Heyser Farm Field Trip

We are going to the apple farm.  We have a field trip planned for October 14 or 15 (depending on the class that your child is in).  We are going to Heyser Farm to sort apples, tour the farm and orchard and watch how they make apple cider.  Permission slips will be in your child's folder.  Please return the signed forms and money to your child's teacher as soon as possible.

Dojo Point Tracker

Our kindergarteners are very excited about their Dojo Monsters and the points they are earning in school.  We hope they have been sharing it with you.   Some of them may have already come home with a certificate for reaching 20 points!

Starting Monday, September 28, the kindergarten team will be sending home a Dojo Point Tracker in your child’s daily folder.  This will show your child’s cumulative points as of the end of the day.  Remember, at 20 points, your child’s points are reset to 0, so if he/she has 19 one day, it is possible for them to have 2 points the next.  You can use this tracker to talk to your child about his/her behavior at school.  Ask your child how he/she earned points and praise them for following our school rules.

There are also certain circumstances where students may lose a point (for behaviors that require immediate consequences).  However, these students may earn that point back later in the same day.   Keep in mind, too, that you will receive a call or note from the teacher if there is a behavior concern for your child. 

We are pleased with the student response we have gotten towards Class Dojo.  We hope this tracker allows you to continue the conversation about the 6 Pillars of Character at home, too – Respect, Responsibility, Caring, Trustworthiness, Fairness and Citizenship.  

PTA Meeting

This year’s first PTA meeting will take place next Wednesday evening, September 16, at the school. There will be pizza at 6:30, and KAH will provide child care. The meeting begins at 7. Please join your fellow parents and members of our staff to share ideas and suggestions for this year’s PTA activities, set goals for the year, and vote for PTA president-elect. 

Class Dojo

Class Dojo

This week, we have introduced our classroom management system, Class Dojo!  Students are earning points by making positive choices that relate to our Six Pillars of Character.  Kindergarteners have earned points by sitting quietly on the carpet, helping to clean up our classroom and following directions the first time. 

Our current goal for Kindergarteners is to earn 20 Dojo points.  Once your child has reached this goal, he/she will be able to choose from a variety of rewards, such as sitting in the teacher’s chair, jumping spots in line or bringing a stuffed animal to school.  We will also send home a certificate so that you know once they have reached their goal!

Lunch PINs

Kindergarten lunch PINs will be sent home on Tuesday.  The students do NOT need to memorize their PINs.  They are given a blue swipe card at lunch.  You will need the PIN, though, to add money to their lunch account.

Snack Reminders

·         Snack is only 5-10 minutes.  Please do not send in more food than your child can eat in that time. 

·         If you send in snack:

o   Label the snack so your child knows it is snack and not lunch

o   Please send in healthy snacks

o   Do not send in snacks that your child can not open themselves

·         For communal snack:

o   We appreciate donations to share with the class

o   We can only offer one type of communal snack each day – this may vary day to day depending on the variety of donations we receive

o   Suggested donations – pretzels, gold fish, cheerios, veggie sticks, graham crackers

Thank you for your cooperation.

September Updates

We had an exciting first week of kindergarten!   Here’s what’s coming up in September…

Reading

 Our formal reading testing window opens up next week.  We will use the data to group your children with others at their level and to start our small reading groups.  Read, read, read at home!  They more you read to them, the more they know!

Writing

Our writing workshop will begin with drawing and writing letters, words and sentences.  We write every day, but we will hold the writing in school in your child’s writing folder.  You will take it home when you come in November for your child’s conference.

Math

In math we are learning position words like top, bottom, above and below. We are counting and writing our numbers 0 – 10.  We are sorting objects in different ways.  We are completing and creating patterns.  Practice with your child at home – count grapes or veggies, count cars or flowers – have fun.

Science/Social Studies

In science, we will learn about the weather and the seasons.  We will learn about American symbols and famous Americans in social studies.

Homework

Weekly homework will come home September 8 and will be due back on September 15. 

ESOL 

ESOL stands for English to Speakers of Other Languages.  This month we will be evaluating students whose families use a primary language other than English in the home to determine which students are eligible to receive ESOL services.  We work with students both in the classroom and in small groups to teach the academic language needed to succeed in school.

Dates to remember

September 7 – No School – Labor Day

September 14 – No School – Holiday

September 23 No School – Holiday

We look forward to working with you and your children.

The kindergarten Team

Mrs. Goldberg                   Ms. Johnson                      Mrs. Orenstein         Mrs. Ramienski

Mrs. Lim                           Ms. Pierson                       Mrs. Burnsky            Ms. O’Neill

Dr. Grossman                    Mrs. Pleitez                        Mrs. Silberman