The Kinder News

May 11,2009

I’d like to take thisopportunity to thank each of you wonderful families for the tremendousoutpouring of kindness during Teacher Appreciation Week.  The flowers, plants, sweets, chocolates,fruits, cookies and cards were extraordinary. I was overwhelmed by all the goodwishes and most especially grateful for the heartfelt notes from the kids. I amvery blessed to have such kind and thoughtful parents who continue to besupportive and helpful. I thank you so very much.

Thank you, thank you!! to Danny& his family for the delicious ingredients used to make our Nifty Nachos in honor of Cinco de Mayolast week.  Muchas gracias!  Also, another big THANKS! to Charlie &his family for the glue sticks and to Jake & his family for the tissues andwipes… you’re so kind!

RSS Technology Committee hascreated a “Plug Into Summer Learning” link which includes a wonderful list ofwebsites that parents can access by going to our school website and clicking onthe title, Plug Into Summer Learning, at the bottom of the home page.All the sites are free, fun and fabulous!  Kids won’t even knowthey’re working when they go on these sites and skills will be boosted over thelong summer months.  http://www.elsegundousd.com/richmond_school/default.html

Countdown to the last day of school— It’s hard to believe that we’re in the homestretch of this Kindergarten year.  Thechildren have grown in so many ways and I thank you for all the support you’vegiven along the way.  As of this Thursday, 5/14, there are 26 daysof school left.  We’ve planned analphabetic countdown to the very last day of school.  Each day there will be a focus/theme relatedto the letter of the day beginning with the letter Aa on Thurs. 5/14 andending with the letter Zz on Thursday, 6/18.  In the white envelope, you’ll find a copy ofthe events scheduled for our final 26 days in Kindergarten.  This week’s focus includes:

** Thursday,5/14- Aa- Art day (nothing needed from home)

** Friday,5/15- Bb- Bubbles day (nothing needed from home)

** Monday,5/20- Cc- Crazy Hair day (create your crazy hair at home)

Field Trip to LongBeach Aquarium— will be on Friday, May 29^th  and a yellow permission slip will be intoday’s white envelope.  Please complete& return the slip by the date noted. We have to pre-order these bulk tickets and need a final count ASAP.  There is a cost for both adult and child at$7.50 per person (cash only please).   Ifyour family has a membership, please indicate that on the form as well.  All Kinder/TEDDE children will be on extended day (8:20 AM- 1:45 PM) this day.

Upcoming Dates toRemember:

• Monday, May 25^th  – Memorial Day— no school
• Thursday, May 28^th – OPEN HOUSE- 7:00-8:00 PM.  **all Kinders on E/B schedule
• Friday, May 29^th – Long Beach Aquarium field trip— **all Kinders on extended day (8:20AM- 1:45 PM) … see information paper/ permission slip in today’s white envelope
• Monday, June 15^th – W.A.T.E.R. Program at Mother’s Beach, Marina del Rey— more info to come
• Thursday, June 18^th – Last day of school—all Kinders on Early Bird schedule (8:20-12:45)
  

Homework:

• Build a Book packet and information sheet were sent home last Friday.  Please contact me with any questions.  Book is due on Wednesday, May 20^th.   Have fun!
  
• Weekly Reading Log – remember to read at least 15 minutes/day.
  
• Baby Picture: If you have not sent in a baby picture (3months-1 year old) of your child, please send one in ASAP.  This photo will become part of your child’s Kindergarten Memory Book.
  
• Sharing:  This week’s theme is something or someone found on the farm.

CONCEPT CORNER:

Science:The kids have been so excited to watch our 5 butterflies develop from larva, tocaterpillars, to chrysalides to butterflies right inside our classroom.  One of the five doesn’t appear to have made itto the butterfly stage.   We’ll soon releasethe beautiful butterflies in Paradise Park or on the Kinder Playground.    We’regoing to continue with planting seeds to watch growth over time and see howthere’s another life cycle in nature. Our next unit will be on the ocean and its creatures. Stay tuned…

Language Arts:  Our new basal reader is entitled A Good Name. I’ll continue sending home these readers that should bere-read by the kids at home.  We’ll havealready read them a number of times in class, so their confidence level shouldbe high.J  They are alldoing a wonderful job in our reading groups and with their Take-Home readers.  Keep up the good work at home…it really doespay off!  Routine phonics reviews,journal writing, take- home books, concepts about print and small GuidedReading groups will continue.  We’ve alsobeen reading/ listening to many books about frogs, insects and plant life.  We’llrevisit word families (-at, -et, -an,-og, -ot, -ox, un, -ug, etc.) using whiteboards and markers and certain“word wheels” that the kids will bring home for practice. The kids have alsoenjoyed Eric Carle’s popular Polar Bear,Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? book andhave created their own versions of the book. 

Math: We’velearned the characteristics of 3-dimensional objects like the cube, sphere,cone, cylinder, ellipsoid and hemisphere. We’ll continue with many activities involving number sense, shapes, andsimple equations using the (+) and (-) signs. Soon the kids will also work together to create a mural of El Segundo asthey create a picture of their home and surrounding neighborhood businesses andservices that will be added to our large map of the town.

                                                                        Have a great week,  

                                                                               Maria O’Brien