December News

 December 13, 2022

I hope that you had a fun and relaxing Thanksgiving break last week. It was a very special day to have the annual WRS School Feast on Tuesday, the 22nd. 

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. 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. Last 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. 

This year in math, we are piloting the Bridges PreK Math Program. Bridges is the same math program that is used by the other grades in our school. Currently, we are finishing up our November work around shapes, and we are jsut beginning our December work about counting forwards and backwards, one to one corresponsdence and patterns. . 

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 19th, we will have our class party 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. The teachers will provide a special snack of hot chocolate and popcorn for the afternoon snack. 

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

Thank you, 

Amy 

IMPORTANT DATES

12/16 No PreK - ECP In-Service

12/19 Class Holiday Party & Pajama Day

12/21-1/2 Holiday Break 

November News

 November 14, 2022

Hello PreK Families, 

It was so nice to see you all at the PTC earlier this month. In November, we did a science unit on balance, building and balls and ramps. In the classroom we built structures with different types of blocks. We used ramps and built ramps. We took pictures of what we made and drew pictures of our structures in our journals. Last week, we had a lesson from Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS), on the topic of Building Tall Towers. We will have 2 more visits this year. This week, we have just begun doing some work around Thanksgiving. 

It seems as though colder weather is here to stay. 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.  We will also begin our day with playground time, so you may send your child dressed in full snow gear in the morning. This will probably be our routine until spring.  If there is a delay of school or cancellation, you will get a phone call from the district. Or, you can check WCAX.

Next week, we will be celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday with a school wide Feast. The whole school will all eat a Thanksgiving lunch on Tuesday, November 22nd. 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 21st. 

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

Thank you, 

Amy 

IMPORTANT DATES

11/18 No PreK - ECP In-Service

11/23-11/25 - No School - Thanksgiving Holiday

12/16 No PreK - ECP In-Service

12/20 Class Holiday Party

12/21-1/2 Holiday Break

October News #2

 October 27, 2022

Hello PreK Families, 

Earlier this month we learned about the fall season and leaves. The students enjoyed collecting leaves and other items from outside and examining them in the classroom. We sorted leaves by color and noticed the different leaf shapes.  We also read Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert and made nature collages with our collections. This week, your child brought home a story retell activity from the book, There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves by Lucille Colandro. You can have your child retell the story to you and use the articles from the bag to help them. Here is a link to a read aloud of the story if you do not know the book. 

We have been doing some projects about pumpkins and the Halloween holiday this week. We looked at real pumpkins and sorted them by their sizes. We also tapped a real pumpkin with pegs and hammers, then we cut it open and looked at the seeds. We even counted some of the seeds. We will make a class book about pumpkins. We read many books about pumpkins including Pumpkin, Pumpkin by Jeanne Titherington, The Littlest Pumpkin by R. A. Herman, and The Legend of Spookly the Square Pumpkin by Joe Troiano. We have learned the song The Five Little Pumpkins and we made a mini book about it too. This week, we have done some projects related to Halloween. We have also read stories including: Go Away Big Green Monster by Ed Emberly, There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat by Lucille Colandro, Five Little Bats Flying in the Night by Steve Metzger, and The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda WIlliams. 

Halloween is coming up next week. At our school, we do not dress up in costumes while at school. We will have a special snack and do some fun things related to Halloween. If you would like to send in any of the following items for our snack on Monday, please let me know. We have 15 students in our classroom. And we do not have any allergies in our group. 

• 3 packs of juice boxes. 

• 2 bags of popcorn or 2 pouches of microwave popcorn

• fruit for the class

• 1 class treat

• plates

This year, a team of teachers worked together to apply for a grant from the Children’s literacy Foundation (CLiF). Our school was the recipient of a CLiF Grant and we are eligible for an additional opportunity. If at least 80% of parents/caregivers and students agree to read together at least twice a week, CLiF will provide the school with a fun family night, complete with an author visit and treat!  Please sign one of the contracts and return it to school to help us achieve this goal. There will also be a copy in your child’s bag. 

Thank you, 

Amy 

IMPORTANT DATES

11/3 Early Release (at 12:30) - PTC

11/4 No School - PTC

11/11 No School - Veterans Day

11/18 No PreK - ECP In-Service

11/23-11/25 - No School - Thanksgiving Holiday

October News

 October 5, 20222

Hello PreK Families, 

The students are really enjoying their specials classes each day. The schedule is as follows: Monday- Spanish, Tuesday - PE & Library, Wednesday - Art, Thursday - Music, and Friday - PE. The students are getting to know these new teachers and trying out new activities. 

Each month we usually cover two units of study that are related to the season or holidays in that month. Sometimes we also study topics because we have a high interest in a topic.In September, we learned  about apples. During each unit we read many books, do projects, have discussions, sing songs, and participate in other learning activities to build connections on a topic. When we learned about apples, we read Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins, Ten Apples Up on Top by Dr. Seuss, and My Apple by Kaye Davies and Wendy Oldfield. We made a graph comparing our favorite color apples, we played counting and sorting games about apples, and we made applesauce and wrote a class book about it. 

We a recurrently working on fall. Next we will learn about pumpkins and Halloween. If your child has a small pumpkin or gourd at home, he or she may bring it into class next week. 

We have started reviewing/learning the uppercase letters using the Fundations Literacy Program. We will review 3 letters per week and should finish the introduction of the uppercase letter by the holiday break. Then we will learn how to write the uppercase letters. We learn the letters in the order of how they are written. Some letters have straight lines, some have curves, and some have a start and a jump to them.  

In our class, we use direct instruction to teach students to make good choices about their behavior. Social development is an integral part of PreK and school and affects all areas of learning. One of our main goals for students is to be happy, confident learners who can solve problems and work collaboratively with others. Being able to make good choices when they are alone and interacting with others is a BIG part of that.  In our classroom we have started learning about good choices to support their social-emotional behavior. We review the expected behaviors in all settings (school, home, community) and across the day. Clear, consistent expectations are paired with visual supports, and expectations are almost always stated positively. We also teach lessons from Second Step. This is a social emotional learning program that teaches concepts with puppets, story cards, songs, and role playing activities. Each week, we cover a new idea. 

Our school picture day is Wednesday, October 19th. You should receive an order form from Lifetouch. You can read the order form and pay by check or order the pictures online from their website. 

Parent Teacher Conferences are coming up in early November, on 11/3 and 11/4. There will be an early release day on Thursday and no school on Friday. You will receive a sign-up to schedule a meeting time soon. All of the early childhood PreK Programs in our district use a program called Teaching Strategies Gold to rate individual student development and progress.  In the meeting we will review initial TS Gold social-emotional progress reports (for 3 and 4 year olds) for your child as well as, initial math and letter assessments (for students who are 4 or older). 

Our class also participates in Scholastic Book Clubs. Our first class order is due on October 14th. With a $25 order, you can pick a FREE $5 Book (use code: READS). You can Shop Our Class Page: https://orders.scholastic.com/K3677 or Shop Digital Flyers for Our Grade with Your Child: https://clubs.scholastic.com/prek.  Please share the Class Page link to extended family and friends. All orders also earn FREE Books for our class.  Class Code: K3677

Thank you for your support!

 

Ms. ZAYAS

IMPORTANT DATES

10/10 NO SCHOOL - Indiginous Peoples’ Day

10/11 NO SCHOOL - Teacher In-Service 

10/19 Picture Day

10/21 No PreK - ECP In-Service

May News

 May 31, 2022

Dear PreK Families, 

We have had a busy time at the end of the school year. We only have a few more days of school before the summer break, so we will be starting to send home your child’s projects and belongings soon. 

After the April break, we did a unit on physical science. The students learned a lot and had fun exploring the properties of magnets and rocks. We did many of hands-on science experiments and made predictions about what we thought would happen. We read several books on the topic, including: Magnets: Pulling Together, Pushing Apart by Natalie Rosinsky, Learning About Rocks by Mari Schuh, Rocks: Hard, Soft, Smooth and Rough by Natalie Rosinsky. 

Most recently, we learned about the lifecycle of the butterfly. We had real Painted Lady caterpillars, and observed them change from tiny caterpillars, to big caterpillars, to cocoons and finally butterflies. We kept an observation journal, did art projects, read books, and watched science videos about butterflies. VINS came during May for their final visit of the year. Our topic was butterflies and insects. We also learned about plants in conjunction with this unit. We read several Eric Carle books during this study, including: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Very Grouchy Ladybug, The Very Quiet Cricket, The Very Lonely Dragonfly, and The Tiny Seed. 

Right now, we are completing memory books about our time in PreK. We will be reflecting on work and projects that we did over the course of the school year. 

Next week, we will be participating in Field Day and children who will move up to Kindergarten will go on a classroom visit. On Field Day (6/7) please put sunscreen on your child before school. Your child might also get wet during field day, so dress appropriately. 

Although his year has been challenging in many ways, we had a great experience in full day PreK here at WRS. Thank you for all of your support and have a fun and relaxing summer. We have really enjoyed getting to know your children and we will miss them next year if they are going up to Kindergarten. 

TSGold report cards will be sent home on the last day of school. 

Thank you,
Amy 

IMPORTANT DATES

6/7 Field Day

6/8 Last Day of School

April News

 April 22, 2022

Dear PreK Families, 

Last month, we finished our study of fairy tales. We read several versions of each fairy tale: including The Three Little Pigs, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Jack and the Beanstalk, and The Little Red Hen.  We retold the tales through figurines and puppets. Welaso learned about planting seeds and started bean plants like in Jack and the Beanstalk. I hope that some of the beans made it at your homes. At the end of the unit, we worked together to make bread just like the red hen, then we ate it at snack time. 

Before the break, we finished a unit about communities and community helpers. We have made maps of our room, rooms at home, maps of the neighborhood, and pretend maps. We are also reading books about maps, and the jobs that people have in their communities. We read the following books: Me on the Map by Joan Sweeney, My Map Book by Sara Fanelli, Where Are you Going Maynoni? by Catherine Stock, Gloria and Officer Buckle by Peggy Rathmann, This is Our House by Michale Rosen, I Stink by Kate & Jim McMullan, All Kinds of Children by Norma Simon, and Gues Who? by Maragert Miller.

Ms. Atkinson will be conducting health screenings around vision and hearing on all students. She will contact you if your child should have more follow up with your child’s doctor. 

Currently, we are doing a unit on physical science about the topics of magnets and rocks.  The students have been very engaged in the hands-on science experiments. Many students have talked about their magnets at home.  Next week, VINS will visit again for our last visit of the school year. Below are some pictures from our last VINS visit when we learned about bears. Our instructor brought a bear pelt for us to examine. 

Thank you, 

Amy 

IMPORTANT DATES

5/20 No PreK - ECP In-Service

5/30 Memorial Day - No School

March News

 Monday, March 7th

Dear PreK Families, 

We completed an author study of Jan Brett books, including: The Mitten, The Hat, The Snowy Nap, Hedgie’s Surprise, Annie and the Wild Animals, and The Three Snow Bears. While reading these books, we also discussed what animals do in the winter; some migrate, some hibernate or become dormant, and some stay active. This week, we will have a visit from the environmental educators at VINS to learn about animal tracks and bears. 

The week before the February vacation, we did some fun activities around Valentine’s Day and we celebrated at the end of the week with Read at the Beach, a school wide celebration. Since returning from the break, we have begun a unit on fairy tales. The students have been very engaged with the stories that we have read so far. After this unit, we will do some work around the St. Patrick's Day holiday. 

We love to read in PreK. 

We are still working on learning the proper formation for uppercase letters. We should finish right before the April vacation. If your child is writing at home, please remind them to use a proper pencil grip and to make their letters from the top down. 

We have loved playing in all of the snow on the playground. Hopefully, we will not have too  much mud on our playground with the warmer temperatures coming our way. 

For students who will be going to kindergarten next year, you should have received a sheet of paper in your child’s backpack last week. If your child will be attending WRS for kindergarten, fill out the form and return it to school. If Mrs. Cooney needs more information from you, she will contact you. 

On 3/24 and 3/25 we will be having PTC on-line again. You will receive a link to sign up for a meeting time later this week. 

Thank you, 

Amy 

IMPORTANT DATES

3/18 No PreK - ECP In-Service

3/24 Early Release - PTC

3/25 NO SCHOOL - PTC

4/11-4/15 NO SCHOOL - April Vacation

January News

 Monday, January 24, 2022

Dear PreK Families, 

Please welcome our new student Mason and his family to WRS!  One of our former students, Rhys, and her family moved to another town and she is attending a new school. 

We started off the new year learning about snow and winter. And it has been nice and snowy so that we can enjoy the snow. When it has been warm enough we have played outside in the snow piles. We also brought snow into the classroom and used it in our snow table. We read any books about snow including: The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, The Snowy Day by Komako Sakai, Snow by Marion Dane Bauer, The Biggest, Best Snowman by Margery Cuyler, Snowflake Bently by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, Ten in the Sled by Kim Norman, White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tressalt, and All You Need for a Snowman by Barbara Lavellee.

Currently, we are working on an author study of Jan Brett books and also learning about animals in winter. 

This month, students who are 4 have been working on the proper formation of numbers 1-10 in their own number writing books. Next, we will make number books to show collections of items for the numbers 1-10. We have also been having number talks about 3- 4 times a week. In our number talks, we have been working on subitizing the numbers 1-5. Subitizing is recognizing a set instantly without counting all of the items. This skill is necessary for early math skills and continues to be an important skill throughout life.  This would be an easy activity to do at home too. You can identify a set of chairs at the table, a group of cars on the carpet, socks on the bed and so on. Or you could ask your child to make collections for numbers 1-10. Tiny Polka Dot is also a fun game available on Amazon. We have a set in the classroom that the students have begun using. 

We will have a Valentine’s Day party with a card exchange on 2/11. Please do not send in candy. Since many children are just learning to write their own names, this is a good way to practice this skill by signing their own cards. Students do not need to write classmates’ names on the cards that they are giving, that can be blank. We have 14 students in class. 

You will see a Scholastic Book Club order form in your child’s bag. We are doing another book order. You can fill out the sheet and send in a check or you can visit their website and order form there. Just be in mind, there have been lots of delays in receiving orders. You can choose to have your books shipped to your home or delivered to me with our class order. 

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

 

Class Order Due Date: 02/01/22

 

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

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

All orders also earn FREE Books for our class.

We have many birthdays in this second part of the year. If you would like to send in birthday treats for your child you may. All treats should be should be from a store/bakery and prepackaged. We cannot have homemeade treats at this time.

 

Thank you for being so flexible with all of the new health guidelines. Please take time to check your child’s masks, sometimes they get stretched out and do not fit well over the mouth and nose.  Thank you for your support!

 

Amy 

IMPORTANT DATES 

2/11 Valentine’s Day Card Exchange

2/14-2/18 No School: February Break

3/1 No School: Teacher In-Service

3/18 No PreK: ECP In-Service

3/24 Early Dismissal: PTC
3/25 No School: PTC