Week of October 1

Check out our creative animal immersion wall!



Happy Thursday, families!  I hope you all have had a wonderful week!

Looking ahead:  We'll be focusing on making and confirming predictions with our new reading story, My Very Own Room.  We'll be introduced to a prompt unit in writing, where students will also focus on paragraph writing.  As mathematicians, we'll continue working on addition and subtraction algorithms.  In science, we'll wrap up our animal unit with a test on Tuesday and begin a plant unit on Wednesday.  We'll kick it off by studying the life cycle of a plant, seed dispersal, tropism and color.

If you have not returned your child's permission form for our first "Being There Experience" at Congaree, please do so as soon as possible.

Please be sure to sign and return interims that go home today in communication folders, along with graded, stapled work. 

Just a friendly reminder:  The first "Being There Experience" payment is due Friday, October 5.  If you chose to pay in full, the total is $50.  If you chose to make two payments, the first payment is $25.  When you write your check, please be sure to include a phone number on it.

I hope you have a great weekend!

Week of September 24

Mr. Chang, a BRES parent and former NYC police officer, came on September 11 to share his memories of that tragic day.  We discussed the meaning of this day and how we can thank those who help protect us.

Happy Thursday, families!  I hope you all enjoyed your week!

Looking ahead... We'll be visiting the book fair this Friday!  If your child would like to purchase something from the book fair, he/she may bring money on Friday (or thereafter till it closes). 

Parent conferences on Tuesday, September 25:  Please keep in mind that I am on a tight schedule to fit all families in on Tuesday.  Please come with a list of any questions you may have that day.  Also, please know I am not trying to be insensitive, but I must keep our conversation to a maximum of 15 minutes, to ensure I stay on schedule and see everyone that day.  I appreciate your understanding in advance! 

Next week, as readers, we'll enjoy a fantasy story, Wolf!. We'll focus on comparing and contrasting.  Students will also be taking their kindergarten high-frequency post tests next Wednesday.  In math, we'll continue looking at the relationship between addition and subtraction.  In science, we'll study the effect disasters have on habitats, as well as, food chains.  Students will write riddles to go along with our animal unit. 

A reminder:  As we head into the cold season, please send all medicine (including cough drops) to the school nurse.  You will have to sign a form allowing this medicine to be dispensed.  Students are not allowed to keep medication of any kind in the classroom.

Please be sure to support our kindergarten's charity this month!  They are still accepting donations for the animal shelter!  We are also wrapping up our school's fundraiser!

As always, I appreciate your support and enthusiasm!  Please sign and return all stapled, graded work and communication folders on Friday.  Have a great weekend!

Week of September 17

 Checking out the life cycle of a moth with our kindergarten book buddy friends!

Happy Thursday, families!  I hope you all have enjoyed your week!  I look forward to seeing you Thursday night, September 13, for Open House!

You'll find a pink sheet in your child's communication folder today.  It concerns parent conferences.  Please read over it carefully and choose the best choice for you!  Please return this sheet by Monday, September 17.

Looking ahead to next week:  We'll be studying our first nonfiction story this year, Earth Smart.  Students will focus on main idea and details.  They will have an open book test (since this is a nonfiction story) on Friday, September 21.  We'll be wrapping up our region postcards in writing.  As mathematicians, we'll review for our first test, which will be on Wednesday.  We'll also start discussing fact families.  In science, we'll continue studying animal adaptations and habitats.  Students will also be taking the math portion of their MAP tests.  Please remind your child not to stress about this test!  It is a simple base line test that shows me where they stand, as beginning third graders.

Please return the green Being There Experience payment sheets that went home last Thursday.  They are due September 20, along with your child's USC physical activity log that went home a few weeks ago. 

Be sure to join PTO!  As always, thank you for your support and enthusiasm! Please return all forms and stapled graded work in your child's communication folder on Friday!

Week of September 10

I hope you all had a wonderful Labor Day weekend!  Next week, we'll focus on cause and effect with our new story, Amazing Grace.  We'll be creating postcards centered on regions in South Carolina.  We'll continue reviewing second grade concepts in math including:  finding differences, calculator routines and money.  We'll wrap up our first social studies unit with a vocabulary test on Tuesday and a unit test on Wednesday. 

A few notes of importance:  Students will be taking their MAP reading test on Tuesday, September 11.  This test will assess where students are in their understanding of reading concepts.  Please encourage your child to do his/her personal best - but ensure that there is no need to be anxious!  In the spring, students will take another test to see their growth this year.

Open House in Thursday, September 13.  Please make arrangements to join us for the hour (5:15 - 6:15)!  Childcare for school-age children will be available in the Multi-Purpose Room, as our Open House meeting is for parents only!  If you are unable to make it to this meeting, our Open House booklet will be sent home with your child Friday, September 14.

HELP OUR SHELTERS!  Please send in animal shelter supplies to assist Kindergarten's efforts in providing for local shelters.

Please return all graded papers and signed communication folders.