October 15, 2006

October 13, 2006

Dear Families,

The letter Ff was concentrated on this week. We had fun talking about frogs, fire safety, fish, fall, and football. We all practiced stop, drop, and roll and earned a certificate. (Many of the children expressed interest in practicing fire drills at home.) Four high school senior football players visited with the kindergartners. They brought some football equipment with them and told us about the game.

This week the kindergartners brought home 2 little booklets; one about fall and one about fire safety. For “homework” families can read these booklets and have the kindergartner finish coloring the book. Families should also do the activity page(s) at the end of these booklets. Kindergartners that bring the finished booklets back will get to pick out a sticker.

Next week we will be studying the letter Aa and learning about apples. We need every child to bring in an apple by Wednesday. We will be comparing them and making them into applesauce. If you have an abundance of apples at your house, extras would be appreciated.

Sharing for next week is free choice, or it could be something that starts with the letter Aa.

Don’t forget about picture day on Tuesday, October 17th!

On Thursday, October 19th we will be having our kindergarten bake sale. Each child will have some kind of job for the bake sale. Bake sale jobs include poster decorating, packaging, arranging, selling, quarter exchanging, and greeting. Don’t forget to send AT LEAST 6 items. Kindergartners will also be able to purchase items so feel free to send quarters! Each item will cost 25¢.

We will be having our Halloween party on Tuesday, October 31st at 2:15. We will probably be going to Sunrise Hill Care Center for a costume parade around 1:00 that same day. Children should BRING their costume to school that day, NOT wear it to school. The less help they need from adults the better. (i.e. makeup) We have already sent notes to those volunteers that will need to send treats, napkins, or help at the party.

On October 29th there will be a Girl Scout Fall Festival sponsored by Girl Scout Troop 419. The festival will take place in the Traer Memorial Building from 3:30 - 6:00. Children in preschool through 6th grade may participate, but children younger than 4th grade need to be accompanied by an adult or older sibling. There is a cost of 50¢ per ticket or 12 for $5 for the activities. There will be a costume contest at 4:30.

Please check with your kindergartner about the condition of the glue stick in his/her crayon baggy. Because we have been using them a lot lately, some students need to have new glue sticks in their crayon baggie.

We have already been evaluating the children for their report cards. We will be checking the students on knowing their addresses, birthdays, and identifying the numbers 0 - 10. The children will also be expected to correctly count objects up to 10.

Please continue sending coats, jackets, and sweatshirts to school everyday. The weather is getting colder, and the recesses have been chillier. We’d rather have the children get a little warm than shiver through the recesses. We would also like to remind you to send extra clothes with your child to school. The children feel more comfortable in their own clothes if they would happen to need to change them. We would greatly appreciate if borrowed clothes from the kindergarten room would be returned.

Hayley Hart is still in Iowa City at the University of Iowa Hospital. She is improving, but we do not know when she will get to return to school. We have already made cards and a big banner for her. The community of Clutier is planning a benefit bakesale and raffle to support Hayley and her family on October 21st beginning at 10:00. It will be held at Burrell’s Grocery Store.

Have a fantastic fall-type weekend!

Mrs. Owens, Ms. Howard, and Mrs. Herink