Mrs. Weinstock - Weekly Update

March 9, 2026

Dear families,

Happy Monday! This week, we are learning all about the letter S and preparing for an Irish celebration of St. Patrick's Day next week. We will talk about shamrocks, and even some snakes enter his story. With Daylight savings this past weekend, we are hoping for another S word….SPRING! May we see more sunshine and spring-like temperatures in the days to come!

Thank you to our Mystery Readers who have visited us so far. Please remember to send me your three clues before your arrival so I can prepare the children for you to surprise them. It would be more helpful if I had that in the morning. They are loving having a daily visitor. Thanks again for your support of this month-long event.

Next Tuesday, March 17th, we will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. There is an optional school-wide GREEN dress down with the cost of $1 or more donation to benefit the Mairead McInerney McAteer Legacy Scholarship at LUCY Outreach in Camden. Info about his outreach can be found in the Hawk Herald. Thank you for your support!

Next Thursday, March 19th, is a half day of school (11:45 dismissal for Pre-K) due to our 7th Graders receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. There is also NO CARES on this day.

Stay tuned for more information about our Easter Egg Hunt on Tuesday, March 31st. Easter will be here before you know it!

Finally, last week I sent a Scholastic Book Order form home in your child’s folder. There are many other books available online as well. Orders will be due this Friday, March 13th.

Have a SUPER week!!

Mrs. Weinstock

March 2, 2026

Dear Families,

It’s letter “R” week, and Happy Read Across America Week! We are learning all about one of our favorite authors, Dr. Seuss, sounding out words to do some pre-writing activities, and changing from Tell-n-Show to MYSTERY READER! We are all very excited to hear the three clues about a person we love to figure out who it is each day! Thank you all for making this month of reading a fun one!

Here is the rundown for the rest of the week:

Tuesday: Oh, The Places You’ll Go - Traveling Tuesday- Wear a Favorite Destination or College Shirt with your gym pants!

Wednesday: Wacky Wednesday - Wear Your Hair in a Wacky Way!

Thursday: Cat In The Hat Day - Wear Your Favorite Hat/Headband!

Friday: Sleep Book - Flashlight Friday - Bring a Small Flashlight AND Your Favorite Dr. Seuss Book!

Learning about the letter R, we are ready to read and learn all about rainbows, robots, rain, rectangles, the color red, and so much more.

Finally, I have sent a Scholastic Book Order form home today in your child’s folder. There are many other books available online as well. This is a good time of year to add to your home libraries to get ready for next year. They are starting to sound out words and show a desire to read. Take advantage of this love of reading! Orders will be due by next Friday, March 13th.

Happy Reading!!

Mrs. Weinstock

February 24, 2026

Dear Parents,

Happy letter “Q” week! I hope you had a fun, extra-long weekend with your families. The snow day was a fun surprise, and I love hearing your little ones' stories from the day. This week, we are learning all about the letter Q and its buddy “u” and beginning to sound out words for some pre-writing activities! As a reminder, there will no longer be a “Tell-n-Show” each week. We are all very excited about next week’s changes in our schedule with MYSTERY READER starting. We can’t wait to hear the three clues about a person we love, and use our questioning skills to figure out who it is each day!

Exciting News for Next Week: We will be celebrating Read Across America Week with Dr. Seuss!

Here is a run-down of the daily events that coincide with a Dr. SEUSS book:

Monday, March 2nd:

Fox In Socks -Wear Your Silly or Mismatched Socks!

Tuesday, March 3rd:

Oh, The Places You’ll Go - Traveling Tuesday -

Wear a Favorite Destination or College Shirt with your gym sweatpants.

Wednesday, March 4th:

Wacky Wednesday - Wear Your Hair in a Wacky Way!

Thursday, March 5th:

Cat In The Hat - Celebrate Read Across America Month by

wearing your favorite hat/headband!

Friday, March 6th:

Sleep Book - Flashlight and Fun Friday

Bring a Small Flashlight AND Your Favorite Dr. Seuss Book!

Mystery Reader: Last week, I sent out the Sign-Up Genius for our Mystery Reader through email. There are spots available for everyone. The kids really do love having stories read to them by their family and friends. If you did not receive my message, please email me, and I can send you the direct link.

Thank you all for all you do! Have a wonderful week!

Mrs. Weinstock

February 17, 2026

Dear Families,

It’s “P” Week, and we will celebrate by discussing Presidents, using our paddles to practice our penmanship, and praying for the holy season of Lent. Wednesday, of course, is Ash Wednesday, and Thursday is the 100th Day! Although counting to 100 is a Kindergarten skill, we will do some fun counting activities on Thursday and Friday and celebrate the fact that we have been learning, growing, and playing together for such a long time. They will also enjoy the challenge of counting to 100 together (by ones and by tens) and seeing just how high that number really is!

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. Students will be learning all about the Lenten Season, and what this means for us as Catholics. All students will receive ashes on their foreheads. They may not remember doing this last year, so we will remind them of the purpose of the ashes and why this is important to us as Catholics.

Weekly Routine change**Important Update: This will be our last week of Tell-N-Show, as we will get ready to introduce a new fun activity for the month of March… MYSTERY READER!!

Mystery Readers will visit us daily for the whole month of March. Mystery Readers are asked to bring a book to read from home to surprise the children. You will also be asked to send in three clues about yourself prior to your arrival so the class can guess who might be coming. A Sign-up Genius will be sent in the coming days. We would like to allow each student to have a visitor if possible.

Have a POSITIVELY PLEASANT week!

Mrs. Weinstock

February 9, 2026

Dear Parents,

Happy Monday! It’s “O” Week, and we are “Oh” so grateful for your little ones! This week will be a fun-filled week with many exciting things to do and learn each day. We will not only be learning the letter Oo, but also celebrating Valentine’s Day, talking about being a good friend, and showing others we love and care for them.

On Friday, we will celebrate and learn about St. Valentine and enjoy some special treats at our Valentine’s Day Card Exchange Party. Reminder, if your child wants to send in valentines for the class, please do not label them for specific children. Be sure to send in enough for everyone in the room, 20 students in total, and have your child write his/her name so they know who it is from. All valentines will be sent home after our party in their special Valentine bags.

Looking ahead:

❤️ Monday, February 16th is President's Day and no school!

❤️ Wednesday, February 18th is Ash Wednesday. Students will be learning all about the Lenten Season, what this means for us as Catholics, and discussing ashes as we will celebrate mass with a school-wide liturgy where all students will receive ashes on their foreheads.

❤️Thursday February 19th, believe it or not, is our 100th Day together! Although counting to 100 is a Kindergarten skill, we will do some fun counting activities to celebrate the fact that we have been learning, growing and playing together for such a long time. They will also enjoy the challenge of counting to 100 together and seeing just how high that number really is!

Have an OUTSTANDING week!

Mrs. Weinstock

February 3, 2026

Dear Parents,

Thank you all for meeting with me yesterday to discuss your child’s progress thus far. It was wonderful to hear your insights from the home front and form a united team going forward to have your kiddos ready for their next adventure in the fall. We are back in the swing of things and it’s letter “N” week! We are off to a nifty start, learning new words and sounds, and introducing the number “9” (nine).

Noteworthy News:

❤️ Friday, February 6th we will be cheering on the USA with an Olympics RED WHITE AND BLUE dress down day. Your donation for this dress down (in any way you choose )will go towards the BVM food pantry, Souper Bowl of Caring, or $1 or more to support these amazing charities. GO USA! We will also be attending First Friday mass on this day, so be mindful of appropriate attire.

❤️ Friday, February 13th we will celebrate St. Valentines Day with a class Valentine exchange. We will learn about St. Valentine and enjoy some special treats at our class party. If your child wants to send valentines to the class, please do not label them for specific children. Be sure to send in enough for everyone in the room, 20 students in total, and have your child sign his/her name so they know who it is from. All valentines will be sent home after our party in their special Valentine bags.

❤️ Monday, February 16th is President’s Day...No School

**Cold/Flu/Stomach Bug Season: It’s that time of year again when germs are everywhere! If your child is sick with a cold or flu or comes down with a stomach bug, keep in mind a few rules for their return to school: Children should be symptom-free for 24 hours, and eating a regular diet. If they are not eating normally, they are still sick and are still contagious. I know it is hard to judge sometimes, but it’s better not to rush them back until they are ready to take on a regular day of school. Fevers: Children should be fever-free for 24 hours before a return to school. Finally, if your child needs medication or an inhaler, a note must be sent in from a doctor in order for the school nurse to be able to administer it. Thank you for understanding.

Have a NICE week…..and GO USA!!!!

Mrs. Weinstock

January 20, 2026

Dear families,

It’s “M” Week, and we are marveling at the magnificent snow and hoping for more to come! I hope you had a fun long weekend with your families. The snow was a fun treat, and I loved hearing all about your snow day adventures at our morning meeting.

We will continue with assessments in order to monitor progress for report cards. I am so pleased with the tremendous progress they have made. As I said last week, you can continue to help your child review these skills in your everyday activities; driving in the car, at bath time, story time, etc. Use this time to talk about letter sounds, counting objects you see, and sorting things by sizes, shapes and colors. They have all come such a long way from the beginning of the year. I can’t wait to share their progress with you at our conference.

Upcoming dates:

❄️Wednesday, January 21st: Home and School Meeting

❄️Catholic Schools Week begins on Sunday, January 25th. Mass and Open House! We would love to see everyone!

❄️Monday, January 26th- Celebrate our COMMUNITY DAY - Philly Sports Teams dress down

❄️Tuesday, Jan 27th: Teacher/Staff Appreciation Day. "Dress Like A Teacher” Day, or regular gym uniforms

❄️Wednesday. Jan. 28th: CELEBRATE OUR NATION DAY Flyers/Orange/Black dress down - pay $1 (or more) to benefit the Travis Manion Foundation. There will be a “Flyers Recess” assembly for all students from Pre-K4 to 8th grade.

❄️Thursday, January 29th- Celebrate our STUDENTS and FAMILIES – students may dress in SMM Spirit wear! We also have our annual SMM night at Flight on Ice!

❄️Friday, January 30th- Mass and Noon Dismissal for all students.

❄️Monday, February 2nd- Pre-K conferences. A sign-up genius went out last week. If you did not receive the email invitation, please let me know.

Stay warm!!

Mrs. Weinstock

January 12, 2026

Dear Parents,

It’s “Ll” week, and we are off to a “lovely” start. We will be doing some fun activities with the letter “L,” and the number 7. It’s fun to see how they look alike in some ways, and how they are different. We will make ladybugs with seven dots, read stories with the L sound, and review counting and sorting.

We are continuing with one-on-one assessments to monitor progress for report cards. I am so pleased with the progress they have made. As I said last week, you can continue to help your child review these skills in your everyday activities; driving in the car, at bath time, story time, etc. Use this time to talk about letters and their sounds, count objects you see, make patterns, and sort things by sizes, shapes, and colors. They have all come such a long way from the beginning of the year. I look forward to sharing their progress with you at our conference. The Sign-up Genius was sent today. If you did not receive the email, let me know ASAP.

Some important dates coming up:

❄️Monday, January 19th- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No school.

❄️Wednesday, January 21st: Home and School Meeting at 6:30pm.

❄️Catholic Schools Week starts on Sunday, January 25th with Mass and our Open House event

❄️Friday, January 30th is an 11:45 Dismissal.

❄️Monday, February 2nd, is Pre-K Conference Day, and therefore, there is no school for Pre-K students. At least one parent is expected to meet with me during that day. IF there is a conflict with that day, please let me know. Thank you!

Thank you all for a great start to 2026!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Weinstock

January 5, 2026

Dear Parents,

Welcome back and Happy 2026! I can't believe our break is over so quickly. I hope you created lots of memories together, and enjoyed your time as a family. I want to thank you all for your kind words, generous gifts and the beautiful sentiments I received for Christmas from you. I am so grateful for you and your little ones, and look forward to a fun 2026!

This week in pre-K, I will be starting some assessments with your children one-on-one so I have a good idea about their progress thus far. I am very happy with the growth I have seen since September! They are doing a wonderful job!!

You can continue to help your child review these skills in your everyday activities; driving in the car, at bath time, story time, etc. Use this time to talk about letters and their sounds, practice letter recognition, counting objects you see, and sorting things by sizes, shapes and colors. They have all come such a long way from the beginning of the year. I can’t wait to share their progress with you at our conference in a few weeks.

In the midst of these assessments, we are still learning our letters and numbers! We will be doing some fun activities with the letter “K,” celebrating the Three Kings visiting the baby Jesus, making Hershey kisses and kites, and practicing being great kids! We will start up our Tell-n-Show again. Please take note of the days below, as a reminder. They really do a wonderful JOB with this activity each week.

Wednesday: Red and Green Group Thursday: Blue and Orange Group

Friday: Yellow Group

Other reminders:

Monday, February 2nd is Pre-K Conference Day, and therefore, no school for Pre-K students. When we meet, you will receive your child’s Mid-Year Report and discuss their current progress for the year. A sign-up genius will be sent soon.

Cold/Flu/Stomach Bug Season: As you are well aware, germs are everywhere! If your child is sick with a cold or flu, or comes down with a stomach bug, keep in mind a few rules for their return to school: Children should be symptom-free for 24 hours, and be eating a regular diet. If they are not eating normally, they are still sick and are still contagious. In regard to fevers: Children should be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to school. And finally, if your child needs medication or an inhaler, a note must be sent in from a doctor in order for the school nurse to be able to administer. Thank you for understanding.

Have a wonderful week!

Mrs. Weinstock

December 15, 2025

Dear Parents,

We are in the home stretch! The final week is upon us, and the children’s excitement is ever-present in these next few days! We are practicing very hard for our big show, and crafting little projects filled with glitter, paint and lots of love. Today was GIVING MONDAY, and we made a gift to give to our Prayer Partners. It was a great way to start this fun week.

Tomorrow is - REINDEER DAY!

We will celebrate all things “Reindeer” and have fun with Santa’s little helpers! This is a school-wide full Christmas dress down at a cost of $1 to benefit the Stewardship Fund. Thank you for your generosity.

Wednesday, December 17th-CHRISTMAS MOVIE AND PJ DAY!

Children may wear TWO-PIECE pajamas with SNEAKERS. (This is a free dress-down for PreK kids, while K-8th-grade students will pay $1) We will watch a special Christmas show and have cookies and milk for a special snack.

Thursday, December 18th- JESUS’ BIRTHDAY PARTY

Students in PreK will celebrate Jesus’s birthday! Full Christmas Dress Down at no cost.

Friday, December 19th- SHOW DAY!

Pre-K and Kindergarten Christmas Show in the church. Pre-K (both 3s and 4s) will begin at 10:00, and Kindergarten will follow at 11. Children are to wear their Christmas/Sunday Best. No backpacks on this day. Please send a dry snack for the morning; no water bottle is necessary. We will provide water.

We wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas, filled with the love of friends and family. I will be thinking of all of your little ones on Christmas morning as they are filled with that innocence and excitement. Enjoy these moments and make great memories in the days to come!

Have a Merry and Blessed Christmas!!!

Mrs. Weinstock

December 8, 2025

Dear Parents,

Happy Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and Second week of Advent, the week of Peace. This candle reminds us that the angels declared "peace on earth" at the birth of Jesus. Jesus offers us inner peace and peace with others. I wish peace for all of you during this Advent season.

Also, during this week, we will focus on the letter J. With all that is going on, there will NOT be a Tell-n-Show this week. We will resume the fun in the new year!

🎄Friday, December 12th- Santa’s Secret Shoppe/Giving Tree Stewardship Project Day. Children may wear Christmas attire for this Dress Down day. Envelopes came home last week for shopping and for raffle tickets. Reminder that all Stewardship project gifts are to be in by Friday, unwrapped and labeled, if possible. A sign-up was sent out for you to donate to our class-adopted family. Thank you for your kindness.

🎄Take note of the December Happenings and all dress-down days in these last two weeks. I know it's a lot to remember. I have a “December Happenings” tab on my website to help you keep track of it all.

🎄 Friday, December 19th- Pre-K and Kindergarten Christmas Show in church. Pre-K will begin at 10:00. Children are to wear their Christmas/Sunday Best for this day. No backpacks on this day! A letter is coming home today to let us know if your child will be returning to school for the afternoon or going with you at the conclusion of the show.

Hope you have a peaceful “J” week!

Mrs. Weinstock

December 2, 2025

Dear Parents,

Welcome back! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving break with your little ones, family, and friends. This week marks the first week of Advent, the season that brings us to the birth of Jesus. Our friends will be reminded of the real reason for the season, we will talk about the story of Jesus’ birth, and light the first purple candle on our Advent Wreath, symbolizing HOPE.

Since it is a short week, and we will be getting back into the swing of things, we will not focus on a letter of the week, but it’s back to business next week!

On Friday, we will celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas, with a little visit from St. Nicholas himself. If you are not aware of the tradition, many people celebrate St Nicholas Day by putting their shoes outside their bedroom doors or hanging an empty stocking by the fireplace on the evening of December 5th. St Nicholas then comes during the night, and on the morning of the 6th, people will find their shoes/stockings filled with small gifts and sugary treats. We will celebrate here in school on the 5th, as your child will receive a little treat in their shoe at some point during the day. It is a fun tradition we like to keep alive each year.

December reminders:

🎄 Wednesday, December 3rd- Picture Retake Day (in Gym uniform). Please remember to return your original pictures that day as well if you need retakes.

🎄Friday, December 5th- Feast of St. Nicholas, and an 11:45 dismissal. The children may wear RED Christmas tops with their regular Gym uniform pants.

🎄 Friday, December 12th- Santa’s Secret Shoppe/Giving Tree Stewardship Project Day. Children may wear “Christmas anything” for this “Dress Down” day. (SNEAKERS must be worn.) An envelope will be coming home for you to put money in for shopping, as well as a checklist of who to shop for. Please be mindful of how much money you give your child and how many people they shop for (not too much $ and please limit to immediate family).

Hope you have a wonderful week!

Mrs. Weinstock

November 24, 2025

Dear Families,

A very short week, so a very short letter. Tomorrow is our Thanksgiving Feast, along with many fun games and activities. We are so grateful to our wonderful parent volunteers who have organized a full morning of fun. I would suggest packing a very light lunch for your little ones tomorrow, as our feast will hopefully fill their bellies, (maybe just a small snack and their water bottle.) We are very excited about our day!

Also, given that we only have two rest days this week, and three next, I will hang on to your rest mats over the long weekend, unless you specifically ask me to send them home. There is no reason to add more to your plate for the weekend.

Finally, be sure to check out the December Happenings note that was sent on Friday. Many fun events, dress down days, and theme days to note in the coming weeks. Christmas will be here before we know it!

Once again, I am so grateful to all of you for sharing your little ones with us each day. They are learning and growing in the best ways each and every day.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Katie Weinstock

November 17, 2025

Dear Parents,

We have an incredible week planned for the letter I! The children will practice identification of the letter Ii, and the two sounds the letter can make. We will talk about ice cubes, ice cream, icicles, and talk about all the things “I CAN” do: (I can color, I can cut, I can count, I can write my name, etc.) We will also, of course, be talking about all things Thanksgiving, all the things and people we are thankful for, and creating some fun turkey day projects!

Mark your calendars now for our Christmas show, which will take place in the morning on the last day before Christmas Break, Friday, December 19th. (There was an error on the school calendar that was sent in the Hawk Herald. ) Your child’s line for our show is also coming home today. Please take time each day to practice with them so that it is memorized for our show.

Collections are continuing for our Stewardship project. All items are due by the end of this week. Thank you for sending those in.

Calendar Reminders:

🦃 Tuesday, November 25th, we will celebrate 8:30 mass as a school community, followed by a fun morning with our “Friendsgiving” Feast! Our homeroom parents are once again doing a phenomenal job making this event a huge success! Thank you for all of your contributions. We can’t wait to have a lot of fun celebrating the season of giving thanks.

🦃 NO SCHOOL reminder for Wednesday, November 26th, through Monday, December 1st! Enjoy a nice Thanksgiving Break!

🦃 Classes Resume on Tuesday, Dec. 2nd.

🦃 Friday, December 5th, is an 11:45 dismissal day. There is NO CARES on this day.

Have a wonderful week!

Mrs. Weinstock

November 10, 2025

Dear Parents,

It’s “H” week, and we are HAPPY and HOPEFUL for lots of learning. Although the calendar does not say December yet, plans are underway for all the fun events happening in the next month. Mark your calendars now for our Christmas show, which will take place in the morning on the last day before Christmas Break, Friday, December 19th. More information to come in the next few weeks. We are already getting very excited!

All Pre-K students should be in uniform every day. This includes the long-sleeved gym shirt or sweatshirts. We are also at the time of year when I am asking that each child bring a coat every day. We do go outside daily, pending rain, and the weather can be unpredictable throughout the day. When we have our play time, it is still morning hours and it can get windy and chilly. Thank you for your understanding.

Collections are continuing for our Stewardship project. Please see the sign-up Genius that was sent in the Hawk Herald or on the SMM website. All items are due by Friday, November 21st. Thank you for sending those in.

Calendar Reminders:

🦃Scholastic Orders are due by Friday, November 14th. This will be the last order before Christmas to ensure they all arrive on time. Please let me know if you need a concealed delivery. 😀

🦃 NO SCHOOL reminder for Wednesday, November 26th, through Monday, December 1st! Enjoy a nice Thanksgiving Break!

🦃 Classes Resume on Tuesday, Dec. 2nd.

🦃 Friday, December 5th is an 11:45 dismissal day. There is NO CARES on this day.

Have a happy “H” week!

Mrs. Weinstock

November 3, 2025

Dear Parents,
Happy Monday! During this month of gratitude, I want to express my gratitude for you and your children! They are a blessing each day!!

This week we are focusing on the letter “Gg.” I am sure I will see great Tell-N-Show items brought in, as we get back to our normal routine. On Tuesday we will discuss what it means to vote, why we vote, and have our own kid-friendly election.

A Few Reminders and Upcoming Dates:

🦃This Friday, November 7th: Pre-K students will be attending their first “First Friday Mass” with the whole school. If you would, please take some time to remind your little one about church behavior expectations. We will practice this as well. I know they will be great!

🦃Please remember to walk your children to the gym door each morning at drop-off. Students in PreK and Kindergarten should be crossing at the cross walk for safety, and walked to the door with an adult. This has become a safety issue with students running away from parents in a busy parking lot. We appreciate your help in keeping all children safe.

🦃 Don’t forget, we started wearing winter uniforms last week. For PreK, this includes sweatpants, a t-shirt, and either a log-sleeved shirt or a sweatshirt each day. Please ensure all uniforms are clearly labeled on their tags, as they frequently ask to take off sweatshirts. Please also send your child with a coat. We go outside daily. Thank you for your help and cooperation.

🦃 Thanksgiving Stewardship Basket items can be brought in at any time. Please see the sign-up Genius that was sent in the Hawk Herald or on the SMM website. All items are due by Friday, November 21st.

🦃NO SCHOOL reminder for Wednesday, November 26th through Monday, December 1st! Enjoy a nice Thanksgiving Break!

🦃Classes Resume on Tuesday, Dec. 2nd.

Have a great week!

Mrs. Weinstock

October 27, 2025

Dear Parents,

This week we are focusing on the letter “F,” and celebrate the fun of Halloween! We will review numbers four and five, make some flags, Frankenstein's monsters and have fun-filled activities all week long.

With all the activities planned for Halloween, we will not have Tell-n-Show this week.

As if you needed reminding, Thursday we will be having our Halloween parade around the school yard at 8:15. All are welcome to join us to see your little ones parade around in their costumes with their friends. It is really a fun morning for everyone, and the children love to see someone they know along the route. They will be stopping at the end to perform some songs for you, so be sure to stick around!

**Stay tuned to emails from Mrs. Bauer about the parade if the weather does not cooperate. We have a plan!

Some things to remember for Thursday:

🎃Students should enter through our PreK doors, and come dressed in their costumes with a “Halloween Dress Down” worn underneath for after our parade.

🎃We kindly ask, as always, that all children wear sneakers for safety.

🎃Please send a labeled bag to hold their costume and any school Halloween items.

🎃Please remember no costume masks, weapons, or make-up.

Special THANK YOU to our Home and School and our wonderful homeroom moms for providing Halloween parties for us to celebrate Halloween all morning!

Let’s have a fun week!

Mrs. Weinstock

October 20, 2025

Dear Parents,

It’s an Exciting week in PreK! We are learning all about the letter “Ee,” but also continuing our unit on pumpkins! We will be creating watercolor Earth projects, reading about Elmer the Elephant, and using our senses to explore the world around us. We will continue to discuss pumpkins and their life cycle, and have some extra fun with pumpkin painting.

Winter uniforms begin today. For PreK, this includes sweatpants, t-shirt and a sweatshirt, or the long-sleeve shirt. If it gets warm in the classroom, they can always take their sweatshirts off to cool down. For this reason, please make sure all uniforms are clearly labeled with their names. Also, sneakers are a must every day to ensure safety on the playground and equipment. Thank you for understanding!

Here are some reminders:

Wednesday, October 22nd: School Pictures Day! These are individual portraits that you can order ahead of time. Information about packages and pricing went home last week. All Pre-K students will be getting pictures taken, whether you are ordering or not. Students in PreK wear the gym uniform, as usual, with the sweatshirt. Thank you!

Saturday, October 25th: SMM Trunk or Treat event from 6:30-7:30. Please see the flyer sent in the Hawk Herald for more information.

Thursday, October 30th: Happy EARLY Halloween!! Please see the note that was sent home in regards to Halloween fun. We are looking forward to an extra fun day!

Friday, November 7th: Pre-K students will be attending their first “First Friday Mass” with the whole school. If you would, please take some time to remind your little one about church behavior expectations. We will practice this as well. I know they will be great!

Have an “Exciting” week!

Mrs. Weinstock

October 14, 2025

Dear Parents,

Happy Tuesday and Happy “Dd” Week! We will be diving into learning with lessons on donuts, dinosaurs, ducks and dogs, focusing on writing capital and lowercase Ds, and finding all the D words we can think of each day. We will also be talking about all things PUMPKIN, learning the life cycle of a pumpkin, the different parts of a pumpkin, reading fun stories, and creating our own pumpkins in many different varieties.

NEXT WEEK: Winter uniforms begin Monday, October 20th. For PreK, this includes sweatpants, t-shirt, and a sweatshirt, or a long-sleeve shirt. If it gets warm in the classroom, they can always take their sweatshirts off to cool down. For this reason, please make sure all uniforms are clearly labeled, especially the gym sweatshirts. Additionally, sneakers are essential every day to ensure safety on the playground and equipment. Thank you for understanding!

Here are some reminders:

🎃Tuesday, October 14th: Speech screenings will take place for those who filled out the request.

🎃 Wednesday, October 15th: Home and School Meeting for all parents at 6:30.

🎃Wednesday, October 22nd: School Pictures Day! These are individual portraits that you can order ahead of time. All Pre-K students will be getting pictures taken, whether you are ordering or not. Students in PreK wear the gym uniform, as usual, with the sweatshirt.

🎃 Saturday, October 26th: SMM Trunk or Treat event. See Home & School letter for more information.

🎃 Thursday, October 30th: Halloween Parade and Party!! Please see the note that was sent home last week in regards to Halloween fun. We are looking forward to an extra fun day!

Have a “D”elightful week!!

Mrs. Weinstock

October 6, 2025

Dear Parents,

Happy Monday! It’s C Week, and we are off to a great start! We will be learning the sounds the letter C can make, and made our list of words that begin with the C sound. This week we will discuss and make our own candy corn, cats for Halloween, and search our classroom for other C items. We will also talk about fire safety, and have a visit from a real fire truck on Thursday!

Tell-N-Show: Your child’s day is as follows:

Wednesday: Red and Green Groups

Thursday: Orange and Blue Groups

Friday: Yellow Group

This item should be placed in a small bag (brown lunch bags work great,) to conceal its identity. The student will have to give three clues about what their item may be. The students have been doing a great job giving their clues each week. I am looking forward to our C items this week! I know this is a lot of work for you as parents, and I appreciate it! It is a real challenge for some children to speak in class, so you are really giving them a boost of confidence each week with this activity. Thank you, thank you!

Star of The Week: This Friday we will begin our Star of the Week! Every week we will highlight a new child as our STAR. On Fridays, your child will be chosen for the following week, and given an “All About Me” poster to complete and decorate with some help from you. They will also have the opportunity to take home our classroom “pet” Knuffle Bunny, and our class family album to learn new things about their classmates. Please return everything, including their All About Me poster on Mondays. Thank you so much for your help in this fun, educational experience for your child. Be sure to practice some things they can share about their posters with their classmates to build their confidence.

Fire Prevention Week: On Thursday we will have a visit from the local fire department to discuss fire safety. The children will get a chance to see a real fireman with all of their gear on and discuss fire safety, fire drills, and other important topics to keep them safe. Try to use this as a time to talk about your own safety procedures at home, and maybe even practice a fire drill together as a family. It is important to find a meeting spot to go to as a family in case of an emergency. Happy Fire Prevention Week!

Have a wonderful week! Let’s Go PHILLIES!!

Mrs. Weinstock

September 30, 2025

Dear Pre-K Parents,

This week we are learning all about the Letter "B," so our "Letter B Hats" are coming home today! Discuss the sound the letter B makes, and try to come up with words that start with B. We did this today, and they did an excellent job! We will practice writing the letter B on whiteboards, practicing letter sounds, making some “Batty B” projects, and finding “B” words all week long. Not to mention lots of talk of BASEBALL! We are on our way!

Some reminders for the week:

📝 If you send your child with their gym sweatshirt on those chilly Fall mornings, please remember to have their name labeled inside.

📝 Remember to also discuss a Tell-n-Show item if they plan to participate this week. This week might be a little easier, as we can come up with many “B” words. Try to have them practice saying their clues to you the day before if possible. They all did a great job last week!

Reminder that your child’s day is below based on their table color:

Wednesday: Red and Green Groups Thursday: Orange and Blue Groups

Friday: Yellow Group

🐻On Friday, we will celebrate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis was a friend to all of the animals, so we will have Deacon Joe visit our class and bless our “pets.” Students can bring in a small stuffed animal friend to be blessed, as we learn all about how St. Francis loved and cared for God’s creatures.

Speaking of “stuffies”... a gentle reminder that stuffies for rest time should be small enough to hold in their backpacks along with their regular items. Some rest items are just too large for us to store daily and tend to excite the students more than help them rest. Thank you for understanding.

Have a BEAUTIFUL “B” week, and let’s Go PHILLIES!!!!

Mrs. Weinstock

September 22, 2025

Dear Parents,

This week in Pre-K 4, our friends will dive into our Alphabet Unit with our first letter, “A!” We will start presenting letters weekly, along with a focus on our numbers every other week or so. The pre-K pals will enjoy letter “A” activities, including learning our letter sounds, handwriting practice, dot paints, Letter A seek and finds, a-words scavenger hunts, and much more. We will be cutting, coloring, gluing, crafting, chanting, printing, painting, singing, dancing, and playing all while practicing letter A's sounds and shapes. It will be a busy week in Pre-K!

The children will start their Tell-n-Show presentations this week. Your child’s day is below based on their table color as follows:

Wednesday: Red and Green Groups Thursday: Orange and Blue Groups

Friday: Yellow Group

All students are encouraged to participate but certainly do not have to. I encourage you to have fun with your child as you search your home for one item that begins with the letter of the week. All items will be returned on the day of the children's presentations. This item should be placed in a small bag (brown lunch bags work great) to conceal its identity. The student will have to give three clues about what their item may be. (You may write these clues down on a small piece of paper so I can help them out the first few times.) Looking forward to seeing all those creative “letter A” items this week!

🔥Fire Drill: We will be practicing a fire drill in the next week or so, and again throughout the next month, as a class, and other various emergency drills. If this is your child’s first time in school, it may be a good idea to talk to them about the sound of an alarm and why we practice for emergencies. We will be having this conversation as well, but it's always a good idea to have this talk at home to ease any fears. We will continue to talk about this and other safety procedures in October during Fire Safety Week.

Last week I sent home order forms for Scholastic Books. All September orders are due by this Wednesday, September 24th. You may order by going to the website at www.scholastic.com and using the online code: H3LNN.

Thank you for all of your help with these first few weeks. Your children have transitioned well, and are learning new skills each and every day!

Have an AWESOME “A” Week!

Mrs. Katie Weinstock

September 15, 2025

Dear Pre-K Families,

Happy Monday!! Time is flying by in Pre-K 4! This week, we are learning all about apples! We will be doing sorting and graphing with apples, taste testing different varieties, singing apple songs, and doing many projects and activities that are all about APPLES! We will also be using our new Scholastic magazine, My Big World, to help us learn all about apples and the world around us.

Some news and reminders:

🍎As stated on the calendar, I would love it if you could send your child in with one apple, any variety (red, green, or yellow), by Wednesday, to use for counting, sorting, and making a delicious treat. This is not mandatory, but it makes for a fun week. Thank you!

📚Scholastic Book Orders: I am sending home a Scholastic Book Order form today. All September orders will be due by Wednesday, September 24th. You may order by going to the website: www.scholastic.com, clicking on Book Clubs, and using the online code: H3LNN. All orders are linked to our class order and will be shipped after our due date each month.

Things to bring to school this week if you haven’t done so already:

🍎Art Smocks (Mom or Dad’s old T-shirt works great.)

🍎Headphones with a cord to connect to all devices

🍎All Back to School Night forms and “Story of Me” papers.

Finally, next week we will start our new morning drop-off routine. Students will no longer go directly to the Pre-K doors but will enter through the gym doors, like the rest of the school. We will meet your child there, where we will enter the gym and say Morning Prayers with the whole student body. They are very excited about this change! All Kindergarten and Pre-K students are still required to be walked to the door with an adult each morning…all year. It is for their safety…no matter how independent they may be.

Have an “applesolutely” wonderful week!

🍎Mrs. Katie Weinstock

September 8, 2025

Dear Parents,

Day one was off to a tremendous start! I am so proud of your little ones and how they are adjusting. We still have some nerves, but the smiles are outweighing any anxious faces. This week will include lots of play time, adjusting to new friends, new teachers, and new rules. With all of that, we will also be working on our colors and shapes, while also learning to write and/or recognize our names, cut with scissors, trace over lines, and use glue! We will continue to practice these skills in the next few weeks before we jump into our main focus of letters and numbers.

Some reminders:

Green Folders from Back to School Night should travel to and from school every day. Please be sure to empty what needs to be kept at home.
Back to School Night paperwork should be completed and handed in ASAP, if you have not done so already.
“Story of Me” papers do not need to be handed back in until Monday. I know these take time, so enjoy those conversations with your little one.
Remember to please place a small snack for morning break in a separate location from their lunch, preferably the front of their school bags. Choosing that snack at home makes mornings much easier for us to organize.
All students will need a pair of well-fitted headphones (non-Bluetooth) to be used for tech time. Please place them in a labeled gallon ziplock bag for safekeeping. Thank you to those who have sent them in already.
All students will need a smock for painting projects.
Rest blankets will be sent home on Friday for a good cleaning for next week.

Thank you! Looking forward to a great week!!

Mrs. Weinstock

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