PreK Press
September 8 - September 15
The PreKers have had a wonderful start to the school year and it has been fun to watch friendships blossom and routines begin to be established as the children settle into the busy life of a PreKer. They continue to learn more about their classmates as they spend time together exploring the classroom, the playground, and the campus. We are keenly aware that children adjust differently to new situations and environments so please don't be too concerned if your child does not yet feel quite settled. Time is definitely on our side!
Within the classroom, the children have been busy investigating their space and doing such things as:
*Painting at the easel
*Using watercolors and dot paints
*Finger-painting with shaving cream
*Making a cooperation collage
*Using the sand table
*Drawing self-portraits
*Playing with playdoh and playfoam
*Listening to stories
*Singing and dancing
*Building with several kinds of blocks
*Exploring a wide variety of manipulatives
In PreK there is always a great deal to see, do, try, explore, touch, experiment and have fun with!
Parents are welcome to come into the classroom throughout the year to see the variety of projects and activities that are either in progress or completed. Currently, self-portraits (which will be sent home at the end of the year), primary color easel paintings, “coloring inside the lines” papers and the "cooperation collage" the children created are all on display. We will be spending time in the weeks ahead learning about colors, so be on the lookout for some color related activities and your child’s own color book!
The children have had the opportunity to meet all their co-curricular teachers and look forward to starting all of these classes either this week or next. They have met the following teachers:
Ms. Smelser (aka Ms. S.) - Art
Mrs. Johnson & Ms. S. - STEAM
Senora Niemann - Spanish
Mr. Wallack - Physical Education
Mrs. Wepler - Music
Mr. Robertson - Library
HERE ARE LOTS OF TIDBITS FOR YOU TO READ!
(in no particular order)
PARENT CONFERENCES: Friday, October 16th is Parent Conference Day and we look forward to this opportunity to talk with you about your children. There will be no classes for students but Owl's Nest care will be available during your conference time by advance registration. Please refer to the Owl’s Nest link on the TCS website for additional information regarding this option. Also be on the lookout for the conference sign-up sheet which will be posted outside our classroom soon.
NO SCHOOL: TCS will be closed on Wednesday, September 23rd, and Monday, October 12th. Also, as mentioned above, students will not have class on Friday, October 16th since it is parent conference day.
ARRIVAL TIME: Classrooms open at 8:00 A.M. Families requiring care prior to that time are welcome to sign up for the Owl’s Nest Before School program. Students in before care Owl’s Nest will be escorted to the classroom at 8:00. Children who arrive after 8:15 will be marked as tardy and will need to be signed in at The Farmhouse before coming to class.
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT: Please join us on Thursday, September 17th starting at 5:30 PM for Back To School Night. It is a great evening that provides opportunities for community building, school wide information gathering, and classroom specifics. We hope to see you there!
PICK UP: For safety reasons, we need to know about changes in your child's dismissal schedule and we need to have the correct information in case your child asks. Please notify teachers in writing if someone different will be picking your child up or if you need to alter your regular dismissal plans.
SHOES: For both safety and comfort reasons, closed toe shoes and sneakers are best for PreKers. Also, please be sure that your child wears sneakers for gym every Thursday.
LIBRARY BOOKS: Tuesday is Library day for PreKers. When they are finished with their books they can be returned to class at any time during the week. Please put them in the blue basket located on the table above the snack baskets just outside the classroom.
PIZZA: Children who are signed up for pizza should also be bringing their lunchbox to school with some type of snack, drink, fruit or dessert. They do get hungry during the day, sometimes don’t feel like eating pizza, and usually need something else in addition to the pizza.
TCS PHOTO DAY: TCS Picture Day is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30th. PLEASE have your children in class by 8:15 at the latest so we can prepare together. Additional information will be sent home in the near future.
DRESS DOWN DAYS: Occasionally during the school year we have "dress down” days. That means that the children may wear jeans, T-shirts, and other clothes that are not part of our normal daily dress code. (No costumes, however.) Please make sure that, while their dress may be more casual in nature, it remains appropriate for all school activities.
LABELED LUNCH BOXES: Please be sure that your child’s lunch box has their name on it. Thank you!
EXTRA CLOTHES: For those who have not yet provided us with an extra change of clothing to be left at school, please do so as soon as possible.
READING BUDDIES: The PreKers and Fourth Grade Reading Buddies met last Friday as a group and enjoyed listening to a story together. A week from this Friday they will get together again and meet their smaller Reading Buddy groups. We will then continue to get together with them on most Fridays after that and will keep you posted on our activities.
MANILA ENVELOPES: On most alternating weeks (starting today) we will be sending home notices and newsletters from school in your child's manila envelope. PLEASE RETURN THE EMPTY ENVELOPE TO THE CLASSROOM THE FOLLOWING DAY, as we will be using the same envelope all year. (Manila folders and library books can be put in the same blue basket located on the table above the snack baskets just outside the classroom.)
RESTING IN PreK: For those children that stay through the afternoon, please let us know if you want/need us to limit the length of time they sleep. (We can wake individual children up as requested.)
BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION: TCS continues to collect box tops for education. Please read the attached notice for additional information. If you are interested in contributing, the container is on the table above the snack baskets.
PreK BLOG: Please be sure to visit our PreK blog for frequent photos and updates. You can access it by going to the TCS website and then click on Teacher Pages PreK.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Here are a few important dates to put on your calendar:
Saturday, October 25th - Minds In Motion
Friday, October 31st - Annual TCS Halloween Parade 8:30 AM
Friday, November 7th - TCS Fall Festival 3:30 PM
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