May Newsletter

 May 12, 2025

Dear PreK Families, 

We have all been enjoying the sunshine this week after all that rain a week ago.

Although the variety was good for our science unit on weather. We did several science experiments, made weather observations, and read books on the topic. We read It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw, Clouds and Rain by Marion Dane Bauer, Shapes in the Sky: A Book About Clouds by Josepha Sherman, Weather by Catriona Clarke, Rain, Rain, Everywhere by Christina Leeson,

and Rain by Manya Stojic. 

Our Teddy Bear visit with the HATC students was so fun and informative. All of our students had healthy stuffed animals. 

We have finished learning how to write all of the uppercase letters and have been practicing writing our names in a variety of ways. 

In math, we worked on an insect unit to explore symmetry; sequence events; order numbers; compare sets; create different combinations of 4, 5, and 6; and practice addition doubles.

Friday, May 16th is Walk to School Day. PreK students can participate with a parent or guardian who will accompany them to school. 

Next Tuesday, 5/20/25 there is NO PreK for teacher training. It is also the Kindergarten Screening Day from 8:30 to 9:30. Please let Ms. Cooney know if you will be attending with your child. 

Recently, a flyer for Camp Invention went home. Students who are entering Kindergarten next year are eligible for the fun camp that will be held at WRS this summer. Scholarships are available on a first come basis. 

You will receive more information soon about the special events happening at the end of the school year. 

Thank you, 

Amy 

IMPORTANT DATES

5/16 Walk to School Day 

5/20 ECP  NO PreK - ECP In-Service

5/20 Kindergarten Visit 8:30 - 9:30

5/26 NO SCHOOL Memorial Day 

6/6 ALL SCHOOL  Mountain Day 

6/17 ALL SCHOOL Field Day 

6/18 Last Day of School 

April News

April 9, 2025

Dear PreK Families, 

We have been busy in class. In March, we did an author study on Dr. Seuss, reading several of his popular books including: The Cat in the Hat, Fox in Socks, The Lorax, The Many Colored Days, and Green Eggs and Ham. We even made some green eggs and ham and ate them for snack. 

Students had fun during our dinosaur study. We read several nonfiction library books to learn facts about dinosaurs. We also made some projects, including: creating our own shapeasaurus dinos, making fossils out of dino tracks or mini dinos, and opening mini dino eggs. 

 

The students enjoyed St. Patrick’s Day in the classroom. We even had some leprechauns visit and make some mischief when we were out of the room. 

We also learned about owls. We read several great books including Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, Owls by Gail Gibbons, Owl Babies by Martin Waddell, and Baby Owls by Christina Leaf. We also  had our third visit from Miss Laurie, our nature teacher from VINS. 

Currently,we are working on a unit on communities. We discussed things that were important in a community too, such as homes, schools, roads, playgrounds and parks, rivers, police stations, hospitals, and stores. Then we made maps of our bedrooms, our school and we made a big map of our community. As a class we have discussed jobs and how people do work in the community. Then students will think about what jobs they want to do when they get older. During this unit, we read many books including: My Map Book by Sara Fanelli, Me on the Map by Joan Sweeney,   Where Are You Going Manyoni? by Catherine Stock, Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann, and Guess Who? by Margaret Miller. 

In math, we finished working on a robot unit in which we learned about shapes, sorting, patterning, counting, solving story problems, and collecting data. The students played many math games, worked with partners, read stories, and had discussions about these topics. 

Thank you, 

Amy 

IMPORTANT DATES

4/14-4/18 Spring Break- NO SCHOOL

5/20 ECP  NO PreK - ECP In-Service

 January 21, 2024

Dear PreK Families, 

We have been working hard on writing the numbers 1-10 and are finishing with our number books. You should see them come home in your child’s backpack soon. We have begun writing uppercase letters this week. We will work on about 2-3 a week and we will finish by April. 

We began the month learning about the season of winter and snow. We did many hands-on activities, craft projects, open art time, and science experiments about snow. We read many books, including: The Little Snowflake by Steve Metzger, The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tressalt, Ten on the Sled by Kim Norman, Snowman’s Big Job by Janet Kusmierski, Snow by Cynthia Rylant. Next, we will be studying animals in winter. 

Today, we read All Are Welcome by Aexandra Penfold in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Then the students reflected on their dreams for the future. 

Your child will have received a Passport to Winter Fun  booklet by the Upper Valley Trails Alliance. If you would like to participate in the program, you can fill in the booklet with the winter activities that your child does and then return it to school.  If you have an older child at WRS, the older child got the booklet and you can fill it out as a family. 

Next month, we will celebrate Valentine’s Day in our class on February 14th. We will have a card exchange and a special snack. Please prepare cards at home for your child to pass out to classmates. There are 12 students and 3 teachers. You can just have your child sign their name if they know how to do so, or an adult can write for them. You do not need to label them with each person’s name. 

Thank you, 

Amy 

IMPORTANT DATES

1/24 NO SCHOOL - Teacher In-Service

2/4 NO PreK - ECP In-Service

2/14 Valentine’s Day - Card Party

2/17-2/21 Winter Break- NO SCHOOL

December News

 December 15, 2024

Dear PreK Families, 

It was a very special day to have the annual WRS School Feast on Tuesday, November 26th. Thank you for all of the applesauce donations. 

Last week, we started working on projects related to gingerbread. We have already read several versions of the gingerbread man and we will be making a graph about which story is our favorite this week, including The Gingerbread Man by Jim Aylesowrth, The Gingerbread Man by Karen Schmidt, The Gingerbread Mouse by Katy Braun, The Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett, Gingerbread Friends by Jan Brett, The Gingerbread Girl by Lisa Campbell Ernst, and The Gingerbread Kid Goes to School by Joan Holub. We have played many gingerbread games and done gingerbread crafts. During the first week of December, we built a gingerbread house as a class and donated it to The Family Place for their annual fundraiser. This week, we cooked a gingerbread man in class and he ran away. We had to go and find him in the office. We will make a class book to tell us about our adventure. 

We are almost finished with our introduction to uppercase letter names, keywords, and sounds. Next, we will begin writing uppercase letters, and writing numbers 1-10. 

On December 20th, we will have a special snack and pajama day. Your child may wear their pajamas to school if they choose to do so. They can also wear regular clothes if they are more comfortable in that. Please make sure to dress in pajamas that will fit under snow gear, because we will still go outside for recess. Thanks for your help!

You will receive your child’s TS Gold progress report before the break.  

Thank you, 

Amy 

IMPORTANT DATES

12/17 - NO PREK - ECP In-Service

12/20 - Pajama Day 

12/21-1/5 - School Break 

November News

 November 18, 2025

Dear PreK Families, 

It was so nice to see you all at the PTC earlier this month. Last month we wrapped October by tapping and carving a pumpkin to see the inside.

 This month, we are working on a science unit on balance, building and balls and ramps. In the classroom we are building structures with different types of blocks and using ramps. We’re taking pictures of what we made. This week, we will have a lesson from Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS), on the topic of Balls and Ramps. We will have one more visit this year. 

In our class we practice yoga each day after nap time. We have been learning poses with the Little Flower Yoga for Kids cards. Last week, we also visited the Cosmic Kids Yoga  website. There is also an app available to download. This is a great indoor activity for students to get some movement when the weather is bad. 

Currently in math, we are working with shapes to make designs, pictures, and larger shapes. Students will count, sort, pattern, and graph shapes. 

This month, we will be celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday with a school wide Feast. The whole school will all eat a Thanksgiving lunch on Tuesday, November 26th. Each child is welcome to eat the Feast lunch, but if your child would rather eat their home lunch, they can bring that with them as well. Each class is responsible for contributing to the Feast in some way. PreK brings in applesauce for the meal. Please send in a jar of applesauce with your child by Monday, November 25th. 

The Haven will be giving out free turkeys and sides at the Hartford High School (and flu shots, too) on a "while supplies last" basis on 11/23/24 from 9AM-12PM. Folks do not need to sign up in advance and no paperwork or documents are needed to receive a turkey. Any questions can be directed to the Haven: 802-295-6500. 

We will have one more book order before the holiday break. Please have orders in by November 22nd.  Go to Scholasitic Book Clubs.

• With a $25 order, you can pick a FREE $5 Book (use code: READS). 

• Shop Our Class Page: https://orders.scholastic.com/K3677

• Shop Digital Flyers for Our Grade with Your Child: https://clubs.scholastic.com/prek

• Class Code: K3677

Colder weather will be here soon. When we have snow, please send in your child with full snow gear: hat, mittens, jacket, snow pants, and boots. You may send in a pair of indoor shoes for your child to keep in their cubby in the classroom. If there is a delay of school or cancellation, you will get a phone call from the district. Or, you can check WCAX.

Thanks so much for your support!

Thank you, 

Ms. Zayas

IMPORTANT DATES

11/19 No PreK ECP In-Service

11/26 Thanksgiving Feast

11/27 11/29 NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving

 12/5  Picture Retake Day

12/17 No PreK ECP In-Service

12/23-1/3 NO SCHOOL Winter Break