Kindergarten Rocks!
We are on day 11 and what a difference a few short weeks can make! The kids are getting the hang of all the school procedures and rules. They are sitting quietly and listening to our reading, math, and writing lessons. They are even working pretty independently. We know how to walk in a quiet, straight line (well, most of the time). :) They are enjoying their visits to PE, art, music, and library and as I type, they are dancing and singing in music class with Mrs. Lanpher. In reading, we have been very busy learning all of our letters and beginning to learn our letter sounds. Additionally, as we read story books, the kids are understanding the concepts of character and setting. In math, we have focused on counting and learning how to handle all of the fun math manipulatives, like pattern blocks and linking cubes. In handwriting, we are learning how to form letters correctly and how to write their names using lowercase letters. Science lessons about plant life will begin soon, and every year the kids love learning how plants grow. It is going to be a great year!

Kindergarten Orientation is Friday, August 12th at 6:30 pm in the kindergarten classrooms. If your child is entering kindergarten, you should have received an informational packet in the mail. If you have not received the packet, please contact the school at 293-5335.

Kindergarten Website Updated! The class website has been updated with pictures from April and May. The last newsletter is also posted. If you can not click on the stars on the "Pictures" page, you may need to view the website on a different computer. Sometimes the picture links are not recognized on all computers.

Character Trait Winners
September-RESPECT: Tucker Anthony
October-RESPONSIBILITY: Gabby Young
November-KINDNESS: Logan Williams
December-CARING: Deandrianna Conner
January-INTEGRITY: Leslie Orocio
February-CITIZENSHIP: Joel Aycock
March-HONESTY: Giana McCoy
April-TRUSTWORTHINESS: Kaylee Gordon
May- FAIRNESS: Draven Cato

The 911 presentation has been rescheduled for this Wednesday. We are very thankful this presentation will be delivered to our children so they will more fully understand what to do in case of an emergency. Wednesday afternoon would be a great time for you as a parent to reinforce the steps to take in case of an emergency.

Kindergarten Graduation Information

• Graduation is tonight at 6:00 in the cafeteria. Please enter through the North doors along Highway U.


• The night will consist of a short musical program, followed by a graduation ceremony. Please dress your child in casual formal wear (Sunday attire) and have him/her in the cafeteria no earlier than 5:45. After the ceremony, we will provide an opportunity to get a group picture of all the kindergartners. The students will be arranged in front of the stage and as soon as the ceremony has concluded, you may come up and take their picture.


• You should have received a “Parent Involvement Activity Evaluation Form” in your child's blue folder. Please fill this out after the ceremony tonight and return it to school the next day--Wednesday, May 18th. It is very important we receive your input on the “Parent Involvement” form. Thank you for your help, and I hope to see you all tonight!!!


• Attendance is required for all kindergarten students between Wednesday, May 18th and Friday May 20th, even though it is after “graduation.”
  

Student of the Quarter

The student of the quarter is a child that shows kindness to his/her fellow classmates and is respectful to teachers and other peers around him/her. Additionally, s/he always works hard in class to achieve his/her personal best. Congratulations to the following students who exhibit these qualities and more…

First Quarter
Joel Aycock and Leslie Orocio

Second Quarter
Gabby Young and Logan Williams

Third Quarter
Draven Cato and Gabriel Stratton

Fourth Quarter
Trey Wiseman and Lucenda Craver

Secret Word: The new secret word is "said." Have your child write three sentences, including the word "said." For example: "She said hello to her friend Liz."

Summer Birthday Kids: If you want to send birthday treats to celebrate your child's summer birthday, you are more than welcome to do so. There are 19 students.

Graduation Video: There is a new kindergarten video posted on the right side of this blog. If you would like to view it full screen, click on the small rectangle in the bottom, right-hand corner of the video.

The 911 presentation by the Stoddard County Ambulance District was cancelled due to the flood conditions. Those emergency personnel were needed around the bootheel to help those affected by the rising waters. However, any time you spent helping your child memorize his/her address and phone number was not wasted. It is extremely important your child knows these things, and now would be a great time to talk about what to do in case of an emergency.

To view a larger version of the graduation invitation, please click on the picture below.

Scholastic Book Order: If you submitted your order last week, the books should arrive in our classroom soon. We will not have any more book orders this year, since we only have nine days of school left. Thank you to those that have ordered throughout this school year. I have received more than 20 free books as a result of parent orders, and it is always exciting to introduce new books to the kids.

Library Reminder: Library books need to be returned to school every Thursday so when your child goes to library, s/he will be able to check out a new book.

Dates to Remember:

• April 11th-14th: Kindergarten Achievement Testing


• April 22nd-25th: Spring Break


• May 17th: Kindergarten Graduation (more info to come)

Student of the Quarter: Each quarter, students are chosen from each classroom to be recognized as “Student of the Quarter.” These are students that are kind to others, show respect to their teachers and classmates, and work hard in class. For first quarter, Joel Aycock and Leslie Orocio were recognized. Gabby Young and Logan Williams were recognized for second quarter. Third quarter students were Draven Cato and Gabriel Stratton. Congratulations to these boys and girls!

Box Tops: The PTO will be sponsoring a Box Top Party, with pizza, soda, and cupcakes for the classroom that collects the most Box Tops during April. The collection of Box Tops for the party started on April 1st and will conclude on April 29th. If you want to help our classroom, please save your Box Tops and encourage your family and friends to do the same. For every Box Top collected, our school receives 10 cents. Don’t forget to send them to school in your child’s blue folder before April 29th.

2011-2012 School Calendar: Next year's school calendar is posted on the Bernie School Homepage. Click on the link below to view the calendar.

http://www.bernie.k12.mo.us/admin/2012Calendar.pdf

Last Day of School Change: Our last day of school will now be Friday, May 20th. We will dismiss at 12:30. Also remember, spring break is April 22nd-April 25th. Please plan accordingly.

Conferences: Remember Parent/Teacher Conferences are this Thursday. Please arrive at school at your scheduled time. If the door to my room is closed, please wait outside until I finish conferencing with the parents before you. I hope to see everyone Thursday afternoon. Thanks!

Newsletter and School Website: Hopefully you found my class newsletter in your child's blue folder this afternoon. Also, I have updated our class website with pictures from February (many that did not make it in the newsletter can be found online), fourth quarter skills to practice, and the newsletter is attached for future reference. Please take the time to check the fourth quarter "Skills to Practice." Try to work with your child to see if s/he has mastered the old skills, and make a point to practice some of the new ones. It would also be helpful to practice the sight words listed near the bottom of the page. The more sight words your child can read, the easier it is for him/her to read fluently and comprehend what is being read. Thanks!

Parent/Teacher Conferences: Conferences will be rescheduled since we are out of school this Thursday for our boys to play in the state basketball tournament! GO MULES!!!! The conferences are now scheduled for Thursday, March 24th, after school. The assigned times for my conferences will be the same. You should have received an automated call from the school with a detailed update regarding the conferences and the upcoming events related to the ballgame. Also, the book fair will take place on Thursday, March 24th, after school.

Picture after the boys were awarded district champions!!!

Pizza Hut Personal Pan Pizza: On Monday, March 1st, your child brought home a small coupon for a free personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut. The students received these coupons because of the hard work and effort each of the children have been putting into learning this past month. Hopefully, you still have your coupon and intend on using it during the month of March. Or even better, you have already visited Pizza Hut and your child received his/her free pizza! Remember, the coupons are only good for one month after they are given out, and next month will be the last month we get to participate for the 2010-2011 school year. Hopefully your child's first grade teacher will participate in the program and you can enjoy more free pizzas!

Monthly Newsletter: I generally send home the monthly newsletter at the very beginning of each month. However, you will not receive your next class newsletter until at least the second week of March. I will be having Lasik eye surgery on Friday, so I will not able to spend a great amount of time on the computer straining my eyes right before and right after my surgery. As a result, the newsletter with March's information and pictures from February will be slightly delayed. Your child's substitute will be Mrs. Myra Weeks, and she is always an excellent sub! Your kids will love her, and I will be back to school on Monday. Thanks!

One final reminder... Class Pictures are tomorrow. Please dress your child accordingly. If you would like to purchase a class photo, you may send $5.00 to school. You won't regret purchasing it! It is nice to be able to look back in a few years to your child's kindergarten. I still enjoying looking at past class pictures and seeing how much the kids have grown in just a few years.