Kindie Korner Adventures

Last night I spent the evening with other parents and educators in Abbotsford attending a free seminar on children and self-regulation.  It was a great evening of wonderful reminders, suggestions, and explanations about children, their brains, and behaviors.  It was such a great event, I thought I would share with you that there are 3 more free seminars in the series in case you might like to come too!

The next seminar is about understanding anxiety, temper tantrums, transitions, distractions and emotional control.  It’s on Thursday, October 19 from 6:30- 8:30 pm and you can sign up with the link below!

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/why-do-kids-struggle-understanding-anxiety-self-regulation-framework-part-2-tickets-37926671696

Your child needs your help! You may have noticed a paper in their folder today which explains this project.

If you are looking for some inspiration or ideas on ways to disguise your turkey, there are many suggestions available online, simply search “turkey in disguise” to see some of them.

Have fun!!

We had a wonderful time running in memory of Terry Fox with our Grade 6 buddies this morning. Before we ran we heard a bit about who Terry was and his amazing story.

Here are some photos of our run. Individual photos of your child and his/her buddy have been uploaded to their freshgrade portfolio.

Oh we have been learning so much in kindergarten!  In addition to learning the routines of school, we have been working on social skills, how to handle conflict with peers, and how to follow directions.  We have been using a program called WITS which stands for Walk away, Ignore, Talk it out, Seek help.  These give the students some strategies to use if something is happening that is bothering them.  We have begun discussing these strategies in class and have been trying to implement them in class and on the playground.

We have also been learning our clock phonograms!  Not sure what those are?  Come on out to our Spell to Write and Read Seminar!  So far we have focused on o, a, c, d, and we will introduce g and q before the end of the week.

In math we have been working on counting, identifying dots on dice and matching them to their numerals, and we have begun learning how to print our numerals.  I am sending home a little sheet today that includes some fun poems to help the children remember how to print their numbers.  At this point we have only gotten as far as 3, but I thought you might like to see what we are using in the classroom so you can support your child’s learning at home.

We have been learning about colors and shapes and patterning as well!

We have been so very busy in our little hive!  I hope you are feeling good about your child’s transition into kindie.  I think we are coming along quite nicely!

As part of our Bible curriculum we will be learning memory verses!  Generally, memory verses will be recited on Fridays.  As I am only now getting this first verse out to you, this one won’t be required to recite until NEXT Friday (October 6).  There is not much homework in Kindergarten, but memory verse practice is one thing that your child could really use your help with.  Please take some time each day, at the dinner table, while driving in the car etc, to work with your child on learning their verses.  We practice in class too, but there is often so much going on that we don’t have the time to focus on it each day.

This week’s verse:

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God.”  1 Thesssalonians 5:18a

Hi Parents!

I just wanted to make sure to mention that the primary staff is putting on a Spell to Write and Read Seminar next Tuesday, October 3, from 3:15-4:15.  This is an opportunity for you to learn more about the program we are using to teach the children at Highroad to read and write.  We will be going through a number of important things and it would be so helpful for you to be there!  This is a program that is used from kindergarten and the students carry this knowledge with them through the next number of years on their educational journey.

Childcare for this event is free, but we need to know if you are planning on using it so we can staff our childcare appropriately.  If you are planning on taking advantage of that service, please let me know (numbers of children, and if possible their ages).

Thanks so much,

Feel free to let me know if you have any questions!

October 3 – Spell to Write and Read parent seminar – 3:15-4:15 (childcare will be provided)

October 9,10 – School closed for Thanksgiving

October 17 – Pumpkin Patch Fieldtrip K-3

October 19 – Great Shake out – provincial earthquake drill

October 20 – Interim reports go home

October 24-26 – Scholastic Book Fair

October 25 – Knight Day

October 31 – Fall Dress up- wear your favorite fall colors! (no costumes please)

Hi Parents!

Me again!  Tomorrow, Thursday September 14 is individual picture day at school.  Students need to wear their full dress uniform.  Boys need to wear their button down shirt and cardigan.  If boys would prefer to wear shorts instead of pants, they may as the photo is only  from the waist up.  Girls need to wear Peter Pan blouse, tunic and cardigan.

Hi Parents!

I know you are probably thinking “enough information already!”  I am so sorry if you are feeling overwhelmed.  I just want to make sure I am doing my part in keeping you informed.

Comfort Kits:

Tomorrow a letter is coming home explaining what these are and what you need to do for them.  Please look for the orange paper in your child’s folder tomorrow.

Knight Shirts:

Each child in full time kindie is coming home with a black Knight shirt today.  These knight shirts are to wear on the last Wednesday of each month.  This day will be known as Knight Day and we wear these shirts in support of our school sports teams and to build our school spirit.  Students can wear casual bottoms with these shirts.  If your child doesn’t want to wear their knight shirt, they will need to wear their uniform.

And more:

I just wanted to say how pleased I am with how well the students are settling into our routines at school.  There is so much to learn and remember (you think YOU have a lot to keep straight!).  It is so nice to have lockers to keep our special things in, and the students are working on being responsible for their things.  You all did such an AMAZING job using the back and forth folders for pizza orders!  THANK YOU SO MUCH!  Your help following these procedures helps our day go so much more smoothly!

Book Order:

A scholastic book order form went home earlier this week.  If you would like to place an order, please take a look at the front page of the order form for the due date.  Payment can be made in the form of cheque or you can pay online with a credit card.  Let me know if you need assistance finding out how to do that.  Your scholastic orders enable me to acquire new books and manipulatives for the classroom.  There are always such fun books in there!

Special Classes:

3 times a week we have PE- 2 of these times we are in the gym with Mrs. Morris’ kindergarten class.  Mrs. Morris and I take turns planning and teaching these classes.  The remaining gym time we are in the gym on our own,

2 times a week the students have library.  We had our first library visit yesterday.  Mondays the students will take books home.  Please return your students’ books NEXT Monday.  They will then bring new books home on that day.  Fridays the students will go to the library to have story time and sometimes to play a game, color a picture or have quiet book time.  Mrs. Britz is our wonderful librarian and she is excited to get to know each of our kindies.

2 times a week the students have music.  These classes take place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  Mrs. Caswell is our music teacher and she loves to hear the children sing and worship God.  They had a wonderful time today singing together!

Hi Parents!

Just a reminder that students need to have a pair of pe shoes at school.  These need to be non-marking soles, with no flashing lights or characters please.

Also, if your child cannot tie lace shoes, please find other shoes for them.  I do not have time to tie 19 pairs of shoes each day and we are trying to teach the children to be as independent as can be.  Thank you for your help with this!