Week of October 15-19, 2012

Kindergarten News

·       This week in Phonics we will be learning the vowel letter Aa as in apple and acorn.  We will focus on the short vowel sound.  There will be NO Show & Tell for letter Aa.  Students will however be learning their home address! (Check folder for an address paper!)  **Letter tiles will be coming home on Wednesday nights, NOT Thursdays.  Please practice and return the next school day!  Thank you!!

·       For Reading we will be begin Unit 2; Animals Live Here.  The first story is Life in an Ocean.  Watch for your new Family Times newsletter.  Please review recognizing capital and lowercase letters from Aa to Zz and the high frequency words; I, am, the, little, to and a. **Don’t forget to practice all sight word flashcards daily!!!

·       In Math we will be identifying, describing, and comparing triangles and squares, naming a shape piece using 3 attributes (shape, color, and size), creating and extending AB sound and movement patterns, and sorting collections of objects.  Please take some time at home to review these skills and concepts.

·       Since the end of the marking period is approaching we will begin testing of the 7 letters and 9 sounds (short and long Aa and Oo) learned in Phonics (Ll, Oo, Gg, Hh, Tt, Pp, and Aa), the high frequency words learned in Reading (I, am, the, little, to, a, have, and is), Recognizing and producing rhyming words, copying, extending, and creating AB patterns, identifying the 4 basic shapes (square, triangle, circle, and rectangle), identifying and writing the numerals 0-10 and counting orally from 1-100.

·       On Tuesday, October 16^th our class will have our second guidance lesson.  The topic will be drug and alcohol awareness and Mrs. Diane Rowland will be talking with the class about basic drug and alcohol awareness information and the importance of developing healthy habits and making good decisions.  It will be the kick-off for the district wide Red Ribbon Week. (October 22-26) 

·       The Weekender Backpack program began this past week for participating families.  Please return the empty food bags/backpacks to school as soon as possible so they are ready for the next distribution on October 25^th.

·       Mark your calendar for Picture Re-take Day on Monday, November 5^th.  Anyone who had been absent on Picture Day in September is asked to be photographed on re-take day.  Also anyone NOT happy with photos from Picture Day may return the complete package of photos and have his/her photo retaken.  Reminders will be sent prior to Nov. 5^th.

·       This month students are invited to raise awareness for breast cancer by wearing pink every Thursday. 

·       Friday, October 19^th is a scheduled ACT 80 day of school.  Students will be dismissed at 11:45.  Please make any necessary arrangements for your child and if your child is departing school differently than usual, you MUST send a note to school stating the change.  Lunch will be served at 9:15-9:45 and there will be NO SNACK needed.

·       Sponsor Forms/Envelopes for the American Diabetes Association SCHOOLWALK for Diabetes were sent home earlier in your child’s folder. Kindergarten students will be walking around the HS track on Friday, October 26^th from 9:30-10:00.  Sponsor forms and $$ should be returned by the date of the walk. (10/26)

·       Thank you to the parents/grandparents who helped with the fall festival and/or pajama party.  Both were Pp-PERFECT!  Your help was greatly appreciated; without YOU we couldn’t have had such successful and fun days!!!

Monday, October 15^h will be Day 3-Computers.  Students will need library books for exchange on Tuesday, October 16^th. Gym class will be Friday, October 19^th so don’t forget to wear sneakers!