Ms. Mikki’s News

December 20th, 2016

Ms. Jessie and I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  We have thoroughly enjoyed watching your children learn and grow this year.  There is never a dull moment in our room, and nothing makes up happier than seeing their smiling faces each day.  We’d also like to thank all of our parents for supporting your child’s learning.  We appreciate the cooperation and teamwork between us.  Your children are well on their way to school success because you have invested in their educational experiences.  Pat yourselves on the backs Mom and Dad!  

First Semester:  During the first semester we really focused on social/emotional development.  We are “learning to learn”.  Our attention spans are growing, we are learning to share, solve problems with words, and working on self control.  As they mature, so will these skills.   

Cognitive Development:  All of our students have a solid foundation of the typical concepts and skills.  We will continue to build upon those as we move through the year.  Examples include:  colors, shapes, rote counting 1:1 correspondence, comparisons (ex:  big/small), matching, and sorting.  

Language:  We are learning new vocabulary everyday.  What’s the #1 way you can help your child’s language develop?  READ...READ...READ.  If you aren’t reading to your child at least 20 minutes a day, I encourage your to make that a goal.  We will continue to work on reciting the ABC, and will begin learning more and more letters.  We will specifically be working on identifying each letter in our names (in order, and in isolation).  

Upcoming Dates:

JANUARY 4TH:  Students report back to school

January 7th:  Saturday Play group:  10-11.  

January 16th:  No School-  MLK Day

Tuition:  Please check your email for updated tuition.  I didn’t get the email sent out last week, so the email you receive this week is your current tuition status.  Tuition was not due for this week Dec. 19th.  It will be due when we return to school on January 4th.  

Thank you for all of the wonderful Christmas gifts!  We’ll see you all in January!

Ms. Mikki’s Newsletter

December 9th, 2016

Santa Bash was a HIT!!!  Thank you to everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to attend.  This was one of our largest attended events.  If you were not able to attend or missed picking up a preschool application for next year, please let me know and I will send one home with you.  Yes, you must fill another one out for next year.  

This week we finished up our Gingerbread and 5 senses unit.  We read two more versions of the Gingerbread Man stories, Gingerbread Pirates and Gingerbread Friends.  

We also continued to identify 5 senses, named each body part responsible for each sense and names things that fit into each category.  

Next week we will practice sorting by color, graphing, and identifying different sizes (small, medium, large), and ordering items from smallest to biggest.  

Santa’s Workshop:  One of my favorite centers to set up this time of year is Santa’s Workshop.  This allows children the opportunity to wrap pretend presents, which requires them to use their fine motor skills.  If you have any small boxes (shoe box or smaller), scotch tape (lots of it), or leftover wrapping paper and bows, please send them to school.  This is class favorite activity!!

Vision Screenings:  All children were screened last week for vision.  You should be receiving information regarding your child’s results this week.  

Care To Learn Donations:  We are taking part in a school wide food drive to benefit our backpack program.  Preschool classes are donating granola/cereal bars. This is optional and we appreciate those who have already sent a donation in.  We are currently sending home 30+ backpacks each week to families in need.  Every donation, big or small helps fill those backpacks up.  

Dates to Remember:

Tuesday, Dec. 20th - Last day to bring items for the Care to Learn tree

Monday, Dec. 19th-  Christmas Party-  9:30

Tuesday, Dec. 20th - Christmas Party-  9:30

Wednesday, Dec. 21-Jan. 3rd - Christmas Break

Wednesday, Jan. 4th - Classes resume

BOOK ORDER change! If at all possible I'd like to submit the book orders earlier than the original due date. If you are planning to place an order online or by class order form, please do that by Tuesday the 6th. I just want to ensure delivery by Christmas Break!

Thanks!

Ms. Mikki’s Classroom News

December 2, 2016

This week:  This week we started learning about the 5 senses.  We read The Gingerbread Baby, The Gingerbread Cowboy, and 10 Gingerbread Men.   This week we focused on 2 senses: seeing and hearing.  We used magazine cutouts to identify things we see and hear and posted them on our gingerbread man.  We listened to an “Outside Sounds” CD and had fun guessing what each sound was.  Although most of the sounds they were familiar with, but they also heard some new ones such as wind chimes, and city bus.  

Circle time:  We continue to develop our social emotional skills during group time.  Some skills that we continue to work on are respecting our friend’s personal space, keeping our hands to ourselves, raising our hand when we would like a turn to talk, and listening to our friends and teacher when it’s their turn to talk.  

Comprehension Skills:  Our attention spans are growing!  During our story times we are working on recalling events in the story, using pictures in our story to make predictions about what the story is telling on that page, and increasing our vocabulary.  

Next week:  We will continue to learn about the other 3 senses:  Touching, tasting and smelling.  

November’s Goal:  We have several who have mastered putting on their own coats!  Way to go!!  

Reminders:  

Extra clothing:  Please make sure your child has an extra set of winter clothing in their backpacks in the event of an accident, spill, or messy water play.  

Recess:  We will make an effort to play outside on a daily basis.  Please make sure you send a coat, hat and mittens to school each day.  

Christmas Giving: During the month of December, our students will be collecting donations for our Care To Learn program.  The following list by grade level is what we are asked to bring to donate:

PK-Cereal bars

K-Meal Cans/Box Items (individual mac/cheese cups, ravioli, etc)

1st grade-Pop-tarts

2nd grade-Pudding/Jello/Fruit cups

3rd grade-Cereal

4th grade- Cheese and Peanut Butter Crackers

Thank you in advance for your generous donation to our school's Care To Learn program!

Book Orders:  Book orders are due on Thursday, December 8th.  Please send a check with the order form made payable to Scholastic Book Clubs or order online with our class code.

Tuition:  Tuition will be due for the weeks of December 5th and 12th.  You will not be responsible for tuition during Christmas Break.  

Group Meeting requirement:  I am sending home a list of the PAT/PK group connections that we will have for the rest of the year.  All of the items on the calendar will count towards your 4 required  (2 per semester) group connections that you agreed to attend when you signed up for preschool.  If you have only attended 1 this semester,  you will need to plan to attend 3 next semester.  

Preschool Applications 2016-2017-  Preschool applications for next school year will be available at Santa Bash. Please make sure to pick one up and fill it out for next year.    

Dates to Remember:

Thursday, Dec. 8th - Santa Bash from 5-7 p.m. in the EleMiddle Cafeteria - There will be a photo op with Santa the night of Santa Bash!  You can use your own camera, phone or we can help you out!

Monday, Dec. 19th-  Christmas Party-  9:30-10:15

Tuesday, Dec. 20th - Christmas Party-  9:30-10:15

Wednesday, Dec. 21-Jan. 3rd - Christmas Break

Wednesday, Jan. 4th - Classes resume