Monday, September 29, 2014

Newsletter Sept. 29th - Oct. 3rd


Fire Safety Week is upon us!  We are SO very fortunate to be visited by the fire fighters from our local fire station this Wednesday, as well as Fire Fighter Hakenen (Kari’s dad from Mrs. Barron’s morning class)!  We are lucky ducks!!   

Here’s what’s coming up for this week… 

·        PROGRESS REPORTS are coming home today!  These will explain how many letter names, sounds, high frequency words and number writing your child is able to do at this time.  Most students have received an N in writing and conventions.  Although we are writing every day, most kids are not yet ready to understand what they are doing.  Please do not panic about an N in writing.  The most important things for now are letter names, sounds and words.  Sounds must come first in order for them to begin stretching out and writing words. Please continue to help your child practice their letter sounds and high frequency words. Further details regarding our end of the year standards will come next in your child’s report card and parent conferences in November.

·        Please sign one copy of your child’s progress report and return it to school.  You may keep the other copy for your records.

·        If you did not turn in your child’s picture day money, we cannot collect it in the classroom.  You will have to do picture day make-ups.  We will let you know when it is as soon as we know.

·        Apple Festival!!  Thank you for all those who came in to volunteer and make it such a fun day!  Thank you to Ms. Amber (Grace’s mom in Mrs. Barnes’s PM class) for coming in and planting two new apple trees in our garden!  We are so excited to see them grow!

·        DIAPER DRIVE!!!  Our Student Leadership team is STILL  collecting diapers of all sizes that will be donated to families in need.  If you are able to contribute, we will be collecting them in the front office until Oct. 8th.  THANK YOU for your generosity!

·        Guided Reading Books—We have begun to send home little guided reading books with your child.  These are the books that we read with your child each day.  Please help us to keep these beloved and VERY important books safe.  Please return them EVERY day in your child’s folder in the little Ziploc bag provided.  ****If your child does NOT receive one, it is because he/she is not ready for books at this time and is still working on letter sounds and high frequency words.**** 
  
·        Holiday Fair—Our Nelda Mundy Holiday Fair will be held on Saturday, Dec. 6th from 10 –2.  Each grade level will be decorating a tree with a different theme, that will be raffled off at the end of the day.  This year’s Kindergarten tree will be a Family Fun Night.  You should have already received a sign up genius asking for donations for our tree.  Please let us know if you did not receive the email. 

·        Folders & Homework— Just a friendly reminder, we do NOT send folders home on Wacky Wednesdays and we do not collect homework until Fridays. Thanks!!!

·        Homework this week—We’re continuing to work on proper handwriting for homework, as well as high frequency words and writing a sentence.  PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE work on letter sounds with your child at home.  There are 30 letter sounds that we test your child on, 26 letters in the alphabet and the digraphs, /sh/, /ch/, /th/, /wh/.  ALL students need to continue to work on sounds, as well as High Frequency Words.  We work on them every day in class, but if you are doing flashcards or put them on the fridge or on the wall at home for more exposure, you will notice that they will learn them much quicker. 

·        Our theme this MONTH is Fire Safety, and our new word wall word is “have.”    NOW, we know the following High Frequency Words: I, a, like, the, see, is, can, my & have.

·        Writing—We continue to write every day!  We are expecting your child to know the words “I, see, the, like, is, can, my & have.”  Please encourage them to write those every day.  You can even start writing simple sentences such as, “I like the ____.”  OR “ I see a _____.”  You can stretch out the sounds of the unfamiliar word or draw a picture.  If your child is ready, please encourage MORE in their writing!!!  We always encourage more detail and words in sentences if kids are ready.  Daily writing practice helps tremendously.


·        LIBRARY—please return your library books BY Monday or Tuesday, as we will go to the library each Wed.  Please help us by reiterating the process of checking out a book--- find one you’d like, take it to Mrs. Sagara our librarian, find your library card on the table, check out your book.  We still have some confusion about taking it home without checking it out!  J  We are still learning!!


Thank you again for all that you do at home to support your child’s learning.  We appreciate all that you do!  Please feel free to email with any concerns or questions!  Thank you!!

The Kindergarten Team
Mrs. Barnes:  sarahba@fsusd.org
Mrs. Barron:  erinba@fsusd.org
Mrs. Ron:  kimr@fsusd.org
Ms. Davila:  theresad@fsusd.org

Friday, September 19, 2014

Newsletter Sept. 22nd - 26th

Picture Day is HERE !!!  Picture Day will be THIS Friday, the 26th.  We will be taking pictures as a whole class, up on the risers, so keep in mind that your child’s whole body will be in the picture!  So cute!  

Here’s what’s coming up for this week… 

·        This entire week is COLLEGE WEEK.  Our student council has come up with fun things for each day!
o      Monday—Crazy Socks!
o      Tuesday—Hats off to college!  Wear your fun & crazy hats!!!
o      Wednesday—College wear!!!  Wear as much college wear as you can find!
o      Thursday—Career Day; wear an outfit that shows what you might want to be when you grow up!!!
o      Friday—Mundy spirit wear; wear your Mundy wear or green & gray to show your school spirit!!

·        Apple Festival!!  Our annual apple festival is THIS Thursday, the 25th during center time.  We will have many fun centers in both classrooms, as well as outside.  We would LOVE to have parents to help us run the centers outside!  If you are willing/available to volunteer, we’d love to have you.    See you there!

·        DONATIONS NEEDED--We will be using lots of apples on Thursday, tasting, and measuring, and stamping them.  If you are able to donate yellow, green or red apples, please let your teacher know!  THANK YOU!!!  If you are interested in donating an apple pie or other fun apple treat, please see your child’s teacher.
  
 ·        Please plan to attend our 2nd attempt-Open House for Kindergarten from 5:30 – 6:30pm!  Please plan to come back and hang out in your child’s classroom for an hour of perusing their work and sharing the classroom with your child. 

·        DIAPER DRIVE!!!  Our Student Leadership team is collecting diapers of all sizes that will be donated to families in need.  If you are able to contribute, we will be collecting them in the front office until Oct. 8th.  THANK YOU for your generosity!

·        Guided Reading Books—We have begun to send home little guided reading books with your child.  These are the books that we read with your child each day.  Please help us to keep these beloved and VERY important books safe.  Please return them EVERY day in your child’s folder in the little Ziploc bag provided.  ****If your child does NOT receive one, it is because he/she is not ready for books at this time and is still working on letter sounds and high frequency words.**** 
  
·        Holiday Fair—Our Nelda Mundy Holiday Fair will be held on Saturday, Dec. 6th from 10 –2.  Each grade level will be decorating a tree with a different theme, that will be raffled off at the end of the day.  This year’s Kindergarten tree will be a Family Fun Night.  You should have already received a sign up genius asking for donations for our tree.  Please let us know if you did not receive the email. 

·        Folders & Homework— Just a friendly reminder, we do NOT send folders home on Wacky Wednesdays and we do not collect homework until Fridays. Thanks!!!

·        Homework this week—We’re continuing to work on proper handwriting for homework, as well as high frequency words and writing a sentence.  PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE work on letter sounds with your child at home.  There are 30 letter sounds that we test your child on, 26 letters in the alphabet and the digraphs, /sh/, /ch/, /th/, /wh/.  ALL students need to continue to work on sounds, as well as High Frequency Words.  We work on them every day in class, but if you are doing flashcards or put them on the fridge or on the wall at home for more exposure, you will notice that they will learn them much quicker. 

·        Our theme this MONTH continues to be APPLES, and our new word wall word is “can.”    NOW, we know the following High Frequency Words: I, a, like, the, see, is, can & my.

·        Writing—We continue to write every day!  We are expecting your child to know the words “I, see, the, like, is, can & my.”  Please encourage them to write those every day.  You can even start writing simple sentences such as, “I like the ____.”  OR “ I see a _____.”  You can stretch out the sounds of the unfamiliar word or draw a picture.  If your child is ready, please encourage MORE in their writing!!!  We always encourage more detail and words in sentences if kids are ready.  Daily writing practice helps tremendously.

 ·        LIBRARY—please return your library books BY Monday or Tuesday, as we will go to the library each Wed.  Please help us by reiterating the process of checking out a book--- find one you’d like, take it to Mrs. Sagara our librarian, find your library card on the table, check out your book.  We still have some confusion about taking it home without checking it out!  J  We are still learning!!
  
Thank you again for all that you do at home to support your child’s learning.  We appreciate all that you do!  Please feel free to email your child's teacher with any concerns or questions!  Thank you!!

The Kindergarten Team
Mrs. Barnes:  sarahba@fsusd.org
Mrs. Barron:  erinba@fsusd.org
Mrs. Ron:  kimr@fsusd.org

Ms. Davila:  theresad@fsusd.org

Monday, September 8, 2014

Newsletter Sept. 8th-12th

We have a big favor to ask…if you are the last one out through the gate after the school day starts, will you please CLOSE the gate behind you? Thank you! 

Here’s what’s coming up for this week… 

·        Our theme this MONTH is APPLES, and our new word wall word is “is.”  (Sorry, I made a mistake last week.  Our new word wall word last week was “the”.)   So NOW, we know the following High Frequency Words: I, a, like, the, see & is.

·        Parent volunteers have started!!!!  If you have signed up to come in to volunteer for center time, please COME IN!  We would love to have our volunteers come from 8:15 – 10 am for the morning session, and 11:45-1:15 pm for the afternoon session.  Please check in with the office and get your volunteer badge, and come in through our back doors!  Thank you!!!!!! 

·        New Volunteer Training will be held Tuesday September 10th starting at 8:45 in the MPR.  MCA will train parents on operating copy machines and other equipment.  They will also discuss Room Parent duties.  Any one who wants to volunteer in Kindergarten is welcome to attend. 

·        All of Kindergarten will be having our annual Apple Day Festival on Thursday, Sept.25thThis is a fun day where each class travels from 401, to 402, then outside, doing different fun apple activities.  There will be two sessions, one in the am and one in the pm, and it will take place during our center time.  We will need parent volunteers to help us run and manage the centers.  If youre available to come in, please let your teacher know.  Thank you!

·        Our Homework this week continues to be handwriting!  Please reinforce the letter formation of letters a-f.  Please refer to the handwriting sheet from our Back to School Night for our phrasing.  It really helps students to hear the same wording at home as they do from us in the classroom. 

·        Writing—We have already jumped right into writing every day!  We are expecting your child to know the words “I, see, the & like.”  Please encourage them to write those every day.  You can even start writing simple sentences such as, “I like ____.”   “ I see a _____.” Or “The _____ is _____.” You can stretch out the sounds of the unfamiliar word or draw a picture.  Daily writing practice helps tremendously!

·        LIBRARY has started!!!  We want to clarify any confusion about library books.  The kids get to “keep” their library books for the whole week.  We just ask that you send them back by Monday or Tuesday so that we can return them to the library by Tuesday afternoon and be ready for check out Wed. morning!  Your child is never expected to return a library book on their own!!  There will be a library return bucket outside in the mornings so the kids can return their library books whenever they are done with them!

·        JUMP HIGHWAY!  Our MCA along with Jump Highway is having a fundraiser for Nelda Mundy on Friday, Sept. 12th from 5:30-8:30pm.  There will be pizza available to buy and fun to be had by all!  MCA members have been outside selling tickets at the beginning and end of the school day.  Come out and jump with us! 

Thank you again for all that you do at home to support your child’s learning.  We appreciate all that you do!  Please feel free to email your child’s teacher with any concerns or questions!  Please do not hit reply to this email.
Thank you!! 

The Kindergarten Team
Sarah Barnes sarahba@fsusd.org,  Erin Barron erinba@fsusd.org

Theresa Davila theresad@fsusd.org  and Kim Ron kimd@fsusd.org

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Sept. 2nd-5th Newsletter

Here’s what’s coming up for this week... 

Back to School Night is THIS WEDNESDAY from 5 – 
6pm. There will be a short presentation by our principal 
in the MPR (cafeteria) at 5, and then Kindergarten will 
have our presentation immediately after in the library
You will be welcome to tour your child’s classroom after 
the presentation in the library. Everyone must leave the 
campus at 6:00 unless you are staying for an upper 
grade sibling’s BTSN. We need to leave the campus to 
make room for the upper grade students parents to park. 
Thank you for your cooperation!

Homework will come home every Monday and be due back to school every Friday. Your child should always complete their homework in pencil unless specifically asked to color something in crayon. Please do not return it to school earlier in the week. It will not be collected until Friday.

Homework this week~ So far, we are only requiring 
handwriting practice. We cannot stress enough the 
importance of proper formation for handwriting. We 
returned your child’s handwriting homework last week with 
notes explaining what we expect. Please be sure to sit with 
your child to ensure proper formation of letters, spaces 
between each letter, and writing ON the lines. This is hard 
for them. They need your support and encouragement at 

This week we are working on the letters Gg, Hh, Ii. 
Here’s what you need to know about them:
o To make a g—make a “magic c”, go up, then down into 
the basement and give it a tail.
o To make an h—start at the top of the line, go 
straight down, don’t pick up your pencil, trace back 
up and give it one hump.
o To make an I—start at the top and make a tall man 
down, give it a hat and shoes. Lower case, make the 
line going down and then put the dot above it. 

• Our theme this week is building and making Patterns. This is an important skill for Kindergarteners. You can always find patterns all around with your child, as well as make them yourselves at home! 

Our new word wall word is the. We will introduce a new 
word wall each week that your child will be expected to 
learn and use. These are displayed in the classroom for 
them to reference and use in their writing. So far, we know 
the following words: I, see, a, like & the.

Folders~~ folders go back and forth to school EVERY DAY, with the exclusion of Wed.’s. Please have your child to 
put their folder in the bucket every day. Do NOT do it for 
them, as they will not learn the routine. We are encouraging 
independence! 

Please be sure that EVERYTHING you bring to school is 
LABELED with your name!!!!

Parent Volunteers~~We will have a sign up sheet for 
Parent Volunteers at Back to School Night. If you are 
interested in volunteering in our classroom this year, you 
will need to be fingerprinted with the school district. You 
can get this process started early by calling them and 
telling them that you need to be fingerprinted. Please
have your child use the BATHROOM BEFORE school every 

• College Wednesdays!!!~~Every Wednesday at Nelda Mundy are college days! These are our college t-shirt days. 
Please encourage your child to wear any college t-shirt on 
Wednesdays!!!! 

School Spirit Fridays!!!~Every Friday is School Spirit Day. Please have your child wear school colors, green & gray. 

• We have severe peanut allergies in Kindergarten every year. Please NO PEANUTS at snack time!!!