Passport to Reading

Our school wide reading program started today. This is a wonderful program that helps Longfellow lead the district in reading scores. It is skilled-based and all kindergarteners are grouped as such. We reassess and regroup about every 4 weeks. Your child may have met with me, another kindergarten teacher, or one of our reading teachers: Mrs. Parr, Ms. Madalone, or Mr. Warzecha. It went very well! We do this 4 times a week for 30 minutes at a time.

Assessments

Two papers have gone home recently about your child's academic work. The first, sent home Friday, is in reference to the screening your child participated in at the beginning of August and was administered by a district primary teacher.
The second sheet, sent home today, is a reflection of the assessments I've been doing over the past 10 days or so. Please work on any highlighted items at home. We are continuing to work on direction words (first, last, after, before, under, above, etc.) and rhyming. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Congratulations!

Over half our class has filled up their first sticker chart for good behavior. Way to go! Everyone is getting used to our routines and is working hard to be respectful, responsible, and safe. Keep up the good work!

Trip to the Maze Library

Next Wednesday, our class will walk to the Maze Library. A librarian will show us around, read a few stories, and give children time to explore. I'm sure many of you have been there before, so I hope you have a well-used library card! (Students will not be checking out books at this time.) I would like to have one parent walk with us to the library. We are due there at 9, so we will leave Longfellow at about 8:40. We should be back by 10:30 at the latest. Please let me know if you are available to help.

Lexia Reading

Today your student is bringing home information about the Lexia computer reading program. We will go to the computer lab twice a week to use the program, but you are also welcome to work at home. It is up to you. There is no password for kindergarteners. Your student's username is included on the sheet that went home today.

Lice

Though not in our own classroom, there have been two cases of head lice at the kindergarten grade level. Please be vigilant about checking your children for lice and their eggs. Letters went home yesterday and last Monday. For more information, you can visit http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/ Please also be sure not to share hats, brushes, pillows, and hair decorations. Thanks to everyone for bringing in headphones! Every little step helps in prevention!

PBIS Rewards

Each week children at Longfellow may turn in their Bear Necessities to participate in a raffle (grades k-5) or visit the Bear's Den to purchase prizes (grades 4 & 5). Donations of items that can be used as prizes are always appreciated. If you would like to help out, please see the Wish List on the PBIS blog: http://longfellowpbis.blogspot.com/

Book Order Forms

Scholastic book order forms went home today. If you do not wish to order, no problem. If you would like to order books, please complete the form by Tuesday, September 27. You can either order online with a credit card, or send the form back to me with a check made out to Scholastic.

Class Activation Code: G8Q66

Best of all, we earn a FREE book for the classroom library every time a parent places an order online.

It’s simple - here’s how it works:
•SIGN UP at www.scholastic.com/bookclubs. On the parent page, click the “Register” button in the “First Time Here?” section. Register for your own user name and password. When prompted, enter the one-time Class Activation Code: G8Q66. This unique code ensures that your order is sent to me.

•SELECT the books you’d like to order—choose from thousands of titles—many more than in our monthly flyers.

•SEND your order to me online by the due date and your child’s books will be delivered directly to my classroom. Ordering online is fast, easy, and secure.

PTO Meeting Tonight!

There is a PTO meeting tonight at 7:00 PM in the media center. The class with the highest parent percentage represented wins an extra PE class. Dr. Roberts and Therese O’Neil will be at the meeting to discuss our playground and district plans regarding all playgrounds.

Exercise Photos!

Mrs. Patterson, our P.E. teacher, is looking for pictures of her students participating in their favorite sport. She has a bulletin board outside the gym that is filling up with great pictures. Send yours in! She would prefer a copy/ reprint, or you can email it to her at epatterson@op97.org Be sure to put your name on it!

PTO Fun Run

Instead of our usual gift wrap sales, this year's major PTO fundraiser is a healthy Fun Run! Students will participate in the Run on Friday, September 30. Please see the Digital Backpack for more details. Pledge sheets and information went home yesterday as well.

ALL Classes

Check out the Longfellow Digital Backpack for a listing of A.L.L. classes. These are after-school classes on a variety of subjects. Registration is due by Friday, September 16.