Vergennes Union Elementary School
Mrs. Ebel’s Kindergarten News

September 5, 2008

Dear Parents,

The First Six Weeks Of School

The Classroom Community
We have been in school for 7 days.  Children have been working on learning each other’s names as well as getting adjusted to school rules and routines.  My focus is to develop a classroom community.  It is an adjustment from being home to being in school with 19 other children all day.  My goal is to invest this time during the first six weeks of school in developing a safe and welcoming classroom environment.  This early investment makes the whole school year go smoothly.

I would like to develop a climate of respect, trust and collaboration with each of you because you are the most important person in your child’s life.  I would like you to know that you can call me at the school any time.  If I can’t take your call, leave me a message and I will return your call the same day.  Often parents have questions during the first weeks of school.  I am available to meet parents on Friday afternoons.  This will be available all year to every parent.  

Just a few of the Skills We Are Working On
Along with developing school rules and routines we are currently reviewing and/or learning the following skill areas:
•   Basic Colors
•   Recognizing Numbers 1 through 10
•   Basic Number Concepts
•   How to correctly hold a pencil (See the attached information)
•   Putting forth the Best Effort while taking on tasks
•   Scissor Skills
•   Pattern Recognition
•   Letter Recognition
•   How to work independently at a Learning Center
•   Rhyme
•   Listening Skills

This is just a partial list, to help you get a sense of what goes on in our school day.
Here are the 10 steps to success I am trying to instill in all the children.






10 Steps to Success (Responsive Classroom Teacher Evalyn Daverin)

Be Here:        Successful people are seldom absent.
Be on Time:         Successful people get where they are going on time.
Be Friendly:        Successful people help each other.
Be Polite:      Successful people treat others with respect.
Be Prepared:        Successful people have the equipment and the materials they need.
Be a Listener:      Successful people listen and follow instructions.
Be a Doer:      Successful people know the more they do the more they will know.
Be a Tough Worker:  Keep trying.  Successful people keep working even when things get difficult.
Be a Risk Taker:    Successful people show courage.  They stick their necks out.
Be a Success:   Successful people complete their projects, turn them in on time and feel good that they         have finished their work.


General Daily Schedule
8:00-8:10
•   Children arrive and settle into their day.
•   Notes and messages are collected and the lunch and milk count takes place at this time.
8:15-8:45
•   Children choose an area to play in the classroom.
8:45 -9:30
•   Toys are picked up and Math Instruction begins starting with the Calendar.  We progress to Math Centers, which are opportunities for guided discovery.  To cut down on transitions.
•   Mrs. Raphael our Title I Reading Consultant works with small groups of children to support literacy activities in the classroom.
9:30-10:00
•   Children prepare to have snack followed by  recess.
10:00-11:20
•   We gather for songs and games as we transition into reading time.
•   Literacy instruction takes place.  Children are working on phonological awareness, language skills and writing skills at this time.  I work with small groups of children to support them in all areas of Literacy and Vocabulary Development We cover curriculum such as rhyming sounds, letter awareness, handwriting and vocabulary.  Reading Instruction will begin in a few weeks.
11:20-11:55
•   Monday -Thursday.  Mrs. Loven and I prepare the class for lunch insuring that hands are washed before eating.

•   Monday -Thursday: Lunch.  Mrs. Loven has Lunch duty in the cafeteria until 11:55.

11:55-12:30
•   The class returns from lunch and we have a Rest Time. Children are not expected to fall asleep, but after a busy morning some down time is needed to refresh and regroup for special classes. Children are lying down on soft mats.  They may choose a stuffed toy to rest with as they watch a video program called “Between The Lions”.  This program promotes literacy in a fun and engaging way.  You can also see this program on PPS at home. While the class is resting I am assessing individual children to help define what I need to do for instruction for individuals and for the whole class as a group.
•   Children are also reminded to use the bathroom before they go to their special class.




Special Teachers Schedule
Monday   Tuesday            Wednesday                Thursday       Friday
Half the              (Same as Monday)       Music with Mr. Sawyer     Guidance with                    Half Day children
With                    Art go to Library        1:10 Bathroom Break         Mrs. Williams                     are dismissed at
Mrs. Pettibon     and  visa versa.             1:15 P.E. with                                                                  11:00.  Meetings begin
Half the class                                             Ms. Newton.                  11:45.
Has Library with                                      (Remember
Mrs. Foley              sneakers)
                     

1:10-2:05
•   Children return to class for a snack and play time.


2:05-2:20
•   Pick up the classroom
•   End of the Day Meeting
•   Organize to go home

2:20-2:45:
•   Recess

2:45-3:00
•   Dismissal

Supporting the Classroom
Your interest is appreciated.  I need parents to become involved and active in the school Community Group.  As I mentioned in my August newsletter this is a vital part of our school community.

As a parent you can be an enormous help by encouraging your child’s interests and talents.  Acknowledge them, and admire them.  It would also be helpful to discuss your child with me before the parent teacher conference date, which is on November 14..  I am reserving that date to meet with parents who have other children in the school.  This way a parent with 2 or more children at VUES can meet teachers in one day as opposed to making several trips and taking more time from their work settings.  Please take advantage of the Friday afternoon meeting times I have set aside so that we may get better acquainted.

Communication is very important.  As I mentioned before, if you have any questions or concerns please call me at 877-3761 and I will return you call.  If I have questions or concerns I will get in touch with you.  You will be receiving a monthly newsletter, which will help to answer questions you may have about what we are working on in school.  

Support your child by going over the materials I send home.  Read the weekly school newsletters so you can be informed about school wide events.

Bridges Math Home Connections
An important component of the Bridges Math Program is parent involvement. There are a total of 26 math activities for the entire year.  Each assignment is intended to help parents and other family members become active participants in their children’s math education and to support and extend the work the children are doing in school.  In many cases the Home Connections involve games children have learned in class and are then able to teach their parents and siblings. On Thursday September 18 I will be handing out a Pink Three Ringed Binder with the first math homework assignment.  After that you will receive the homework in a plastic page protector.  Please keep the plastic page protector in the Pink Binder.  This will help you to keep the Math activities organized.  I would like to have these notebooks back at the end of the year for next year’s class.

Book Orders
Scholastic Book Company offers a monthly selection of books.  If you wish to order, simply fill out the form and send the correct amount of money or a check payable to the Scholastic Book Company.  These orders are provided as a convenient way for parents to buy quality books for their child at a low price.  You are never under any obligation to order.  Scholastic Book Company has as an added bonus, a special incentive for classrooms.  For every dollar that is spent on books, our classroom earns bonus points.  These bonus points are used to purchase books, tapes, and learning materials for the classroom.  The book order that I am including with this letter will be due on Friday, September 12th.  I send out book orders with each monthly newsletter.


Other Incidentals

Backpacks
•   Please have your child bring their backpacks each day to school.  This is important because notes go home from the school on occasion.  Children may need to change their clothes at school on occasion as well.  In the winter the backpacks will be holding hats mittens and other things.  It is helpful to get into the habit of bringing the backpack daily.
Clothes
•   We have had a few chilly mornings; please make sure you child has a sweater, hood or jacket on the chilly days.  I have a few spare things in the classroom, but not enough for everyone.

•   Please label your child’s clothes.  Clothes can get easily lost but if the name is on the garment we can easily determine whom it belongs to. This is especially important when we get into winter weather.  Black snow pants get mixed up often.

Snack Milks
•   It appears that snack milks are very popular with the children.  When a child asks for milk, I will assume you support that unless I hear otherwise.  We have snack 2 times per day.  Please send me a note if you do not wish for your child to have snack milk.  All snack milks are plain.  We do not serve chocolate milk for snack.  If you wish for child to receive skim or 2% milk please send in a note.

•   Snack milks will be charged to your lunch account.  Snack milks are not covered in the free and reduced lunch plan.

Dismissal and Bus Traffic
•   If you are picking up your child at the end of the day, you will find it easier to park your car on School Street.  This way you will not get caught behind the busses and other traffic. Our school parking lot is a very busy place at the end of the day.

Parent and Child Magazine
•   You will be receiving Parent and Child magazine once a month.  I hope you will find it useful and helpful. There are great ideas to support busy families in today’s world.  

Class List
I would like to have parents get to know each other.  This way parents and children can get together after
school and on weekends.

Thank you for your support!

Donna Ebel
Please detach and return this to me by next Friday 9/12/08
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I give permission to include the following information on Mrs. Ebel’s Class List:

Childs’ Name   Yes_____   No _____          Parents’ Name  Yes_____   No _____

Address       Yes_____   No _____           Phone Number Yes_____   No ____





Signed__________________________________________________________