Week of September 2-6, 2013

Kindergarten News… 

Congratulations!  You made it through the first week of Kindergarten!

**There will be NO SCHOOL on Monday due to the Labor Day Holiday.  Enjoy the long weekend.

Tuesday, September 3^rd will be Day 5—Gym class.  Remember to wear sneakers.  (Wed. 9/4-Computers; Thurs. 9/5-Music; Friday 9/6-Library)

·      This week in Phonics we will be continuing learning the consonant letter Ll as in lion, lemonade, and licorice and will introduce Oo as in octopus.  The letter Oo is a vowel and has 2 sounds.  We will focus on the short sound, but will also introduce the long sound that “says its own name” as in overalls.  Please review the letters and sounds with your child at home.  On Thursday, Sept. 5^th we will have a mini-LUAU.  .  Students are asked to dress tropical:  bright colors, floral prints, Hawaiian shirts, etc…  It is ok if your child is not dressed for the dress code on that day, however NO DENIM!  **A lei will be provided.

·      We will begin Show & Tell next week too.  Please help your child to find an item or two around the house that begins with the /l/ sound to share with the class.  Please keep in mind--- the items should not be valuable and should fit into a brown bag.  (A brown lunch bag is enclosed in your child’s folder.)  Each child has a scheduled day to “show and tell”.  Each week the schedule will be the same, but the letter for show and tell items will change weekly.  **Please be sure to check the schedule in your child’s folder (middle plastic sheets).

·      We’ve begun our new enVision Math.  We will continue working on counting one to five and have begun to learn about the day, month, and year on a calendar and have started counting the days of school for number recognition and numbers in sequence.  Please review practice pages that come home in your child’s folder.

·      For Reading we will begin with the story, The Little School Bus.  A Family Times newsletter will sent home with details about the story and skills we will be working on.  Please review the Amazing words, the ordinal numbers, first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth, letter recognition of letters Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, and Ee, the story element “character”, and the high frequency words I and am. 

·      Continue to check your child’s communication folder daily and if you haven’t already returned all the school forms and necessary paperwork, then please return them as soon as possible.  Items on the KEEP side need to be removed at home.  **Any money, notes, or items for the teacher to see NEED to be in your child’s folder.  Mrs. Potts doesn’t look through book bags---only the folders!

·      We now have begun our class snack donations.  Anyone who chose to participate in the class snack WILL NOT need to bring a snack unless a note was sent home in your child’s folder.  I usually give at least 2-3 days notice.  **We do have noted allergies to nuts/peanut butter, pineapples, kiwi, and whole milk, so please NO snacks containing these items!  25 students will be participating with the rotation. 

**Parents who requested to provide a snack daily should have received a note reminding them to pack a snack each day.

**For those providing snack for the class, remember snacks must be STORE BOUGHT and that if cups, spoons, or napkins are needed you will need to provide those as well.                

·      Friday, September 6^th is School Picture Day!  Information was sent home in your child’s folder on Friday, 8/30.  K-Potts will be photographed @ approximately 9:20 am.  **Money is due at the time of pictures and school dress code is to be followed on picture day! ALL students will be photographed whether pictures are being purchased or not!!!

·      Last week we began homework.  All homework pages will be stamped “HOMEWORK” and will be placed in the Return side of the folder.  Homework needs to be completed the night it comes home and needs to be returned the next day.  (Be sure to check the return side of the folder daily.)  **Homework will also be posted on my blog each week.  (District website www.northschuylkill.net under Elementary Center, pull down tab to Homework Helpline, click on Angela Potts)

·      Many parents expressed an interest in volunteering this school year.  Those interested should join the PTO and have both criminal record check and child abuse clearances on file in the office before helping with the children at school.  Forms can be picked up in the elementary office as needed.  The 1^st PTO meeting will be held on Monday, September 9^th @ 6:30 in the school cafeteria.  **Parents who would like to help out any day at lunchtime can report to the office by 1:05 for our lunch from 1:10-1:40.  The helping hands are GREATLY APPRECIATED!

·      Every Friday of the school year is a spirit day!  This is completely optional!  It is done to promote school spirit and enthusiasm for our sports teams.  Our colors are red and blue.  The children are allowed to wear any North Schuylkill t-shirt or NS shirt and uniform pants or uniform shorts.  The children may dress in regular uniform clothing if you wish.   **Our 1st district wide pep rally was held @ the HS stadium on Friday, 8/30.

·      Try to make sure your child has his/her bus tag every day.  The end of the day is hectic and some children don’t know their bus numbers yet!

·      If anyone still has forms to complete, then please complete and return them as soon as possible.  Thank you!!!

**Congratulations to Aaron Brayford for winning the “Guess How Many” Starburst @ Meet the Teacher.  Aaron’s sister Ainsley guessed closest.  She was only 8 candies off the count!!!

I hope your child has enjoyed his/her first week and is looking forward to returning on Tuesday!!!

Mrs. Potts