Reminders:

Thank You:   I just wanted to express my deepest appreciation for a wonderful school year.  It really was a lot of fun and I will forever remember my first year at St. Matthew’s.  I am so happy to have had the opportunity to work with your children each and every day.  Thank you also for my wonderful End-Of-The-Year-Gift.  I am very grateful for your thoughtfulness.  Have a wonderful summer!

Tutoring:  I am offering private tutoring and enrichment during the summer months.  If you are interested or someone else you know is looking for an elementary tutor, please feel free to contact me via email for more information and details.  An informative flyer can be found on the hallway bulletin board in school.  I do my summer tutoring at the Chester County Public Library in Exton, near the Exton Mall. I would love to help provide extra support and assistance for your child or children to ensure their academic success.  Thank you.

-Kindergarten Level Books:  Several parents have asked me for suggestions for age-appropriate, Kindergarten level books for reading at home.  Please visit the Link Lagoon tab on this website to find a few resources to use in selecting the best books for your children.

-Tying Shoes/Zipping Zippers:  It is important that the children practice and learn how to tie their shoes and zip zippers at home.  We try to help them and reinforce their learning in school.  Practicing with real shoes and zippers is always best, but there are many different materials that also help in these areas.  You can find these in a variety of stores and online.  Becker’s has several different items for tying shoes and zipping zippers.  See links below:

http://www.shopbecker.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ItemNumber=CF361325

http://www.shopbecker.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ItemNumber=KE846000

http://www.shopbecker.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ItemNumber=CF361310

-Sharing:  Please be sure to send your child in with one item for their sharing time with the class.  It is best for each child to share detailed information about one special thing as opposed to multiple items.  Thank you!

-Email:  The best email to reach Miss Sharon is mrssharonbuck@gmail.com.  This is the email linked on the school website, as well as, on this website.  Thanks!

-Attendance/Lateness/Dismissal:  If you forget to send a note or forget to call about your child being absent, late, or picked up early, then you can always send me an email.  I check it throughout the day.  This also applies to dismissal/pick-up.  Sometimes, Sandy is not in her office or Jennifer has already left and phone messages are not picked up.  You can always send an email with any change in transportation.  Thanks!

-Drinks for Snack and Lunch:  Please be sure to pack a large drink or two drinks for your child each day.  Many of the children are drinking their one beverage at snack time and then have nothing to drink at lunch.  Thank you!

-Eating Healthy Food First:  We have been trying to reinforce eating our healthy foods in our lunches before our dessert foods.  Please encourage your child to eat his/her sandwich first at lunch time.

-Monthly Themes:  A finalized listing of the monthly themes for this year has been posted on the Classroom Creek page.  This may prove helpful when planning your reading material for Mystery Reader visits.

-Star Words:  Please be sure to practice the star words that we are currently learning about in class at home with your child.  This will help them recognize these words.  The star words are sight words that children should know without decoding the sounds.  In class, we identify, say, read, spell, and write these words.  The more the children work with the words, the sooner they will know them.

-Nut Free Zone:  Just a reminder to try to refrain from packing nuts and products with nuts for snack or lunchtime.  This is to ensure the healthiest environment for all students at St. Matthew’s.  Please refer to the Parent Handbook for additional information regarding this issue.  Thank you!

-Weekend Homework Packets:  The students will be bringing home weekend homework packets each Friday.  These packets are optional, but highly recommended.  Each packet will include the following items:  3 pages reviewing letters we have learned about, 1 page for practicing cutting and pasting skills, 1 math page, Fundations letter pages that coordinate with our Phonics program, Everyday Math Homelink sheet, and Time magazine pages.  You can complete as much or as little of the packet as you like.  It will be a nice way to reinforce current classroom learning at home and help build a foundation for future learning.  If you have any questions or concerns regarding the homework packets, then please let us know.

-Recognizing Letters:  We have been reviewing our letters.  The following link includes different ways to practice this at home.  There are several different areas listed.  You can open the PDF files and print them out to work with your children.  http://www.ed.gov/pubs/CompactforReading/tablek.html