Week of December 7-19, 2012

We will be having a Polar Express Pajama Party on Wednesday December 19 in kindergarten.  The students can wear their pajamas and bring a pillow or blanket to sit on.  We will be watching the Polar Express and having hot chocolate!

January 15-17 will be the winter kindergarten benchmark testing.  There will be no school for kindergarten students and each child will have a 15 minutes appointment with me to complete the testing.  

Please return the reading books this week.  I will keep them over the break and send home new ones in January.  The only homework over the break will be to complete three graphic organizers for three different books.  These will be sent home on Monday.  Enjoy the break!

Week of December 3-7, 2012

If you would like to order books for the holidays, I sent out an email with the link to order online.  Please have the orders in by the end of the day Friday December 7 so the books will be here before the break.

Please remember to return the reading books.  I will be sending home reading books this week and next week, but not over the break.  I don't want them to get packed up and put away with Christmas stuff!

Thanks for all you do for your students and the class!

Week of November 26-30, 2012

Remember to keep track of your reading books over the break and return them and the reading folder on Monday.  Also, we are having a lot of students forget their library books on Monday.  That is sad because then they don't get to check out new books that week.  So please remember to keep your child's library books in their backpacks so you don't have to remember to send them to school on Monday.  Thanks!

Week of November 19-23, 2012

So sorry I haven't posted for a few weeks.  I will be on the ball from now on!  Thank you so much for coming to parent teacher conferences last week and celebrating your child's accomplishments and discussing ways to improve.  When we work as a team, that's when we can see the most progress!

Most of the students have returned their first set of take home readers.  Please make sure they are getting returned every week to get new books to read.  This is an exciting time in kindergarten when reading really takes off! 

There will be no homework for this week!  Happy Thanksgiving!  I will send home new take home readers with those who return their book bags.  Have a great break!

Week of October 29-November 2, 2012

This is a busy week!  Tuesday is our Halloween music performance at 11:00 in the gym.  Your child does not need to wear anything specific.  Wednesday is our Halloween party.  Students can come dressed in their costumes and parents can watch the school parade in the gym.  We will start our class party at the end of the parade at about 10:15 or 10:30.  Thursday and Friday are both short days. 

Next week on November 7 and 8 is parent teacher conferences.  If you have not done so, please go online and schedule a time for your conference.  You can do this at bellavista.canyonsdistrict.org.  There was a note sent home with instructions.  I will be conferencing on Wednesday night and Thursday during class while a substitute teaches.  There is no school on Friday November 9. 

Please watch for the volunteer calendar coming home this week and let me know if you would like to add your name to the list.

It was great to see everyone at Math Box Night.  Hopefully the homework is going well and you are having fun with it.  Please let me know if you have any questions about Math Boxes.

This week is a short week due to Fall Break.  Short day schedule on Wednesday Oct 17, no school Thursday and Friday Oct 18 and 19. 

In order to give teachers more time to prepare report cards, Thursday and Friday November 1 and 2 will BOTH BE SHORT DAYS!  Please put this on your calendar.

Week of October 9-12, 2012

Math Box Night is Tuesday October 9 at 7:00pm.  Bring your student to receive your math box and learn how to use it.  Math boxes will be a part of homework for the rest of the year and they are tons of fun!

Reflections information was sent home today.  You are welcome to help your student complete an art project to enter, however it is certainly not required. 

Most of the students are doing fine without a snack at recess.  However, if your student still would like to bring one, that is fine.

There is no school on October 18, and 19 and October 17 is a short day.

I still need a few more helpers for our Halloween party.  Thanks for all you do and thanks for coming to volunteer in the classroom!  You guys are great!

Week of October 1-5, 2012

Remember school picture day is Wednesday October 3.  Send the order form with your child if you would like to purchase pictures.

On Tuesday October 9th at 7:00pm we will be having a Math Box Night.  Each child will receive a box filled with math materials for doing math homework.  Come and bring your student to receive your math box and learn how to use it!  If you cannot come that night please let me know.

We will be having a class Halloween party on October 31st from about 10:30-11:25.  Let me know if you would like to come help with a game, craft, or treat. 

There is no school for students on Monday October 8.

Week of September 24-28, 2012

I got almost every single reading folder returned last week!  Thank you so much!  Every week the students receive an Enter to Win ticket for a drawing at the end of the year.  They get two tickets if they read 7 days in a week and one ticket if they read 5 days.  Since it is hard to tell if your student has actually turned in their reading folder or if it has just stayed in their back pack, you'll notice I have initialed the line if I have recorded those days read.  That way we can all stay on track!  Also remember to return homework on Mondays.  I also got almost all the homework papers back!  It is so important for students to reinforce at home the things they are learning in school.  If you are having any problems with homework time, please let me know.  I have some tips that may help things go more smoothly! 

This class is wonderful!  They are all so eager and excited to be at school.  Thanks for all your support at home!

Here are the volunteers I have scheduled for this week:
Tuesday - Rachel Anderson
Wednesday - Franceen Thompson and Ashley Judd
Thursday - Chrystal McNee

I will send home the volunteer calendar for October on Friday.  Please Email me if have not volunteered yet and would like to come in.

Week of September 17-21, 2012

Remember to return homework and reading folders on Monday.  Also, the PTA Walk-a-thon is on Friday.  There was a note sent home about this last week. 

Thank you to all of you who have come in and volunteered in our class this week!  Remember to check the volunteer calendar I sent home to see when you are scheduled.  This is very flexible and can change if you need to.  Thanks for all your help at home and at school.

Week of September 10-14, 2012

Hello parents!  This week I will be sending home a printed newsletter and updating my blog to make sure everyone is getting this information.  If you did not get an email reminder to check the blog, or if there is another parent or care giver you would like to put on my email list, please email me at jane.butters@canyonsdistrict.org.  Next week I will just update the blog with any new information items.

Homework:

            We are starting kindergarten homework this week.  The paper will be sent home on Monday.  Please work on the homework throughout the week, sign the bottom and have your child return it to school on Monday September 17^th for a prize!  I always collect the homework and do not return it.  So, if you find your child’s homework in their backpack, that means I did not see it!

Reading folders:

            We are also starting reading folders this week.  The folders went home with the students on Friday.  The instructions are in the folders.  Simply mark the days your child reads, initial the end of the row, and send it back to school every Monday starting September 17.

Volunteers:

            I am sending home a volunteer calendar for September on bright pink paper on Monday.  This schedule is a work in progress!  If you are scheduled for a day you cannot come, just email me and let me know.  If you are not scheduled and would like to volunteer, just let me know which days work best for you.  On the day you are scheduled, come in from 9:15-10:15.  Be sure to register on the district website and check in at the office when you come.

Library Books:

            On Monday we are also going to the school library for the first time.  Each child will be able to check out two books from the school library.  Enjoy them throughout the week and return them the next Monday.

Snacks:

            As mentioned in the information you received at your assessment appointment, each student will be allowed to bring a small healthy snack for recess only for the month of September.  After that we will use our whole recess time for active play.

            Well, that’s all for this week!  This year is off to a great start!  Thanks for all your help!

Week of May 7-11, 2012

Friday a note went home with your student's appointment time for spring kindergarten testing.  Please sign the note and return it as soon as possible indicating if you can keep your appointment.  The testing will be May 14-16.  On these three days there will be no regular school for kindergarteners.

For our play on Friday May 11th, please send your child to school wearing a white T-shirt and jeans.  The rest of the costume will be provided.  Our performance is at 1:00 in the gym.

Week of April 30 - May 4, 2012

Monday is our field trip to the Aquarium!  Please make sure to have your student at school no later than 12:00 noon. 

If you are planning on coming to the Mother's Day lunch, please return your form and money on Monday April 30 so the cafeteria knows how many meals to prepare.

Watch for a note coming home with details about our Little Red Hen play.

Week of April 23-27, 2012

Watch for a paper coming home on Monday for the Mother's Day lunch on Friday May 4th.  The students can come have lunch in the cafeteria with their mothers or any other guests.  Please return the form and money by Monday April 30th.

Yay!  All permission slips for the field trip have been turned in already!  Thank you for being so responsible.  Mark your calendars so you remember to come early to school on that day.

Our play, The Little Red Hen will be at 1:00pm in the gym on Friday May 11th.  See you there!

Our spring kindergarten testing will be May 14-16.  There will be no regular class on these days.  The students will have a 20 minute appointment.  Appointments will be sent home on Monday April 30.

Week of April 16-20, 2012

We have a lot of fun activities coming up in the next few weeks, so mark your calendars!

On Monday April 30 we will be going on a field trip to the Living Planet Aquarium.  In order to accommodate busing schedules, please arrange to have your child at school that day no later than 12:00pm.  We will dismiss at the usual time, 3:20.  I am sending home a permission slip on Monday.  Please sign and return it as soon as possible.

On Friday May 4th we will be having a Mother's Day Luncheon to get the students familiar with the lunch room in preparation for 1st grade.  The students are invited to come at 11:00 with their moms or another guest and have lunch in the lunch room.  There will be a note coming home about this too either Monday or Tuesday.  

Our kindergarten play, The Little Red Hen, will be on Friday May 11th at 1:00pm in the gym.  Please save the date and make arrangements to come see our show!

Week of April 9-13, 2012

Hope everyone has a lovely Spring Break!  Enjoy the sunshine and relax.  On Friday May 11th we will be having our kindergarten play, The Little Red Hen so save the date!  It will be sometime during our class time.  I will let you know the exact time as soon as we decide.  Be sure to keep track of your library books and reading books over the break and bring them back on Monday.  The homework from last week had the wrong date on it.  It was orange and had a February 2011 date, but that is the correct homework that is due April 9.

Week of March 19-23, 2012

On Thursday March 22 will be the 6th Grade Mall.  This is a fun activity the 6th graders host, sort of like a fair.  They have different booths, food, and games.  If you would like, you can send your students with $2-$4 to spend at the fair.

Week of March 12-16, 2012

Thanks everyone for coming to Parent Teacher Conferences.  I love discussing all the progress your students have made.  Keep up the good work everyone!

Week of March 5-8, 2012

Report cards will be sent home on Monday.  In the envelope you will find your student's report card, SEP form, and your conference time.  Please make sure to be on time for your conference and bring your student.  If your conference is during class time on Thursday, we will meet in the library.  There will be a substitute in the class on Thursday while I hold conferences.  We have quite a few coats and jackets in the classroom.  During conferences, please check the coat hooks to see if any belong to you.  Thanks!

Week of February 27- March 1, 2012

Sorry for the late post everyone!  Tuesday Feb 28 is the 100th day of school!  If your student would like to participate, they are welcome to come dressed like they are 100 years old!

Remember to log on to the school website and schedule your parent teacher conference.  Contact the office if you are having trouble with this.

Week of February 21-24, 2012

Spring Parent Teacher Conferences will be Wednesday and Thursday March 7 and 8.  You can schedule your conference online like you did in the fall.  A note went home last week with instructions.  There will be no school on Friday March 9. 

We have been learning about addition the last few weeks.  If the math box homework is too easy, I have some harder addition story problems.  Email me if you would like me to send home some more challenging addition homework.

Week of February 13-17, 2012

I sent home a note on Friday that we have a new student in our class named Nik.  Please make sure your child brings a valentine for him on Tuesday.

We will be making valentine bags in class so you do not need to send your child with a valentines box.

Week of February 6-10, 2012

Remember to send back the mapping homework project and the 100's heart poster when you finish them.  We have had lots of creative projects come back already!  Thanks for taking the time to participate in these fun activities at home.

Week of January 30 - February 3, 2012

On Monday I will send home a list of names of all the students in our class for Valentine's Day.  If you choose to send valentines, please make sure you have one for everyone.

We will be having our Valentine's Day party on Tuesday February 14th from 2:15-3:15.  Please let me know if you can help.  I only have one parent helping right now.  Feel free to bring your younger kids if you don't have a sitter - the more the merrier!

The homework for this week will be a mapping project.  Each student will plan a pretend trip and share what they learned with the class.  Watch for a brown paper "suitcase" with the instructions on it.  I am also sending home a large paper heart with an activity for the 100th day of school.  Send the heart back when you can within the next two weeks.  You don't need to stress about doing both these projects in one week.

Week of January 23-27, 2012

Several parents have asked about class pictures.  I asked the office, and the class pictures have not come in yet.  I will send them home as soon as they do.

Let me know if you would like to help with our Valentine's Day party on February 14th.  It will be from 2:15-3:15.

Remember to keep filling out the Road to Success Reading folders.  This week you should be marking week #18.

Week of January 17-19, 2012

Thanks to all for being so diligent in bringing your students in for their testing times.  Every single child showed up on time for their appointment!  Thank you for making my job easier!

We will be having our Valentine's Day party on Tuesday February 14th from 2:15-3:15pm.  Please let me know if you would like to help out.  We will be making bags in class for valentines.  I will be sending home a list of the names of kids in our class.  If you choose to bring valentines, please make sure you have one for everyone.

January 9-13, 2012

Please make sure you know your student's assessment appointment this week.  The appointments will be in the classroom and will be 20 minutes long.  Please be on time.