December 21, 2005

December 21, 2005
(A day early!)

Dear Families,

This week we worked some more on the letter Cc. We can now read the words cat, can, mad, man, if, fin, fit, and fan. They were decoded (sounded out) in the workbook last week. On Wednesday we will be going to the nursing home to sing some Christmas songs with the third grade classes. We have begun working on evaluations for the report cards. The boys and girls need to know or be able to do the following for their report cards: addresses, birthdays, days of the week, phone numbers, count to 50 (100 would be even better!), identify pennies and dimes and their values, identify the letters we have learned so far Aa, Cc, Dd, Ed, Ff, Hh, Ii, Ll, Mm, Nn,Oo, Tt and two January letters Uu and Ss, associate sounds to the letters c, d, f, h, l, m, n, t and s (a future letter), identifies the numbers 0 - 16, identify left and right, and count objects to numbers between 0 - 18.

We have a mystery. The mystery is TWO pairs of black bib-style snowpants. Have you seen your child’s snowpants lately? Please check!!!

After Christmas the kindergartners need to bring in new crayons if they haven’t done so already. They may bring in a box of 16 or a box of 24. Check with your child to see if he or she needs a new glue stick. We have been doing many gluing projects, and some glue sticks need replaced.

We will see the kindergartners again on Tuesday, January 3rd! Notice the sharing list at the bottom of the sheet! When we return will will be learning about the letter Uu. Sharing will be free choice.

Have a wonderful break!

Mrs. Howard
Mrs. Owens
Mrs. Herink


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January Sharing Schedule

January 3 - 6: Free choice (Uu week. Monday sharing kids should bring their item any day this week.)
January 9 - 13: Something that starts with the letter Ss in a secret sack (Please help your child think of clues.)
January 16 - 20: Something that starts with a Ww (It could be a winter item!)
January 23 - 27: Something that starts with the letter Jj
January 30 - February 3: Free choice (Yy week)

December 16, 2005

December 16, 2005

Dear Families,

During Ee week we learned to read the word the. The words that we have been practicing are a, an, and, I, that, the, Dan, Dad, and Nan. The boys and girls brought home a booklet entitled The House. The kindergartners like to find these words in stories and papers. We practiced coloring, cutting, and pasting when we made some elves. The teachers kept these so that they could look at them. We started doing Cc work because next week is so short!

Again this week we’ve had to deal with wintery weather. During the winter season please make sure that you remain aware of the weather. It is helpful to pay attention to one of the radio stations or tv stations for early dismissal, late starts, or closings. Families sent back notes concerning early dismissal plans. Hopefully we do not have to use them again!

Next week we will be studying the letter Cc. THERE WILL BE NO SHARING NEXT WEEK!

Earlier in December we contacted the families that were chosen to supply our classroom with napkins and treats for the Christmas program. We are very lucky because so many of our families filled out the volunteer sheets at the beginning of the year, and many families volunteered to do many things. We try to spread out the volunteer fun throughout the year to as many families as possible, so we contact new families for each party. Because of the fantastic number of families that volunteer, we probably will not get to use each family. If you did not hear from us, you get to relax this holiday season. You may be contacted for the next party.

Our classroom Christmas party will be on Tuesday, December 20th. Remember, boys bring a grab bag type gift for boys, and girls bring a grab bag type gift for girls. The price limit is $2.

On Wednesday, December 21st, we will be going to the Traer Nursing Home to sing our Holiday songs. Third graders will be joining us. Don’t forget that school is dismissed early on Wednesday. Town students will be dismissed at 2:20, and bus students at 2:25.

After Christmas the kindergartners need to bring in new crayons if they haven’t done so already. They may bring in a box of 16 or a box of 24. Check with your child to see if he or she needs a new glue stick. We have been doing many gluing projects, and some glue sticks need replaced.

We hope that you weekend is extraordinary!

Mrs. Howard
Mrs. Owens
Mrs. Herink

December 9, 2005

December 9, 2005

Dear Families,

What a delightful week! We learned about dimes. We enjoyed talking about dogs. The boys and girls practiced following directions. The booklet Dogs Can was read and colored. This week the kindergartners learned to read the word and. The “and” flashcard is attached to this newsletter. We practiced sounding out the words Dan and Dad. We reviewed the words Nan, a, an, that, and I.

Next week is Ee week. For sharing the boys and girls may bring a free choice item.

We have used glue sticks a lot recently, and many children need replacements. Please send some more glue sticks to school with your kindergartner!

Don’t forget about the Elementary Christmas Program on December 14th starting at 1:30. The children will be singing 4 songs that they have been practicing with Mr. Shay. For the program the boys and girls do not need any special costumes or outfits; they only need to be dressed nicely. After their part of the program the kindergartners may sit with their families, or they may sit with the teachers on the bleachers. It would be helpful to let us know if they will be sitting with the family or with the teachers.

As stated in the North Tama Elementary newsletter, there will be an opportunity for the elementary children to shop in a Christmas store. Mrs. Owens’ group will shop on Monday morning at 10:30. Mrs. Howard’s group will shop on Tuesday morning at 10:30. IF YOU WANT YOUR CHILD TO SHOP, PLEASE SEND MONEY IN AN ENVELOPE OR BAGGIE. This is a good time to talk with your student about being a good consumer. If he/she does not see something that they want to buy, he/she does not have to buy anything! Items cost between 25¢ and $1. Families may also donate items for the store. Send your donations to school with your child, and we will put them in the correct place.

On Friday, December 16th, the kindergartners may participate in a Christmas party with the FCCLA group. This party is right after school. We help the boys and girls get to the party. More information and a permission slip should be coming home soon (It MAY be attached to this newsletter!

School will be dismissed early Wednesday, December 21st. The town students will be dismissed at 2:20 and the bus students will be dismissed at 2:25. Please mark your calendars! Any leftover students will have to help pick up the classroom for the custodians!!!

We will have our classroom Christmas party on Tuesday, December 20th. Please send the gift for the exchange sometime between December 12th and 20th. In a recent newsletter we told about how we handle the student gift exchange. Girls may bring a gift for a girl, and boys may bring a gift for a boy. We do a “grab bag” type of gift exchange. Families may spend up to $2 on the gift.

On December 21st we MAY be going to the Traer nursing home to sing our Christmas songs to the residents. The third grade classrooms normally join us. If it is a nice day, we will walk. If the weather is inclement, we will be taking a bus.

Please make sure that your child is ready for the winter weather. Boots, hats or earmuffs, gloves or mittens, coats, and snow pants keep the boys and girls warm and dry. PLEASE BE SURE TO PUT YOUR CHILD’S NAME ON ALL WINTER ITEMS! We currently have a lonely pair of black snowpants that nobody claims. The bib-style snowpants are a size 5, and their brand-name is TOMA. Hopefully some mommy or daddy recognize these snowpants so that we can get them back to the correct owner!

Have a delightful weekend!

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



Copies of the North Tama Kindergarten newsletters can be found online at www.northtamakind.blogspot.com.