Kindergarten News
October 13, 2023
Dear Kindergarten Families,
We are noticing many new signs of Fall and we have enjoyed the cooler temperatures at recess this week. Kindergarten students were excited to share news of their adventures during the long weekend and many children chose to write and draw about their experiences during our Writer’s Workshop times. We enjoyed meeting our 3rd Grade buddies in Ms. Merrill’s class for the first time last week. Kindergarten and 3rd Grade students enjoyed interviewing each other about their favorite things. We will get together once a month for Buddy activities. Many kindergarten students have spotted their buddies in the hallway and they are so excited to say hello!
Conferences will begin on Monday, October 23. Here is the Fall 2023 Conference Sign Up schedule. I will be sending home your child’s Fall Learning Goals in the Friday folder next Friday (October 20). This will give families a chance to read the goals before our meeting to help frame our discussion. I will have a copy of the goals at our conference just in case you forget to bring your copy. If you have a morning conference, I will meet you at the front door to let you in.
We have been reading some stories in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. We read Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal. This is a beautiful story about a girl with a very long name. She learns that each one is meaningful and special, chosen just for her. We also read Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina. This is a story about Mia and her grandmother and how they learn to speak each other’s language. Ms. Tiyana read the book My Name is a Story by Ashanti and then had the children decorate their name with things they love. We loved reading Carmela Full of Wishes by Matt de la Peña and thinking about finding hope and beauty in unexpected places. We will start reading some of Tomie DePaola’s Strega Nona stories next week.
We have been investigating sunny and shady places on our playground and sharing ideas about how different surfaces feel in sunny and shady places. Kindergartners are very excited to bring their clipboards outside to observe, record, and discuss their findings. We watched a great Mystery Science video to learn about why leaves change color in the fall and we went on a leaf hunt to collect some interesting and colorful leaves. We observed our leaves with magnifying glasses and made some detailed drawings. We are looking forward to trying some leaf rubbings soon.
We had a brief visit from the Newton Fire Department on Tuesday and learned some important tips about Fire Safety. We got to see how quickly the firefighters were able to put on their gear as they got a call right in the middle of our visit! We hope to have the firefighters back at Franklin soon for the end of the lesson.
On Friday, October 20, we will have a school wide practice of safety drills. These drills will include a fire drill and a lockdown drill. We will practice the lockdown procedure in our classroom early next week to prepare. We will practice moving quickly and quietly to the rug and then sitting quietly. We do not want to make this a scary or stressful experience for students. We will talk about how important it is to sit quietly and not be silly. The point of a lockdown is to keep us safe and locked in the classroom from whatever may be out in the hall. I usually use the example of an animal in the hallway. I tell the children we most likely will never need to do this, but it is important to know what to do just like in a fire drill. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Enjoy the weekend!
Lindsay
Kindergarten Notes
September 28, 2023
Dear Kindergarten Families,
We have had a busy week in Kindergarten. We have really enjoyed the cooler temperatures at recess time!
We are including some important items in your child’s folder this week:
Login instructions and a laminated QR code for ST Math- Students have enjoyed solving the ST math puzzles on their ipads at school and now you have the option to access these learning games at home. Please keep the login card in a safe place at home.
October Lunch Menu- This is a two-sided menu this month. Please make sure that you circle your main lunch choice for each day. Please return menus in folders on Monday.
Copies of the first three calming strategies that we have learned with Ms. Coly- Kindergartners have enjoyed practicing these strategies at school!
Students borrowed their first library books this week. Please remember to return library books in your child’s backpack on Wednesday mornings!
If you have not had a chance to add your information to our class contact list, please use this link- Class Contact List 2023-2024.
A reminder that there is NO SCHOOL on Monday, October 9.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Lindsay
Kindergarten Notes
September 28, 2023
Dear Kindergarten Families,
We have had a busy week in Kindergarten. We have really enjoyed the cooler temperatures at recess time!
We are including some important items in your child’s folder this week:
Login instructions and a laminated QR code for ST Math- Students have enjoyed solving the ST math puzzles on their ipads at school and now you have the option to access these learning games at home. Please keep the login card in a safe place at home.
October Lunch Menu- This is a two-sided menu this month. Please make sure that you circle your main lunch choice for each day. Please return menus in folders on Monday.
Copies of the first three calming strategies that we have learned with Ms. Coly- Kindergartners have enjoyed practicing these strategies at school!
Students borrowed their first library books this week. Please remember to return library books in your child’s backpack on Wednesday mornings!
If you have not had a chance to add your information to our class contact list, please use this link- Class Contact List 2023-2024.
A reminder that there is NO SCHOOL on Monday, October 9.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Lindsay
Kindergarten Newsletter
September 2023
Dear Families,
Welcome to Kindergarten! We are excited to begin a new and exciting year together. During the next few weeks we will be very busy getting to know each other, our teachers and our school. We will learn the routines and create rules for our different classroom areas and times of the day. Based on the Responsive Classroom approach, the different areas of the room and materials will be introduced to the children slowly. Through guided discoveries with materials and the different spaces, the children are not only excited to use the items but they will also learn the safe and appropriate ways to use them. We will create a community of learners in an environment that fosters caring, sharing and respectful behavior. This will enable all students to learn and be successful. Below you will find some important information for the start of our year together!
Class Schedule
School begins at 8:10 a.m. Kindergarten students should enter the building through the black kindergarten door. This is the door on the far right side of the school. Parents and Guardians are welcome to walk children into school during the first week. Students will enter the building on their own starting on Monday, September 11. There will be adults available in the hallways to direct students to their classrooms. The teachers will be there to support them as they enter the classroom and start the morning routine.
Dismissal is at 2:50 each day except for Wednesdays, when all students are dismissed at 12:20. Our class will be dismissed through the black kindergarten door. This is the door on the far right side of the school. Students who are going home will walk out with their teacher. We ask that parents wait on the lower sidewalk on Derby Street. Please do not come up the stairs and take your child. When we see you, we will wave to you and then give your child permission to leave the group and go down the stairs. It takes some time for teachers to match parent/caregiver faces to children so it is very helpful if you tell us your child's name when we see you. Thank you for your patience as we continue to practice this important routine.
It is important that everyone picking up your child must know this procedure. For safety reasons, we are not allowed to release children to cars double parked in the blue zone. If a different person is picking up your child (friend’s parent, babysitter, grandparent) please notify the teacher in writing if they are not listed on the form you complete. Children attending Plowshares will be met by Plowshares staff and accompanied to the Plowshares rooms. If your child is riding a bus or van, they will be escorted to the bus line by an adult.
If there are any last minute changes to your child’s dismissal plan, please call the office (617-559-9500). We suggest putting the office phone number into your contacts now. We do not always have time to check email during the day.
Family Questionnaire and Daily Dismissal Form
Prior to the start of school, please fill out this Family Questionnaire and Dismissal Form to tell me about your child. Your input is very important and valuable as you know your child best. The questionnaire includes your child’s daily dismissal plan. If your child’s dismissal plan changes, please be sure to email me or write a dated note explaining the dismissal changes. You can also call the office (617-559-9500) during the day at any time if you have a last minute dismissal change and they will notify me.
Parent Communication & Open House
We believe that frequent and informative communication enhances all that we do in our classrooms. Throughout the year, we will be sending classroom news via email and also posting the notes on our class webpage. Click here to see the webpage. Ms. Scott's Classroom Webpage
We meet twice formally with parents during the school year. We will meet in late October/early November, and then again in March/early April. Written reports will be sent in January and in June. We are always available throughout the year. Please write a note or send an email if you have any questions or concerns.
Franklin School Curriculum Night will be in the evening on Wednesday, September 27th. More details will be provided soon!
Homework
Each night, all K students should read or be read to for at least 20 minutes. Have fun reading!
Folders
We will provide each child with a folder that will go home every Friday. You will find notices and any completed school work in the folder. Please check your child’s backpack each night, as there may be time sensitive notices that will need your attention. Folders should be emptied and returned on Monday mornings.
Birthdays
Birthdays are an exciting time in every child’s life. We do celebrate birthdays in our room. We will not be celebrating with food because of allergies and the food policy in Newton. However, if you want to send in pencils or another non-food treat for the class, please do so! As a class, we will make your child’s birthday a special day! Please note: birthday party invitations and thank you notes will not be distributed in the classroom.
Snack and Lunch
The entire Franklin School will be nut-free for snacks and lunches this year. This is a change from years past.
We have snack time each day. Please send a nut free snack and drink in with your child. All students should also have a spill-proof water bottle labeled with their name. We do not have a microwave or refrigerator for student lunches and snacks. Food and drinks can be kept cold with an ice pack.
You can choose to pack a lunch from home or order the school lunch. School lunch is available free of charge for all students. A menu is available here: September lunch menu and on the Newton Public Schools website. We send home a paper copy of the menu at the beginning of each month and ask you to circle your child’s choices on the menu and return it in your child’s folder. Please discuss the lunch choices with your child so that there is no confusion when we take the lunch count in the morning. Just a reminder: there is no lunch on Wednesdays (unless your child attends Plowshares).
Clothing
Remember Kindergarten is very active, with messy projects and outdoor play whenever possible. Please dress your child accordingly. Sneakers will be needed for Physical Education class. In case of accidents, please send in an extra set of clothing (socks and underwear included) in a labeled Ziploc bag to be kept at school. Extra clothing can be brought to school on the visiting day or on the first day of school.
Backpacks
Your child should come to school each day with a full size backpack for their belongings. Please make sure it is big enough to fit your child’s home folder. Please clearly label your child’s bag with their name.
We know that the year will be a positive and rewarding experience for your child. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to speak with your child’s teacher. You can reach staff by calling the office at (617)-559-9500, sending in a note with your child, or by e-mail: scottl@newton.k12.ma.us
We are looking forward to a wonderful year!
The Kindergarten Team