September+2,+2008

Dear Families,

The year is off to a great start. We are delighted to be working with your child. The staggered opening provided an excellent opportunity and an ideal setting to get to know your child. Thank you for helping to make this possible. We look forward to working with the whole class on Thursday and Friday.

Over the next few weeks, we will spend time getting to know each other, learning to work together and establishing our classroom routines. Already, your child has explored some of the classroom learning materials, worked in the art area, used the sand and water tables, and listened to stories. We all used the writing and drawing books and have spent time telling each other stories from our lives. We are also learning about the life cycle of the monarch butterfly and begun some projects related to the life cycle. Your child has been to the computer room to work with KidPix, a drawing program and we had lunch together in the cafeteria. Of course, we can’t forget about going to the playground – that’s the most important part of the day!

We are very busy each day at school. Your child will learn many things and have new experiences. Telling about school is not always easy for every child. A typical answer to the question, “What did you do at school” could be “Nothing” or “We just played” or “I don’t know”. Some children can give a complete rundown of everything that happened while others seem to wait until bedtime to begin to let the day unwind. It takes patience and understanding on your part to be able to wait for when your child is ready to tell about their day. Our blog will have pictures and description of our work during the week. Viewing the pictures with your child may help them to tell about what they did. In addition to our blog, I will send home newsletters telling about our work for the week.

Your child has a folder that will contain notes and announcements from the school. Please check your child’s backpack often for the folder. It will come home every Friday and at other times whenever necessary. Please return the folder on the next school day. Each Friday, the snack/lunch drink and lunch order form will be in the folder. Please check off the drink and lunch choices from the week. Young children do not reliably keep track of their drink and lunch choices so we need your help. If you are making a change on a particular day, please send a written note with your child. We will collect any money you send in and deliver it to Paula Duchano. Lunch is $1.50 and drinks are $.50. Our community snack will start next week.

• Friday, September 5 – Early Release – 12:30 dismissal • Wednesday September 10 Picture Day • I will hold Parent/Teacher conferences between September 10 – 24.More info will be sent home on Friday.**
 * Upcoming Dates

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