items of violence are not allowed.


As of September, your child will receive a monthly homework calendar. An adult is to monitor the child’s work then check it off the calendar. Unless otherwise indicated, return only the calendar to school by the beginning of the next month.

Through the course of the year we will compile a Friends Book containing photos of our classmates, OLM staff, school activities, etc. Children will take turns taking the book home to share with their families. Please return it the following school day.

We need field trip drivers and chaperones who can accommodate multiple car seats for students who are under six years old and who weigh less than 60 lbs. Please complete and return the necessary forms. See our secretary for more details.

Anyone who is interested in volunteering to work with the children must first complete a training course and be fingerprinted.

The success of this year’s efforts depends on all of us working together for the benefit of the children. We strongly encourage you to share your time and talents with us. Please see the enclosed sign-up sheet.

I look forward to a rewarding year with you and your child. If you have any questions, please send a note or call the office to arrange an appointment.

Please visit my blog for regular updates at mrstpoole.blogspot.com or go to olmlancers.com and click onto my blog.

Please review the OLM handbook as it contains valuable information regarding uniforms, school policies, schedules, etc.

Thanks for your prayers and support.

Yours in Christ,
Mrs. T. Poole