News and Updates

Good morning.  I hope everyone had a great weekend despite the time change!  Although it always takes a few days for the kids (and their parents and teachers!) to adjust, I know everyone will enjoy the longer evenings with more sunlight!

Due to being out of town last week with intermittent internet access, I did not have a chance to post any reminders or updates.  As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

• Dr. Seuss week was a BLAST!  We had a wonderful time on the dress up days, reading the various books, and learning new things.  I was very impressed with the homemade and child-made costumes on Friday and could see the sense of accomplishment and pride each child had regarding their costumes.  Great job!  Thanks to everyone who sent something in for the brunch or who was able to attend the fun with us!  We truly had a wonderful time.  Due to the brunch, field trip, late lunch, and enrichment on March 2nd, we did not have enough time to get to the spelling test, so we skipped the formal test for that day.    

• Please check MRSAEvents for Saint Patrick's Day items and send them in by Wednesday.  We still need Lucky Charms for a graphing activity and rocks to make Blarney Stones.  Thanks to everyone who has already signed up.  

• As a reminder, it is the student's responsibility to pack and unpack their things each day (folder, reading folder, etc.).  Miss Crowther and I continue to remind the class daily but it is their personal responsibility.  Please also make sure you or your child are writing in their reading log nightly.  Although it is not for a grade in Kindergarten, it becomes a child-centered task that is graded in 1st grade, so it is a good nightly habit to establish now so your child is prepared to the changes next year.

• I have received some questions about work being sent home.  I typically do not have a large amount of paper-pencil based assignments because I believe children learn through experiences and hands-on activities.  The work that is completed in the math journals you will see at the end of the year or during a conference (because they do not go home).  Other paper-pencil work is held out for the student's portfolios work or comes home so late because it has been displayed in the hallways.

• Lastly, there was some concern expressed to Miss Crowther during the Seussical field trip about students not having coats.  As the weather gets warmer it is still important that your child has a jacket, hoodie, cardigan, etc. with them each day or kept in their cubby because the temperatures are unpredictable.  As stated in previous communications, children must have a jacket (or hoodie or cardigan) if the temperature is less than 40*.  They must be wearing long sleeves of any type for temperatures between 40*-50*.  I announce the temperature each day before going outside for recess.  If it is less than 40*, I ensure everyone has a jacket (or borrows one) or they are not allowed outside.  I also remind the students that if they take their coats but decide they do not need them, they can always take them off; but cannot come back inside once outside if they change their minds.  This is the same policy in 1st grade.  If your policy for your child is different, please make sure you discuss this with them at home.