1. Kindergarten Jungle August/September 2014 Important Dates: Sept. 1 - Labor Day-NO SCHOOL Sept. 5, 12, 19, 26 Early Dismissal @ 1:30 Sept. 10 - Scholastic Book Orders Due Sept. 26 – Johnny Appleseed’s Birthday Celebration Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24 Early Dismissal @ 1:30 Oct. 27 Conference Prep 12:30 Dismissal Oct. 10 - Scholastic Book Orders Due Oct. 10 – Fire Safety Presentation Oct. 16 – Parent Info Night re: Standards Based Report Cards & MYD Oct. 24 – Pumpkin Patch Field Trip (tentative date) Oct. 28 – Oct 31 - Early Dismissal @ 12:30 (Parent-Teacher Conferences) Welcome to Mrs. Peek’s kindergarten classroom! September will be an exciting month as we get to know one another better, learn school routines and begin working toward our individual academic goals. Social studies will revolve around classroom citizenship and families. We will do projects that require us to work together as a TEAM. In Math and readiness concepts, we will spend some time this month reviewing colors, shapes and how to properly write numbers as well as understand one-to-one correspondence (that a number stands for a certain amount). Science will consist of a study of fall, apples and apple tress. We will wrap up the apple study by making applesauce in celebration of Johnny Appleseed’s birthday later in September. In phonics and reading, students will begin learning letters and the sounds they make. This month’s featured letters will be L, O, G, H. We will practice writing these letters and begin to put together words with them as well. This is an exciting time when students begin to understand that they CAN read! We spend the first few days of school talking about the different ways to read… Read the pictures, re-tell a familiar story and finally read the words-some by sight and others by using sounding out & phonics rules.

2. HOMEWORK, HOMEWORK, HOMEWORK!!!! It is my policy NOT to assign homework on a daily basis. My reasoning is that I expect students to give me their VERY best for the 6.5 hours they are at school and I believe they need their evenings to get fresh air, exercise and refreshment for the next school day. However, I DO EXPECT someone at home to read with your child 20 minutes each evening. We have weekly reading slips that should be filled out and returned on Mondays so that I know this is happening. Students who read at least 20 minutes 20 days per month receive a certificate and prize at the beginning of the following month. Other than that, occasionally your child may bring home an assignment to be completed at home but I will always give them several days to complete it. Boomerangs and Progress Reports As we discussed at Welcome Day, our main mode of communication between home and school is the boomerang (green folder). It is VITAL that this come back and forth EVERY day! This is where I will send home any important papers from myself or the school office. It is also where you will find weekly progress reports. Progress reports will come home every Monday with your child’s work from the prior week. These report forms require a signature and return confirmation slip. The boomerang is also where you can communicate concerns about your child, changes in transportation plans, send lunch money, etc. PLEASE NOTE--I do not usually have time to check boomerangs until the 9:45 recess. So, if you have something that you need to communicate before that time, you can call the school or e-mail me. E-mail will probably be the quickest way to get a message to me. I normally check it every morning at about 8:00am. Scholastic Book Orders You will receive a newsletter, lunch calendar and book order at the beginning of each month. Book orders are voluntary (of course). They are a great way to build your child’s library very inexpensively. Also, for every dollar you spend, our classroom library benefits from new books too. It is a win-win situation! I have attached a form explaining the online ordering system (if you choose to do that instead of sending in your book order). Our class receives a free book for each order placed by parents online. I do ask that if you are ordering the traditional way by sending in the order form that you send CASH ONLY. This helps me because I place & pay for those orders online with my debit/credit card to speed up shipping.

3. Check out our classroom webpage! You can find us by going to www.mccleary.wednet.edu, click on faculty and click on our classroom link. This is a great way to stay up to date on what’s happening in the classroom and see great photos of class projects. Grandparents and friends can check it out too. There is also normally a link to our monthly newsletter in case you misplace the hard copy sent home at the beginning of each month… P.S. It may be a week or so into the school year before the updated webpage is available to view. Ways to check us out online…. This year will be our third year with a Facebook page for announcements, posting student work and keeping you in the loop. If you would like to follow our classroom activities search for Peek Jungle and request to be our friend. Once accepted, you will automatically receive any updates we post in your news feed. Also, you have the ability to comment on our posts. However, there will be a delay in your comment appearing on our page because I have to approve any comments that post to the classroom FB account prior to their appearance. Please make sure your child comes to school dressed appropriately for drizzly weather. We try to get the kids outside for recess as much as possible -- even when it is sprinkling. The fresh air and exercise help their brains function better during times of instruction. Also, it is helpful if you label coats, backpacks & hats with your child’s name or initials. Many of our families shop at the same locations and it is not unusual for many kids to have identical items.