Field Trip on 12/9

In two and a half weeks, we are going to see a Junie B. Jones play. Please remember to turn in your permission slip and $10 cash fee. Thank you to those of you who already have!
I also would love to have one parent accompany us. Unfortunately, there is also a $10 fee for adults. Please email me if you would like to go.

Sight Words

The first trimester ends Friday, November 18. By that point, students are expected to know 10 sight words. The words I have formally introduced so far are the, we, I, can, is, like, see, go, play, a, to. However, students can know ANY 10 words from the list of 31 kindergarten sight words. The link to the full list is in the bar to the left.

Students were expected to identify all their capital and lowercase letters by late October.

Helping Out in the Classroom

We are well into our classroom routines! If you are interested in helping out in the classroom once a week, please let me know. It would be for about an hour at a time. I could use a parent at the writing center to help students with topic ideas and sounding out. I could also use someone with iPhone or iPad experience/ just-enough-confidence who could help out with a small group of students using a variety of educational apps.

Here are some times I would appreciate some help:
Monday: 10-11
Tuesday: 8:30-9:30
Wednesday: 8:30-9:30
Thursday: 8:30-9:30
Friday: 10-11

In the past, some parents have partnered up and taken every other week. That way it's not as big of a commitment for you and you have a "sub" if something else comes up.
If you were to volunteer, please respect all our different levels of ability and learning styles, and keep interactions with other students confidential.

I realize not everyone can help out on a regular basis. I occasionally have some "at home" work. (Right now I could use help tearing pages out of workbooks to make the pre-decodable books that have been going home.) If you'd like to visit the class to read a story, email me to set up a time. Also, with the holidays approaching, please let me know if your family has any special traditions you'd like to share with the class.

Book It!

Don't forget to turn in your Book It calendar. If you read for at least 20 minutes, at least 20 times in October, you've earned a coupon for a free personal pizza at Pizza Hut. November calendars went home yesterday. If you ever lose a calendar, just make your own or print one from the internet.

Halloween

• We will celebrate Halloween on Monday, 10/31.


• Students should not wear costumes to school. Please pack it in a bag to change into after lunch. Some students choose to go home for lunch to change there.


• After lunch, students will change into their costumes. Our party will start around 12:10. Thank you to parents who are coming to and organizing the party. We'll get through about 3 stations.


• The parade will be at 1:00. We will finish our stations after the party. Students go to music at 2:17.


• Students will be dismissed at 2:55 as usual.


• NO WEAPONS, either real or toy, should be included as part of a costume.


• There will be a pumpkin decorating contest, by age group, the week of Halloween. Look for details in the Digital Backpack.


• Please let me know if your family does not celebrate Halloween. There will be an alternative party for those students who do not.
  

UNICEF

UNICEF boxes went home yesterday. UNICEF is an organization that provides basic needs for children around the world. If your child chooses to collect money while trick-or-treating or during the next 9 days, please return the box by Friday, November 4th. The Longfellow Student Council has set a goal to collect $1,000 this Halloween. Visit trickortreatforunicef.org for more information about the organization.

Upcoming Dates

Wednesday, October 5 - Walk to School Day
Monday, October 10 - Columbus Day - no school
Wednesday, October 12 - PTO New Family Dinner - 6:30pm

Check the Digital Backpack for more details!