K1 & Our 5th Grade Buddies

Today was "Game" Day for K1 & our 5th grade Buddies. We played all kinds of games ...... Cooties, Ants in Your Pants, Don't Spill the Beans, Checkers, Zingo, Go Fish, Perfection, Memory & some of the kids even did a big Santa floor puzzle. Of course, our Buddies did lots of explaining about the rules, but it seemed as if a good time was had by all!! For more pics of "Game" Day - check out the Candid Kids slide show.

Polar Express Pajama Day

Friday, December 19th the Keystone Elementary Kindergarten children celebrated "Polar Express" Day. We had a great day watching the Polar Express movie in our pj's & eating a special snack of chocolate milk & a Christmas cookie. Also, as a special surprise, all the children got a chance to sit on Santa's lap & whisper their special Christmas request in his ear. Santa also insisted on having his picture taken with every child, so parents .......... be on the watch for a little surprise coming your way.
To end our day, the children heard a special reading of The Polar Express by author Chris Van Allsburg. I'm sure your child will have lots of things to share about this fun day!!!

Hans Wilhelm's Holiday Books

Three years ago I went to the PA Kindergarten Conference in Harrisburg & was priviledged to attend a session with author Hans Wilhelm, one of America's foremost author/illustrator of children's books.
Recently, I received an email from Hans announcing he has added some new Holiday Books to his website. The books are totally free and can be enjoyed on your computer, powerpoint, smart board, or can even be printed out for your children.
Go to http://www.childrensbooksforever.com/ and click on "Holiday Books". Click on the book's image and it will open up the story. Hans has a super collection of free books for children of all ages on his website. To learn about this author of more than 200 children's books, go to: http://www.hanswilhelm.com/hans-pages/about-home.html

Reminders........

Just a few Christmas reminders...............
1) Friday, Dec. 18th is Kindergarten's Polar Express Pajama Day. Your child should bring warm pj's to school that day to change into. The children may also bring a pair of slippers & a robe if they wish. The children will change back into their street clothes at the end of the day before leaving for home.We will be enjoying a "train ride", a special reading of The Polar Express by Chris VanAllsburg, & watching the Polar Express movie.
2) Kindergarten Gift Exchange:
$5.00 limit - Girls buy a gift for a girl & boys buy a gift for a boy. Print on the gift To: a Girl or a Boy and From: your child's name. You may start sending exchange gifts to school anytime now, but please have gifts at school no later than December 18th. Our party will be on December 22nd which is also KES Movie Day. The children in grades K - 3 will be watching a Christmas movie in the morning. K1 will do our class party & play some Christmas games in the afternoon.
If you would like to send a treat, please remember to follow the school’s nutrition policy. We've already had Christmas pencils & play-doh sent in for party treats.
Due to the economic hardships we are all experiencing, the Kindergarten Staff would like you to know teacher’s gifts are not necessary. If you feel inclined to give a gift, please consider purchasing a gift card @ Walmart or the Dollar Store for your child’s teacher to purchase classroom supplies.
3) On December 23rd, we have our school-wide Christmas Assembly in the morning. We're also having a 2hr. early dismissal that day. The first group of children will be dismissing around 1:30PM.
4) School resumes on Monday, January 4th.

Christmas Trees & Polar Express

On Friday Dec. 4th, the children will be bringing home a blank Christmas tree on cardstock. Please help your child color, decorate, & cut out the tree as a family “home” project. Yes, that means I want you to help your child complete this family project. Be as creative as you like using assorted glitters, 3D items, pictures from magazines, noodles or ??? for ornaments. Please be sure to put your child's name on it & return your family tree project to school by Wednesday, December 9th.

Also, don't forget Friday, Dec. 18th is Kindergarten's Polar Express Pajama Day. Your child should bring warm pj's to school that day to change into. The children may also bring a pair of slippers & a robe if they wish. We will be enjoying a "train ride", a special reading of The Polar Express by Chris VanAllsburg, & watching the Polar Express movie.

Once again.......................... thanks for all your help & support at home. :)

PS – for another fun family activity to do with your child ……… visit http://www.northpole.com/ and use the puzzles & activities link. We will be using the computer lab to do many of the activities from this site. Decorate a Snowman, Trim a Tree, Concentration, & Puzzle Swap. Also, there is a great Recipe link on the site, too.

Christmas Gift Exchange & Party Information

Kindergarten Gift Exchange -- $5.00 limit
Girls buy a gift for a girl & boys buy a gift for a boy.
Print on the outside whether the gift is for a girl or a boy, and whom it is from.

You may start sending exchange gifts to school on December 15th, but please have gifts at school no later than December 18th. Our party will be on December 22nd. If you would like to send a treat, please remember to follow the school’s nutrition policy.

Due to the economic hardships we are all experiencing, the Kindergarten Staff would like you to know teacher’s gifts are not necessary. If you feel inclined to give a gift, please consider purchasing a gift card @ Walmart or the Dollar Store for your child’s teacher to purchase classroom supplies.

Winter Snow Boots & Shoes

Please be sure your child brings his/her shoes in their backpack on days they wear winter boots to school. Putting their shoes into their backpack can become their responsibility. Their feet get too hot and sweaty wearing snow boots the entire day.
Also, please explain to your child the reason why they need to take off their boots when they get to school. Many times the children tell me they didn’t bring any shoes, but yet I discover at Dismissal time they actually did have shoes in their backpack.
Thanks for your help and support at home.

December

It is hard to believe we've been in school a little over 3 months or as the children will tell you - 61 days!!! Time has just flown by & I hope you are seeing the fruits of our labor!!
We have been working very hard visually recognizing/writing numbers to 10, counting to 30, learning ordinal terms to 10 (first, second, third, up thru tenth), recognizing/learning sight word flash cards on our folders (the - a - my - that - and - I - is - said ....& soon we'll be adding 4 new words: we - are - you - have), recognizing/learning the sounds of letters taught ( Aa - Nn - Dd - Ss - Mm & Ii), & reciting the alphabet in sequence. These skills are all critical areas to focus on at home.
The second grading period midterm is Dec. 9th, so that means we are about 5 weeks away from our next report card.
I am sending home 3 letters today - look for information about the Christmas party/gift exchange, Polar Express Day, & a note about boots in your child's folder. Just in case they don't reach you, I will post each letter on this web page under the heading "Classroom News".
Important December dates to keep in mind:
- 10th is K1's Santa's Workshop Day
- 16th is Ms. Stegich's last day
- 18th is the Kindergarten Polar Express Pajama Day
- 22nd is our classroom Christmas Party
- 23rd is the last day of school before Christmas vacation - on that day, we'll be having a 2 hour early dismissal so please plan accordingly.