Reminders:

-Make-Up Snow Day:  On Friday, March 12, we will be making up some of our snow day time.  Originally, this day was scheduled as an In-Service Day for teachers and a day off for students.  However, the kindergarten children are now going to have a half day on this day with a noon dismissal.  There will be no bus transportation on this day!

-Chocolate Banana Bread:  As part of our theme of communities, we’ve been talking about different community helpers.  One of which, is the baker.  To celebrate this delicious profession, we baked some chocolate banana bread in science.  Below is the link to the recipe we used in class.  Enjoy!

http://www.joyofbaking.com/breakfast/ChocolateBananaBread.html

-Noah’s Ark:  At Chapel Time this month, the children will learn about the story of Noah and his ark.  This story is about God’s love for all of us and how he cares for all of creation.  It reminds us that God will take care of us.  See the links below for additional resources about this special topic:

http://www.childrenschapel.org/biblestories/flood.html

 http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/bible_themes_noah.html

 http://www.dltk-bible.com/genesis/chapter6-index.htm

-Save The Date:  The Kindergarten Africa Showcase will be on Friday, March 26th, the day before Easter break.  The children will be performing songs, acting out skits, cooking a special lunch, and designing unique artwork for this event.

-Making Rock Candy:  We recently read a book that talked about making your own rock candy crystals.  Below is the link for this special recipe.  Many of the children have expressed an interest in making these at home.  http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Rock-Candy

-Recess Minutes:  We have started a new behavior plan in our classroom.  When a student makes a choice that is counter to our classroom rules and procedures and inhibits the learning of both themselves and others, then they lose a minute of recess time.  We discussed this thoroughly as a class and the children understand what is being asked of them.  Please review the classroom rules with your child and reinforce the need for following them to ensure optimal learning in the classroom.

-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.  We will spend time learning more about nutrition next week as we explore the digestive system and the food pyramid.

-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

-Tutoring: I am offering private tutoring services, enrichment, homework help, and test prep throughout the school year.  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.  Some additional information is posted on the buckbuckgoose homepage. I will be doing the 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.