From, Mrs. Roberts, Thomas, Lucas, Isabella, Brady, Kaitlyn, Walker, Lia, Jamie, Gabe, Jonas, Kelsey, Sarah, and Molly

Hello everyone,

It is already June!!  I can't believe how fast these last couple of months have flown.  First I have to thank Mr. Erb for coming in to speak to our class on Thursday.  He brought a lobster trap, some lobsters, crabs, a starfish, and many other sea creatures.  The students had lots of questions for him, and we learned lots of new things.  Everyone loved holding the sea creatures.  We had a blast.  Thank you Mr. Erb!!!

It looks like it may rain for our estuary trip.  We do not have a raindate planned for this Monday's field trip.  I am not sure if we will cancel or not.  Please send the students with their rain gear just in case.  However, I do have a special movie planned to make up for any disappointed kindergarteners, if the trip does get cancelled.  We'll turn our rainy day into a fun day!!!  Friday's field trip does have a rain date of Thursday (yes I know that does sound weird), but we will keep you posted as the week progresses.

During the next couple of weeks, it may get warmer.  The students are welcome to bring a water bottle to keep with them.  I have no problems with this.  Please make sure they are not much larger than 16 ounces.

Monday, June 18th, is Field Day.  Kindergarten will be participating in the morning, and we would love to have some parent help.  If you are interested, please let me or Maureen Fulford know you are interested to help for the morning.  I can guarantee you will have fun!

Our last book order has been placed, and should be here in the next 1-2  weeks.  Thanks for all of your support with book orders this year.  Lynda Bryan will be coming to visit our class on Wednesday to talk to the students about summer reading programs at Graves Library.  Please remember how much progress these little kiddos have made in reading, and make reading a priority all summer long!!!

Hopefully everyone has marked their calendars for the KCS Kindergarten Family Picnic on Thursday, June 14th.  We will be having the picnic rain or shine.  If it rains, we will bring the blankets and lunches, and picnic indoors.  We originally planned to have a raindate of the 15th, but Consolidated is planning a barbeque for that day, so our picnic will remain on the 14th.  See you all then!!

The last day of school is an 11:45 release on June 19th.  Lunch will not be served on that day.

Friday's Show and Tell is special this week!!  The students have to bring something special that starts with the first letter of their name!!

We will be having an artist in residence this week at Consolidated School.  We will have two sessions to work with the Circus Smirkus resident, so please make sure the students have comfortable clothes and sneakers.  Our class sessions will be on Monday(April 30) and Wednesday(May 2).  This should be lots of fun!!!

Thursday, May 3  I will be at KES for the day.  Mrs. Susan Flynn will be our substitute.

Friday, May 4 I will be helping with screening for next year's kindergarten students.  Mrs. Susan Flynn will be our substitute.

Tuesday, May 8 is National Teacher Appreciation Day.  Don't forget to say a special thank you to our ed. tech. Mrs. Merrill.

Wednesday, May 9 is Early Release Wednesday.

Our music concert is Tuesday, May 15 at 6:30.

Friday, May 18 I am taking a personal day to chaperone my son's field trip at his school.  Mrs. Peggy Cole will be our substitute.

Monday, May 28 there is no school.

I am still missing a few report cards.  Please try to return those to me after vacation.  Also, if your child hasn't brought home their art folder, please stop in the classroom and pick it up.  The art work is too big to send on the bus.  Thanks!

(Or is it winter break??  The weather is very confusing!!)

Don't forget to do something FUN!!!!!

School resumes on Monday, April 23rd!!!

We are now in our third trimester of Kindergarten.  It is hard to believe that we have 3 months left.  The students have come so far this year.  Report cards went home on Friday.  Please take the time you need to review your child's card, but do sign and return the report card and envelope when you are finished.  Also, if you have not signed up for a conference yet, please contact Kathy in the office.  I look forward to meeting with you all once again.  The students have all made nice gains. 

Mrs. Mildner and I are very proud of our Kindergarteners for completing two weeks of aerobics.  As part of our health unit, we started each day with 15 minutes of "Aerobikids".  Even Mrs. Mildner and myself kicked up our feet as well.  The students did a fantastic job.  They learned the routine quickly, and were pleased with their own progress each day.  Both classes were acknowledged at morning meeting on Friday by Mrs. Pence.  Congratulations for a job well done!

We are finishing up our unit on health, and will begin a unit on the sun and the night sky.  During this unit, we will have our field trip to the Southworth Planetarium in Portland.  Permission slips have gone home.  The trip will be on Monday, April 23rd, and students must have a signed permission slip in order to attend, as well as $4 for admission.  If you have misplaced your form, please let me know, and I can send home a new one.  If you are interested in chaperoning, please make sure to note it on the permission slip as well.  Thanks!

We do have a few wish list items for the classroom:  plastic spoons, napkins, wet ones, and gluesticks.

 **Another note to put on the calendar is the Kindergarten/1st grade music concert will be on May 15th at 6:30p.m. **

Other Dates to Remember:

April 3:  Rick Charette 1:30 at Consolidated

April 11: Early Release Wednesday (Noon dismissal)

April 13: No School

April 16-20: School Vacation

April 23: K Field Trip to Southworth Planetarium

Earlier this month Martha Dana brought many of her fabulous puppets to our classroom.  She has made all of her own puppets, and has created skits to put on for young students.  Martha often invites the students to be a part of the skit, and the students loved all of her stories.  Throughout Martha's presentation, there are many lessons shared such as:

- If at first you don't succeed, try & try again.

- It is always important to tell the truth.

- Doing good things to help others is rewarding.

- It takes strength to be different. (Diversity)

- Don't litter.

- Sharing.

Dental Health:  

We've finished up talking about dental health.  The students learned so much about how to take care of their teeth.  Here's the list they created in our classroom:

1.  Brush your teeth two times a day.

2.  Use fluoride rinse.

3.  Floss every day.

4.  Use fluoride toothpaste.

5.  Eat healthy foods.

6. Visit the dentist.

The students have been filling in their toothbrushing charts at home.  Once they have filled in for one week, they may return their chart for a cavity fighting surprise!!!

DR. SEUSS:

Dr. Seuss' birthday was Friday, March 2nd.  Due to the snow day, we are doing lots of Dr. Seuss activities this week.  The most exciting activity is reading all of his books.  Every spare minute possible, the students dive right into our corner of Dr. Seuss books, and proudly read to one another.  If the students have Dr. Seuss books at home they would like to share, feel free to send them to school.  Please make sure your child's name is labelled inside of the book.

2nd Trimester Comes to an End:

The 2nd trimester ends on March 16th.  Report cards will be going home on March 23rd.  This also means that we will be able to spend some time together to discuss your child's progress during parent/teacher conferences.  My schedule is listed below, and you may contact the office to make your appointment, but please call the office after March 12th.  THANKS!  I will have 3:00 pm conferences on March 26, 27, and 28.  Then I will have 7:45 am conferences on April 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10.  I will also be available for a night of conferences on Wednesday, April 11th from 4:00 pm until 7:30 pm.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

MATH:

We have been doing our assessments in math, and I am so proud of the progress the students have made with their math skills this year.  It is amazing how much they LOVE math!  We are working on the following skills:  counting by 1s to 90, counting backwards from 25 to 0, counting objects to 50, counting by 10s and 5s to 100, writing our numbers to 20, and recognizing coins such as the penny, dime, and nickel. 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

We have a special puppeteer coming to our class on Friday, March 9th.  I will send pictures of her performance!!

Don't forget that we have an Early Release Wednesday on March 14th.

I want to thank everyone for their support these past couple of weeks.  Your emails and letters have been very thoughtful, and we will continue to be patient and hopeful.  I will keep you posted!

The students have been very responsible with all of their belongings coming to and from school.  They are always prepared with the things they need, and I thank you for assisting them with this at home.  I will be sending home the students' beach towels for cleaning.  Please make sure these are returned after vacation. 

Reading is an exciting area of growth in our Kindergarten classroom.  The students are so excited to be reading, and have their own collection of books to read in the classroom.  They are making such nice progress that I will begin to move them along a bit further after vacation.  Many of the students are showing that they are ready to be challenged another level or so.  This is so exciting!!

Another new and exciting addition to our curriculum is Writer's Workshop.  We now find three times during the week to do some story writing.  Students are learning to develop stories that have a beginning, middle, and an end.  We have stories of magical snowman, lost pirate ships, fiery dragons, princesses and princes, and how legos creations come alive.  It is amazing to watch the student's imaginations come to life.  I do have software that allows me to type stories into book form, which includes the child's own publisher page and all.  Eventually we will publish most stories, and the students will be able to illustrate their own published books.  I am so proud to see the excitement when the students find out it is time for Writer's Workshop.  They love to write!

Have you ever read any of Robert Munsch's books?  He is the new author that we are reading in our classroom.  Many of my previous students could probably tell you that Robert Munsch is my favorite author.  He writes many funny stories, and the students absolutely love listening to them.  My absolute favorite title of Robert Munsch's is Love You Forever.  As a mom, I will always cherish this book.  Hopefully, all of you moms have read this book with your child.  It is very special.

I would like to send out an extra special thank you to Mrs. Erb.  With Valentine's this week, Mrs. Erb brought in crafts and supplies to decorate Valentine mailboxes.  The students had so much fun individualizing their own mailbox.  Each one is very unique.  This was a special treat.  Thank you so much!!

Don't forget next week is school vacation.  School resumes on Monday, February 26th!  Have a great vacation!!

Check out our snowmen we made today!