HELP!!!!!!!

Yachoo!!!!!! We are in great need of hand sanitizer for the classroom. Any donations are greatly appreciated! I feel so fortunate to have such generous parents of children in may classroom. :)

Chores for Change

Today I explained to the children a service project that is going to be running at Holy Spirit School from November 1-16. We are collecting funds for the Leukemia and Lymphonma Society. Instead of having families just send in money I like  the children to make the connection of service and sacrafice for others in need. I am asking that you give your child the opportunity to help out around the house by doing simple chores and paying them in change. ( If you would like to make a donation as well it would be greatly appreciated). Write down with your child (model writing) what they did to earn their money and then as part of our morning routine I will call up anyone who has brought in change to come up and tell us ( langauage) what they did to earn their money. I will also ask them on ice cream days if they would like to donate their money to our charity. I have do this type of activity for many years and it is powerful to see the children make that connection of sacrafice and service to others. This is a win win activity. You get your child to help out with chores around the house while they are learning a very lesson. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Respectfully,
Mrs. Catton

Halloween Party

A huge thank you to Mrs. Weimer and the moms who were able to join us for the Halloween Party and those who sent in Halloween treats for the bags.   The kids had a great time moving through four fun centers which consisted of a memory game, decorating treat bags, making a mask, and bowling with pumpkins. Then the kids had a yummy lunch of cheese pizza, a boo box  drink, grapes and pretzels. After the moms left we put our masks on and set out for a Halloween parade throughout the school, parish office, and Little Ramsies. The kids were great and very well behaved which makes these days where we get out of the routine of school pleasant.
Happy Halloween.

Goal Sheets

After Daily Five today I realized that the children either know the sight words from the goals sheets or they just don't. I decided to do a little community circle to gain some more information. I asked the children to share where they kept the goals sheets at home. I learned the ones who keep them on the refrigerator knew the sight words pretty good! The ones who had no idea where the goal sheets were really struggled with sight words. Knowing these sight words will help your child with fluency and reading. Goal sheets are part of the kindergarten curriculum.

Noah's Ark

Noah's Ark is the Bible story we will be studying for the next week weeks.

First In Math

Madden, Allison and Christian were VIP winners this week in First In Math. Great Job kids!

Mass

Today we went to Rosary and Mass. We were in church for over an hour and twenty minutes. I just had to share with you how impressed I am with your children and their church behavior. I have them use the restroom and get a drink of water prior to leaving so no one asks to leave. They participate appropriately by entering church reverently, joyfully singing, using etiquette, and focusing on all parts of the Mass. I have told the children many times that Wednesday is my favorite day of the week because I get to take them to Mass and share our faith together. I am very proud to be their teacher.

Second Quarter Goals

Today we set goals for the second quarter. I was so impressed with how the children  took their time to really reflect when were they were thinking about what they needed to work on in the second quarter. I also noticed that many of the children obviously spoke with their parents after fall conferences to discuss their progress reports and believe me they listened to you and remembered what you said they needed to improve. After we wrote our goals on a chart (model writing from me) together we wrote a note to Mrs. Parsons asking her to read over our goals and respond. I will be sure to let you know what she has to say about our goals. Mrs. Frick and I wrote goals as well. Ask your child what their goal for the second quarter is.  First in Math is something that the children should be getting on as nightly homework as well as all of the things listed in my previous post. Today Mrs. Parsons asked everyone who was on First In Math to stand during announcements. If you have more than one child who needs to get on First in Math ( some of the children have told me that they can't get on because their siblings were on) I suggest that you make up some type of schedule for use of the computer. I had a family share at conferences that they made up a schedule together and it alleviated the conflict.

Homework

Each child at Holy Spirit School has some type of homework every evening including kindergarten. Your child needs to do an activity for the monthly homework calendar, practice goals for the current goal sheet, review goals from past goal sheets, read a book, etc.
Respectfully,
Mrs. Catton

Awesome Day

We have had an awesome day in room 23!! I am so pleased with how well the children fell right back into the routine of the school day with Daily Five and Math Workshop. Each child shared this morning during Community Circle what they did over Fall Break and they seemed to enjoy their time off. Thank you to all who signed and returned your child's progress report. I really appreciated you taking the time to write a short comment. I read everything that comes back and it is very affirming to hear what you are going to do at home to help your child succeed in school. If you have not returned the progress report please do so after you have reviewed it with your child.

Conferences

Thank you for coming to fall conferences today. I enjoyed speaking with each of you.  Having the opportunity to share what I see as your child's strengths and challenges are and sharing ideas you can use to help your child succeed in school is something I value.  It is important to me that you know how honored I am to be your child's teacher. I am so excited about the possibilities for the second quarter. Enjoy your break with your child.

First In Math

Congratulations to Ryleigh Plunkitt, Parker St. John and Madden Beriault for being VIP in First in Math this week! Great job kids! Fall break would  be a great opportunity  to get on First in Math if your child hasn't had the chance to spend much time on yet. Mrs. Parsons has been checking to see who is on and who has not.

Conferences

I am looking forward to seeing you tomorrow at fall conferences. I love conferences! I am excited to visit with each of you to share how your child is doing in kindergarten and give you ideas on how you can help your child in succeed in school. Conference times are posted outside the classroom on the welcome board.  Art work is posted outside as well as two classroom books are on display so be sure to check those out. Each conference is fifteen minutes so please be respectful of others and try to be on time to your conference.
Respectfully,
Mrs. Catton

Daily Five

The children have done a FANTASTIC job at building stamina during Daily  Five. Beginning tomorrow they will be moving through the Daily Five choices with guidance from me. I am very excited to begin this part of Daily Five because they have worked so hard at building stamina and they all have a sense of urgency about learning to read. Having them work independently through the Daily Five allows me the time to work with small groups on reading and word work. Please congratulate your child on their building of stamina! Being able to work on task is not only beneficial to them it is also extremely beneficial to the class as a whole.

Nightly homework

The children have some type of homework in kindergarten every evening. Do an activity from the monthly homework calendar, work on goals from the current month's sheet, review the goals from last month's goal sheet, read a book to your child,  and have your child read to you. They read daily at school so they know the three ways to read a book. They can read the pictures, read the words (look for sight words or letters that they know) and retell the story after you read it to them. First in Math is a program that the children need to be getting on as well. I check regularly to see who is on and who is not. Have them practice writing the letters of the alphabet and numbers.  You are setting the foundation of how important homework is for your child's success in school right now. It is never too early to start.
Respectfully,
Mrs. Catton

Creation

Father Chris came by Wednesday afternoon to listen to the children read their Creation Books. It worked out great that we were doing Read To Someone (part of Daily 5) and he got to listen to the children read and check for understanding (comprehension strategy). He was really impressed and the kids loved that Father came to listen to them read. They also noted that Father begins with the letter Ff which is the letter sound we were working on. :) Father also brought his statue of St. Francis and told them that he was a martyr who loved all of God's creation. A great way to wrap up our study of creation. The children know that everything is a gift from God and that he created everything.

Fall Conferences

Dear Parents,
I can't wait to visit with each of you at fall conferences on the 17th of October. Sign up for your conference time at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F4BAAAA2DA13-student. At Holy Spirit we expect 100% participation but if you have a conflict please contact me ASAP. Mrs. Parsons sent information concerning conference sign up last week in an email. The fall program is next Tuesday, October 16th at 7:00.  The children will need to report to room 4 in the main building  by 6:30. I will meet them there. PLEASE have them go to the bathroom before you bring them to school. 

Respectfully,
Mrs. Catton

Names

With the weather getting colder the children are starting to wear more sweatshirts. Please put your child's name in their sweatshirts for easy identification.

Creation Books

Creation Book homework is due tomorrow. Please return your child's Creation Book tomorrow along with the homework. Father Chris would like to see the children's books they made.

Celebrating

Dear Parents,
We celebrated those who brought back their September homework calendars today with a certificate and a treat. Homework calendars are due the last day of the month. The activities on the homework calendar are developmentally appropriate and fun. Please help your child with their homework and goal sheets. We finished our Creation Book and the children understand that God created everything and they should thank him often. They have been practicing the song This Little Light of Mine. Have them sing it for you.
Respectfully,
Mrs. Catton