NOVEMBER
Kindergarten
News
2008
During November, our reading themes will
include “Going Places” and “In the Barnyard.”
Literature selections, writing experiences, songs and creative dramatics
will be related to these topics.
MATH
This month the Bridges in Mathematics program uses butterflies and various
two-dimensional shapes to explore counting with one-to-one correspondence,
comparing sets, recognizing quantities relative to 5’s and 10’s, counting on
from 5, adding and subtracting, exploring relationships between shapes,
combining shapes to make other shapes, spacial
problem solving, naming shapes, and sharing strategies.
SCIENCE
This month we will complete our FOSS unit,
“Wood,” and begin working with our “Paper” unit. In this study, students will be introduced to
a wide variety of papers in a systematic way.
They will observe the properties of paper and discover what happens when
paper is subjected to a number of tests and when it interacts with other
materials.
SOCIAL STUDIES
In November, we will be working with a study
of Native Americans. This study will
include Native American life long ago, as well as today. Through class activities and projects, the
children will become familiar with some Native American customs, food, art,
music, games, and dress.
GRANDPARENT/GRANDPAL DAY
Grandparents
and Grandpals may visit your child’s classroom on
Monday, November 3 from 9:30 to 10:45.
Registration, refreshments, and welcome will take place from 8:30 to
9:30.
SPECIAL THEME DAY
On Monday, November 17, we’ll focus on
Native American Games and Music.
PICTURE RETAKE DAY
If you are dissatisfied with your child’s
school photo or if your child was absent during the first sitting, pictures
will be retaken on Tuesday, November 18th. For retakes, please bring the original photo
package back to school on November 18th.
FIELD TRIP
We will travel to
CORN FESTIVAL
Parents are invited to join us at our Corn
Festival in our classrooms Friday, November 21, from 11:15 until 11:45. Please have your child bring in a corn
product for sharing time, and let us know if you’d like us to use it for the
festival’s tasting table.
TEACHER
IN-SERVICE/THANKSGIVING BREAK
School will be closed November 24 through
November 28, for teacher in-service day and Thanksgiving break.
WINTER BIRDS
Throughout the cold months of the year we
will feed the birds from the feeders outside our windows. The children may contribute to this project
by bringing birdseed to school.
SHOW AND TELL
November
3 – Transportation or Something Made of Paper
November
10- Farm Animals
November
17 – Native Americans
SNACK HELPERS
November
3-7- Kaitlyn/Vivian
November
10-14- Cameron/Gregory
November
11-21- Eva/Clare
YCDS KINDERGARTEN NEWS
October 2008
MATH
This month’s math study
will include sorting, graphing, patterning, comparing quantities, tallying,
adding two or more quantities, counting forward and backward by ones, making
predictions, and solving spacial problems. A special
unit, “Pumpkin Math,” will allow the children to practice several mathematical
concepts using a real pumpkin.
READING THEMES
During October, our
reading themes will be “Family Time” and “Color is Everywhere.”
SCIENCE
This month we will extend our tree unit with
studies of wood, woodland animals, and forest preservation. We will have three
special science theme days in October.
They are:
Bats – October 3
Spiders – October 17
Skeletons- October 31
HOMECOMING
Homecoming will take place on
Saturday, October 4. All families are
invited to attend. There will be
activities available for preschool aged children. Check the school website (ycds.org) for
details.
FIELD TRIP
We will take a field
trip to Grantley Fire Station on Monday, October 6 to
coincide with Fire Prevention Week. At
the station, a firefighter will show us firefighting equipment and talk with
the children about fire safety.
SCHOOL PHOTOS
School photos will be
taken on Wednesday, October 8. For more
information, please refer to the photo packets that will be sent home with your
child.
School will be closed
for the fall break from Thursday, October 9 through Monday, October 13. Classes will resume on Tuesday, October 14.
HALLOWEEN
We will have a costume parade on
Friday, October 24. Children should
arrive in costume on that day.
Kindergarten and lower school students will be parading in the school
for parents and friends shortly after 8:30 a.m.
We will then take the students through Colonial Manor Nursing Home (next
door to YCDS) so the residents may enjoy the costumes. Please note,
kindergartners will be dismissed at 11:15 on this day, due to teacher
in-service.
TEACHER
IN-SERVICE
The school will close
at 11:30 on Friday, October 24, for teacher in-service meetings. Kindergarten will be dismissed 11:15 that
morning, following the usual Friday dismissal procedure. We suggest that you arrive on time, in order
to avoid some of the heavier traffic congestion that will occur at 11:30.
PARENT-TEACHER
CONFERENCES
Parent-teacher
conferences will be held on Tuesday, October 28. A schedule is attached to this newsletter.
SHOW AND TELL
October 6 – Families
October 20 – Something
with a Pattern
October 27 –
SNACK HELPERS
October 6-8 –
Katie/Elizabeth
October 14-17 – Grace/Emmalee
October 20-24 –
Eva/James
October 27, 29, 30, 31
– Ian/Abby
KINDERGARTEN NEWS
September 2008
Dear Parents,
This is the first of
nine monthly newsletters you will receive from us. These letters should keep
you up to date on your child’s school events and activities.
We are looking forward
to working with you and your child.
Laurie Lears and Carol Rambeau
REMINDER
Your child will need
the following items that were requested in the summer letter to you: a photo of your child, a paint shirt, a
plastic drinking cup, and a 1 ½ inch binder.
All of these things will stay at school until June.
Each month our reading
experiences from the Houghton Mifflin reading program will be related to
age-appropriate themes. During the month of September the themes will be “All About Me” and “My Favorite Things.”
MATH
We will be using the Bridges in Mathematics program
throughout the year. This conceptually-based program offers students problems
and investigations in the areas of number, geometry, data analysis, algebraic
thinking, and measurement. September
math concepts include shapes, sorting and graphing, patterning, and exploration
with math materials.
SCIENCE
Our first unit from the
FOSS (Full Option Science System) materials, “Trees,” offers many discovery activities
through which the children are able to engage in early scientific processes.
Look for our “adopted” trees on the school campus!
PHYSICAL
EDUCATION
Athletic shoes will be
needed on days when the kindergartners are scheduled for “gym” class. You will
find your child’s gym days on the attached schedule of special classes.
SCHOOL DOORS
AND DISMISSAL PROCEDURE
The doors to the Preschool Wing are
locked and alarmed from 8:30 a.m. until 2:45 p.m., except during the supervised
mid-day dismissal and arrival of half-day preschool students. Anyone needing to enter the building during
the hours when the children are in class must go through the main entrance,
sign in, and wear a visitor’s pass. At 2:45 P.M. a preschool aide will open
the
For your child’s
safety, please give us your written
consent whenever there is a change in transportation home from school.
LUNCH FOR KINDERGARTNERS
The kindergarten
students will have their lunches delivered to the classroom. We will talk with the children about the menu
options and help them select items they wish to eat. If they do not like one of
the hot “entrees of the day,” they may choose a cheese or soy-nut butter and
jelly sandwich. Due to severe nut allergies, no nut products will be permitted
in the classrooms. Drink choices include
milk and water. You will receive copies of our menus to help you prepare your
son or daughter for making lunch choices. Please let us know if your child has
any dietary restrictions or food allergies.
EXTENDED DAY
PROGRAM
Each Friday our kindergarten program
ends at 11:45 a.m. We will exit from the
Parents who
need child care on these afternoons may enroll their children in the Extended
Day program. If you are a working parent planning to use this service on a
regular basis, please let us know as soon as possible. Space is limited.
Children in the Extended Day class must bring a lunch from home on Fridays.
(Please comply with our preschool’s “no-nut” policy)
SNACKS
Please indicate your preferred snack
weeks by signing the snack schedule posted in the hallway just outside your
child’s classroom. In order to meet the nutritional needs of all students we
ask you to adhere closely to the snack guidelines outlined in the preschool
handbook. Your help with our snack program is greatly appreciated! Again, we
thank you for observing our “no-nut” policy.
SHOW AND TELL
Students are asked to bring a show and tell
item every Monday. Each week’s item should be related to our classroom units of
study. We will notify you concerning these topics as they are presented
throughout the year. September Show and Tell topics are:
September 8 –
Something with a name that begins with
p, wh, or f
September 15 – Trees
September 22 – A
Favorite Thing
September 29 – Two–dimensional shapes
SCHOLASTIC
BOOK CLUB
You will receive
monthly newsletters from the Scholastic Book
Company, offering children’s books at reasonable
prices. If you choose to purchase books from one of the newsletters, return
the completed order form to school with a check for the required amount made
payable to the book club. We cannot send cash through the mail.
HOLIDAYS
School will be closed on Monday,
September 1, for Labor Day observance, and Tuesday, September 30, for Rosh
Hashanah.
FIELD TRIP
Both kindergarten
classes will travel on the YCDS school bus to Brown’s Orchard, on Thursday,
September 25. At the orchard, the children will follow the path of apples from
the orchard to the farm market.
BACK TO SCHOOL
NIGHT
Please plan to attend
“Back to School Night” on Tuesday, September 9. This is your opportunity to
visit your child’s classroom, meet the teachers, and learn more about the
curriculum. This “adult only” evening begins at 7:00 P.M., and usually ends
between 8:00 and 8:30 for kindergarten parents.
SCHEDULE
OF SPECIAL CLASSES
MRS.
RAMBEAU’S KINDERGARTEN
2008-09
Monday French
with Mrs. Marlow
Art
with Miss Konhaus
Tuesday Library
with Mrs. Mavros
Guidance
with Mrs. Hopson (2nd semester)
French with
Mrs. Marlow
Music with
Mrs. Wiley