We Took a Tour Around the School and We Learned More About Our Campus

Friday, August 21, 2015

What a busy first week we have had! The students are getting into the swing of things and are doing a great job. This week we have focused on our daily routine and school rules. Please be sure to discuss with your child the importance of listening and following directions. Not only in the classroom but during lunch and special area as well. I know kindergarten is a big change for most of our students, but I’m positive that they can do it. We’re off to a great start!

Ask your child about some of the activities we did this week…

·  We took a tour around the school and we learned more about our campus

·  After reading “Manners at School,” we discussed appropriate and inappropriate behavior choices for school.

·  After reading “Who Took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar?,” we practiced name recognition and chanted the rhyme.

·  We completed our first fire drill!

·  We learned all about the “rules and procedures” for Buck Lake Bobcats!

The theme for our Wonders Reading Program this week was “I Am Special”. I introduced the letters Aa-Hh and our high-frequency sight word for the week was I. The children also participated in an interactive read-aloud: The Ugly Duckling. They drew a part of the story and told me about it. Their completed work has been placed in their daily folder. Please have them use their pointer finger as they read the high-frequency word page to you and encourage them tell you about The Ugly Duckling story.

We started Chapter 1: Represent, Count, and Write Numbers 0 to 5 from our math program this week. Our focus was on the numbers 1-4. I will be sending home practice pages for you to work on with your child at home. Please do not work ahead in the chapter. I do not need the math pages returned to school.

FLKRS

Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener is a program for assessing kindergarten students. Teachers screen and make observations of students to determine their school readiness. This information is gathered during the first 30 days of kindergarten for all Florida students. Studies using this information help educators determine the effectiveness of state sponsored pre-kindergarten programs.

WSS

For The Work Sampling System (WSS) teachers use classroom observations, experiences, activities and student products to document and evaluate children’s skills, knowledge and behaviors. The Domains are:

·  Personal and Social Development

·  Language and Literacy

·  Mathematical Thinking

·  Scientific Thinking

·  Physical Development, Health and Safety

We will start the BLE Terrific Kid program in early September. Each week, I will chose one student to be filmed as our Terrific Kid on our school news program called WBLS. This honor is given to those who are doing a great job following our school rules. The entire school will watch it during our morning announcements the following week. If your child tells you they are the Terrific Kid, a packet of “goodies” will be sent home the day of filming, telling you what a Terrific Kid they are! This is a special honor and I hope that each child will work toward earning it!

I appreciate your patience as I tried to get children home safely from school. Things have really gone smoothly. It is quite a challenge to keep up with each child’s mode of transportation; so please remember, if you change your child’s “going home” arrangements, send a written note in your child’s folder. Many notes are never seen if they are placed in back packs or lunch boxes. Remember, in order to ensure the safety of your child, I must send your child home by the usual means unless I receive written notification from you (or in an emergency, a call to the office). Please do not leave a change-of-transportation on my voice mail. Some afternoons are hectic and I will usually check my mail, but it is not always possible.

Please be aware that we do have severe allergies in our class to peanuts. If you can refrain from packing those items in your child’s lunchbox that would be greatly appreciated. Please remember we are a peanut free school. Also, when sending a snack for your child, please be sure to only send one snack and that it should be packaged separately from their lunch.

Keep in mind that our cubbies are small and space is limited. Please send only one lunchbox and one towel/blanket with your child. Also, towels go home on Friday to be washed and returned on Monday.

If you have not sent in a change of clothing for your child, please do so as soon as possible.

I love volunteers! Moms, dads and grandparents can volunteer in class or work on things for class at home. Please let me know if you are interested and we will find a classroom job for you! All volunteers must complete a volunteer application form that is availableonline. This form and background check must be completed if you plan to volunteer this school year. This includes chaperoning field trips.

Thank you so much for donating supplies and taking the time to fill out paperwork. If you did not have time to fill out the paperwork, please send it to school in the “Daily Folder” as soon as possible. It is very important that your child bring their back pack and daily folder to class each day. Please remember to sign their behavior sheet, discuss their day, and review any work that has been sent home. Please take out any papers that are meant for home. We will begin our behavior plan on Monday. See attachment.

I will utilize my website and email to relay information to you. However, my website is still under construction, but there will be updates posted soon! Please check often for important news. If you do not have access to the internet, please let me know so that I can find other means to update you. Not running copies saves paper and valuable time. If you have not already done so, please be sure to register for Buck Lake’s listserv. Our school is “going green”, and it is important that you sign up to receive school information.

Wish List….

·  Treasure box goodies

Thank you Mrs. Scott, Isaiah’s mom, for sending in items for our treasure box! We could still use a few more. If you are able, please send in a few things to add!

Labor Day Holiday (No School)

Monday, September 7th

Grandparents Day Lunch

Friday, September 11th

Again, your children are precious and delightful. Many of them are coming to school with skills that are making our class a wonderful place to learn.

Warmly,

Tamara Davis

Buck Lake 488-6133