Pre-School

IMPORTANT PRE-SCHOOL AND PRE-K UPDATE!!

November 2011
MWF Class
Dear Parents,
We had a fantastic October! Thank you to the Parents who walked over to the Priest’s courtyard for our Pumpkin Patch Field Trip and for donating all the yummy treats and water.
We will be having a parent meeting on Friday, November 4, at 11:40 a.m. in the Small Hall to talk about the Ages and Stages Questionnaire. Attached to this newsletter is a permission slip allowing me to assess your child. This form needs to be returned before assessments begin. I will begin assessments November 7th. Please see me if you have any questions. Parent Conferences will be the first week in December. Attached to this newsletter is a conference request form. Please return ASAP.

We will begin our See’s Candy Fundraiser on Monday, November 21 – December 2. Order forms and envelopes will be available Wednesday, November 10th (Friday, November 11th is a holiday)
Your children are wonderful! They are happy, kind, and so eager to learn. Thank you for allowing me to be part of their education
God Bless,
Teacher Sandi
IMPORTANT DATES
November 4th – Parent meeting at 11:40 a.m. in the Small Hall; Ages and Stages questionnaire
November 2nd – Life Touch Student portraits Retakes
November 7-10 Scholastic Book Fair
at Mt. Carmel School;
Small Hall
November 11- No School, Veteran’s
Day
November 21 – December 2 See’s Candy Fundraiser
November 25- No School; Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Celebration
We will be celebrating Thanksgiving on Wednesday, November 23rd. Each child is to bring in one vegetable that day to add to a special “Friendship Soup” that we will be making. As the children will be cutting the vegetables, please cut them into manageable pieces and pre-cook if necessary as we will be using plastic knifes. Each child also needs to bring one item of canned food to give to the poor. We will be visiting Church that day and we will put the cans into the food baskets.

Raising a reader
How is the red book bag doing for your family? Is the journal’s fun to do? Do you have any ideas on how the book bag program can be enhanced? Research shows that children who are read to daily have a larger vocabulary and move into reading on their own with ease. See me if you have any input!

T/Th Orientation Information
September 15, 2011

RAISING A READER
In October we will begin the “Raising a Reader” program. Each Thursday we will send home a Book Bag filled with 3 wonderful books for you to read to your children. The Book Bag Program is a project sponsored by the Peninsula Community Foundation. The Book Bag is to be returned on Tuesday.

SEPARATION ANXIETY
For most of the children in the Tuesday/Thursday class, this is their first experience away from home. We recognize that separation is hard for both parent and child. In our program, we feel that it is better if the parent does not stay because children adjust better without the parent’s presence there. Please be assured that if your child continues to be distressed throughout the morning, we will call you. We welcome you to call us if you need assurance.

TOILETING
Some three year olds are at the beginning of their toilet training. We find that if children wear pull-up style diapers, that they will use our toilet as the year progresses, and most of them will be toilet trained by the end of the school year. In the Tuesday/Thursday class, we work on having the children toilet themselves, flush the toilet, and wash their hands. Please be aware that if your child has a bowel movement in their pants that we will contact you as we do not have a diapering station.
Student Portraits
Life Touch will be taking student portraits on Wednesday, September 21. You need to bring students to the Large Hall on this day. More information will follow.

Parent Volunteers
Parent helpers are needed to help with projects, science experiments, cooking projects and everyday activities. I will be sending out a sign-up sheet at the end of October. All volunteers must have taken the on-line course “Shield the Vulnerable”, submit a back ground check, and have a recent clear TB test before they can assist.

Change of Clothes
Please send in a change of clothes including socks and underwear in a large Ziploc bag labeled with your child’s name.

Absences
If your child is going to be absent for any reason please call and let us know.

Field trip

We have several field trips during the school year. We will meet at the site and do not return to school on these days. All students must have an adult accompany them on the trip.

Pick up and Drop off

Our school day begins at 9:30. I will open the door on Katherine Ave, please be sure to sign your child in using a full signature. At 11:30 the door will be unlocked, we ask that you head to the courtyard; I will bring your children out to you. On the table will be the “blue box” and the sign out sheet. Please check the blue box for important papers and please be sure to sign your child out using a full signature. If someone that is not listed on your emergency form will be picking up your child, please make sure to send in a note. Please advise them that we will check their Drivers License before allowing your child to go with them.

Fundraiser

During the month of November we will have a See’s Candy fundraiser. The dates of this fundraiser are from November 28-Dec 9. More information to follow as November approaches.

Newsletter

At the beginning of every month a newsletter will be sent home. All important information including sharing will be included in this letter. Newsletters can also be found on our website.

Community Outreach

The week of December 5-9 we will be having a “sock” drive. The socks must be new and are donated to Saint Anthony Padula who provides meals and clothing to the community.

Sharing
Beginning in October, we will have sharing on Thursdays. Be sure to check your newsletter to know what the theme is for sharing. We have sharing at circle time and when a child does not have something to share, they feel left out and sad.

Birthdays
If you would like to celebrate your child’s birthday at school, please check with me in advance to make sure the day works. We do have a student with nut and egg allergies, so please see me regarding this.You need to bring in 13 of any treat. I would be more than happy to take pictures if you would like to leave your camera for me to take pictures.

Ages and Stages Questionnaire
We use the ASQ and ASQ: SE to assess your children during the school year. This is an assessment procedure that is designed to identify children who should receive more intensive diagnosis or evaluation from local early intervention, early childhood special education, health or mental health agencies. This is a two part assessment; one part is done here at school by me and the other at home by the parents. A conference will be scheduled so that we can meet to discuss the results.