Pumpkins and Halloween

This week our theme was "Pumpkins and Halloween." We learned about how pumpkins grow and how they can be turned into jack-o-lanterns. We made bats, spiders, and pumpkin projects. We also focused on the letter Jj. Our Halloween parade, "trick-or-treating" in the room, and Witch's Brew snack was a lot of fun! 

We had a visit from Ms. Weiler, our school's social worker, this week to talk about Halloween safety. She will be visiting with us a few more times this year to discuss other topics. 

Next week our theme is "Night Time" and we will be having a pajama day on Wed./Thurs. of that week. Your child can bring a stuffed animal on that day as well. Please be sure the PJ's are warm enough to wear outside or send a change of clothes as we will still be going outside for recess. 

Reminders:
--The MAES Fall Festival will be held Thursday, November 10th from 4:30-6:00. There will be games, a picnic dinner, and prize drawings. If you are planning on attending, be sure to send back the form that was sent home this week. 
--The next Families Being Involved event will be Friday, November 18th in the morning. We will be bowling at the Sports Page. More information will be sent home next week. 
--Early Release will be on Tuesday, November 22nd. Dismissal will be at 1:52
--No school Wednesday, November 23rd through Friday, November 25th for Thanksgiving break
--Pre-K Christmas programs will be Wednesday, December 21st and Thursday, December 22nd at 9:30. This is a short program followed by juice and cookies. You are welcome to take your child home with you after the program. More information will be coming home as it gets closer. 

Fire Safety

Last week our theme was "Fire Safety." We learned about firefighters, how they can help us, what it means to stop-drop-and roll, and what we would do in a fire drill. We also learned about the letter Ff and the sound it makes. 

We had our first Families Being Involved event on the 21st. The pumpkin carvings turned out awesome! Thank you to all of the families who were able to join us. 

This week our theme is "Pumpkins and Halloween." We will be learning about the letter Jj.

Reminders:
--Picture Retake days are Tues. and Wed. of this week. Please send back the original photo packet if you want retakes done. 
--Our Halloween party will be Wed. and Thurs. of this week. Please feel free to send a costume with your child to wear for the afternoon-we will change back to regular clothes for going home. If you choose to send a treat to share-please have it be store packaged so we can verify the ingredients (we have allergies to red dye #40 and dairy this year.) 
--Pajama day will be Nov. 2nd and 3rd during our "Night Time" theme. Your child can bring a stuffed animal this day too. Please be aware we will still go out for recess these days so please have your child wear warmer PJ's or send a change of clothes for recess. 

Hibernation and Migration

This week we talked about hibernating and migrating animals, why they need to move and where they might go. We did not have a letter to review since it was a short week for our Pre-K students. 

Next week our theme is "Fire Safety."

Reminders:
--Picture retakes will be Tuesday, Oct. 25th and Wednesday, Oct. 26th. If you want your child to take a new photo, please return the original photo packet that you received.
--We will be having our Halloween parties on Wednesday, Oct. 26th and Thursday, Oct. 27th in the afternoon. If you choose to have your child dress up for our mini class parade-please send their costume to school with them and we will change into them in the afternoon. If you choose to send a treat to share with our class, please send store packaged treats so we can verify the ingredients for our students with food allergies. 
--We will be having a pajama day on Wednesday, Nov. 2nd and Thursday, Nov. 3rd during our Night Time week. We will still be going out for recess these days so please send a change of clothes if the PJ's are not warm enough for outside. 
--Please be sure to label your child's lunch box, jackets, boots, gloves, rest time pillows and blankets,  etc. so we can be sure the right belongings go home with the right student. 

Leaves and Fall

This week we added to the fall decorations in our hallway by making painted leaves and acorns. We also made a special fall tree that will be coming home next week. Our first use of glitter paint this year was a hit. :-) We talked about how the weather was starting to change to cooler temperatures and how the trees are changing. Mr. Joe came to our class to read "Fox and the Falling Leaves." We also focused on the letter Ll and the sound it makes. 

Next week our theme will be "Hibernation & Migration." 

Reminders:
--Parent/Teacher Conferences are coming up. If the day and time that is scheduled do not work, please contact me to make other arrangements. 
--There will be no school for PreK on Wed. the 12th due to Child Development Day
--There will be no school for all grades on Thurs. the 13th and Fri. the 14th. 
--Our first Families Being Involved (FBI) event will be on Friday, October 21st at 9:00 for those that signed up. If you have not sent back the form stating your family would like to join us please let me know as soon as possible. We want to be sure that we have enough pumpkins on hand. 

5 Senses

This week our theme was "Our Five Senses." We we able to take our nature walk on Monday and Thursday of this week. There were able to see deer trails from the woods to the field, deer tracks, sap marks on trees, holes from woodpeckers on trees, holes of an animal burrow, and a Wood Duck home. We were able to hear crickets, birds, and a lawn mower/tractor. We were able to feel the wind blowing, moss, bark, grass, pine needles and dew on the grass. 

We also focused on the letter Yy and the sounds that it makes. The September Scholastic book orders have come in today. I will be sending them home Monday and Tuesday to those that ordered. Thank you!! I will be sending the October fliers later in the month. We had our first Early Education Reading Award book sent home this week. Each month we provide your child with a book that they are able to keep at home. I hope you enjoy reading these books with your child! 

Next week we will be exploring the theme "Leaves and Fall" and focusing on the letter Ll. 

Reminders:
-No PreK on Wed. October 12th
-No school all grades on Thurs. October 13th and Fri. October 14th
-Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for my students on Thurs. October 13th and
   Fri. October 21st. Reminder notes of the scheduled times will be coming home next week.
   If changes need to be made, please contact me as soon as possible. 

Apples

This week we talked all about apples-how they grow, what you can make from them, and the differences between the types of apples. Thank you to those who sent in apples. We were able to make some great applesauce! We also discussed the letter Aa and the sounds it makes. We also had school picture day. I will send the photos home when I receive them, there is a picture retake day in the near future. This was homecoming week for the high school and we were able to join the fun with dress up days. Later today there will be the parade and football game! 

Next week our theme will be our 5 Senses. If the weather cooperates with us we will be taking a nature walk on the Kuse Trail near our school on Monday and Tuesday-otherwise if it is raining we will go Wed./Thurs. Feel free to send mud/rain boots with your child. 

Reminder: 

-Parent/Teacher conferences are coming up in October. Reminder slips of the time slots you chose at open house will be sent home soon. 

-No school for Pre-K on Wed. Oct 12th

-No school for all students on Thurs. Oct 13th and 14th

Our First Week

Our first family project was sent home with your child this week. Please have everyone in your family help complete the Family Tree and please return it to school!

Our theme this week was " Welcome & Bus Safety." We learned about the rules for our school, classroom, and bus. We read the book The Kissing Hand and created a special project just for you. We also began working on our cutting skills, and started making new friends!

Next week our theme will be "Shapes." We will be working on shapes throughout the year but this coming week will be our big kick-off to the world of shapes! The children will be matching shapes, sorting and coloring shapes, making a shape train, creating a noodle shape, and singing/dancing to the shape hokey pokey. 

REMINDERS

*Remember to place some money in your child's lunch account if you have not done so yet. 
*Family Tree project due Sept. 14th or 15th
*When your child has a birthday or we celebrate a holiday it is fine to send a treat if you choose to. I do ask that the treats be store wrapped in the original package to verify ingredients. We currently have 15 children in the Mon./Wed. class and 16 in the Tues./Thurs. class. We do have allergies to lactose and red dye #40 in our classes this year, so please check the ingredient lists.