BACK TO SCHOOL:
The first day of school is Thursday, August 15th.  However, we have Kindergarten Orientation on Friday August 9th at 6:30, in the kindergarten classrooms.  You should have received a packet in the mail last week regarding orientation.  If you did not, please email me at mcgarityc@bernie.k12.mo.us. See you then!

SUMMER SCHOOL:
...starts Monday, May 20th.  It's going to be full of fun activities--many including water! See you then! 

REMINDERS:

· Graduation is Tuesday at 6:30 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 6:20. After the ceremony, we will provide an opportunity to get a group picture of all the kindergarteners. 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. Swafford’s Photography will also be there for individual shots. Order forms will be available the night of graduation.

· After the ceremony and pictures, please drop off your child's cap and gown at the designated areas by the exit doors. These were donated by PTO and will be reused for many years to come.

· Please fill out the “Parent Involvement” form after the ceremony Tuesday and return it to school on Wednesday. It is very important we receive your input on the “Parent Involvement” form.

· Attendance is required for all kindergarten students on Wednesday and Thursday, even though it is after“graduation.”

GRADUATION VIDEO:
Check out the end-of-the-year kindergarten video. :)  It is posted on the top, right hand side of the blog. 

FIELD TRIP:
Our field trip is Tuesday.  Please have your child wear comfy clothes, tennis shoes, and a Bernie Blue shirt. 

KINDERGARTEN GRADUATION:
Tuesday, May 14th at 6:30 in the cafeteria...

PERMISSION FORMS:

Field trip forms and money are due by April 25th, preferably sooner though.  Thank you for your help. 

TUTORING:
There will be no more tutoring after the week of April 15-19th. 

MISS BERNIE PAGEANT
Don't forget about the upcoming pageant taking place May 18th in the Bernie cafeteria.  If you would like an application, please send a note to school as soon as possible.  We would love to have as many students participate as possible! All proceeds benefit the Bernie Kindergarten Program and Parents as Teachers.  These funds help us purchase supplies for arts and craft activities, pizza parties, field trips, and so much more! 

ELEMENTARY ART SHOW:

Mrs. Higgins is hosting an art show to display a variety of the art pieces created by our elementary students throughout the school year.  We hope you can attend.  It is Thursday, April 11th at 6:00 in the cafeteria. 

ELEMENTARY TALENT SHOW:

If you and your child have practiced a song or other performance for the elementary talent show, tryouts are this Tuesday and/or Wednesday morning at 7:30 in Mrs. Lanpher's music room.  You must bring your child to school, at that time, to be considered for the show in May.  Generally, we do not have kindergarten students tryout, so don't feel pressured.  :)  Again, this is just a little info and a reminder if your child has been talking about performing in the talent show.   

UPCOMING FIELD TRIP:

Be looking for the field trip permission form in your child's blue folder this afternoon.  We are going to the Lazy L Safari Park in a few weeks!!!  The boys and girls are already excited!

SPRING BREAK:
Spring break is March 28 - April 1.
Enjoy your time together!

SCIENCE:

Last month we stayed busy learning about shadows, weather, stars, and the Earth, Moon, and Sun.  Now we have moved on to physical science and are focusing on how things are made and what they are made of.  Last Friday we talked about wood, metal, ceramic, porcelain, rubber, plastic, paper, and cloth.  Ask your child what s/he has learned about recently in science. 

REMINDER:
Conferences are Thursday, March 14th.  The book fair will be in the elementary computer lab between 3:30-6:30, so be sure to stop by and check it out!

ONE FISH, TWO FISH, RED FISH, BLUE FISH:

Last Thursday we had lots of help making our Dr. Seuss craft.  Thank you for all of your help Mrs. Lisa (Bailey's mom), Mrs. Mindy (Cooper's mom), Mrs. Weeks (Kerri's grandmother), and Mrs. Kelli!  Our awesome One Fish, Two Fish projects are being proudly displayed in the hallway!

CLASS PICTURE DAY:
Picture day is March 13th.  Please dress your child accordingly.  Order forms (envelopes) were sent home Wednesday. 

THE CAT IN THE HAT:

Tuesday we made Cat in the Hat snacks.  Rylie's mom, Mrs. Lori, came to help.  We layered an Oreo, white icing, and four red gummy lifesavers until we had our own little edible cat hats.  They were cute, easy, and delicious.  Yesterday we journaled about our snacks and The Cat in the Hat story.  :)  Today we are reading One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, then making a personalized craft.  Looks like it is going to be a fun and busy afternoon!  I also want to take a second to thank the parents that helped us with our first Dr. Seuss project-- the green eggs and ham.  Thank you Chris' mom, Mrs. Kristy, Kerri's grandma, Mrs. Weeks, and Jase's mom, Mrs. Becki!  The kids enjoyed watching the ham and eggs cook and being able to participate! THANK YOU!!! 

SCHOLASTIC BOOK ORDER:
The book order is due in class or online this Friday, March 8th.  Remember-- ordering online earns you a free book coupon for a following order and earns a free book for our classroom! :)

PIZZA HUT:

Your child received a Pizza Hut Book-It coupon today for working hard in class and reading his nightly reading book. 

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES:

Spring conferences are March 14th, after school, from 3:30-6:30.  I sent home sign up sheets today.  Please return the sign up sheet next week, and I will send home a note confirming your time slot within the next few days. 

READ ACROSS AMERICA:

 

Read across America Day, a national reading celebration, takes place each year on or near March 2, the birthday of Dr. Seuss. Across the country, thousands of schools, libraries, and community centers participate by bringing together kids, teens, and books and you can too! Our kindergarten class will be celebrating Read Across America with several events related to Dr. Suess.

Today we cooked green eggs and ham. The boys and girls got to break the eggs, mix them with green food coloring, and help cook them. Afterwards they ate everything we cooked and even asked for more! Thank you to the parent helpers that came and helped cook! It was a wonderful day for the kids!

NIGHTLY READING HOMEWORK:

Don't forget to practice reading with your child, using the short decodable reader in his/her folder.  Your child will get a new book every Thursday, unless there is extra time in class one afternoon prior to Thursday and we get a chance to read together. 

MATH WORKBOOK B (Part 2):

It is important to spend time getting familiar with what your child has been learning in kindergarten and try to find ways to help him/her master those skills. Consequently, please look over your child’s math workbook as thoroughly as possible. In particular, work on anything noted as “completed with help” or “practice at home.” This means your child was either unable to complete the page without one-on-one assistance or s/he struggled with the concept. When working with your child on these math skills, it is often times as simple as verbally asking them a similar question or drawing a picture.

This workbook is what we have been working on daily for the last few months, and if the majority of the skills are not mastered by the end of the year, your child will not be adequately prepared for first grade. Addition and subtraction fluency and fact practice will be a big part of your child’s first grade math curriculum. I would recommend focusing on these two concepts the most. Thank you for your help.

JOURNAL REMINDER:

The journal your child writes in three days a week stays in class, so you will not see your child’s work until our next parent/teacher conference in March. At the March conference, I will show you how your child’s journaling has progressed and how you can help them excel. Then, at the end of the year, the completed journal will be sent home with your child for you to have as a kindergarten keepsake.