ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE WEEK OF: DECEMBER 14TH TO DECEMBER 18TH

"PRESENTS WRAPPED UNDER THE TREE,

SOME FOR YOU AND SOME FOR ME,

CHRISTMAS CAROLS SUNG WITH GLEE,

CANDLES LIT FOR ALL TO SEE,

DREIDELS SPUN ON BENDED KNEE.....

A MERRY, FESTIVE HOLIDAY SPREE!"

And the holiday countdown is on......5 days and counting until the beginning of a much-needed winter break. Can you believe it, the holidays are literally right around the corner as is a new year, 2010! WOW! Although every day is action-packed and exciting in our Kindercritter Kindergarten classroom, these upcoming school days are going to be extra busy and fun; with the completion of a special secret holiday surprise and a "Polar Express" themed holiday celebration (party and gift exchange taking place on Thursday).

Keeping Thursday's party in mind, we invite all of our Kindercritters to come to school dressed in their pajamas, a bath robe, and a pair of slippers. On Thursday, we will transform our classroom into a "Polar Express" train (think chairs arranged in pairs of two or three on wither side of an aisle). We will begin by reading together the story, The Polar Express, and then, all of our Kindercritters will recieve a "boarding pass/ticket" to present prior to boarding the train. The passes/tickets will be pucnhed and all of our Kindercritters will take their seats on the train. They will watch some of the "Polar Express" movie while imaginatively travelling to the North Pole. The train will come to a temporary stop, and the children will step off the train to have a tasty snack and warm drink. Upon filling their tummies, they will, once again, board the train and return "home" while watching the remainder of the movie. Once home, they will step off the train and recieve a special little surprise. Finally, the children will take part in our annual gift exchange.

The "Home Learning Project" web page has been updated with January's project (hint, hint: "Time Flies When I am Having Fun!"). Also, the "Weekly Home Enrichment" web page has been updated with this week's Snappy Words and songs and poems.

Currently, we are in need of new or gently used wooden dollhouse furniture and dolls to complete this center. Anyone wishing to donate new or gently used dollhouse furniture and dolls, we would be most appreciative. We are also in need of Lego (regular). Anyone wishing to donate new or gently used Lego, we would, again, be most appreciative. Finally, we are always in need of Crayola crayons (the 16-crayon boxes). Anyone wishing to purchase and donate, we would be most appreciative. Thank-you to all of those parents who generously have donated some of these boxes of crayons thus far.

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of our Kindercritters on their wonderful concert performance. We are so proud of their efforts! We would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of our Kindercritters on their amazing first term progress. Hard work sure pays off! We are, once again, so proud of all of our Kindercritters and their determnation and efforts! Thank-you to all of our Kindercritters' parents as well for their much-appreciated partnership with us in gelping to make Kindergarten a stimulating, safe, and enjoyable first school experience. We look forward to continued success and progress in the new year!

At this time, we would like to discuss with you, the "Students of the Month" recognitions/awards, TDSB initiative. Some parents have expressed their views (mostly in the form of concerns and disappointment) about this initiative. We empathsize with you and understand your points of view; however, as just mentionned, this is a TDSB board-wide initiative involving all elementary and secondary schools. It is put forth by Mr. Chris Spence, our new director. We understand your tihinking about how it is difficult to explain to your child hwy he/she did not receive an award for the various character traits; knowing that he/she embodies and exhibits each as well. We echo your sentiments and know, without a doubt, that all of our Kindercritters are equally deserving of each month's award. The decision is a difficult one. We include input from the children's other specials' teachers when selecting the students. Yes, all of our students are equally capable of receiving these awards; however, their are those students who demonstrate these traits consistently, overtly, and voluntarily. We always discuss with our students that although we know that all of our Kindercritters are deserving of each month's award, only certain children can be selected. One final note on this subject.....all of our Kindercritters will receive a unique and special award at the end of the year; as part of our Kindergarten graduation ceremony this year.

Last week, during our daily Shared Reading literacy block, we continued reading the big book, Caps, Hats, Socks, and Mittens, written by Louise Borden and illustrated by Lillian Hoben and upon each day's reading, engaged in a variety of "Before Reading, During Reading, and After Reading" discussions, including a few "Recount and Recall" activities where the children recounted the four seasons and discussed characteristics specific to each season and told of their favourite season and provided a valid reason for their preference. The children aslo used their five senses to describe the winter season (ex.-"In the winter, I see/I hear/I touch/I taste/I smell....."). We, once again, reviewed all of the letters and their respective sounds that have been taught thus far during the Empower component of our daily balanced literacy instruction (to learn of the letters and respective sounds and words taught thus far, please visit the "Weekly Enrichment" web page on this site and scroll down to the bottom of the page). We continued discussing many mathematical concepts during our daily carpet and calendar time; including telling time the the half hour and making the day's date using Canadian currency/coins. We practiced daily with the other Kindergarten classes, our holiday concert songs as well as continuing to learn to sing and read many other new songs and poems; including, "O Canada". As always, we continued discussing and reviewing our many classroom and school expectations and routines. We continued to actively play at various classroom centers. In Mathematics, we postponed our weekly Friday, "Superstar Math" activity and will complete it on Monday; as it was replaced with a special Hanukkah-filled discussion. In Social Studies, we continued to discuss various holiday traditions and celebrations from around the world, and on Friday (the first night of Hanukkah), we learned all about this special Jewish celebration. MUCH THANKS TO JANNA, IN THE MORNING AND LISA, MILES, AND LISA'S SISTER, MARNIE, IN THE AFTERNOON! We continued practicing printing our first names and other simple words and sentences correctly the "school way". We continued independent writing each day; each day always beginning with a teacher-led/modeled mini lesson about various specific writing topics and then, child-chosen, independent writing and drawing. All children modeled their teachers' chosen topic spending 10 uninterrupted and focused minutes at their seats working on their "masterpieces". When doing independent self-chosen topic writing, all children were encouraged and reminded to use our sounding out strategies and "invented spelling" to print their words/thoughts. They were also reminded to write their stories using complete, gramatically correct sentences. some children are completing this skill independently; while others are dictating their stories to the teachers to scribe. Many children are still having difficulty printing their first name and those who are able to do so, are having difficulty doing it correctly the "school way". PLEASE, YOUR CHILD MUST PRACTICE THIS SKILL DAILY AT HOME!

SOME   ON-GOING REMINDERS:

*Our Junior Kindergarten students have been introduced to and our Senior Kindergarten students have been reintroduced to the many rules, routines, and expectations of our classroom. To assist us with our efforts, please discuss, practice, and review them often at home. To learn of them, please visit our web page on this we site entitled, "Our Classroom Expectations and Consequences".

*Please remind your children often of the playground boundaries during school time. When in school, all of our Kindergarteners must remain on the Kindergarten playground. They may not go onto the primary yard (where the bigger playground structure is).

*PLEASE REMEMBER TO SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY WITH A HEALTHY SNACK OF FRUIT/VEGETABLE/YOGURT/CHEESE AND WATER.....nothing else.

*We would also like to mention here a few comments about clothing. Should your child not know how to (for the most part) independently do up zippers, buttons, snaps, etc. please do not send him/her to school in such attire. With 40 children sharing a classroom and using bathrooms which only contain 2 toilets (although currently the boys have only 1) and with only 2 teachers and an assistant supervising and assisting all of them, as much indpendence as possible in dressing is helpful.

*Due to the number of children in our classroom along with a limited amount of instructional time and many action-packed learning activities, we do not allow for "Show and Shares" (traditionally known as, "Show and Tells"). Thus, please do not allow your child to bring to school toys, books, and other show and shares from home. We understand the wish to share special personal items from home; however, we simply do not have enough time to allow for such sharing. Should your child bring to school something for sharing from home, he/she will be asked to keep it inside his/her backpack and return it home.

INCLEMENT WEATHER ROUTINE:

On those days of inclement weather, the teacher on duty will invite the children (NO PARENTS) to come inside and either sit quietly on one of the dismissal benches (our JKs- as their cubbies are inside of the classroom) or go to their cubbies and begin undressing (our SKs-as their cubbies are in the hallway). Should "O Canada" come on, the children will stop whatever they are doing and stand at attention. Once the anthem is finished, the children will resume their activities. Once finished undressing, the children will sit quietly in their cubbies and await the 9:00 a.m./12:45 p.m. line-up. PARENTS SHOULD NOT BE ENTERING THE SCHOOL WITH THEIR CHILDREN. Although we understand that you are simply trying to help, your presence results in crowdedness and "learned helplessness" on the part of your "fully capable" children.

WE NEED YOUR HELP AT HOME:

The children are drawing and printing daily during our Balanced Literacy instructional block. They are learning to neatly, correctly, and independently print their first names the "school way" (uppercase letter ONLY for the initial letter; remaining letters, lowercase) and drawing and colouring simple pictures (either modelled and assigned by the teachers or free choice). They are learning to recognize and read their own first name as well as their classmates and are learning to recognize and read our "Snappy Words" (high frequency words). All of our Kindergarteners need much practice with these skills, and thus, we strongly encourage you to continue working on these skills at home daily. Upon leaving Kindergarten, children should be independently reading at a DRA level of 6 and knowing and verbalizing their home address, telephone number (including area code), and birth date. Thus, again, we strongly recommend that you work on these skills at home daily with your child.

SCHOLASTIC BOOK ORDERS:

Please remember that if you are ordering books, the payment must be made via a cheque and made out to Scholastic Canada for the exact amount. Should cash be sent in, it will be returned to you along with a note requesting cheque only. We cannot thank Julia's mother, Heidi Dunn, enough for volunteering her time on this enormous and time-consuming endeavour. Thanks, Heidi!

SLEEP TIP:

Please make certain that your child is going to bed at an appropiate time for his/her age. It is highly recommended by many health and medical experts that Kindergarten children receive 12 to 14 hours of restful sleep nightly. Anything less can severely impact their learning potential.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: UPCOMING CLASS/SCHOOL SPECIAL EVENTS:

Holiday classroom celebration and gift exchange, "All Aboard the Polar Express"-Thursday, December 16th (details to follow as date approaches)

Last Day of School before Holiday Break-Friday, December 17th

First Day of School after the winter holiday break-Monday, January 4th

January Home Learning Project due date-Monday, January 4th

KINDERGARTEN EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANTS:

Swansea Kindergarten is pleased to have three (3) educational assistants this school year. One (1) assistant has been assigned to our morning Kindergarten session and two (2) assistants, to our afternoon Kindergarten session. The assistants divide their time between the classrooms. The morning Kindergarten assistant is Mrs. Madeleine Sandoval (#107 and #108) and the afternoon assistants are Mrs. Beverly Spencer (#108 and #109) and Mrs. Bernice Pang (#107).

CUBBIES AND ENTRY/EXIT DOORS:

Our Senior Kindergarten children (along with a few Junior Kindergarten children) assigned to room #107 use the cubbies located in the hallway, spanning the entire length of the wall, facing our classroom door. The majority of our Junior Kindergarten children use the cubbies located inside of our classroom. All children use the boys' and girls' bathrooms; respectively, located in room #107. Their visits are supervised by us along with our Kindergarten assistant(s). OurKindergarten children enter and exit the school using the side door, which faces the flag pole.

"LOVE OF LEARNING" EVENING EVENTS:

At various times throughout the year, all of our students and their families will be invited to attend a special evening event, which we affectionately refer to as, "Love of Learning". This special event will be enjoyable, informative, and very interactive. The focus/spotlight of this event will either be literacy-based or math-based or both. This event will allow you the opportunity to see and listen to your child (along with his/her classmates) demonstrate/perform/recite/read various books, songs, poems, plays, and skills and concepts taught in class. On some occasions, we hope to invite special guest readers, including you, the parents. The evening's event will not be lengthy (no longer than 30 minutes). The exact dates, times, and location have yet to be decided. Please stay tuned for further details surrounding this special event.

"THE KINDERCRITTER CRUMB CAFE.....ON THE SNACK TRACK": OUR CLASSROOMS' SNACK POLICY :

Our classroom snack policy is as such: only fruits and/or vegetables, dairy products (cheese and/or yogurt) and water is the only accpetable beverage. No packaged nor processed foods/baked goods nor juice boxes are permitted. Should a child bring anything other than fruit/vegetable/dairy/water, he/she will be asked to keep the item(s) inside his/her backpack to return home along with a"Snack Policy" reminder note. Our students' safety and well-being are always at the forefront of our minds. Thank-you for helping us keep ALL of our students healthy and safe.

"SNEAK A PEEK AT THE INSTRUCTIONAL WEEK FOR OUR CURIOUS CRITTERS":

In Language Arts, we will continue to learn to read, draw, and write in various ways. During our Shared Reading literacy block, we will learn to read (in various ways) a few different holiday-themed big books. Each daily lesson will involve a "before reading" activity, a "during reading" activity (read aloud, echo read, shared/choral read), and an "after reading" activity. We will continue singing and reading many "now-familiar" songs and poems as well as learning this week's new selection. During our "Working With Words" literacy block, we will actively use our bodies and voices to, once again, learn/memorize/review last week's "Snappy Words" (pink, up, and eight) and continue reviewing the previous weeks' Snappy Words. During the Empower component of our daily literacy instruction, we will, once again, review our first "stop" letter/sound (this is a quick, soft, sound), t. We will also re-introduce the letter and letter combination of the next quick soft sound, c and ck. All the while, we will continue to review the previously learned letters and their respective sounds (a, e/ee, f, m, n, r, and s). We will read and review many words learned thus far; always using our "Sounding Out" strategy: 1. KNOW the sounds. 2. BLEND the sounds. 3. READ the word. During our daily "Writing" literacy block, all of the children will continue to learn to correctly print their first names as well as other simple words and grammatically complete sentences the "school way". Each day will begin with a teacher-led/modeled writing mini lesson; followed by 10 uninterrupted and focused minutes of independent student writing. During our "Self-Selected Reading" literacy block, the children will select a book from our thematic bookshelf to read independently (book topics on the shelf this month include: winter, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, other holiday traditions, gingerbread, The Polar Express, and "Author of the Month"). December's "Author of the Month" is Mr. Robert Munsch.

In Mathematics, we will discuss and review many mathematical concepts during our daily carpet calendar time. We always begin by singing our calendar and weather songs and discussing various calendar, weather, time, and money topics. Then, we create together a simple tally chart and accompanying graph (either a bar graph or a pictograph). Next, we solve together a daily word problem (known as "The Problem of the Day" and involving the concepts of adding on/taking away, grouping, and skip counting; the problem will be sovled using pictures, numbers, and words). This week, we will continue to take a closer look at numerals from 0 to 10 and their corresponding number words from "zero" to "ten" (once again, this week's number word is eight); create simple ABC patterns; review all of our previously learned shapes (identifying the shapes and discussing their respective attributes/characteristics-number of sides/vertices, etc., and comparing and contrasting each to the other shapes); tell time to the half hour (while continuing to review time to the hour) using our analog clock; sorting (using 2 attributes); graph (in the form of concrete pictographs with 1:1 correspondence); complete tally charts based upon surveys; measurement; make each day's date using different combinations of our Canadian currency/coins and discussing each coin's distinguishing features and worth; and discuss the weather (rainy, cloudy, snowy, foggy, windy, sunny, hot, thermometer, degrees Celsius). On Monday and again on Friday, we will complete our next "Superstar Math" problems ( printing accurately and representing the numeral "3" and "4" in various ways (correct numeral formation, number word, tally marks, and picture). Many of these mathematical concepts are taught, reinforced, and explored using a "hands-on" approach with thematic manipulatives. Holiday-inspired objects (stars, angels, candles, bells, candy canes, ornaments, dreidels, etc.) are the manipulatives of choice for December.

In Science, we will continue to discuss and review the four seasons; focusing on the upcoming season of winter.

In Social Studies, we will continue discussing the importance of manners and sharing and continue our discussion of the various holiday traditions from around the world.

In Music, we will continue singing daily many "old familiar" songs and poems.

In Art, we will finish creating some holiday-inspired "masterpieces"; namely, a "shhh surprise" and a few parent "elf" volunteers will assist us.

December's "Author of the Month" are Mr. Robert Munsch, the ever-popular children's author. To support our classroom instruction and activities, we encourage you to read as many of his delightful books at home as you possibly can. We will read many of his stories as simple read alouds and when your child visits the Listening Center each week, he/she will listen to one of his stories on CD/tape.

During our daily Center Time (lasting 45 to 60 minutes each and every day), we will visit, explore, and actively participate at all of our great and popular classroom learning centers.

Both classes will begin the day with our "academic" component (Calendar Carpet Chatter, Balanced Literacy instruction along with integrated learning of the various other curriculum strands of math, science, social studies, art, and music). This instruction will last for approximately 60 minutes. It will be followed by a 10-minute bathroom/snack break. Then, the children will actively participate at learning centers for approximately 45 to 60 minutes. The day will end with physical activity, in the form of either indoor play or outdoor play. At times, the play will focus on certain skills being taught and practiced; while at other times, free-choice play. In a nutshell, so-to-speak, we passionately embrace and implement a teaching phenomenon known as, "team teaching ". this style of teaching is extremely effectively; both academically and socially for all children. PLEASE NOTE, THAT THE AFOREMENTIONNED SEQUENCE OF EVENTS IS REFLECTIVE OF TYPICAL DAY WITHOUT ANY INTERRUPTIONS. HOWEVER, SHOULD THE CHILDREN HAVE A "SPECIAL" (COMPUTERS, LIBRARY, GYM CLASSES) ON A DAY, THIS SCHEDULE WILL BE MODIFIED.

MAIL FOR THE TEACHER(S):

We kindly ask that you and your child decide upon a special place inside his/her backpack (either a smaller zippered pocket on the backpack or a zippered pencil case placed inside of the backpack) where any and all mail from home for the teacher will be placed. Please label the pocket or pencil case with the title, "Mail for Miss Crockers". Any mail that you need to send in to us should be in a sealed envelope with the following information on the outside of the envelope: teachers' names, room number-#107, first and last names of your child, title of contents inside. Whenever you place mail inside its special spot, please make sure to remind your child that he/she has mail to take out and give to his/her teachers.

ENTRY DOOR REMINDER:

We expect all of our students to enter school INDEPENDENTLY from the class lines outside of our entry door, on the Kindergarten playground yard, and to INDEPENDENTLY undress themselves. Please respect this expectation/requirement/routine and adhere to it daily and consistently. Coming to school on time, lining up appropriately with his/her classmates at the proper location/door on the playground, and entering the school by himself/herself must be enforced and established beginning on the very first day of school. This may seem harsh and insensitive at first thought; however, trust us and keep this thought at the forefront of your mind as you let your child go....."QUICK GOOD-BYES, DRY EYES" . We kindly ask that you do enter the school with your child through the school's adjoining community center's doors. Although this may seem more convenient, doing so is not only against our school's policy, it also violates our Kindergarten expectations.

OUTSIDE CLOTHING AND PLAYGROUND REMINDERS:

Please do not dress your child, allow him/her to do this important life skill independently. Make yourself available to assist with those difficult-to-do tasks such as doing up zippers, snaps, buttons, and laces and of course, to offer verbal praise and tips/suggestions. When your child is putting on and removing his/her boots, remind your child to open all straps and zippers first. Discuss and remind your child of his/her left and right foot when he/she puts on and takes off his/her footwear. Make sure that your child is placing his/her boots together with the boots' toes facing the wall. We continually and consistently practice these required skills at school, and you must reinforce them at home as well! ONE IMPORTANT TIP/SUGGESTION: ALLOW YOUR CHILD AND YOURSELF PLENTY OF TIME TO COMPLETE THIS TASK. DO NOT RUSH YOUR CHILD. GIVE PLENTY OF VERBAL PRAISE FOR HIS/HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS/HARD WORK. IF YOU FIND THAT YOUR CHILD IS NOT FOCUSSING ON THE TASK AT HAND, SET A KITCHEN TIMER IN FRONT OF YOUR CHILD AND TELL HIM/HER THAT WHEN THE TIMER RINGS (YOU SET THE TIMER TO A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME), HE/SHE MUST BE DONE.

SWANSEA P.S. TIMETABLE:

Our school operates on a 10-Day cycle. Please read carefully, take note, and post the following:

The Morning #107A ("Apes") Kindergarten class (children on Meredith's class roster) will receive Gym on Days 1, 4, 6, and 9; Library on Days 2 and 8; Computers on Days 6 and 10.

The Morning #107B ("Bananas") Kindergarten class (children on Michelle's class roster) will receive Gym on Days 1, 4, 7, and 9; Library on Days 4 and 9; Computers on Days 2 and 7.

The Afternoon #107A ("Apes") Kindergarten class (children on Meredith's class roster) will receive Gym on Days 1, 5, and 8; Library on Days 1 and 8; Computers on Days 3 and 9.

The Afternoon #107B ("Bananas") Kindergarten class (children on Michelle's class roster) will receive Gym on Days 1, 5, and 8; Library on Days 1 and 8; Computers on Days 3 and 9.

Because of these special classes, our daily classroom schedule will be modified on these days. The daily schedule/timetable posted on this web site reflects the days when the children do not have a special class. When we say "modify", we mean that certain activities/times will be condensed.

SENIOR KINDERGARTEN SWIM SCHEDULE: THE SK SWIM PROGRAM COMMENCES IN JANUARY

SK MORNING CLASS SWIM DAYS: ROOM #107 (MEREDITH) -DAY 3 AT 9:45 TO 10:30 A.M.; ROOM #107 (MICHELLE)-DAY 2 AT 9:45 TO 10:30 A.M.

SK AFTERNOON CLASS SWIM DAYS: ROOM #107 (MEREDITH)-DAY 9 AT 1:00 TO 1:45 P.M.; ROOM #107 (MICHELLE)-DAY 7 AT 1:00 TO 1:45 P.M.

ILLNESS/SICKNESS:

If your child is not feeling well or is sick, please do not send him/her to school. Rather, keep him/her at home to rest and recover. Please respect the health of his/her classmates and also, please respect your child's well-being. A sick child cannot perform nor learn with success.

A FINAL REMINDER.....FIRST NAME RECOGNITION AND PRINTING IT THE "SCHOOL WAY":

Please continue to practice daily with your child to correct school way to print his/her first name. The school way means-only an uppercase letter (capital letter) at the beginning of the name and the remaining letters lowercase. ex.-Alexandra **the uppercase letter "A" must appear as such-with the middle 2 slanted lines meeting at a point at the bottom-not the middle; the lowercase letter "l" must appear as such-with its hieght as tall as the uppercase "A"; the lowercase letter "a" (in the middle and at the end) must have a vertical line closing off the circle without any "flicks/curves" at the base of the vertical line.

Some children are still having difficulty printing their own first name. PLEASE WORK ON THIS IMPORTANT SKILL AT HOME DAILY! If your child does not know how to print his/her first name yet, please print his/her name using a yellow marker and then, have your child trace over each letter with a pencil. Also, place a name card in front of your child and allow him/her to use it as a guide to print his/her name using a pencil.

Printing must begin from the left side of all papers and progress to the right.

With warm regards,

Miss Meredith Crocker and Miss Michelle Crocker