North Tama Kindergarten News 2005 - 2006

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

December 2, 2005

December 2, 2005

Dear Families,

During Mm week we made Mm booklets. We read many books written by Mercer Mayer and Robert Munsch. The boys and girls graphed using M & M’s and made months of the year booklets. This week the boys and girls started dictating letters to Santa. The Santa letters are being typed on the computer. The letters are mailed to Santa at the North Pole. (The Post Office will deliver letters addressed to the North Pole to Santa. If you do this at home, make sure that you have your address on the letter!) Santa normally finds time to write back. Sometimes Santa mails his letters directly to the kindergartners. Sometimes the kindergartners’ letters from Santa come to the school since we mail the original letters all together.

Next week we will be studying the letter Dd. Sharing for next week needs to be an item that starts with the letter Dd. During Dd week we like to turn our dramatic play center into a doctor’s office. (It has been a house.) Many families have doctor kits or other doctorish items at home. If you would like to send the doctor items to school, please put your child’s name on each item. These things will come home before Christmas.

Winter weather is here. Remember, when there is measurable snow on the ground, boots are required. Children stay warmer and drier when they wear snow pants. Please send hats, earmuffs, headbands, mittens, gloves, etc. every day. Please write your child’s name on every item!

Book orders were sent in this week. We will assume that book orders may be given to your student unless you let us know that it is a gift. (Some families have already told us this information.) For those that are buying books as gifts, we will let you know when they are delivered to the school.

Stay warm and safe! Notice the December Sharing Schedule at the bottom of this paper!

Mrs. Owens, Mrs. Howard and Mrs. Herink
____________________________________________________________
December Sharing Schedule

December 5 - 9: An item that starts with Dd
December 12 - 16: Free choice item (It will be Ee week.)
December 19 - 21: No sharing
(See the back for important info! If you already filled this out and sent it to school, please disregard)

Last week we wrote about Santa letters in the newsletter. The Traer Star Clipper needs these letters finished by December 9th. In order to get 36 letters finished without going crazy, we need your help. Please help your kindergartner think of ways they have been good or helpful at home. Also help your child brainstorm 3 or 4 items he/she really wants for Christmas. Fill out the bottom portion of this newsletter and send it back to school. We feel that this will be especially helpful to us when it is time to start writing these fun letters.



___________________’s Christmas List
1.
2.
3.
4.
Here are ways ________________ has been nice or helpful:

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

November 23, 2005

November 23, 2005

Dear Families,

This has been a very interesting week! We practiced writing the letters I and i. We read some books with Native American characters, acting out one called Red Fox and His Canoe. The kindergartners started discussing Thanksgiving. We learned to read the word I. Notice the new flashcard stapled to this newsletter. (Remember practice at home really helps!) If you haven’t sent new crayons yet, please do so soon. Please send a box of 16 or a box of 24. This week we moved to new table spots!

Next week we will be learning about the letter Mm. Sharing needs to be an item that starts with the letter Mm.

Last week we wrote about Santa letters in the newsletter. The Traer Star Clipper needs these letters finished by December 9th. In order to get 36 letters finished without going crazy, we need your help. Please help your kindergartner think of ways they have been good or helpful at home. Also help your child brainstorm 3 or 4 items he/she really wants for Christmas. Fill out the bottom portion of this newsletter and send it back to school. We feel that this will be especially helpful to us when it is time to start writing these fun letters.

We hope that you have a fantastic weekend! Remember that we do not have school on Thursday, November 24th or Friday, November 25th. That is Thanksgiving vacation!

Mrs. Howard, Mrs. Owens, Mrs. Herink




___________________’s Christmas List
1.
2.
3.
4.

Here are ways ________________ has been nice or helpful:

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

November 18, 2005

November 18, 2005

Dear Families,

During Nn week we practiced our numbers and made Number Booklets. The nickel was introduced. The kindergartners learned to read 2 new words this week. The words are an and Nan. Notice the two new flash cards. Please review them often! 2 booklets about a girl named Nan were read and sent home. Phone numbers were practiced. Boys and girls will need to know their phone numbers for the next report card. November necklaces were colored and put together. We started talking about Thanksgiving this week, and the students used their markers to color turkeys. The turkeys will be in the hallway. They will be sent home before Thanksgiving.

Next week we will be studying the letter Ii. Since next week is such a short week, we will NOT have sharing.

Right after Thanksgiving the boys and girls will be writing letters to Santa. They will be dictating their ideas to a teacher to be typed on the computer. We would like them to have 3 or 4 ideas of gifts they would like to receive. These letters will be mailed to Santa, and they may appear in the Traer Star Clipper. Please discuss Christmas ideas with your child so that we can type these letters quickly and easily. Families may write down their child’s list of 3 or 4 items and send it to school after Thanksgiving.

Speaking of Christmas, many families are beginning to think about the elementary Christmas party and the gifts that the kids exchange. We ask that the boys buy a gift for a boy and the girls buy a gift for a girl. We will have a “grab bag” type of gift exchange. The amount that can be spent on the gift $2.

Our kindergarten parents in the past have been very generous when remembering the teachers at Christmas time. An idea that we learned from Pied Piper is that instead of buying the teacher a gift, families could choose instead to purchase a gift for the room. We have a few ideas for items that we would like for the classroom: markers to be used in our writing center, glue sticks, stickers, disposable cameras, baby dolls, doll clothing, books (Specifically the following books: Tacky and Tackylocks and the Three Bears and Tacky Gets in Trouble by Helen Lester), larger trucks and tractors, and games (see the teachers for ideas). If you need any ideas, just ask one of us. Of course, families may handle this matter however they desire.

Also in regards to Christmas, the date for the elementary Christmas program is Wednesday, December 14th. It usually begins at 1:30 in the gym. The fifth and sixth grade bands will play first, and the kindergartners will follow them. Following our songs, families will have a choice of whether to have their kindergartner sit with them for the remainder of the program or watch the rest of it with Mrs. Owens and Mrs. Howard. Watch for more information about the program closer to December 14th.

Please remember that school will be dismissed at 2:20 on Wednesday, November 23rd for Thanksgiving vacation. School will resume on Monday, November 28th at the normal time.

We know that the cold and flu season is upon us. Please remember that if your doctor prescribes a medication that has to be taken at school, THE DOCTOR and THE PARENT (yes both) need to write the directions down for the nurse. (This means 2 notes are required.) The prescription medication MUST be in the original container from the pharmacy. Families might want to ask for 2 containers when filling the prescription; one for school and one for home. The nurse cannot administer any medication without both notes. Cough syrup needs to have a doctor’s order to be given in school. (If your child is constantly coughing, he/she should really stay home.) DO NOT SEND COUGH DROPS TO SCHOOL WITH YOUR STUDENT! Parents are welcome to come to school and give medicines to their own children. Please contact the school nurse or us if you have any questions.

Mrs. Owens, Mrs. Howard, and Mrs. Herink

Copies of the newsletter can be found at the following internet address:
http://northtamakind.blogspot.com
or through the North Tama website.

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

November 10, 2005

November 10, 2005

Dear Families,

While studying the letter Oo, we learned about opposites and oceans. We also learned how to tell time to the o’clock (example 7:00).

We enjoyed meeting with our kindergarten families at conferences this week. The next set of conferences will be in February. If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know!

Next week we will be studying the letter Nn. For sharing please send something that starts with the letter Nn.

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.

Thanksgiving is coming up! School will be dismissed early on Wednesday, November 23rd. Students that walk home or are picked up are dismissed at 2:20. Bus students are dismissed at 2:25. There will be no school on Thursday, November 24th or Friday, November 25th.

Remember, there is no school on Friday, November 11th!

As the weather starts turning colder we must think about boots, snowpants, hats, mittens, and coats. Please make sure that your child is prepared for cold, wet weather. Please put your child’s name in every piece of outerwear brought to school.

Have a nice weekend!

Mrs. Owens
Mrs. Howard
Mrs. Herink

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

November 4, 2005

November 4, 2005

Dear Families,

While studying the letter Tt we discussed teeth. We saw some videos and read some books that talked about taking care of our teeth. Attached to this newsletter there are 2 “Teeth-on-the-Go” papers that families can help fill out with their children. One is a fill in the blank paper, and one is a tooth brushing chart. Children can finish these papers at home and bring them in for stickers. Children that complete the tooth brushing chart can earn a certificate, too. We read the big book called Turnips for Dinner. The kindergartners learned that the letters t and h together make the sound /th/ like in thimble. We learned the word that, and read the booklet Dad, Dan, and I. The boys and girls DO NOT know how to read the words in this booklet yet. They will know how to read these words later on this year. Please notice the yellow flashcards that are included with this packet. Our plan is to send flashcards home as we learn new words. Practice reading the little booklets and reviewing flashcards often. That really helps kindergartners learn and remember!

Next week we will be studying the letter Oo. Sharing next week is free choice. The Friday sharing students may bring their sharing 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.

On Tuesday, November 8th, the town students are dismissed at 12:20 so that teachers can get ready for conferences on that evening. Bus kids will be dismissed at 12:25. Conferences will be held on Tuesday evening. Conferences will also be held on Thursday evening, but the students do not get out early on Thursday. If you find that your conference time does not work for you, please contact us, and we will work out a new time. Mrs. 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 11TH.

The kindergarten newsletter can be found on the web! Go to http://northtamakind.blogspot.com to see any important information or copies of the newsletters.

Have a nice weekend!

Mrs. Owens
Mrs. Howard
Mrs. Herink