Thank you for checking our classroom blog. I will try to update the
blog at least weekly. This first big post will have a LOT of information so I
hope that you will stay tuned to the end.
The children are already falling into a routine and are working hard. I
hope that they are coming home and singing songs or telling you about
Letterland characters or talking about their day. I work very hard to make sure
the children are engaged in quality, developmentally-appropriate activities all
day.
We have also been establishing rules for how we want to treat other people
and be treated. Look for the ROAR tab at the top of this blog page to see the promise
we recite each morning.
Upcoming Dates
Shhhhhh.... it's a secret!!! Monday, September
30, 1:30 The Relatives Came: Details will be
coming home this week in OTIS. This is a day when we are inviting all families
into our classroom (but keep it a secret). The kids won't know until you
show up.
Friday, September 27 – Early Release
Friday, October 11 - Ganyard Hills Farms Field Trip – More
details coming soon!
O.T.I.S.
Thank you for checking your child’s Only The Important Stuff folder
daily. This is a new idea for me, but I love it. At the other schools where I
have worked I sent home a folder one day a week. For the parents I am sure it
was paper overload with notices from our class, the school, the PTA, and the
school system, not to mention the children’s work. Mrs. Dawes and I will check
these every morning to keep up with money, notes, and forms. You can also email
me notes at tlancaster@wcpss.net.
Please, help your child learn to be responsible for his/her own O.T.I.S.
folder. He/She put it in his/her backpack every night after you have had a
chance to check it. I make it the children’s responsibility to unpack it as
they walk in the door each morning. They may be little, but they can handle it.
Birthdays
We try to celebrate the happy
occasions in everyone’s life in kindergarten, especially birthdays. When it is
your child’s birthday, we make a time during lunch to recognize the special day
with all of the kindergarten classes. We sing the birthday song together. Then,
if you would like, Mrs. Dawes and I will hand out individual, store-bought
treats to the children, such as cupcakes, doughnuts, or cookies. It is a Wake
County policy that the treats are commercially made so that children with
allergies can be aware of any potentially harmful ingredients. If you would
like to join us to celebrate your child’s birthday, you may sign in at the
office and then meet us at our classroom door at 10:35. Our lunch time is from
10:40 – 11:10.
By the way…Mrs. Dawes’ birthday is coming up on September 22. If you
would like to have your child make a card for her or draw a picture for her at
home, I’m sure she would appreciate it.
Scholastic Book Club
I included this month’s book order
form in the O.T.I.S. folder. There is a link to the right side of this blog
page that you can follow to order books for your child. I cannot handle any of
the orders or money per Joyner policy. Our class code is:
MGBC6
If you have any difficulty placing your order, please let me know, and I’ll
see what I can do to expedite it.
JYJ Kindergarten T-shirt
We want every child in kindergarten to order a special T-shirt just for
kindergartners. The cost per shirt is $10. We will wear them on field trips and
special occasions. I hope I have the “Online Payment” link up and working under
Important Classroom Links to make
it easier for you to get your child’s shirt ordered.
Personality Train
Some of the children have already brought in and shared their “personality
train” posters. We are learning a lot about each other. If you have not had a
chance to help your child put one together, do not worry. We will have these up
for a few weeks. This is meant to be a fun
family project, not a stressful one. If
you need another sheet of construction paper or another copy of the
instructions, just email me or send me a note in O.T.I.S., and I will send you
what you need.
Volunteering
I would like to say another word of thanks to all of the parents who
have returned their Volunteer Opportunities sign-up sheet. If you have not done
it yet, it is ok. You have all week. I have had a couple of parents ask what a “Writer’s
Workshop Helper” would do. Basically, Writer’s Workshop is a time when all of
the children are practicing writing sentences. It is not easy to get to every
child who is unsure of a letter sound or how they want to express an idea. I
will actually host a training session for parents on how they can help children
during this time. I want children to feel supported in their writing without
adults walking around and basically spelling everything for the children. It
can be tricky, but it’s not impossible. I will probably host the training
session one afternoon/evening in October.
If you would like to volunteer in any capacity – on field trips, in the
classroom, or around the school – you must be a registered volunteer with the
Wake County schools. It only takes a few minutes. If you have not registered
and you are not sure how to do so, please, stop by one morning, and I will help
you get to a computer and get registered. Thanks!
Well,
you made it to the end of the first big post. I promise they will not ALL be
this overwhelming. There are just lots of odds and ends to talk about at the
beginning of the year.
I
would just like to say one more “thank you” to all of you as parents. You have
made me feel very welcome at Joyner Elementary, and I appreciate it. More than
that, however, I can see the effort that you put into your children and their
education every day. It is hard work to be a good parent, and I appreciate all
you do to help your child to be as successful as possible.
