Thank you for attending the Kindergarten Christmas show. Mrs. Sabine
graciously sent a few snapshots and I've added them to our photos/docs
section. There are other pictures and audio of our Thanksgiving program,
too. Enjoy!
The Kindergarten party is December 22nd in the afternoon. Mrs. Croft and/or
Mrs. Somers may contact you regarding party supplies.
On December 21st, 9:00-11:00, we will be baking cookies and making Christmas
ornaments for a local charity. If you can spare a few hours, your help would
be most appreciated.
To-date, we have collected $37 for Heifer International. Thank you so much
for your generosity. We hope you will consider participating if you haven’t
done so already. Remember no amount is too small. We will continue this
collection until December 22nd.
Kindergarteners love to spend money. They enjoy buying pretzels and milk at
lunch time. However, some children have been bringing money to purchase milk
when they have ordered a hot lunch meal. Consequently, they have two milks
and often waste one of them. Also, when purchasing a pretzel, they put a
dollar in the basket, buy one pretzel , but don’t bother to get change. At
school, we had a quick lesson about what 50c can buy, and what one dollar can
buy. When giving your child pretzel and/or milk money, please give them a
heads up as to what they can purchase and if they get change. Thanks!
Thank you for your generous support of Scholastic Book Club. I hope everyone
will consider placing books under the Christmas tree for our new readers.
Don’t forget, you can order online too. If you order online, I receive free
book certificates. If I receive 23, I will be glad to share them with your
children. You can access the book clubs at:
www.scholastic.com/parentordering
Class User Name: bconnell
Password: kindergarten
Have you noticed on our class web page there is a section titled “wish
list”. Listed on our wish list, is a Smartboard. Well, I wasn’t trying to
be silly. Of course, I don’t expect you (unless you really, really want to)
to fund this technology for us. However, perhaps your employer or other
sources you may be aware of provide funds for technology grants to schools.
Please let us know if you can be of assistance with this endeavor. I might
just bake you a really delicious carrot cake!
While it is impossible to prevent all hurt feelings, we do not
distribute invitations of any kind unless the entire class is invited.
Your kindergartner eats lunch daily at 11:15. Before ordering from the hot
lunch program, please review the menu with your child. I hope you will have
an opportunity to join us at this time as our parent helper. Please pay
close attention to the days your child is having hot lunch as they may not
care for the lunch that would be provided.
Listed below is some additional information about our curriculum and other
suggestions to help your child have a successful year.
Integrated Language Arts:
•Our main emphasis this year is setting the foundations for your child to
read. Our language arts series is integrated with reading, writing,
listening, and speaking skill development. Daily lessons incorporate
reading, writing, phonics, etc. We use materials such as big books, beginner
reading books, literature, and poetry.
•We use the reading series, Scott Foresman, Reading Street. At the beginning
of each story, we will send home the Family Times newsletter. On this sheet,
you can find the phonic skills, high frequency words and comprehension skills
we will be focusing on for the unit.
•We also use the Kid Writing program which is a systematic approach to
phonics, journals and the writing workshop. We will begin writing the first
full week of October.
•Read with your child daily. You will develop a lifelong love of reading for
your child.
Religion Curriculum:
•We follow the Archdiocesan guidelines for Religion. Lessons will center on
creation, Bible stories, the Catholic Liturgical year, and saints. In
addition lessons will focus on learning, sharing, celebrating and growing in
God’s love. We will also participate in various school service projects. As
a class we will participate in the Heifer International and Operation Rice
Bowl programs during Christmas and Lent.
Math Curriculum:
•Math is taught using the Math Their Way program. The students will be
introduced to a variety of mathematical concepts including: sorting,
graphing, patterns, shapes, number sense, measurement, time, and money.
Various hands on activities, cooperative learning activities, and group and
oral exercises will be used. The children will further develop these skills
as they progress to paper and pencil tasks later in the school year.
Science & Social Studies Curriculum:
•These subjects are integrated within the ILA curriculum.
**Other important notes**
•I teach with a hands on approach which means that the children learn by
doing as much as possible. Many times they will be working with
manipulatives (counters, magnetic letters) in the classroom to master
concepts. They may not always have something on paper to show when they come
home. It does not mean that your kindergartener was not busy discovering and
doing during our kindergarten time. Please, be positive and value the work
your child has done at school.
•.Web page – Please check our class web page frequently. I often add
information throughout the school year. You can access our school web site
at teacherweb/stmaximiliankolbeschool/pa.org
•Homework – While formal homework is not assigned in kindergarten, please
check the class website for ideas and suggestions to help your
kindergartener’s academic progress. The weekly Family Times newsletter also
provides helpful hints.
•Field trips – We will be visiting Highland Orchards on October 28th. More
details about this event will be sent home shortly. All parents are invited
to accompany us on this trip. We will also be going on an additional trip
later in the year to see a play. This trip is scheduled for May 19th, 2010.
•Celebrations – Mrs. Connell loves to have fun! This year in kindergarten we
will have Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day parties, a Thanksgiving
celebration, Donuts with Dad and Mother’s Day at the Spa. Our homeroom
mothers, Mrs. Croft and Mrs. Somers may be in touch with you regarding these
festivities.
•Birthdays are special and we would love to celebrate your child’s birthday
with them in school. If you would like to send in a small treat for your
child’s birthday, just send me a note to let me know when you will do so.
Treats should be at school by 9:30a.m. Juice is not necessary.
•Pretzel sales – Pretzels are on sale Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and
cost 50c.
It’s time to wear the formal St. Max uniform. Girls should wear the jumper,
white blouse and sweater every day, except for special occasions and of
course, gym days. Boys should wear the long navy blue pants, white shirt,
tie and cardigan or sweater vest. Please do not mix/match the informal
uniform golf shirt with the formal uniform.
If you are the parent of a young lady kindergartener, please remind her about
sitting properly. You may want to consider having your daughter wear biker
or soccer-type shorts under her uniform.
We have a short rest period after lunch everyday. Please send a
blanket or beach towel for your child to rest on if you haven't already done
so. Thanks!
Please help your kindergartener remember to bring their library book on
Monday. If a student forgets their book on library day and they are
unable to check out a new book. It may help to put your child's book back in
their backpack after reading it with them.
Please, please, please, label all clothing, particularly sweaters, gym pants
and sweatshirts with your child’s first and last name. We lose a lot of
learning time figuring out whose clothing, such as gym sweatshirts and
cardigans, belongs to whom.
Occasionally I will ask the children to bring toys, etc. from home.
Otherwise, please do not allow your child to bring toys, electronic games,
fancy pens, sticker books, etc. to school. For some, it is very hard for
them to understand why they can’t play with these items when they should be
concentrating on their school assignments. Thank you so much for your
cooperation.
If you would like to make a recess donation, please bear in mind that
playground materials must be of soft rubbery material. Don’t forget to send
in your Campbell Soup Company labels. They help us earn free playground
equipment too. Thanks!
Have you noticed on our class web page there is a section titled “wish
list”. Listed on our wish list, is a Smartboard. Well, I wasn’t trying to
be silly. Of course, I don’t expect you (unless you really, really want to)
to fund this technology for us. However, perhaps your employer or other
sources you may be aware of provide funds for technology grants to schools.
Please let us know if you can be of assistance with this endeavor. I might
just bake you a really delicious carrot cake!
As you all know there are 24 charming kindergarteners in our classroom this
year. Periodically, we will have JAR (Just Act Right) activities. We work
on ways to act just right when we are at the prayer table, lining up,
respecting others and school property, if someone takes your seat, crayon,
etc. You can help by reinforcing “using words” instead of resorting to
physical reactions, using good manners, sharing, etc.
Please help your sons learn to buckle and unbuckle their belts.
Also, please take a few moments to help your kindergartener practice tying
their shoe laces.
Remember to bring your library book on library day, Monday, and wear your gym
uniform on Thursday.
Please have your children break in their school shoes, by wearing them a few
times before school starts. Please practice tying school shoes and sneakers.
Please use the green folder daily for completed work and communication from
me. You, of course, may use this folder to send notes, money for class
trips, etc. You will also receive on Fridays a school communication
folder. Please use this folder to return lunch ordering envelopes and any
other communication that should go to the office. Did you know …
that the Friday/office communication envelope goes home with the youngest
member of your family? When you return the envelope, please send it back to
our classroom (room 101). Otherwise I have to go on a major hunt to locate
your family’s envelope. Thanks for your help!
Please send a small, healthy, convenient (does not require peeling,
cutting, heating) snack such as vegetable sticks, crackers, small fruit, box
of raisins, small yogurt, etc. Please do not send in soda, candy and other
sugary items.
Please label all personal belongings, such as jackets, backpacks, lunch
boxes, gym sweatshirts and sweat pants, etc. wtih your child's first and
last name.
Your child will need an art smock labeled with their name in a plastic bag.
The bag will remain in their school bag. Please launder your child's art
smock occasional
Please send a dated note whenever your child is going home early or by car.
The office can no longer accept phone calls changing afternoon
transportation unless it is an emergency.