Mrs. Wright's Class

We are nearing the end of kindergarten. I cannot believe my time is almost up with your kiddos. It has been such a great year and I hope my students will all come back to read to my new class of kinders and stop by to say "hello" when they are in first grade next year. We are working these last couple of weeks with the idea that we are almost first graders, so much of the work/activities are done independently and without as much socialization with peers as we normally have. I want to make sure in every aspect that the kids are ready. Academically they are set. I am so proud of the progress each of them has made this year. You as parents have done a wonderful job with supporting them at home...Thank you!

In addition to prepping the students for first grade we are doing our last round of DIBELS testing this week and next and will be doing our end of the year assessments on the kids. We have also started our INSECT unit and will be working on addition and subtraction for the remainder of the year in math. I hope that you will keep up with academic based activities over the summer. Summertime calls for a break, but two months off without working on necessary skills will mean regression and that is not what we want for our kids. I encourage you to visit the library weekly and to be working on math facts, writing and reading. With the support over the summer I know each of the kids will have an easy transition to first grade.

It was wonderful to see you all at the Kindergarten Program! I hope you enjoyed the night full of songs and sweet memories. The kids worked very hard preparing and I think it was a super turnout! Thank you to all of the parents who volunteered their time to help make our program a success. We could have not done it without you. We also had a wonderful time learning about animals with our PHX ZOO on-site field trip. It was wonderful to have the animals all to ourselves and a great way for the kids to get an up close and personal look at each of them. I hope to post some pictures of the animals we saw soon. As you all are witnessing...these last few weeks will be busy. Our days in class will be filled with fun events, end of the year celebrations and wrapping up the remainder of the year in kindergarten. More information will be going home soon about our end of the year class party. so please keep a look out for that and plan to attend if you are able. Thank you so much for your support and help this year. It has been a blessing to have each one of your kids and I will cherish these last few weeks that I have with each of them.

Ms. Trowbridge's Class

Happy April! First grade is quickly approaching. We started our bug unit today. The students are so excited to get to learn all about bugs, their life cycles, what they look like, and where they live. We will be doing lots of fun bug projects for three weeks!

In math, we are still working on those math facts. We have started taking timed tests - students get five minutes to answer 25 math fact questions. Everyone is doing an awesome job. If you are seeing the math fact pages come hope with some answers missing, please work with your child on this at home since it was work not finished.

In reading, we are getting ready for our dibels test. We are reading nonsense words, sounding out words, and racing to see who can say the most letters in a minute. We are also working on fluency - reading sentences and having them make sense! Everyone is doing a super good job of reading!

We are in the middle of making our bug journals in writing. Each day students will be writing a fact about the bug of the day. When we are done with our bug unit - everyone will have an awesome bug journal to bring home and share all the cool bug facts that they learned!

Everyone should have received a blue invitation home today - this is inviting you and your families to the kindergarten music program on April 28th at 6:30. Please let me know if yours didn't make it home!

Keep up the great work at home - if you have any questions, please email me!

Mrs. Wright's Class

This week we have started a school-wide attendance challenge. Each day every classroom that has perfect attendance earns a star on the "Stallion Star" board. On Friday Mr. G will be picking a square on the board and whatever class occupies that spot wins a pizza party. We have had PERFECT attendance in the am and pm classes so far this week so I am encouraging the kids to keep it up. We want to WIN!! The challenge will be this week and next to promote good attendance for AIMS testing. While our kids do not take the test, school-wide attendance plays a huge roll in the final results/label our school will receive. Please help us out and make sure your child is at school every day!

In class we are learning about spring. The kids are having a great time studying plant life-cycles, parts of a plant and what a plant needs to grow. They are very knowledgeable about this science topic so ask them to tell you some "plant facts". We are continuing our journal writing and addition practice as well. The kids are doing great and I know all of this "prep" will help them to be successful in first grade. On Friday we will also have our first spelling test. This will be good practice for what to expect in first grade. No formal grades will be taken and they will not be included in the report card grades, however, please practice the words with them and work on the nightly homework to help them test well on Friday.

An invitation was sent home with each of the students today notifying you of the Kindergarten Program. Please save the date, April 28th, to come and celebrate your child's accomplishments this year in kindergarten. It will be a program you will not want to miss! We are busy preparing in class for the BIG night and I know you will all enjoy what is to come.

Thanks so much for your continued support...it is greatly appreciated!

Mrs. Wright's Class

Wow...it has been far too long since I have written a post. My apologies! Since the last time I posted we have had conferences, a week off and have started preparing for an on-site field trip and our kindergarten program. Our days are busy! Thank you to each of you for making it to conferences. This is the first time in my 7 years of teaching I had ALL parents show up. It was great to talk with you about your child's progress and the things expected for first grade. All of the kids are excited for the forthcoming transition. In our daily routines we talk about first grade expectations and are busy preparing for the move. It will be here before we know it. Talking about time flying...here are some upcoming events you will want to put on your calendar and plan ahead for:

March 29th- Gardening Presentation
March 31st- Scholastic Book Order Due (this will be the last one for the year)
April 15th- On-site Zoo Trip
April 15th- Daddy/Daughter Dance
April 20th- PTO Meeting
April 28th- Kindergarten Program 6pm

We are asking for a $4.00 donation per child for our zoo trip. Since they are bringing live animals from the PHX Zoo there is a cost tied to the presentation. If you have not donated please do so by March 31st. If you are not able to donate, please let me know so we can work out covering the cost. Thanks!

In class we have been busy doing "first grade" work that consists of weekly journal writing, decoding/blending words, DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) Time and number sentences with addition. Your kids are on track and doing well! We have also been busy practicing songs to sing for our kindergarten program. You will not want to miss it! There will be an invitation going home soon, but please tell family and friends to join us. Well, as we approach the end of the year things will continue to be busy and full of fun. Thanks for your support with all that is going on!

Mrs. King's Class

It's been a long time since I have actually put anything on the blog so I am turning over a new leaf and going to try to get back to posting at least every two weeks or so. We have been very busy in class since we came back from Spring Break. I am sure your children have talked about the Magician that came to do a show for us. Mr. Webb was fantastic!! A big thank-you to Monty, his mom and Grandpa (Mr. Webb) for setting that up for us!!! We are working on blending words together, reading our little books, beginning addition and writing number sentences and lots of fun games and activities to go help us learn.

Important things coming up. Tuesday will be our "Gardening Field Trip" that comes to us. It will be a fun day so make sure that your child is here that day. Also coming up in April will be our Zoo Experience-don't forget money is due by next week. I have had very few students bring in their money in either class. Please do that soon. I understand if times are difficult and if your family can't afford it I need to know so we can plan accordingly. Please send the paper back to me so that I am aware of your situation. The Zoo date is April 15th and we have to send payment two weeks prior to them coming.

AIMs testing week is also coming up and although we as kindergartners don't take the test, it is super important for students to be here. Attendance during the testing time frame is figured on the whole school so please make sure your students are attending unless they are ill.

Also put April 28th on your calendar as the "Kindergarten Program" is coming. It will be a fun evening for your students to show you what we have been learning this year. It is a lot of fun and the children enjoy performing for their parents. We are having a planning meeting on Wednesday March 30th right after dismissal-1:45 in Mrs. Wright's room for anyone who is willing to help us with that night. We have sent home a flyer but if you didn't get it come to the meeting and we will definitely put you to work on refreshments, decorations and stage backgrounds and props, programs and other areas where we need parent help.

I enjoyed meeting with all of you during conference time. If you missed your time for some reason please call or e-mail me so we can get that rescheduled quickly.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. See you all on Monday.

Mrs. King

Mrs. Wright's Class

This week we have been involved in Read Across America and have done our fair share of reading. We have celebrated Dr. Seuss and his famous birthday with several of his most popular children's books. The kids love the repetition, rhyming and silliness of his stories...so do I! This week we have also done quite a bit of assessments to see how the kids are progressing. I will have lots of data and work to share with you at conferences. In saying that you should have all received your conference day and time. I have heard back from almost everyone confirming your appointment, but if something changes or you need to reschedule let me know ASAP. Next week will also be the spring book fair. You are invited to attend all week but on Thursday, March 10th the book fair will be open from 7:30 am until 7:00 pm to shop for some great books. Thursday morning is also "Doughnuts with Dad" so bring dad to shop and have a doughnut to share!

In class we are spending 1/2 of the week doing center rotations. The kids love the change of pace and have done great with working independently in their groups. Ask them which center is their favorite. In math we are finishing up our graphing unit and will soon begin readiness for addition and subtraction. The kids are ready for this and have done several addition activities in class and within the homework. Look for some new math to be coming home soon! Next week is going to be busy with conferences, short days and awards assemblies. Please email or call if you have questions in regards to any of the above mentioned items. Thanks for your support...I look forward to meeting with all of you next week!

Ms. Trowbridge's Class

We are busy working hard in kindergarten! I cannot believe how quickly everyone is catching on. We have started doing simple addition and subtraction and everyone is doing awesome. We are learning how to use touch point math to add them up as well as counting on. See if your child can explain this to you.

In reading, we have been reading short stories and answering questions about what we have read. Everyone is doing a great job of reading and pretty soon we will be moving to short stories with no pictures.

In writing, we have been writing stories each day. Students have to write about an animal, what they would name it, what it would eat, and what color it would be. They have been coming up with some very creative stories.

Conferences are right around the corner. I can't wait to meet with everyone and tell you how awesome your child is doing. Conferences are the week of March 7-11th. I am hoping to get everyone done on Thursday, March 10th with a few conferences being on Wednesday, March 9th. If you know now that you are unavailable on Thursday or need a later time on Thursday, please email me ASAP and let me know your preferred time. Remember, PM kindergarten comes on Thursday from 8:15-11:15am. There is no school on Friday for PM kindergarten. Kinder express kids will have school on Friday from 8:15-11:15am.

Next week is reading week. We will be learning and writing about Australia! Ask your student to tell you an interesting fact next week.

Keep practicing those sight word flashcards! If you need another set emailed to you, please let me know.

I hope everyone has a great week. If you have any questions please contact me.