Week of April 22-26, 2013

Kindergarten News 

~This week we will be focusing on the two sounds of digraph th.  It makes a voiced (vibrating) sound as in feather and an unvoiced sound as in thimble.  This is difficult so going over daily worksheets to review would be helpful!  Please continue to practice writing and reviewing sounds with your child at home.  The two sounds of digraph oo as in the words hook and tooth will be introduced as well.  There will be NO Show and Tell.  **Word List 24 will be tested on Friday, April 26^th.  Practice daily!!!

~For Reading we will begin the story titled, “Old MacDonald Had a Workshop”.  We will discuss characters.  Watch for your new Family Times newsletter on Monday.

~We will continue in Math with drawing pictures for “Some, Some Went Away” stories, identifying and making symmetrical designs, counting pennies to pay for items that together cost less than 30 cents and writing numerals through 30 to label sets.  Please review identifying the solid shapes: cone, sphere, cube, and cylinder.

~White order forms for our Kindergarten Graduation DVD were sent home in your child’s folder last week.  Please return it to your child’s teacher no later than Wednesday, May 8^th.  PLEASE NOTE:  NO orders will be taken after this date in order to have the DVDs by the end of school.  **Each DVD will be $10 and checks can be made out to Legal-Eze video.

            ~Our class has participated in the “A Child’s View” writing for the Republican-Herald newspaper.  The entries and class photo are to be published in a supplement on Thursday, April 25^th.  Students answered the question “What do you want to be when you grow up and why?”  Be sure to check this out!!  **Students should be bringing home a FREE copy of the newspaper on 4/25.

            ~Wednesday through Friday mornings this week the Kindergarten teachers will be taking turns visiting the Child Development Center in Ft. Springs to meet the boys and girls who will be attending Kindergarten next year @ NSE and to help transition students to Kindergarten.  Substitute teachers will be covering the classes for the mornings.  Please remind your child to be on his/her best behavior.  Thank You!

            ~Students will attend the PTO sponsored program BRAINSHOWMANIA on Thursday, April 25^th in the gym. Be sure to ask your child all about this fun, game-show style assembly!!!

~The last round of DIBELS testing will begin this week.  Kindergarten is expected to be tested during the second week, but should be prepared for any day within the upcoming weeks.  Students will be tested on many of the same skills as they were at the mid-year testing.  Review blending sounds to read nonsense words and break words apart into the individual sounds, or phonemes.

~We are approaching the end of the year testing for Kindergarten and the Reading teachers will test each child.  Children will need to write a dictated sentence or two, recognize, write, and give the sound of every letter of the alphabet, be able to provide a word that begins with every letter of the alphabet, and be able to write as many words correctly in 10 minutes.  (HINT:  word families provide lots of words)  Please try at home to work on some of the areas to be tested to ensure that your child is fully prepared. 

            ~Monday, April 22^nd is Earth day.  Earth day is a day to remember to take care of our planet by keeping it clean.  We will be talking about the environment to prepare for this special day.  We will discuss the important rule that tells us to “reduce, reuse, and recycle” and how following this rule can make a difference!  Perhaps as a family you could plan a special project in your neighborhood!

Just a few reminders:

--Entries for the Ashland Borough’s Mothers Day Contest are due by Tuesday, April 29^th.  Winning entries will be read at the ceremony on May 12^th at the Mothers Memorial in Ashland @ 7:00PM.

--Yearbook orders/money will be due soon for anyone interested in ordering a 2012-2013 NSE Yearbook.  Cost per yearbook is $17.00.  **Checks are to be made payable to:

NSE PTO

~Kindergarten Graduation will be held on Tuesday, May 28^th @ 6:30 in the NSHS auditorium.  Students will be wearing caps and gowns and WILL NEED to wear a WHITE collared shirt.  All are welcome to attend!

Happy 6^th Birthday to Travis Locker!  We celebrated his birthday on Wed., April 17^th.

Monday, April 22^nd will be Day 2 – Be sure to wear gym attire and sneakers on Monday!  **Also be sure to return your “Exercise Record Form” to Miss Brill for a treat!!   Don’t forget library books for exchange on Wednesday, April 24^th.