Monday, March 20th

Thank you for sending Practice Folders today. You will see new passages and Practice Sheet #20. These folders are to be returned to school every Monday. If you forgot to send your child’s practice folder today, please send it tomorrow. Thank you! 

The 4th Nine Weeks reading log is also in your child's green Practice Folder. The goal is to read 35 books by Tuesday, May 16th. There are 58 days between now and May 16th. There are seven days in a week, if you read 5 books per week, your child will meet this goal.  Please make every effort to read 35 books to your child and record the titles on the reading log. Our class has yet to earn the extra recess this year. They have been excited about the possibility of the extra recess, so please help them earn the extra recess. 

Cold and flu season is here and we have gone through almost all of our tissues and pump hand sanitizer. If you could donate any boxes of tissues or pump bottles of hand sanitizer it would be greatly appreciated!

I would like your help. Please talk with your child about classroom behavior. The class has been very talkative, loud, and interruptive. In class, we've discussed being conscious of their speaking volume and having self-control, but it hasn't transferred to application yet. Thank you for helping me with this at home too. During recess the kindergarten teachers are observing some aggressive and inappropriate games being played. We request your help with talking to your child about this. Please encourage your child to keep their hands, feet, and all other objects to themselves when playing with others. 

3/21 World Down Syndrome Day: wear BLUE and YELLOW tomorrow!

• Sunday, March 19th

  I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Spring Break and are ready to start the last nine weeks refreshed. 

  Here is this week's newsletter: March 20-24 Thank you for taking a few minutes to read it. 

  Please send both the blue Daily Folder and the green Practice Folder to school tomorrow. Thank you!

• Thursday, March 9th 

  We'll share the March 20-24th newsletter when we return from Spring Break. 

  If you forgot to send the 3rd Nine Weeks reading log today, please send it in your child's blue Daily Folder tomorrow. Thank you!

  Mark your calendars: Our Spring Field Trip to Early Works Children's Museum will be Tuesday, May 2nd.

  I hope all of your families have a wonderful and safe Spring Break. I hope it is filled with rest and relaxation. Then, be ready to come back on March 20th ready for a busy 4th Nine Weeks of School!

• Monday, March 6th 

  We started a new literacy station last week. It is called Magnet Center. At this station, the students build words in a word family using magnets. Then, they write the words. Their last step is to use the words in a sentence on the back of the paper. Last week our word family was -at, this week our word family is -it. I am expecting the students to begin their sentence with a capital letter, put a space between the words, and end the sentence with punctuation. The students are enjoying this new station.

  I only received work for the virtual day from 10 students. Please make sure you send the written work from the phonics video and the word problems to me in the Daily Folder tomorrow. If you forgot to send the Practice Folder and/or Practice #18, please send them tomorrow as well. 

  The 3rd Nine Weeks Reading Log is due on Thursday, March 9th. After recording the books read each day this week on the reading log, please send it in your child's blue Daily Folder on Thursday. Thank you! We're hoping we earn the extra recess for the class meeting the reading goal. 

  Today I heard lots of talk about children leaving for Spring Break trips this week. Time with family is super exciting and I hope everyone enjoys the vacations you have planned. Please make sure to email me if you know your child is going to miss any days this week, so I can adjust my assessment plan accordingly. Thank you!

  Tomorrow is astronaut or alien day for Space Week. 

  Expectations for Daily Practice at Home:

  Spend 10 minutes each day on the Practice Folder activities. These activities include Practice #19, the reading sheet, Fry sight word flashcards, math fact flashcards. 

  Read a book to your child and record it on the reading log.  The library is open this week! Remember to send the reading log to me on Thursday. Thank you!

• Thursday, March 2nd

  Here is next week’ s newsletter:March 6-10

  Tomorrow, Friday March 3rd will be a virtual learning day. Please complete all the assignments listed in Schoology. You will need to turn in the written work on Monday, March 6th. This long weekend is a great opportunity for listening to your child read passages from the green folder. As a challenge you can read a sentence from the green folder for your child to write independently. The chromebooks, headphones, and QR codes must be returned on Monday with your child. 

  While assessing for Report Cards this week, I have noticed that many students are really struggling with automatically and accurately producing the answers to the addition and subtraction facts.  Flashcards  are a great way to practice math facts. Fluency with addition and subtraction facts is a power standard in Kindergarten; so please begin working on these facts at home, if not already. Another helpful trick is to write the more challenging facts on a sticky note. Then put that sticky note in a common place like on the bathroom mirror or on the refrigerator. Then as your child passes that sticky note you can have your child read the facts aloud. Thank you for your support! This same trick works great for sight words as well. 

  Assessment Reminders: The third nine weeks assessments have started. Please use these flashcards to help your child practice at home.  Sight Word Flashcards   Addition Flashcards   Subtraction Flashcards   Subtraction Video

  Reminder: Space Day is next week. Here’s the flyer for the dress up days.

• Monday February 27th

  Read Across America is this week!  Our Spring Book Fair is this week in our media center. Our class will go to the Book Fair on Thursday.  If you would like to send money in for your child to purchase a book please send the money in a labeled envelope or bag with your child’s name, my name and the amount. Remember that you may shop online at scholastic.com/fair as well.   

  You may also shop at the book fair tonight during our Camp Read S’More family night from 5-7pm. There will be guest readers and special family activities.

  As a reminder, here are the special days for the rest of this  week.  

  Tuesday - Camp Cozy: Wear cozy clothes and bring a flashlight for reading

  Wednesday - Camp Care-a-lot: Wear a shirt with positive message

  Thursday - Camp Read Aloud: Book Character Day- PTA Spirit Day Bring $1

  Friday - Wear a CES: Wear a CES shirt or red/black

  Please remember to empty your child's folder daily. When too many papers get left in the folder, the folder begins to rip.  This would be a huge help for me as I place new papers in your folders each day.  

  If your child completed February’s challenge please send in the Dental Health Log tomorrow. 

  Assessment Reminders: The third nine weeks assessments have started. Please use these flashcards to help your child practice at home.  Sight Word Flashcards   Addition Flashcards   Subtraction Flashcards   Subtraction Video

  Here is the list of sight words that have been taught thus far in Kindergarten. This also gives the breakdown of the scoring for the report card. I will also be sending this paper home for you to keep and use with your child. 

Tuesday, Febuary 21st 

Thursday, February 16th

Please click this link to read next week's newsletter: February 21-24

Thank you for all you did to help your child with virtual learning today.  I appreciate your support! Please return the Chromebook, headphones, and computer card back to school on Friday with your child. 

Since school will be closed on Monday to honor Presidents Day, please send in the green Practice Folders on Tuesday, February 21st. 

Columbia will have a Camp Read S’more Family Reading Night on Monday, February 27th. This will be a fun event with guest readers, reading activities, and a campfire sing-along.  If you would like to order a shirt for your child for this event, you can order on-line here: Camp Read S'more t-shirt

Enjoy the long weekend! 

Monday, February 13th

Progress Reports will be coming home today in the Report of Learning Folders.  Please read over it, sign it and return it to school by Wednesday, February 15th.

Please continue to work on learning the addition and subtraction facts and the Fry sight words with your child. Remember a great way to work on this skill is with flashcards. Another great way to help your child read smoothly, accurately, and with expression is to give them 10 minutes of your undivided attention and listen to them read the passages in the Green Practice Folder. The more your child practices his/her reading skills, the better reader he/she will become. 

If you forgot to send in your child’s Valentine cards to exchange today, please send them in the morning. We are looking forward to a fun day in the classroom!

Reminders: 

• Friday, February 17th, is a half-day. School will dismiss at 11:30. Extended Day will be closed. If you haven’t already done so, please complete the Google Form by tomorrow morning. Thank you! The link was in Thursday's post.

• On Monday, February 20th school will be closed to honor Presidents Day. 

• Tuesday, February 14th is PTA Spirit Day - "Wear Something You Love" - donate $1 for gym and PE supplies.

• Thursday, February 16th is  Spring Individual Picture Day.

Thursday, February 9th 

Please click this link to read next week's newsletter: February 13-17

Please send your child's Valentine's to school on Monday, February 13th. We are looking forward to our Valentine Exchange on Tuesday and I want to ensure we are all prepared for a wonderful day! 

Next Friday is a half day for students, please click this link: Half Day February 17th to fill out your child's transportation and lunch preference. Thank you!

Monday, February 6th

Thank you to everyone who returned the green folders today. Remember, please read one of these passages each day. Please follow up the reading with some comprehension questions. For example: Who was in the story? Where did the story take place? Was there a problem? What was the problem? How did the problem get solved?

Please continue working on writing names for the valentines. You will send in the valentines in a ziploc bag on Monday, February 13th. Each student will pass out their valentines. That means your child will also need to be able to read and match the name he/she wrote to that child’s name on their valentine bag. 

Progress reports will go home on Monday, February 13th.

Thursday, February 2nd

Here is next week’s newsletter: February 6 - 10.  Thank you for taking the time to read the newsletter each week. 

Keep working on the cards for the Valentine Exchange. These need to be sent to school Monday, February 13th. We are also still taking donations of Valentine themed stickers or any stickers you can get your hands on. As your family works on writing valentine's, please have your child do the writing. When your child has finished writing the names on the cards, please let your child practice reading the names. Your child will need to be able to read the name in order to drop the valentine in the correct bag. 

Tomorrow night, February 3rd, is Multicultural Night at 6pm. Come celebrate and learn more about Culture and Diversity with the whole family!

Kids Heart Challenge is here! Our goal is to have all students register online and complete Finn’s Mission. They’ll even earn a free wristband for registering! 

Here’s how you can help:  

• Click Here to Register!

• Complete Finn’s Mission: Watch a 2-minute video to know Hands-Only CPR, spot the signs of a stroke and more! 

• Share with friends and family through social media, text and/or email. 

We need your help to accomplish our goal of having 100% of our families to know Hands-Only CPR, and you can help us by registering your child and spreading the word. Also, check out this amazing video.

Reminders - 

Vision screenings will take place on Monday, February 6th. The Student Eye Screening Form was sent home on Tuesday. Every child needs a completed form returned to school. If you do not want your child to participate, you must fill out the form and mark no.

Class pictures will be taken on Tuesday, February 7th. 

Progress Reports will be coming home next week, February 13th. Please be on the lookout for those.

Monday, January 30th

Please remember to return Green Daily Practice Folders on Mondays. The completed Practice Sheet can be sent back to me in the green folder. 

Wednesday, February 1st is the beginning of Jump Rope for Heart. It is important to dress students appropriately for the school day and these activities. Students will need to wear tennis shoes or closed toe shoes. Boots are not appropriate shoes for the school day. If a student has a dress/skirt to wear, please have shorts underneath.

Tuesday, February 7th  is class picture day. Please have your child dressed for these pictures prior to the school day starting. We will not be changing into our outfits for the picture. If you would like for your child to change after, please have all items in their backpack that your child is easily able to change themselves into. Thank you for your understanding.

• Friday, January 27th

  Thank you for attending 2nd Semester Night! If you missed the meeting, please take time to read through the slides: 2nd Semester Parent Night

  Last night, Mrs. Hester talked about the 42 math facts that students should be able to answer when adding and subtracting within 5. Please go ahead and make the math fluency flashcards on index cards like was in the presentation. Continue to practice the Fry sight word flash cards at home. I will begin assessing for the next Progress Report next week. Thank you for your support.

  Please remember to return the green Practice Folders on Monday. The completed Practice Sheet can be sent back to me in the green folder. 

  Please click here to read next week's newsletter: January 30-February 3

  After you and your child finish the Multiculturnal Night Home Project from Mrs. Bolden, please send it back to school in your child's folder so it can be displayed in the hallway. Multicultural Night is on February 3rd at 6:00. Come and enjoy the fun event!

  I'm running low on things for the prize box. I'd appreciate it so much if you wanted to send a bag of small trinkets from Dollar Tree, a bag of Smarties, fun sized M&Ms/Skittles, etc.  Thank you! 

• Monday, January 23rd 

  **Attention! Attention! Practice Folders Are Coming Home Today!** The children are bringing home their new Practice Folders today. These are the green folders you provided at the start of school. Everything you need to know about the Practice folder is written on a note inside the folder. Please be on the lookout for the Practice Folder. 

  Remember the 100th Day of School is tomorrow. A note went home in folders last week with ideas for dressing up as a 100 year old. We will have a fun day celebrating. 

  Keep working on the Valentine's Exchange Home Project. As your family works on writing valentine's, please have your child do the writing, not mom or dad. When your child has finished writing the names on the cards, please let your child practice reading the names. Your child will need to be able to read the name in order to drop the valentine in the correct bag. I sent this home early so the children have plenty of time to work on this project.

  I'm looking forward to seeing you on Thursday for 2nd Semester Parent Night. Please send the parent who works with your child on the practice sheet. Here is the invitation: 2nd Semester Parent Night Invitation

• Thursday, January 19th

  Here is next week’s newsletter: January 23-27. Thank you for taking the time to read the newsletter each week.

  Tomorrow is our big field trip to Bob Jones to see our classmates sing and dance in Aladdin. Please wear your YELLOW kindergarten class shirt. You may want to wear a long sleeve shirt underneath. The auditorium can be chilly. We will not bring jackets with us. The buses will start loading early in the morning. Please be on time to school. We will have lunch as soon as we return to campus. Since that exact time is unknown, visitors will not be allowed to join us. Thank you for your cooperation.

  Don’t forget to read over the dress up days next week for the Great Kindness Challenge! Kindness Dress Up Days

  I look forward to seeing you at our 2nd Semester Parent Night next Thursday, January 26th at 5:30 in the Media Center. Please have the parent that works with your child on the practice sheet attend the meeting. Parent Night Invitation

• Tuesday, January 17th

  Reminders for our field trip on Friday:

  -All students should wear their class shirt on the field trip. 

  -Please wear a long sleeve shirt under the class shirt. The auditorium can be cold and we are not bringing jackets. 
  
  

  There is an important note in your child's folder about our 100th day of school next week. 

  Please keep Friday’s note about Valentine’s Day in a safe location to refer to as your child works on writing their name and the names of their classmates. 

  Mark your calendar for Second Semester Parent Night on Thursday, January 26th at 5:30 pm. Please plan for the parent who works with your child on the practice sheets to attend this event.

  Next week is the Great Kindness Challenge. Please see the following notes from Mrs. Sturdivant for more information about this exciting week long event.

  Kindness Dress Up Days

  Kindness Challenge Checklist

• Thursday, January 12th

  Here is next week’s newsletter: January 17-20. Thank you for taking the time to read the newsletter each week. If you haven't read it before, these are five components to the newsletter: upcoming events, the monthly challenge, a preview of this week's ELA and Math instruction, and Important Kindergarten Information. Be sure to check it out! 

  Valentine's Day is almost a month away! Tomorrow there will be a pink note in your child's Daily Folder with directions for the Valentine Exchange Home Project. By starting early, your child can write one valentine card per day and never have hand cramps.

  We have focused on subtraction since returning from winter break. If you review the math papers with your child in the evenings, you might have noticed more errors on the Practice page than on the Apply and Grow page. We do the Apply and Grow together as a class, and then they do the Practice on their own. When looking at a subtraction sentence, I suggest pointing to the minus and equal sign and asking your child to tell you what it is called and what it means. The plus sign, minus sign, and equal sign are frequently confused in Kindgeraten, especially when the students begin writing the addition and subtraction sentence on their own without just tracing the signs. 

  Reminders:

  - No school on Monday, January 16 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

  - Our field trip to see Aladdin Jr. will be Friday, January 20th. Your child needs to wear our class shirt on January 20th. 

  - 2nd Semester Parent Night is Thursday, January 26th at 5:30. 

Monday, January 9th

This week during our literacy instruction, we are learning about the digraph “th.” We are learning that a digraph is a team of 2 letters that make 1 sound. We are practicing the sound that “th” makes, and reading and writing words with “th.” This would be a great thing to practice at home as well!

Our next CES PTA Spirit Day is Wednesday, January 11th. The theme is career day! Students are asked to send in $1 or more in order to dress up like who/what they want to be at school this day. The money for this spirit day will go to support our front office! Please send this donation in an envelope with your child’s name, teacher’s name, and CES Spirit Day written on the outside.

Reminders:

Our next CES PTA Spirit Day is Wednesday, January 11th. The theme is Career Day! Students are asked to send in $1 or more in order to dress up like who/what they want to be at school that day. The money for this spirit day will go to support our front office! Please send this donation in an envelope with your child’s name, teacher’s name, and CES Spirit Day written on the outside.

Reminders:

-Report Cards came home on Friday. If you have not signed and returned your child’s report card, please do so and return tomorrow.

-No school on Monday, January 16th in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

-Our field trip to see Aladdin Jr. will be Friday, January 20th. If you have not returned the permission form or paid the $2, please do so this week.

Thursday, January 5th

Here is next week's newsletter: January 9-13 .  Please take time to read the newsletter. Thank you!

Report of Learning Folders will come home tomorrow with your child’s 2nd Nine weeks Report Card, Middle of the year DIBELS and iReady reports. Please read the 2nd Nine Weeks Report Card note in the front of your child’s folder. 

Help from home: We are now writing our first and last names on our papers. Your child will be assessed on this and is expected to be able to write their name with correct letter formation and orientation to the line. Please work on this with your child. Learning your last name, how to spell it, and writing it can be difficult and can take longer to master.

• Tuesday, January 3rd

• 
  Happy New Year! I hope you and your family had a wonderful and relaxing break.

• 
  Here is this week's newsletter: January 4-6.  Please take time to read the newsletter. Thank you!

• 
  The 3rd Nine Weeks of school is packed full of essential learning in Kindergarten. If your child is healthy, it is important for him/her to be at school on time each day ready to learn. If there is anything you need from me in order to make that happen, please reach out. I am here to help. 

• 
  Help your child select one picture from Christmas Break that he/she would like to share with the class. Help your child decide what they would like to say to the class about the picture. Email the picture to me before 7:30 tomorrow (Wednesday) morning. Thank you!

•  

• I look forward to seeing your child tomorrow. Your child will need: a water bottle, one snack, and their rest mat. 

Thursday, December 15th 

We had a wonderful Christmas party today! The students really had fun! Thank you to our room mom Mrs. Taff for organizing the party and to all who sent in items to make the party a success!  I also want to thank the parents who were able to come and help with our party.  I also want to say how much I appreciated the class gift for me. It is so thoughtful and I love it! Thank you all!

Wow, it is hard to believe we have finished the first semester of our school year! As I said at Parent Night back in August, this year will fly by, it truly goes by so fast. Thank you for all your support this semester. Thank you for sharing your children with me each day and entrusting me with their foundation school year! I have enjoyed watching the kids learn and grow this semester, I know we have big things ahead for next semester!  

I hope you all have a very blessed Holiday, enjoying time with family and friends! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Reminder: After Winter Break students will return to school on Wednesday, January 4th. I look forward to seeing the kids in 2023!

Monday, December 12th

Our next CES PTA Spirit Day is Wednesday, December 14th. The theme is pajamas! Students are asked to send in $1 in order to wear pajamas to school this day.  For this Spirit Day the cash donations will be split evenly between the custodians, cafeteria staff, and our plant manager. They work so hard at school to prepare meals and keep the building clean. Please send this donation in an envelope with your child’s name, teacher’s name, and CES Spirit Day written on the outside. 

Parents, please listen to your child read anything that comes home with sentences. For example, every Word List, phonics framework page, and Wonders Readers have "just right" sentences for your child to read to you. If you click on the links, you will see an example of what I am referring to. We are not sending home a new Word List this week, but I hope you save the old ones and let your child read from those. The more your child practices reading, the better the reader they will be. Daily practice will make a HUGE difference. Thank you for your support at home. 

We are so excited that our school-wide field trip to Bob Jones to see Aladdin Jr. will be next month! Field trip forms will be coming home in folders tomorrow. The cost of the field trip is $2.  Please send in field trip forms and money back to school by Thursday, December 14th.

Reminders:

• Our sight word assessment will be done tomorrow. Please review the list again tonight!
• Reading Logs are due on Wednesday. FIVE Good Time tickets will be given to those who read 25 books this nine weeks. 
• Thursday, December 15th is the last day to pay for the yearbook. 

• Please remember that students are only allowed to wear tennis shoes to school.

• Rest mats will come home on Wednesday this week due to Thursday and Friday being half days. School will dismiss at 11:30 on the half days.  

Thursday, December 8th

Here is next week’s newsletter: December 12-16. Thank you for taking a moment to read the newsletter each week and stay informed. 

Thank you to everyone who generously donated to help sponsor our angel off of the angel tree. I know our angel is going to have an incredible holiday season. 

Next Thursday, December 15th and Friday, December 16th are half-days of school. Elementary students are dismissed at 11:30. *Please note this is a different time from normal half days. If you haven't filled out the Half Day Google Form yet, please do so. Here is the link: Half Day Google Form

Friday, December 2nd

What a fun and exciting day we had in Kindergarten! We spent the day on the engineering component of our AMSTI Balls and Ramps Unit. It is called Sidewalk Safety. First, we did a test to learn that the size of a push determines the distance an object travels. Then, we did truck races and learned that the size of a push determined the speed of the truck. Next, we learned about slopes and looked at pictures of runaway truck ramps. Then, we learned about barriers and looked at pictures of concrete barriers on highways. Finally, we put everything together and worked in groups to create a plan to stop the spring-loaded truck in the safety zone. I encourage you to talk with your child about their experience today. It would make a great dinner time conversation! 

Here is next week's newsletter: December 5- 9 Please take a few minutes to read the newsletter.

Way to go! So many families were at or above 20 books read! Thank you for making reading a part of your family's routine. If your child has 25 or more books recorded on the reading log when they are turned in on December 14th, your child will receive FIVE Good Time tickets. If the entire class meets the goal, then we get an extra recess! Please remember to keep your child's reading log in their blue Daily Folder. If you have it at home, please place it in the page protector inside your child's folder. 

Keep working on the Kindergarten sight word list that was on Monday's post and a copy was sent home in folders. 

We have a busy week ahead! Please have your child get plenty of rest each night and arrive at school on time. Thank you for your support!