Week of October 28-November 1, 2013

Kindergarten News 

**This week we will be learning the consonant letter Nn as in nest, nut, and November.  Please continue to review all the letters we have learned so far.  Show and Tell will follow the schedule.  A note with an attached Word List #1 was sent home for practice.  **The list of words will be tested on Friday, November 1^st or Monday, November 4^th.  Take some time to practice at home with the blending of sounds to read words.  **This copy of the list is to be kept at home. 

**In Reading we will read the book Armadillo’s Orange by Jim Arnosky.  We will be talking about orange groves and learning about the letter Ss and the /s/ sound.   We will focus on learning the comprehension skill setting and practice the learned high frequency words. Watch for your new Family Times newsletter to be sent home!  **Continue to practice sight word flashcards daily!!

**For Math we will be finishing up with Topic 3 so be sure to review counting sets/objects to 10, comparing sets, writing and reading numbers to 10 and patterning.

**We are currently collecting money for the scheduled classroom parties (Halloween and Valentine).   Please send in $5.00 in an envelope with your child’s name and classroom and mark “Party Money” on the outside of the envelope, if you have not already done so. Thank you!!

**Thursday, October 31^st will be our classroom Halloween parade and party from 1:30-3:00.  Homeroom helpers, who are PTO members and have clearances on file in the office, will be permitted to go to the classroom @ 1:30 but should be at the school a bit earlier to be checked in at the front door (this sometimes takes awhile due to the number of parents entering!)  The parade will begin at 2:15pm.  Students will parade in the upper bus loop.  ALL are welcome to come to see the children parade.  Parties will end by 3:00 pm.  Your child should NOT wear his/her costume to school!  Please send the costume to school in a bag with your child’s name on the outside.  Students will get dressed in costumes with the help of teachers and homeroom helpers.  Keep in mind students will be dressing at school, so keep the costumes as simple as possible.  (No spraying hair at school, or a face full of make-up at school)  **With trick-or-treat approaching, we ask that students do NOT bring candy for snacks at school and limit extra candy in lunch boxes too.  Thanks for your cooperation!

**NSE picture re-take/make-up day will be held on Friday, November 1^st.  Please make sure if your child is having picture retakes to send his/her first package of pictures with him/her that day.  Questions regarding picture packages, contact PSP at 1-800-248-6394.

**Since the cooler weather is upon us, please be sure your child has a jacket, mittens or gloves, and a hat (which can be kept in cubbies or backpacks) so that when we go out for our 30 minute recess the students are prepared for any changes in temperature or for the lengthy time outside.  We try to get outside whenever possible—if dressed properly, the fresh air does us good!!!

**Parent/Teacher conferences will be held on Monday, November 18^th from 12:00-6:00.  Please be sure to return conference forms as soon as possible so a schedule can be made.

**All the students and teachers would like to thank the following persons/organizations/businesses for their generous donations to our Kindergarten Fall Festival last Thursday:

Hart Farms of Ringtown for their donations of pumpkins

Mr. Bob Burns and Mr. Jim McAndrew for letting us use their tractor and wagon for the hayride

Boyer’s Grocery Store, Frackville, for donating cookies and brown bags

Hillshire Farms (Sara Lee) for their donation of hot dogs

American Hose Co, Fountain Springs for bringing a fire truck

American Legion Ladies Auxiliary of Mahanoy City for their monetary donation                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Ashland Fire Co. for the coloring books, crayons, and safety checklists

The winners of the Guess How Many at the Fall Festival were: Bethany Loftus – Kindergarten and Ashley Hepler – 4^th Grade.  Congrats girls!!!

**Monday, October 28^th will be Day 2—Music class.  **Students will need library books on Tuesday, October 29^th for exchange and gym attire and sneakers on Thursday, October 31^st.