April 29, 2024
Dear Families,
Happy Monday…and it sure feels like summer! It has been a few weeks since my last update, so it's about time for a run down of information. Last week we were very eXcited to learn about the letter X and also focus on our big, beautiful earth for Earth Day. We discussed how to protect and love our earth and how God created this beautiful world for us. We also had some of God’s tiniest creatures join us last Wednesday, our caterpillars, which we will study over the next few weeks. We are so excited to see how they grow and change!
This week we will focus on the letter Y, and continue to talk about God’s creation, focusing on different living things, plants, and flowers.
A Few Reminders:
☀️Mark your calendars for a half-day dismissal this Friday, May 3rd. We have mass at 8:30 as a school, followed by Special Person’s Day. More info to come from the office. Please be on the lookout for all the details.
☀️Sno-Cone Wednesdays start this week! Students will be allowed to have a summer treat every Wednesday after lunch. If you do not want your child to have one, please let me know. This is a fun Home and School SMM tradition that the kids look forward to each year.
☀️Home and School Meeting is on Tuesday, May 21st at 6:30. This is open to and encouraged for all parents to attend.
☀️No School Reminder for Friday, May 24th-Tuesday, May 28th.
One last note…your child’s line for our end-of-year show will be coming home this week. Please make every effort to have them practice this line daily. We want them loud and confident on the day of the show. THANK YOU!
Thanks so much!! Have a wonderful week!!
Mrs. Weinstock
March 18, 2024
Dear Families,
It has been a few weeks since I have sent a weekly letter. The old adage, “No news is good news,” held true, and we are in a great routine. The next few weeks will see some changes with Easter Break, so my letter is back!
It’s “T” Week, and we have some terrific things planned for our little ones. In addition to talking about the letter “T,” we also learned about St. Patrick and celebrate his feast day just one day late.
A big “THANK YOU” to all of the visitors we have had over the past few weeks for Mystery Reader. It has been so wonderful to see the student’s faces light up with joy when you come to the room. We have just a few more to come, and we are so looking forward to seeing you!
Next week hopefully brings us the beauty of Spring…and a short week of school! Here is a quick run-down of upcoming events:
🐰 Tuesday, March 26th: We are planning to have a small Easter Egg Hunt in the morning. Thank you to our Homeroom Moms for organizing a fun day! Please remember all eggs are due this Friday, March 22nd.
🐰Wednesday, March 27th: Dismissal on this day will be at 11:45 for PreK.
🐰Thursday March 28th-Tuesday, April 2nd: NO SCHOOL for STUDENTS. Enjoy a beautiful Easter and break with your families.
🐰Wednesday, April 3rd: Classes resume. Spring Uniform also begins on this day.
Spring Uniforms: For our Pre-Kindergarten students, this just means that they can wear the gym T-shirts and shorts instead of the sweatshirts/pants daily. Please use good common sense during this time of year, though. There are still some chilly mornings or days, so the sweats are still a good option over top of the shirts. We will always allow them to take the sweatshirts off if the temperature warms up.
Thank you all for your hard work with your little one at home. There has been a huge jump in skills over the past few weeks. I am so proud of what they are accomplishing each and every day. Kindergarten won’t know what hit them next year!
Have a wonderful week!!
Mrs. Weinstock
March 4, 2024
Dear Families,
It’s letter “R” week, and we are ready to read all about rainbows, robots, rain, rectangles, the color red, and so much more. Reminder that we are no longer doing Tell-n-Show, so no need to search the house for those “R” items. We will have a Mystery Reader each day during the month of March. Thank you all for making this month of reading a fun one!
In our religion lessons, we are learning all about the holy season of Lent, and getting our hearts ready for the holiest season of Easter. It can be a confusing time for little ones, but they are doing a wonderful job!
Speaking of Easter… We are planning to have an Easter Egg Hunt on the morning of Tuesday, March 26th. I am asking each child to bring in 6 regular sized plastic eggs, filled with small candy items, jelly beans, stickers, etc. Our bunny will hide the eggs outside, (weather permitting,) and each child will go in search of 6 eggs. (They will not get their own eggs back. Please do not put names on them.) This is a fun lesson in counting, following directions, and sorting. Thank you for your help in making this a fun day. *Please send all eggs in by Friday, March 22nd. If you have any questions, please email me. Thank you!
Dates to keep in mind:
Wednesday, March 27th: 11:45 dismissal
March 28th-April 2nd: EASTER BREAK
Wednesday, April 3rd: Classes resume
Thank you for all you do! Have a wonderful week!
Mrs. Weinstock
February 12, 2024
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, crazy week, with many exciting things to do and learn each day. We will not only be learning a letter, the letter Oo, but also celebrating Valentine’s Day and our 100th Day of school, and learning all about the season of Lent!
On Wednesday 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, 18 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.
This week we will celebrate our 100th Day together! 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 and seeing just how high that number really is!
✝️ Students will spend the beginning of this week learning all about the Lenten Season, what this means for us a Catholics, and discussing ashes as we will celebrate mass with a school-wide liturgy where all students will receive ashes on their foreheads.
❤️ Just a reminder that Monday, February 19th is President's Day and no school!
Have an OUTSTANDING week!
Mrs. Weinstock
February 6, 2024
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 homefront, and form a united team going forward to have your kiddos ready for their next adventure in the fall. Thanks for all of your support! They are on the right track!
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.) We will have Tell-n-Show as usual for the next few weeks, followed by a change starting in March. More on that next week!
Noteworthy News:
❤️ Wednesday, February 14th will be a busy day, as it is both St. Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday.
✝️ Students will spend the beginning of the week learning all about the Lenten Season, what this means for us a Catholics, and discuss ashes as we will celebrate mass with a school-wide liturgy on Wednesday where all students will receive ashes on their foreheads.
❤️ After mass, we will switch gears and celebrate Valentine’s Day as a class with a Valentine exchange. We will celebrate and learn about St. Valentine at our Valentine’s Day Card Exchange Party. 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, 18 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 19th is President's Day...No School
**Cold/Flu/Stomach Bug Season: Just some reminders with sickness… 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.
Have a NICE week!
Mrs. Weinstock
January 29, 2024
Dear Parents,
It’s “M” Week, and we are so excited to celebrate our MARVELOUS SMM! We are MOST excited to say it is Catholic Schools Week!! We have so MANY fun things planned to show our SMM pride. Thank you all for choosing to share your most precious gift with us here each day. Today we celebrate our students with many fun surprises!
This week we celebrate the Letter “M” by making magnificent letter M activities, making Mickey Mouse Ms, playing some matching games, monster fun, and many more marvelous “Mm” moments!
CSW Things to Remember:
Tuesday, Jan 30th: Teacher and Staff Appreciation Day. On this day, students may "Dress Like Your Teacher” with a donation of $1 (or more) for Bringing Hope Home. We will also do a “Teacher Swap" on this day to surprise students with a fun activity. I wonder who their teacher will be during that time?!
Wednesday. Jan. 31st: CELEBRATE THE USA! For a $1.00 (or more) donation, students may wear Red, White and/or Blue Dress Down with proceeds going to the Travis Manion Foundation.
Thursday. Feb 1st: CELEBRATE COMMUNITY! Students can dress down in their Favorite Sports Team attire…no cost for this one! We will do our Bringing Hope Home prayer partner stewardship project in the morning. We will also make some predictions today about whether the Groundhog will see his shadow tomorrow!
We also have our annual SMM night at Flight on Ice! I hope all can attend and have a great time as a SMM community.
Friday, February 2nd We celebrate Vocations today! Pre-K will be attending First Friday Mass, and is also a 11:45 dismissal day. Have a wonderful weekend!
Monday, February 5th- Pre-K conferences. No school for PRE-K students only.
Have a marvelous Monday!
Mrs. Weinstock
January 22, 2024
Dear Parents,
I hope you had a fun extra long weekend with your families again.
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 lots of books with the L sound, and review counting and sorting.
We will use these next few days to finish up our 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 24th: Home and School Meeting at 6:30pm
❄️Catholic Schools Week begins on Sunday, January 29th. Mass at 9:30 am followed by Open House in the school. We would love to see everyone there! More information has been sent out through the Hawk Herald about all fun happenings during this week in which we celebrate Catholic Schools!
❄️Friday, February 2nd- Noon Dismissal for all students.
❄️Monday, February 5th - Pre-K conferences. A sign-up genius went out last week. If you did not receive the email invitation, please let me know. There is also a link on my class webpage.
Stay warm!!
Mrs. Weinstock
January 17, 2024
Dear Parents,
I hope you had a fun extra long weekend with your families. The snow day was a fun surprise, and I loved seeing all of your snow day pictures you sent through Dojo. I am so glad they all got to experience the fun of a true snow day! With the surprise short week this week, we will not be focusing on a letter, but instead move to the letter Ll next week.
We will use these next few days to focus on reviewing skills and letters thus far, and 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 24th: Home and School Meeting at 6:30pm
❄️Catholic Schools Week begins on Sunday, January 29th. Mass at 9:30 am followed by Open House in the school. We would love to see everyone there! More information has been sent out through the Hawk Herald about all fun happenings during this week in which we celebrate Catholic Schools!
❄️Friday, February 2nd- Noon Dismissal for all students.
❄️Monday, February 5th - 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 8, 2024
Dear Parents,
Happy Monday! 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!
During this week focussing on the letter K, we will start up with our Tell-n-Show again, but with our new groups! Please take note of the days below, and your child’s new color group at the top of the page. They really do a wonderful JOB with this activity each week.
Wednesday: Red and Green Group
Thursday: Blue and Orange Group
Friday: Yellow Group
We are continuing 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.
Some important dates coming up:
❄️Friday, January 12th- Noon Dismissal for all students
❄️Monday, January 15th- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No school.
❄️Catholic Schools Week starts on Sunday, January 28th.- Information
has been/will be sent out through the Hawk Herald.
❄️Monday, February 5th- Pre-K conferences. Sign up genius will be going out today! At least one parent is expected to meet with me during that day to discuss your child’s progress thus far this year, and set goals for the remainder of the year. If at all possible, please do not bring your child to the conference so we may speak openly about your child's progress. Thank you!
Thank you all for your help with your littles transitioning back after break. They did a great job!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Weinstock
January 3, 2024
Dear Parents,
Happy Wednesday, and Happy 2024! 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 2024!
Exciting changes in the new year! All student groups have changed, new crayons and pencils have been distributed, and new “big kid” responsibilities are coming. New Year…new adventures!
This month 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.
Other important info:
Monday, February 5th 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 eating a regular diet. If they are not eating normally, they are still sick and are still contagious. Fevers: Children should be fever-free for 24 hours before a return 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.
Happy New Year!
Mrs. Weinstock
December 11, 2023
Dear Parents,
Happy 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 and the sounds we hear when saying J words. Tell-n-Show will be business as usual. They really do a wonderful JOB with this activity each week. This will be the last until the new year!
🎄Friday, December 15th- Santa’s Secret Shoppe/Giving Tree Stewardship Project Day. Children may wear RED AND GREEN for this Dress Down day. After shopping, our homeroom moms will be helping us wrap gifts for our adopted family as our Stewardship project. A Sign Up was sent out for you to donate to our class adopted family. Thank you for your kindness.
🎄 Wednesday, December 20th- Christmas Movie/PJ Day. Children may wear TWO PIECE pajamas (for bathroom purposes) with SNEAKERS. We will watch a special Christmas show and have a special treat courtesy of our Home and School!
🎄 Thursday, December 21st- 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. A letter is coming home today letting 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 4, 2023
Dear Parents,
Happy Advent!! 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.)
This week also brings us to 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.
On Wednesday, we will celebrate the Feast of Saint Nicholas, with a little visit from St. Nicholas himself. 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 6th- Feast of St. Nicholas. The children may wear RED Christmas tops with their regular Gym uniform pants.
🎄 Friday, December 8th- Picture Retake Day (in Gym uniform)
🎄 Friday, December 15th- Santa’s Secret Shoppe/Giving Tree Stewardship Project Day. Children may wear RED AND GREEN for this “Dress Down” day. 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). This is a bit overwhelming for the little ones, and they are shopping with 7th and 8th grade students. After shopping, we will be wrapping gifts for our adopted family as our Stewardship project. A Sign Up will be/was sent out for you to donate to our class adopted family.
🎄 Wednesday, December 20th- Christmas Movie/PJ Day. Children may wear TWO PIECE pajamas (for bathroom purposes) with SNEAKERS. We will watch a special Christmas show and have Oreos and chocolate milk for a special snack.
🎄 Thursday, December 21st- Pre-K and Kindergarten Christmas Show in church. Pre-K will begin at 10:00 and Kindergarten will follow after a brief intermission. Children are to wear their Christmas/Sunday Best.
Hope you have an INCREDIBLE week!
Mrs. Weinstock
November 28, 2023
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 mid-morning on the last day before Christmas Break, Thursday, December 21st. More information to come. We are already getting very excited!
This week we welcomed a visitor to our classroom, our very own classroom Elf on the Shelf. The children love the excitement that this time of year brings, but as some of you know, the Elf can help curb some of the excitement when needed. We look forward to seeing all of the funny ways our Elf lands, and the notes he may leave us.
Next week we will celebrate the Feast of Saint 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 celebrate here in school on the 6th, 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 Dates:
🎄Monday, December 4th- Please send a small, non-breakable ornament of your child’s choice to school for our class Christmas Trees. This will be a “Show and Tell” item that they can talk about why they chose this particular ornament and then hang it on our tree. It will remain there until our last day before break begins. It is a great reminder that we are a family here in school.
🎄Wednesday, December 6th- Feast of St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas may just leave treats in our shoes during rest time!
🎄Friday, December 8th- Picture Retake Day (in Gym uniform)
🎄Friday, December 15th- Santa’s Secret Shoppe/Giving Tree Stewardship Project Day. Children may wear RED AND GREEN for this fun filled Dress Down Day. After shopping at our Santa Shoppe, we will be wrapping gifts for our adopted family as our Stewardship project. A Sign Up was sent out for you to donate to our class adopted family. This is a wonderful tradition here at SMM that really teaches the children the love of giving.
Hope you have a HAPPY H week!
Mrs. Weinstock
November 13, 2023
Dear Parents,
Happy Monday of “Gg” Week! We will show a lot of gratitude this week, and all month long. I am so grateful for your great kids!
This week should be fairly quiet, but filled with lots of learning! They are doing a great job so far!
Collections are continuing for our Stewardship project. All items are due by this Friday, Nov. 17th. Thank you for sending those in. We do have some items ready to go, but there are still many items left on the sign-up sheet that are looking for families! Take a look at the Sign-Up Genius if you haven’t had a chance yet. SMM is full of Generosity.
Remember that we are in “Winter” uniforms. We do try to make it to the playground each day, as long as there is no rain, so jackets and sweats are a must even if you think it may be on the warmer side. Thank you for your cooperation.
Calendar reminders:
🦃Wednesday, November 22nd is a half day dismissal. On this day we will celebrate our “Friendsgiving” Feast, our SMM Harvest Bash, and special time with our Prayers Partners in 4th Grade! We can’t wait to have a lot of fun celebrating the season of giving thanks.
🦃NO SCHOOL reminder from Thursday November 23rd through Monday, November 27th! Enjoy a nice Thanksgiving Break! Classes Resume on Tuesday, Nov. 28th.
Have a GREAT Week!
Mrs. Weinstock
November 6, 2023
Dear Parents,
Happy November! The months are flying by! During this month of gratitude, I want to express my gratitude for you and your children! They are a blessing each day!!
In the spirit of gratitude, I have included a KINDNESS calendar with this week’s letter. This is just a quick way to spread a little kindness each day with your little ones and help them understand the importance of gratitude and kindness. They can color each day that they complete an item, and can be a great discussion point at dinner. Nothing needs to be handed in to me, it's just for them. :)
We are back to our “regularly scheduled programming” with a focus on the letter “F.” I am sure I will see some fantastic Tell-N-Show items brought in this week. We will review numbers four and five and have many fun-filled activities. We will also discuss what it means to vote, and make a flag for Election Day and our letter of the week activity! Here’s to a fabulous week!
Upcoming Important Info and Dates:
🦃 Reminder that we did start wearing winter uniforms. For PreK, this includes sweatpants, a t-shirt, and the SMM sweatshirt each day. Please make sure all uniforms are clearly labeled on their tags, as they frequently ask to take off sweatshirts. Not a bad idea to label jackets as well, as they are now a regular addition to our attire. Thank you for your help and cooperation.
🦃 Friday, November 17th, all Stewardship Items are due. This is a WONDERFUL way of giving to those in need during this time of year. Please see the Sign-Up Genius that was sent via the Hawk Herald, or click here!
🦃 Wednesday, November 22nd is a half-day dismissal. On this day we will celebrate our “Friendsgiving” Feast, (more info to come) and a fun day all around.
🦃NO SCHOOL reminder from Thursday, November 23rd through Monday the 27th. Enjoy a nice Thanksgiving break with your loved ones! Classes Resume on Tuesday, Nov. 28th.
Have a FANTASTIC week!
Mrs. Weinstock
October 30, 2023
Dear families,
Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend enjoying the last burst of warm weather. It was a great Saturday for our annual Trunk or Treat event and for all fall sports!
This week we will not be focusing on a letter, but enjoying all that Halloween has to offer, and begin a transition into Thanksgiving in the second half of the week.
As if you needed reminding, tomorrow we will be having our Halloween parade around the school yard at 8:30. 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.
Some things to remember:
~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, shoes that aren’t sneakers, or make-up.
Special THANK YOU to our Home and School and our wonderful homeroom moms for providing a Magician Show and fun Halloween parties for us to celebrate Halloween all morning!
As for the rest of the week, don't forget that Friday is a half day, with dismissal at 11:45 for all PreK students.
Happy Halloween! Have a great week!
Mrs. Weinstock
October 23, 2023
Dear Parents,
It’s a busy, short week in PreK! We are learning all about the letter “Ee,” but also celebrating the fun of Halloween! This week will be an exciting one, full of energy for the letter E! We will be doing watercolor earth projects, an Elmo “e,” we will read all about Elmer the Elephant, and use our ears and eyes to explore the world around us. We will continue to do number practice, and counting, and work on our fine motor skills with many exciting experiences.
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. 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 25th: 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!
Friday, October 27th: NO SCHOOL. Kindergarten - 8th Grade have Parent Teacher Conferences. This is too early for you to get a good picture of what your Pre-Kindergartener is doing. Therefore, we will hold a separate conference day in early February. More info to come after the holidays.
Saturday, October 28th: SMM Trunk or Treat event from 6:30-7:30.
Tuesday, October 31st: Happy Halloween!! Please see the note that was sent home last week in regards to Halloween fun. You can also find this on my website. We are looking forward to an extra fun day!
Have an “Exciting” week! GO PHILLIES!!!!
Mrs. Weinstock
October 16, 2023
Dear Parents,
Happy “Dd” Week! We will be diving into learning with lessons on donuts, dinosaurs, ducks and dogs, and 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 this week, 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. The children are doing a wonderful job each day with our class routines, their fine motor development, learning to take turns, raising their hand, and showing kindness towards their friends. I am so proud of how far we have come.
Here are some upcoming dates:
Wednesday, October 18th: Home and School Meeting at 6:30pm
Monday, October 23rd: Winter Uniform Begins. For Pre-K students, this means sweatpants and sweatshirts, (or long sleeved shirts,) every day. If the weather is still warm, students will obviously be permitted to take off the sweatshirt to cool down.
Wednesday, October 25th: School Pictures Day! These are individual portraits that you can order ahead of time. Information about packages and pricing will be going home shortly. All Pre-K students will be getting pictures taken, whether you are ordering or not. They wear the gym uniform, as usual, with the sweatshirt. Thank you!
Friday, October 27th: NO SCHOOL. Kindergarten - 8th Grade have Parent Teacher Conferences. This is too early for you to get a good picture of what your Pre-Kindergartener is doing. Therefore, we will hold a separate conference day later in the year. More info to come after the holidays.
Saturday, October 28th: SMM Trunk or Treat event from 6:30-7:30.
Tuesday, Oct. 31st: Halloween Parade and Party. Thank you to our homeroom moms for spear-heading this fun day! A note is attached with more info about costumes and our parade.
Have a “D”elightful week and GO PHILLIES!!!!!!
Mrs. Weinstock
October 10, 2023
Dear Parents,
Happy Tuesday! It’s C Week, and we are off to a great start! We will be learning the sounds the letter C can make, and make 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 the number 3, and read stories such as Goldilocks and the Three Bears to reinforce counting skills. There is a lot of learning going on!
Tell-N-Show: 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!
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!
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 family album and “pet” and learn new things about their classmates. You can jot down things on the provided paper that they did with the class pet over the weekend, and then return the Family Album, pet, and their All About Me poster completed on Monday. Thank you so much for your help in this fun, educational experience for your child.
Cooler Weather: Since the weather is getting cooler, that means more jackets and sweatshirts in the classroom. Please label all clothing items with your child's name, especially the gym sweatshirts. Please keep in mind your child’s extra clothes for accidents/ They may need an update with “cold weather clothing,” (i.e. long sleeve shirts/pants) if you have not sent those in already. Nothing worse than having an accident in December and only finding shorts to wear home. 🤭
Have a wonderful week!
Mrs. Weinstock
October 2, 2023
Dear Pre-K Parents,
This week we are learning all about the Letter "B," so our "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 white boards, practice letter sounds, and “B” words all week long. We are on our way!
On Wednesday, 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 room and bless our “pets.” Students can bring in a stuffed animal friend to be blessed, as we learn all about how St. Francis loved and cared for God’s creatures.
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 are planning on participating this week. This week might be a little easier, as we are able to come up with many “B” words.
📝 Calendar reminders:
🖍️ This Friday is a half day dismissal. For Pre-K, that means dismissal is at 11:45 at the usual spots out back. The rest of the school dismisses at 12. There is NO CARES on half days.
🖍️ There is no school on Monday, October 9th.
🖍️ Home and School Meeting on Wednesday, October 18th at 6:30pm.
🖍️ Wednesday, October 25th is Picture Day. More info to come.
Have a BEAUTIFUL “B” week, and let’s Go PHILLIES!!!!
Mrs. Weinstock
September 25, 2023
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 on a weekly basis, 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 shape. 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 highlighted 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 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.) This activity gives your child the opportunity each week to speak to a group, and also shows them how many different ways we can describe things in our world. The rest of the class will use the clues to figure out the item, (great problem solving skills!) This activity provides practice for a number of important skills: oral presentation, using descriptive language, reinforcement of letter/sound connection, answering questions, active listening, and thinking of questions to ask. Looking forward to seeing all those creative “letter A” items this week!
FUN FRIDAY: We will celebrate the Phillies this Friday with a Phillies Dress DOWN DAY! The cost for students is $1 and will be collected by the Student Council. All donations will go towards the purchase of new coats for the October stewardship project.
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!
Looking Ahead:
Starting next week, we will implement arrival in the morning to the gym doors. A separate note will be sent on Friday to help with any questions. We are ready!
Fri. October 6th is a half day. For Pre-K, that means dismissal is at 11:45. The rest of the school dismisses at 12. There is no CARES on half days.
There is no school for students on Mon. Oct. 10th for a Faculty Inservice.
Have an AWESOME “A” Week!
Mrs. Katie Weinstock
September 18, 2023
Dear Pre-K Families,
Happy Monday!! Time is flying by in Pre-K 4! This week we are learning all about the apples! We will be doing sorting and graphing with apples, taste testing different varieties, singing apples songs, and doing many projects and activities that are all about APPLES! Ask your little one to recite their apple poem they learned today! We will also be using our new Scholastic magazine, My Big World to help us learn all about apples and the world around us.
🍕This Wednesday is the first week of PIZZA Wednesdays. If you ordered a Pizza lunch for your child, please remember to send a morning snack and water bottle, even if lunch boxes are not coming in.
🔥Fire Drill: We will be practicing a fire drill this week, 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. This is also a great time to talk about your own safety procedures at home, and maybe even practice a fire drill together. It is important to find a meeting spot to go to as a family in case of an emergency. We will continue to talk about this and other safety procedures in October during Fire Safety Week.
📚Scholastic Book Orders: All September orders will be due by Wednesday, September 20th. You may order by going to the website:www.scholastic.com click on Book Clubs, and use 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:
🍎 One red, green or yellow apple each
🍎Art Smocks (Mom or Dad’s old T-shirt works great)
🍎Headphones with a cord to connect to all devices
Have an “applesolutely” wonderful week!
🍎Mrs. Katie Weinstock
September 11, 2023
Dear Parents,
What a great start to our first FULL week! I am so proud of your little ones, and how they have adjusted so far. This week we will be working on colors and shapes, while also learning to write our names, cut with scissors, trace over lines, and use glue! We will continue to practice these skills before we jump into our letters and numbers in the next few weeks.
We will continue to go over rules of our classroom, and our school. They are doing a great job so far learning to take turns, use “please” and “thank you” manners, and showing kindness towards others! The class has been doing a wonderful job learning prayers and how to show respect and love for God and others in the way we act and pray each day.
Today I am sending home order forms for Scholastic Books. I will be sending these home approximately every month, (or every other) as the year goes on. There is no pressure to buy, but you can find some great books for your home libraries at a much lower cost than you will find in the stores. All September orders will be due by next Wednesday, September 20th. You may order by going to the website: Scholastic Reading Club and using the online code: H3LNN.
Some reminders:
Back to School Night for Pre-K and Kindergarten is this Wednesday, September 13th at 6:30pm. I look forward to seeing you all!
Please place a small snack for morning break in a separate location than 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 Technology class. Please place them in a labeled gallon ziplock bag for safe keeping.
Rest blankets will be sent home on Friday.
Thank you! Looking forward to a great week!!
Mrs. Weinstock