We have sent home your child's blanket to be washed. Please ensure that it is returned in January! Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year!

December news letter!

                                                

                  K1 & K2 Newsletter

December 2011

        

Dear Parents:

           

            Welcome to a very snowy month of December!  Winter has definitely made its presence known.  The snow is welcome though…..so many fun things to do in the snow.  When weather permits, we will continue to spend time enjoying our outdoor activities.  It is a good way to develop creativity, to encourage group co-operation and to learn constructive use of leisure time. Therefore, it’s very important that your child come to school ready for outdoor play (snowpants, jacket, hat, warm mittens, neckwarmer).  Please continue giving your child the time he/she needs to learn to dress independently.

We were very happy to see many parents during our interviews on Nov. 7th.  It was so nice to touch base with you to discuss your child’s progress in Kindergarten.  If you were unable to attend we could schedule a phone interview.

            Thank you for encouraging your child to choose healthy foods to bring for his/her snack.  Students are thrilled when they can show us the healthy food they brought to school. Please continue to do so.

            Our focus for this month will be Advent and Christmas.  We will discuss the true meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate.  “Jesus is the reason for the season!”  Our activities, crafts and songs will be theme related.  Songs have been included. 

Many of the JK students can say the letters in their name during attendance.  The next step is other letters not found in their name.  With SKs, saying the sounds each letter makes in their name is encouraged along with sounds of letters not found in their name.  Ask them to demonstrate. 

A list of popcorn words were sent home to use as a reference when reading simple pattern books that repeat.  Here is an excellent site which will encourage your child’s reading abilities.  It’s fun and it’s free! Check out www.starfall.com.  The boys and girls have been writing wonderful tales in their special writing books.  These books have been introduced as a way to encourage the students to write.  We emphasize the fact that writing comes in many different stages and so they are expected to write at their stage of writing:  pictures with scribed sentences, string of random letters, intial letters, etc.  SKs especially will be encouraged to stretch out the sounds in the word as they write the matching letters.  Like all beginning skills: practise, practise, practise!

In Math we will begin our unit on Geometry, looking at 2D shapes (square, triangle, rectangle), 3D solids, and their properties.  The key learning goals for this unit are: to recognize and describe 3D objects and 2D shapes; to sort and build with these objects and shapes and to recognize these objects and shapes in our environment.  To help reinforce this at home, go on a shape hunt.  Play ‘I Spy’. In JK, we will continue with counting sets to 5.  Ask your child to ‘show you’ groups of 3, 4, 5 or more items whenever the opportunity arises.  Look for numbers on labels and containers. In SK we’ve been talking about what makes 5 using our five frame tool. Their use encourages counting strategies beyond counting by one or counting on each time they are asked to identify a number or work on an addition or subtraction type math story. These number relationships help build the foundation for the development of more complex mental computations. Students start with the five frames before moving on to ten frames and may explore double ten frames later to develop a better understanding of place value.  SKs, here is a great site to practise this skill:  http://illuminations.nctm.org/activitydetail.aspx?id=74 – five frames interactive website.

No doubt you have enjoyed reading our St. George library book with your child.

• This month the K1 class will visit the library on December 4th and books are due on the following Wednesday December 11^th. 
• The K2 class will visit the library on December 2^nd and books are due on the following Monday December 9^th.

The playdough table has been very popular in both K1 and K2.  Therefore, we would appreciate any donation of playdough to keep this popular centre open.  Should you require the recipe, please let us know.  Store bought playdough is welcome too.  The students are not picky!!

Holiday time can be quite hectic.  Routines get all jumbled.  Some quiet activities to do with your child in order to reinforce skills practiced at school are:  printing of name, colouring, counting to 10, 20, 30 or more, and cutting. When possible, read a book (or two) to your child every day.  Food for Thought:  Researchers have found (educators have known for a long time) that children who are read to on a daily basis become good readers!

As mentioned in the St. George’s Newsletter, the grade 6s are hosting a Christmas Shopping Day on Tuesday, December 17th.  You can donate new or gently used items to the office as well as wrapping paper and ribbons before December 13th.  On December 17^th, students are asked to bring money to purchase gifts for their family members.  Items will be selling from $1.00 to $5.00 and will come home wrapped and labeled ready to put under your Christmas tree. 

On Wednesday December 18^th, you are invited to celebrate “Deck the Halls” here at St. George School.  It starts with a light breakfast, followed by mass and the Performance Choir.

Thursday, December 19^th is the last day of school before the Christmas break because Friday December 20^th is a PD Day.

            We wish you and your family a safe and happy Christmas.  Enjoy your time together.  The very best for 2014!

God bless,

Mrs. Gratwohl   Mme Dolgos

Mrs. McDonell  Mrs. McAteer