CROCKERS' CRITTER CHRONICLE: The Weekly Newsletter Where You'll Find Everything from Important Announcements to Newsworthy Events

ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 2ND TO SEPTEMBER 5TH:

Currently, all web pages on our web site are under construction.....please continue to check in throughout the summer!

Happy September and Happy Back-to-School! Welcome back to those those we already have the pleasure of knowing and welcome to those to whom we have yet the pleasure of meeting and knowing. Rest assured, we will become familiar with one another very quickly and very comfortably.

We would also like to take this opportunity to welcome you, our students' parents/care givers, to our classrooms' collaborative web site. It is here that you will hopefully find all the answers to any questions that you may have, and it is here that you will find any and all information about schoolwide events as well as specific events within our classrooms. In an effort to be as environmentally aware and ecologically friendly as possible, we have decided to use this web site as our primary means of communication with you. Instead of wasting copious amounts of paper photocopying newsletters and announcements to send home daily/weekly and subsequently, burdening you with endless amounts of paper mail stuffed into your little ones' backpacks (which often get overlooked, lost, or thrown away), we are going to try our best to reduce, as much as possible, the amount of paper mail that we send home. It is our hope that this web site will go a long way in eliminating such unintentional yet unncessary waste. Thus, we are insisting that all parents/care givers in our classrooms (#108 and #109) visit this web site very regularly (daily, in the evening is best; as updates will be done upon our arrival home after work; usually, by 9:00 p.m. updates are completed for the day).

We are so excited for the upcoming school year and feel so blessed/fortunate to be team-teaching together in Kindergarten! We are looking forward to interacting daily with all of our students in rooms #108 and #109. It is truly going to be a unique, rewarding , and very successful school year. As the famous saying goes, "Two heads are better than one." At this time, we would like to explain (as straightforward and simplistic as possible) the Kindergarten experience that our students will receive and immerse themselves in this year. Although we will each have our own classes (children assigned to a certain room and a certain Miss Crocker), the children from both of our classes will not be aware of this division as each class will be spending equal amounts of time in both of our classrooms and with both of us. Quite simply, each class will spend one hour in each of the rooms with one of us remaining throughout the day in each room.

Room #108 will be know as, "Kindercritter Center Central: the Center Room" and, as the title implies, it will only contain play centers (sand, water, Play Doh, painting, Lego, blocks, computers, puppets, house, art, listening, music, discovery, etc.)

Room #109 will be known as, "Kindercritter Learning Central: the "Academic Room" and, once again, as the name implies, it will contain the calendar/carpet time along with the reading, writing, and math learning centers.

One of us will remain in each of the rooms throughout the day. This allows us to each have the opportunity to interact, teach, and observe all of our students. One class will begin its day in one of the rooms (for example, Meredith's class will begin its day in #108 doing centers for 1 hour); while the other class begins its day in the other room (for example, Michelle's class will begin its day in #109 doing calendar/carpet chatter time, Shared Reading, Writing, and Math, along with accompanying follow-up activities for 1 hour). After 1 hour, both classes will take a quick bathroom and snack break and then, the respective classes will switch rooms (#108 goes to #109 and #109 goes to #108).

KINDERGARTEN EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANTS:

Swansea Kindergarten is pleased to welcome four (4) educational assistants this school year. Two (2) assistants are assigned to the morning Kindergarten session and two (2) assistants, to the afternoon Kindergarten session. The assistants will divide their time between the three (3) classrooms. The morning Kindergarten assistants will be Mrs. Cori Lawson and another woman whose surname escapes us currently; however, her first name is "Madeleine" (as soon as we determine her surname, we will post it immediately). The afternoon assistants will be Mrs. Karen Sheppard and Mrs. Bernice Pang. Madeleine is the only new member of Swansea's Kindergarten educational assistant team.

CUBBIES AND ENTRY/EXIT DOORS:

The children assigned to room #108 (Meredith's room) will use the cubbies located to the right (when looking out to the hall from the classroom door) in to hallway. The children assigned to room #109 (Michelle's room) will use the cubbies located to the left (when looking out to the hall from Meredith's classroom door). All of the children from both of our classrooms will use the bathrooms located in room #107. Their visits are supervised by us along with the Kindergarten assistants. The children assigned to room #108 will enter and exit the school using the left side of the double doors (when facing the school/doors from the playground). The children assigned to room #109 will enter and exit the school using the single door to the side of the double doors, facing the flag pole.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL (AND SUBSEQUENT SCHOOL DAYS) REQUIREMENTS:

On the first day of school, when the whistle blows signalling the children to line up, we kindly ask that you give your child a quick kiss and hug, and allow him/her to enter the school independently. Remember our saying, "QUICK GOOD-BYES, DRY EYES!" Although this may seem harsh, trust us and know that it is crucial for us to begin establishing this routine immediately from the outset. Do not worry if your child cries or appears hesitant/reluctant, we will gently and lovingly reassure him/her. Everyone's first day will be a successful and enjoyable one-we promise!

Your child needs to have an appropriate-sized and working backpack (zippers working) that he/she must wear properly on his/her back. Inside the backpack, your child needs to have the following items: an appropriate snack (read on further to learn of our classrooms' snack policy), a secure water bottle containing water only, a photograph or hand-drawn picture of something special about his/her summer vacation that he/she would like to share with the class, and a sun hat. Also, after visiting the "Kindercritters' Supply List" web page on this web site, you may also have these required items in your child's backpack as well. Although these supplies are not required on the first day, we are requesting that they be sent in by the end of the first week of school (by Friday, September 5th).

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: UPCOMING CLASS/SCHOOL SPECIAL EVENTS

First Day of School for Senior Kindergarteners-Tuesday, September 2nd

First Day of School for Junior Kindergarteners (staggered entry)-beginning Wednesday, September 3rd to Friday, September 5th

"Love of Learning: Read to Succeed!" evening-Monday, September 30th (tentative date); location and time to be announced

"LOVE OF LEARNING" EVENING EVENTS:

One evening, during the last week of each month, all of our students and their families are invited to attend a special evening event, which we affectionately refer to as, "Love of Learning". This monthly event will be enjoyable, informative, and very interactive. The focus/spotlight of each month's event will either be literacy-based or math-based. This monthly 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 45 minutes). The exact dates, times, and location have yet to be decided. Please stay tuned for further details surrounding these special events.

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

No packaged nor processed foods/baked goods are permitted. Our classroom snack policy is as such: only fruits and/or vegetables, dairy products (cheese and/or yogurt). REGARDING FRUIT CHOICES-NO TROPICAL FRUITS (MANGOES, PINEAPPLES, COCONUT, GUAVA, PAPAYA) ARE ALLOWED! ALSO, NO PACKAGED NOR PROCESSED FOODS (muffins, cookies, crackers, granola bars, cereal, etc.) ARE ALLOWED! Our students' safety and well-being are always at the forefront of our minds. Thank-you for helping us keep ALL of our students safe. A BIG THANK-YOU TO ALL; "A+" FOR EVERYONE'S DILIGENT EFFORTS IN HELPING US KEEP ALL OF OUR STUDENTS SAFE AND HEALTHY!

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

In Language Arts, we will begin to learn to read, draw, and write in various ways. During our Shared Reading literacy block, we will read the fictional big book, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom . We will read this big book daily using a variety of reading strategies (read aloud, echo read, shared read, choral read). Each day, upon finishing this book, we will complete an "After Reading" activity. During our "Working With Words" literacy block, we will actively use our bodies to learn/memorize the week's two "Snappy Words" (child's first name, red ). During our "Writing" literacy block, The children will each draw and colour a picture of the day's "Special Child of the Day", and we will print our first name at the top left corner of the page. The children will also each draw and write in their "September Words" word books (tracing over the day's theme word that Miss Crocker has already printed the school way for them using her yellow marker). New theme words are introduced on certain days of the week; while on the remaining days, the children will each draw and write in their yellow journal books. Specifically, we will use our September Word Books on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; adding one word on Monday; another, on Wednesday; and the third word, on Friday. On the remaining two days, Tuesday and Thursday, the children will draw and write in their journal books; most often, about anything they wish. During our "Self-Selected Reading" literacy block, the children will select a book to read independently on the carpet from our thematic bookshelf (book topics on the shelf this month include: alphabet/letters, colours, rhyming words, numbers, Back-to-School, "Author of the Month"). September's "Author of the Month" is Dr. Seuss (and any other authors whose books are associated with the Dr. Seuss collection of books).

In Mathematics, we will discuss many mathematical concepts during our daily carpet calendar time; specifically, we will a be taking a closer look at numerals from 0 to 10 and their respective number words from "zero" to "ten"; simple AB patterns; geometric shapes (identifying the shapes and discussing their respective attributes-number of sides/vertices, etc.); positional words (under, over, in front, behind, beside, left, right); time (minute, hour, o'clock, thirty, analog clock, digital clock); and weather (rainy, cloudy, snowy, foggy, windy, sunny, hot, thermometer, degrees Celsius). Many of these mathematical concepts will be introduced/reintroduced/revisited using a "hands-on" approach with thematic manipulatives. Apples, real and artificial, of various sizes and colours are the manipulatives of choice for September.

In Science, all month long, we will discuss and explore a variety of thematic units, including an "All About Me" unit, a "School is Cool" unit, and a "Living Things" unit. During the first two weeks of September, we will investigate many things about ourselves; including our heartbeat rate before and after exercise. During the second two weeks of September, we will make "oobleck" after reading Dr. Seuss's book, Bartholomew and the Oobleck. Finally, all month long, we will investigate the properties of living things; namely, apples and fish.

In Art, we will use a variety of at materials to create some unique pieces of theme-related artwork for our homes, for our classrooms, and for our September bulletin board and clothes' line which are both located outside of our classrooms, in the hallway. Theme-related creations will include self-portraits, various apple arts and crafts, and shape patterns.

September's "Authors' of the Month" is Dr. Seuss (and any other authors whose books are part of the Dr. Seuss collection of books). To support our classroom instruction and activities, we encourage you to read as many of his/their delightful books at home as you possibly can. We will read many of his/their stories as simple read alouds and when your child visits the Listening Center each week, he/she will listen to one of his/their stories on CD/tape.

During our daily Center Time (lasting 60 minutes each and every day!), we will visit, explore, and actively participate at all of our great and popular classroom learning centers. Room #108 is entirely devoted to centers. Both classes will share this room along with Room #109 (which is entirely devoted to the academics of integrated reading, writing, and math and carpet time of our instructional day). Once again, each class will spend 60 minutes each and every day in this room.

Quite simply, as one class begins the day in Room #109-the academic room; the other class is simultaneously beginning its day in Room #108-the center room. After 60 minutes has passed, both classes will take a 10-minute bathroom/snack break. Then, the classes will switch rooms for another 60 minutes. One Miss Crocker will remain in one of the rooms while the other Miss Crocker remains in the other room. The Miss Crockers will rotate between the room assignments and thus, will both have the opportunity to interact with all of the children in both of their classes. This teaching phenomenon is extremely effective and is known as, "team teaching ".

HOME ENRICHMENT POLICY: PLEASE VISIT THE "HOME ENRICHMENT" WEB PAGE FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS!

The home enrichment activities are not mandatory. If your child is not interested in participating or you are finding it a struggle to complete them together, do not force the issue. HOWEVER, IT IS MANDATORY THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS READ DAILY WITH AN ADULT AND UPON FINISHING READING, ENGAGING IN BRIEF AND SPECIFIC BOOK CHATS ABOUT WHAT HAS JUST BEEN READ-NO EXCEPTIONS, NO EXCUSES!

Your child is encouraged to practice saying and singing the weekly songs and poems (which are posted weekly on the "This Week's Home Enrichment....." web page. Simply click on the "Home Enrichment" icon to locate their whereabouts along with any other optional home enrichment activities). Any home enrichment activities that your child wishes to complete must be done so using a PENCIL (not a pen nor a marker). Any pictures that require colouring must be done so using CRAYONS (not pencil nor markers).

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 Crocker". 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: teacher's name, room number, 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 teacher.

LIBRARY BOOK BAGS:

Your child will be given a blue book bag in September to borrow for the school year (we will be collecting them in June). This bag must be carefully looked after throughout the year. The purpose of this bag is for carrying library books to and from school when it is your child's library day.

THUS, YOUR CHILD NEEDS TO BRING HIS/HER BAG TO SCHOOL ON DAY FOR LIBRARY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND THE BAG IN AT ANY OTHER TIMES. Once again, please remember that this bag is your child's to BORROW for the year. We will be collecting these bags in June. Any bags that are lost or damaged will need to be replaced/reimbursed. Thus, please be careful with their use and do not lose them.

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 5-Day cycle. Please read carefully, take note, and post the following:

The Morning #108 Kindergarten class will receive Library on Day 2 with Mrs. Hess (9:35 to 10:25 a.m.) and Gym on DAY 5 with Mr. Feigenbaum (9:35 to 10:25 a.m.) . The Afternoon #108 Kindergarten class will receive Library on Day 1 with Mrs. Hess (1:22 to 2:12 p.m.) and Gym with Mr. Chauhan on DAY 4 (2:25 to 3:15 p.m.) .

The Morning #109 Kindergarten class will receive Library on Day 5 with Mrs. Hess (9:35 to 10:25 a.m.) and Gym on DAY 2 with Mr. Feigenbaum (9:35 to 10:25 a.m.) . The Afternoon #109 Kindergarten class will receive Library on Day 4 with Mrs. Hess (2:25 to 3:15 p.m.) and Gym with Mr. Chauhan on DAY 1 (1:22 to 2:12 p.m.) .

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:

SK   MORNING CLASS SWIM DAYS: to be announced later in the year

SK   AFTERNOON CLASS SWIM DAYS: to be announced later in the year

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.

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