Beverly Cleary School

Kindergarten News – Room 7  - May 1, 2011

 

Dear families,

            With only 30 more days of school, it feels a challenge to put this newsletter together with an attempt at brevity!  We’ll see……

            We are entering out last testing window so I will be individually testing all children for end of the year benchmarks in all subject areas as well as Dibels testing for predicting long term reading success.  In reading and writing we will be focusing largely on review and reinforcement of concepts taught.  Most children have met end of the year benchmarks in reading so further instruction will introduce material (blends, digraphs, long vowels)  covered at the beginning/middle of first grade.  First grade teachers are adept at assessing and delivering appropriate instruction to meet the children where they are.

            In writing, we are continuing to work on capitalizing the first word of a sentence and put punctuation at the end.  Children who have mastered this are working on content, adding details, and sequencing information in a piece of writing.

            In math we are continuing work with ten frames (counting on from 10, 20, 30, etc.).  Additionally we need work on extending growing number patterns and naming three -dimensional shapes.

            We have officially named the chicks.  First we brainstormed a list of possibilities.  Each student then received a ballot and voted for 7 names.  We observed the chicks and decided which names were best for each chick.  Three of the chicks have gone into a “traveling brooder” so they can visit each of the other kindergarten classrooms.  We will probably keep the chicks for two more weeks, by which time I hope to have homes for them.  If you know of anyone with a hutch who needs chicks, please let me know.

            Your children will participate in move up day on the last day of school to meet their first grade teacher.  Your child will come home that day with the name of their first grade teacher as well as a supply list for next year.  Please read the following insert from Teri Geist regarding input you may give regarding placement.

 

“My grade level colleagues and I will soon be formulating class lists for next year.  If you would like to bring something to my attention to assist me in placing your child, please put it in writing without naming a teacher, requesting a student not be placed with a certain teacher, specifying gender of describing his/her physical characteristics.  I must have you input in writing by May 6^th.  The class assignment process is a long and involved one.  My colleagues and I spend a great deal of time looking at each of our own students to determine what type of classroom environment is going to best suit their needs.  We also realize there are occasions when we feel some students should not be placed in the same classroom.  After deliberating as individual teachers we meet as a grade level team to form three sections that are balanced with gender, skill levels and individual needs.  Our administrators review the lists several times before they are finalized.  We work exceedingly hard at balancing all of these factors, and by the time we have finished we feel very strongly we have come up with a class composition, which will make for a successful year.  Unless we have overlooked something in a student’s placement that we feel merits a change, all class assignments are final.  Please let me  as well as the office , know if your child will not be returning to Beverly Cleary in the fall.  This is particularly helpful information to have as we work to balance classes.”

 

Here are some highlights for the year’s end:

 

May 4 – Cultural Awareness Assembly  @ BCF (walkers needed)

May 6 – Egg drop day – You’re invited to remain at school at 8:30 to hear kids describe their projects and watch the “drops” at 9ish.

May 11 – Two hour late opening

May 12 – Art/Curriculum Night

            5:15-5:45 – Rooms open for parent/students

            5:45-6:00 – Students/Parents/Teachers walk to GHS

            6:00-6:30 – K,1 Music concert

May 13 – Friday PD – we need 2 parent volunteers 12:45-2:30

May 24 & 25 – Marcia will be out for math training (Louise Herbold will substitute)

May 30 – Memorial Day  - no school

June 8 – Jr. Rose Festival Parade (school is in session) Please see Teri’s message in the Family Bulletin

May 14 – Move up day, end of year activities, last day of Kindergarten!

 

            I’m hoping I’ve not forgotten anything.  This is a lot of information to digest but seems important.  As always, thanks for all your support!

 

                                    Marcia Miller

 

           

           

Illness Policy


PPS guidelines request that any student with a fever or vomiting stay home from school for 24 hours following the cessation of those symptoms.  If a child runs a fever or vomits during the night, they should not attend school the following day but instead wait until they have been fever free (vomit free ) for 24 hours.

Children who develop rashes during the school day will be sent home until the cause of the rash has been medically determined.

Any child with a communicable illness (mumps, chickenpox) should be kept at home until a doctor certifies they are not contagious.  

A child who has been found to have head lice at school will be sent home and may return to school after having completed proper treatment.  

While children may be at school with a cold, please use discretion as to whether they are able to function for an entire day when considering whether or not they should be there.  A child, who is feeling so poorly that all they want to do is sleep, should probably stay home until they have more stamina.

Children exhibiting any contagious symptoms requiring treatment (strep throat, pink eye) will usually be sent home until a regimen of medication has been administered for 24 hours.  Your doctor will be able to assist you in this decision.  

For most illnesses, Kelly in the office has printed information to help determine whether a child should be at school.  Please feel free to email or call her for clarification.

I periodically reteach lessons in hand washing, coughing into your elbow and the spreading of germs in the classroom.  Antibacterial pumps are situated around the classroom and children know that if they pick their nose, put fingers in their mouth, etc.  they are to get up and pump their hands.  We will continue to work on these habits as the year goes on.

If you have more specific questions, please email them to me or to Kelly in the office.