School Shopping for the Fall!!

Fall 2014

Back-to-School Shopping

Please keep in mind the school's dress code when doing your back-to-school clothing shopping for your child.  Closed-toe shoes/sandals (you all have been GREAT about this! Please note that shoes with a heel, cowboy boots specifically, have been problematic in the classroom.  I would suggest a sneaker please), no spaghetti straps or shortie shorts/skirts/dresses-they should be longer than the child's finger tips when held at their sides and keep in mind how tight the clothes are-the children work on the floor and need to be comfortable getting up and down.

Backpacks

Same as in the past, Please no backpacks.  (Unless your child rides the bus.  The backpacks help a substitute teacher locate her bus riders)  For non-bus riding students, backpacks are too large and we have no room to store them.  I promise, your child will never have enough papers to take home to necessitate a backpack.  I am asking that tiny backpacks stay home as well.  They cause arguments amongst the children about what is OK to bring to school.  We found that those "Sack-style" backpacks, although small and compact, were a pain.  Children's things, and limbs, get tangled up in the strings and they hang down to their knees.  Small tote bags are best.  The dollar store always them!  I appreciate your planning when it comes to this item!

Supplies for the Fall

I divide the classroom supplies by each child's year in the classroom.  Please use the supply list for you child according to how many years they have been in the classroom.

1st Year Supply List (for students new to the classroom)

1 Small Book Sized Tote Bag (NO backpacks-we simply do not have the room to store them)
1 Metal Fork (no cartoon characters)
1 Metal Spoon (no cartoon characters)
1 Container Clorox Wipes
1 Box/Bag of Penne Past or Ditalini Pasta
1 Package of Paper Napkins
2 Complete Changes of Clothing Labeled in a Gallon Zip Bag

2nd Year Supply List (for returning students)

1 Small Book Sized Tote Bag (NO backpacks-we simply do not have the room to store them)
1 Metal Fork (no cartoon characters)
1 Metal Spoon (no cartoon characters)
1 Bottle of Dish Soap
1 Box of Kleenex
1 Package of Glue Sticks
1 Complete Change of Clothing Labeled in a Gallon Zip Bag

Kindergarten (3rd Year) Supply List(you know who you are-your child is amped to be a Kinder!)

1 Small Book Sized Tote Bag (NO backpacks-we simply do not have the room to store them)
1 Non-Toxic Plant (No Pathos)
1 Box of Kleenex
1 Box Watercolor Paint (8 color tray please)
1 Pack of Cellulose Sponges (please no green scrubby sponges)
2 Primary Ruled (not the regular composition book.  We need the dashed lines on the pages)Composition Books (the composition books from Walmart are not good, as we have found out.  Try Office Max, Dollar Store, Staples)


1 Complete Change of Clothing Labeled in a Gallon Zip Bag


See you at Back To School Night on July 28 at 4PM!

April

 

Veena and Zoe's map of Australia

 

 

Australia
As a class we have begun to study Australia.  The children have been investigating marsupials and other native animals.  Matilda's family has loaned us some literature from Australia and we are looking forward to her father coming to visit with to speak about his home!

Insects
It has been super "buggy" in here for the past few weeks!  All of the children looked at the parts of a insect while we were raising our painted lady butterflies and ladybugs.  My favorite part was listening to the children use the word metamorphosis!  The ants are on the way to fill up the ant farm, so our insect exploration in not yet done!

Help!!
We need Kleenex, Napkins, and Clorox wipes!  Can anyone donate?  Thank you so very much!

Closing the School Year
We are almost done!  This being the case, there are precious few opportunities for you to complete your 10 volunteer hours.  We have 1 PTA left, the talent show/basket raffle, and water day as the last chances to log your hours. 

Water Day is May 20th at Shaw.  All first year students must have a parent/guardian present to attend.  It is a wet/muddy/super fun time for the kids to really have a great time!  I will send a flier home closer to the date.

Up Next
4/18 No School
5/13 Full-day student field trip
5/14 Site Council/PTA
5/15 Full-day student field trip
5/16 Talent Show Basket Raffle
5/20 Water Day
5/20 Kinder Graduation (Shaw)
5/22 LAST DAY!!  Early Release

 



March

Marvelous March!

We have been discovering a whole lot in class lately!  We have been talking about the brain, heart and lungs.  This is getting us ready to really learn about nutrition!  Our plant experiments could not have been better.  The children tried out using the word "hypothesis" to guess what would happen when we cut the vegetables and put them into water.  We started garlic, celery, a beet and a sweet potato.

Our garlic 1 day after we put it into water!

The start of the project.

Grow, grow, grow!

 

Calendar

March 12-14 are 1/2 days for the full-day children

 

March 12- Site Council/PTA at SHAW

Spring Break-17-21



Fabulous February!

O.K. January was pretty awesome! 

Career month was a HUGE success!  Here a list of the careers your child leaned about from all of you:

Chiropractor

Fitness trainer

ASU associate director

Lawyer

Teacher

Teen mentor

Councilor

Software engineering instructor

Chef

Hotel manager

Musician

Police Officer

Absolutely amazing job with information and presentations!  The children loved it!

 

February

For this month the children will be studying Arizona plants and animals, an Arizona artist- Jackson Pollock (Who went to elementary school in our district!), the presidents, and we will continue our study of Europe and it's flags.

Our Valentines celebration will be Friday 2/14.  Candy valentines are O.K. just no cookies or cupcakes.  Wrapped goodies that can fit in a Valentines box are great!  Kleenex boxes fantastic Valentines boxes!  Get creative with your child in decorating them and have fun!  Please send the box in decorated on the day of the celebration.

Parent Education Wed 2/12 at 5:00

Unless you are the parent of one of my Kindergartners, you must attend.  Please make arrangements!  This does count as volunteer hours, so sign up on the Volunteer Spot tonight to reserve your space.  Childcare is provided and after is PTA (with dinner!!)
I look forward to seeing you all there!

Volunteer Hours
There are only a few opportunities left to get your 10 hours!  The Volunteer Spot on the School website has all of the events waiting for you to reserve your time!

Calendar
2/12 5:00 Parent Education
2/14 Daddy Daughter Dance
2/17 No School
 

December

December
This month has sure flown by!  As a class, we have been studying artic animals, winter poems, and holiday songs.  This is typically the time of year that the young students (first year) really come into their own.  They are making appropriate work choices, enjoying developing friendships, and finding joy in their work. 

How to help your child develop needed independence
Learning how to step back as a parent is so hard! (And at times heart wrenching!)  This style of learning environment expects high levels of independence from the child in order to be successful.  I have a short list of tips to help your child along.

• Please refrain from physically carrying your child at school.  Carrying your child can indirectly send the message that they are not as grown and capable as they actually are.
• Hand feeding your child in the cafeteria also can send the same message.
• Let your child dress themselves and pick their outfit. 
• Allow the child to do as much of their personal grooming as they are able (combing hair, brushing teeth, washing their body in the bath).
• Encourage your child to be responsible for their school bag.
• Help your young one to get in the habit of picking-up after themselves (on their own).
• Last but not least!  Count to 10 before jumping-in to assist your child when they are struggling with a challenging task...chances are, they may figure it out!

Please read this beautiful article by Mary Zeman published by Association Montessori International

The Greatest Love: Separation and Letting Go

Happy Holidays!


Calendar
12/17 Kindergarten Concert
12/20 Ms. Meg's Kiddo Celebration
12/23-1/7 Holiday Break
1/8 Site Council/PTA Make a New Year's resolution to start attending please!
1/29-1/31 Parent Teacher Conferences
2/12 Parent Education Night (Mandatory)

Have a happy Thanksgiving!!!

Being Thankful

I just couldn't send the students off for the Thanksgiving Holiday without expressing how thankful I am for such a kind and sweet group of children!

I am also thankful to each family who sent in napkins and Kleenex for the children.  Also to Jasper's mom who hand-made new snack aprons for us, to Ryan's mom who came to talk to us about the Omaha Tribe, to Veena's mom for coming to speak to us about India, and to Lauren's family for the donation of the singing bowl and the Zen Garden.

I will see you again On Monday 12/2!

November!!

Where did October go?

Most Important!
If your telephone number has changed, please email myself and the office!  If your child's emergency contact person's telephone number has changed, please email myself and the office.  This also applies if your address has changed.  Up to date information is critical for us to have in emergencies.  Thank you!


Observations

It is that time! Starting in November,  you are welcome to come and observe the classroom.  I ask that you make an appointment with at least 24 hrs notice.  Each observations is 30 minutes in length.  This is a time to be "a fly on the wall" and watch how the classroom works as a community.


Children's Day!

Thank you to everyone who joined the festivities!  We had a wonderful time!  The children did a great job walking in the parade and sitting for the elementary performance.  I am so proud of them!  The food and the company were awesome!  Thank you again for helping make our day such a success!

Our Peace Flags

 Getting Ready to Parade!

 

 Here We Go!

 

Up Next !

 

November bring studies of trees and leaves, North America, North American animals, Native Americans, nuts, and lots of new songs and poems!  If your family has a Native American heritage, I would love to make the time for you to share it with the class!  I offer the children information on the Powhatan, Navajo, and the Hopi people.  I love it when parents come to share.

 

The Holidays are right around the corner!  If you have a cultural holiday tradition you would like to share, you are welcome to come!  Please let me know!

 

Dates

11/7- Kindergarten Field Trip

11/11-No School

11/13-Site Council/PTA

11/25-29 Fall Break/Thanksgiving

12/17-Kindergarten Holiday Concert

12/20-Children's Holiday Party