Mahalo!

Thank you to all the parents who were able to attend our Open House last week Monday. It was wonderful meeting you all again and sharing with you a little bit of the math and writing we do in Kindergarten. If you have questions or would like to share something about your child with the teachers, please feel free to email, call, or stop by at any time.

Thank you to all the parents who helped out with our 100th Day celebration – JM’s mom, RB’s mom, GK’s dad and grandma, ZH’s mom, JD’s mom, IC’s dad, RJ’s mom, SC’s parents, and AG’s mom. 

Everyone had a great time, despite the rainy and windy weather! The next day, the children shared about their favorite 100 Day activity. Tasty Tidbits was a favorite, but everyone said that they enjoyed all the activities. We also enjoyed sharing the 100 day projects that were brought in – 100 beads glued into 100!, a picture made with 100 butterfly and ladybug stickers, a solar system decorated with 100 stars, a pillow with “love” sewed with 100 stitches, and a picture made with 100 hearts (stickers and drawings).

We continue to read about space and write and draw facts we learn. Last week we did a mid-point check to see what everyone has been learning. We also checked to see if all of our inquiry questions are being answered. About half the class has found the answers to their questions, so we still have more research to do. Hopefully our Smartboard will be up and running soon so we’ll be able to search the web together. We will be taking a field trip to UH next Monday, 2/11. Dr. Petersen, a professor of astronomy, will speak to us about the solar system. Hopefully he will be able to answer more of our questions.

We’re finishing up our unit on patterns by practicing breaking up patterns that a partner creates. The part of a pattern that repeats is called the unit (or car, as we talk about pattern trains). We will begin measurement with the next unit.

This is the last week we will be having rest time. While we are having rest time this week, it will be shortened to incorporate more learning time.

If you have any recyclable items we can use in our art center, please send them with your child. Items need to be stored on a shelf in our classroom, so please, no bulky items. Suggested items include paper towel/toilet paper rolls, styrofoam pieces, and fabric/wallpaper squares. Thank you!

Everyone looks forward to the Guest Reader on Friday afternoons. If you are interested in coming into the classroom to read to the children, please contact Sabrina Ako.

Parent volunteers are such a help and blessing to us, especially when projects arise. If you are able to volunteer your time (no skill or experience needed, training provided), please contact Sabrina Ako.

The new set of Family Learning Activities has also been posted. Some items have been removed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go back to them and complete the activity. Remember, these activities are optional; please enjoy them, as your family’s schedule and available time will allow.

We have started our Students-of-the-Week bulletin boards! This week’s students are GA and RB. Please bring in things you would like to share about yourself. Everything needs to be able to hang on a bulletin board. Parent volunteers or teachers will help you assemble the board this Wednesday. Either on Thursday or Friday, you will have a chance to share about yourself.

The following dates show when the new bulletin boards will be assembled for display. The initials of the Students-of-the-Week are listed after each date.

2/6 – GA, RB (Items may be brought in from 1/30)

2/13 – EC, IC (Items may be brought in from 2/6)

2/20 – SC (Items may be brought in from 2/13)

2/27 – JD, KF (Items may be brought in from 2/20)

3/12 – AG, ZH (Items may be brought in from 3/5)

4/9 – BH, DJ (Items may be brought in from 4/2)

4/16 – RJ, GK (Items may be brought in from 4/9)

4/23 – JM, TS (Items may be brought in from 4/16)

4/30 – LY, WC (Items may be brought in from 4/23)

Posted on February 4, 2008 10:14 AM | Permalink