Dear Parents and Families, September 5th 2019 We have really enjoyed getting to know your children. Our class is made up of fourteen students-eight girls and six boys. Everyone seems to be adjusting well to our classroom and routines. Your children have made it through the first two weeks with flying colors. The children have been very cooperative and eager to learn. Please feel free to send in a water bottle so they have water available to sip throughout the day. The students have been learning routines such as walking in a line, unpacking their belongings, buying milk and school lunch, recess and dismissal procedures etc. The children have been participating in fire drills and lockdown drills. We have read books, sung songs, played games, and made pictures. During these first few weeks, my main goal was to help children feel comfortable in our classroom and throughout our building. Next week, we will begin Unit 1 in Readers Workshop. The unit is called “We are Readers” and the focus is to help young children develop their identities as readers. Most children at this age “read” by remembering the story and using the pictures. During Readers Workshop, students have the opportunity to try to retell the stories that I have read to them by looking at the pictures and remembering what happened. I will be introducing eight sight words (I, like, a, is, me, the, be, we) for students to find and recognize in books. We gradually introduce eight sight words a month. Eventually (months from now) as children become proficient at recognizing sight words, then they begin to read words. We have talked about the cover of books, the titles, and the authors. Students can answer questions about the stories read to them. When you read with your child, it would be helpful to track the print from left to right and ask your child what they think will happen next. The children will be learning to make predictions to stories. In Writers Workshop, students are learning to write their names on the top of the page and draw what their thinking. For most students, teachers write down their ideas and students may write out a label on their pictures. Students will work towards writing down a letter that represents a sound they hear. We have talked about the alphabet and have explained that each letter has a corresponding sound. Students are not expected to know the corresponding sounds for each letter (this fall we will concentrate on identifying the letters and their corresponding sounds). The following letters will be covered in the next few weeks: t, b, f, n, m, i, u, c, o, a, and g. Focus will be placed on forming lower case letters. In the next week or so, we will be talking about writing names using an upper case letter and lower case letters. This takes time if your child is writing their name in all capital letters. In September, the following math concepts will be covered. Lessons will include counting to 100, positional words (above, under, below, beside, in front of, behind, next to). We will also introduce the concept of measurement so that students can determine which object is smaller, larger, heavier, lighter, longer, shorter, taller and so on. We provide many opportunities for students to count orally during calendar time and while taking attendance. In the next few weeks, I will be meeting with students individually and giving assessments. I will be asking students to identify upper and lower case letters and checking to see if they can give the corresponding letter sound. This takes some time to meet with each child separately. This information will help guide my instruction to meet individual students’ needs. I will be sharing this information with you during our October parent/teacher conferences. I look forward to seeing everyone on Curriculum Night. Have you completed the PTO directory information form ? This form includes your contact information that will be published for all KES families. This is how families contact other families for play dates and birthday party invitations, etc. See you soon! Kathy Sullivan with Mrs. Maio Important Dates to remember: Sept. 10th-Voting in the school-Lunch will be in the classroom. Sept. 11th-Curriculum Night-6:00-6:45 in kindergarten & first grade classrooms. 6:45-7:15 whole school presentation in AP. 7:15-8:00 in second & third grade classrooms. Sept. 18th-School Picture Day-information will be sent home separately to families-Lunch in the classroom. Sept. 24th-PTO Meeting at 7:00 in library. Sept. 27th Minimum Day for students-dismissal at 1:05. Oct. 4th-First Friday Family Read at 9:00-9:30-Come read with your child. Oct. 9th-No School-Yom Kipper. Oct. 14th-No School-Columbus Day. Oct. 16th-Minimum Day-dismissal at 1:05. Oct. 23th -Minimum Day-dismissal at 1:05-Parent Teacher Conferences. Oct. 24th –Minimum Day-dismissal at 1:05-Parent Teacher Conferences. Oct. 29th-PTO Meeting at 7:00 in the library. Oct. 31st –Halloween Parade (2:00)-information will be sent home separately to families. Nov. 1st –Beautification Day-information will be sent home separately. Come help spruce up our school yard.
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August 28, 2019
Dear Families, Happy first day of kindergarten! Today we had a great day. We made a special project for you, did some drawing, read a story, and got to know all of our classmates. I look forward to seeing you again at our Curriculum Night, September 11th (6:45-8:00 for Kindergarten). Below you will find some important information concerning our classroom. Dismissal Procedure-If your child is not following their regular dismissal routine, it is your responsibility to inform us (send in a note in your child’s folder) with that day’s dismissal instructions. There is a dismissal form that can be downloaded from our website (www.rsd17.org click on schools then Killingworth Elementary, look under School Publication & Important Information to locate the KES dismissal form). Bags or Backpacks-Please have your child bring a full size backpack to school every day. Backpacks should be labeled with your child’s name in a very visible location. Please check your child’s backpack daily. Important information will be in your child’s folder. The folder that came home today should be checked and returned to school daily. If you need to send in a note, please place it in the folder. Please send notes that are no smaller than a half size sheet of paper. Smaller notices are easily lost or overlooked accidentally. Extra Clothes-Please send a change of clothes to school in a labeled Ziploc bag. Spare clothes need to be updated as the seasons change and as your child grows. Labels-Please put your child’s name in coats, sweaters, boots, mittens, lunch boxes, and other personal belongings. Yellow rain slickers, jean jackets, and Red Sox sweatshirts all look alike! Milk-Kindergarten students may purchase milk for sixty-five cents during our lunch time. Please place the money in a change purse, envelope or bag inside your child’s lunch box. Lunch-Kindergarten students may purchase lunch for $3.25. Money can be placed in the Ziploc bag attached to the folders. There is a calendar provided for each month. This calendar describes what is offered. Breakfast-There is a breakfast snack available for $2.25. Please see the corresponding calendar. Money can be placed in the Ziploc bag attached to the folders. Money-Any time your child brings money to school, please send it in a labeled and sealed envelope or Ziploc bag. Loose change is easily lost. Milk money should be placed in the lunch boxes. It is easier this way. Recess-We will go out for recess as long as the weather is good. As the weather becomes cooler, please be certain your child dresses appropriately. Party Treats-Birthdays are a very exciting time in the life of a kindergartner. You are welcome to send in treats to school for your child to pass out. Please inform the nurse what you are bringing in to school with 24 hours notice. It is important to avoid nuts due to allergies. Please do not send invitations to school to be distributed unless all are invited. This will ease hurt feelings. Snacks-Please send in two small, separate snacks (simple, not messy) in labeled Ziploc bags (label one bag AM and the other PM with your child’s name). Reusable cloth bags are fine too. We will have two snack times. We do not have a refrigerator. Please do not pack snacks in your child’s lunch box. Special Schedule I have sent home a list of the days in which we have specials. Please be reminded to send your child to school on gym day with sneakers. I hope this letter has answered a few of your questions. If you have any questions or concerns please get in touch with me at school at 860-663-1121 between 8:20-8:30 or leave a message in my voicemail. I will return your call at my first available moment. My email address is ksullivan@rsd17.org and I usually check it every morning around nine. Kindergarten is an exciting time in your child’s life. I am really looking forward to our year together. Sincerely, Mrs. Sullivan with Mrs. Maio Dear Students & Families Welcome to kindergarten! I hope that you are having a great summer. I have been very busy getting our classroom ready. We will have a very exciting year filled with learning, friendship and fun! I would like to invite you for a quick peek at our classroom and a chance to meet your classmates on Tuesday, August 27th at 2:00-3:00 (also known as the kindergarten “Meet and Greet”). It is fine if you are unable to make this informal get together. I am very excited about this year and would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Mrs. Sullivan and I live in Branford with my husband. We have two boys-they are both adults now. We enjoy the beach, swimming, and reading, of course! Each student will need a backpack and a lunchbox. But other than that, we have all the supplies your child will need. Students can purchase milk during lunch for 65¢ (this goes inside the lunch box in a coin purse/baggie). School lunches can be purchased for $3.25. This money should be placed in the folder that I have made for your child. A calendar with the lunch menu will be sent home during the first week of school. Kindergarten students have a morning and afternoon snack (please label). Both snacks need to be separate and outside of your child’s lunchbox. Wednesday, August 28th will be the first day of school. Kindergarten students are greeted on the buses and are escorted to our classroom. I look forward to meeting you at the “Meet and Greet” or on the first day of school. Sincerely, Mrs. Sullivan |
Mrs. Sullivanksullivan@rsd17.org Archives
October 2019
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