News from Mrs. Patterson in P.E.

- ACES (All Children Exercising Simultaneously) will take place Wednesday, May 7th, 2014.  All grades will participate in different activities.  Students need to wear gym shoes.

 

- The ANNUAL DISTRICT FUN RUN will take place May 10th, 2014 at Lindberg Park.  This event is different than the PTO Fundraiser Fun Run in the Fall.  The Annual District Fun Run is free of charge and for all boys and girls in District 97.  Check out the digital backpack for more information and to sign up.  A signup sheet went home today as well.

 

- Olympic Day will be held on May 16th, 2014.   Kindergarten will participate in the afternoon.  Students will participate in many activities including a climbing wall.  Please make sure your child wears gym shoes, shorts or pants (no dresses), and sun screen.

Gymnastics in the Gym!

During the next two weeks students will have gymnastics during P.E.  Please make sure they wear pants or shorts and have long hair tied back.

Feinstein Challenge

From the OPRF Food Pantry:

Each spring philanthropist Alan Shawn Feinstein challenges food agencies across America
to collect as many food items and cash donations as possible. To spur donations, 
Feinstein donates $1 million dollars to feed the hungry. Those funds are divided 
proportionally among competing food pantries based on the total number of donations 
(monetary and food donations) during the months of March and April.

People in our community are hungry. Last year there were over 40,000 “reasons” for your 
help—that’s how many people the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry served in 2013.

Pickup from homerooms will be Thursday, April 17.  Monetary donations also accepted!

The OPRF Food Pantry is in need of:

Non-Perishable Items

Protein

Beans

Beef Stew

Peanut Butter

Ravioli

Tuna/Salmon

Grain

Cereal

Pasta

Fruits and Vegetables

Canned Fruit

Canned Vegetables

Miscellaneous

Condiments

Beverages / Coffee / Tea

Jelly

Macaroni and Cheese

Pasta / Tomato Sauce

Potatoes

Rice

Snacks

Soup

Tomatoes

Specialty Items

Low Sodium

Gluten Free

Whole Wheat

Cleaning Supplies

All Purpose Cleaner

Dish Soap

Laundry Detergent

Window Cleaner

Baby Items

Baby Food

Diapers

Formula

Toiletry Items (full size preferred)

Adult Diapers

Feminine Hygiene Products

Laundry Soap

Moisturizer

Razors

Shampoo / Conditioner

Shaving Cream

Soap

Items the Food Pantry Can’t Accept:

Expired Items

Homemade or home-canned foods

Medications (prescriptions / over the counter)

Open Items

Products not in their original packaging

Two Field Trips in May

On Monday, May 5, the Longfellow kindergarten will go to Lincoln Park Zoo.  Thank you to the PTO for the buses, which makes it a free trip to students!  A permission slip will go home soon.  I would love for several chaperones to join us.  Please email if you can!

On Wednesday, May 14, our class will walk to the Oak Park Conservatory.  We have been studying seeds and plants.  I'd love to have one or two parents walk with us.  We'll leave around 9:10 and will be back before lunch.  Email me if you're interested in going.

Fantastic Fridays

Every year Longfellow's Student Council presents Fantastic Fridays.  Here is the schedule:

Stuffed Animal Day (April 11)
Bring your favorite inanimate fuzzy friend to school.

Mismatch Day (Thursday April 17)
Wear clashing clothes, like stripes with plaid or polka dots.

Weird Hair Day (April 25)
Gravity defying do’s? Pink, green or blue streaks? Give it a try!

Mustache Day (May 2)
Handlebar, horseshoe, Dali, Fu Manchu: try a mustache on for size!

PJ Day (May 9)
Come dressed in your pajamas. (Make sure they are appropriate for school.)

Sports Day (May 16)
Now is the time for all that sports paraphernalia!

Multiples Day (May 23)
Did you ever want to be a twin, triplet or quadruplet? This is your chance!

Minion Day (May 30)
Celebrate minions – ahhhh –hahahahah!

Hat Day (June 6)
Break out your favorite hat!

Flip-Flop Day (Tuesday, June 10)
FINALLY! Celebrate the end of the school year by wearing your favorite flip-flops!

Science Night

Longfellow's Annual Science Night will be Wednesday, April 23rd from 6-7:30pm in the gym.  All are welcome.  The Science Night committee is in need of paper towel and toilet paper rolls.  As you use them up, please send them in!  Thank you!

Lost and Found

There are MANY items currently displayed on the Lost and Found table set up in the hallway by the office.  Sweatshirts, gloves, hats, boots - you name it!  If any of your children have lost anything over the winter, I would take a look!  There is also a smaller Lost and Found outside the lunchroom.

Math Facts

With the new Common Core State Standards, kindergarteners are expected to be fluent in math facts to 5 by the end of the year.  Right now, they might be using their fingers, but by June should only have to think briefly about the answer.  I tell the kids they should know the math facts like they know their sight words.
There are 42 facts to know (21 addition and 21 subtraction.)  By "math facts to 5," it means when adding, the sum (answer) won't be more than 5, and when subtracting, the first number won't be more than 5. While we have been practicing in class with objects (counters, fingers - anything!) good, old fashioned flash cards are a good way to build automaticity.