Your child may have shared with you that we have been working together to earn "Cat Coins" for our classroom cat coin jar. This is part of our school-wide positive behavior system which acknowledges students for their positive behaviors. Each time a student is caught following PAWS (i.e. having a Positive Attitude, Acting Respectfully, Working Hard and making Safe choices), their behavior is recognized with a cat coin. Each coin collected is added to our classroom jar and when our jar has been filled, we will earn a small classroom celebration. In addition, our jar of coins is delivered to the main office and our mountain lion is moved to the next rock on its path to the top of our PAWS bulletin board. Each time a classroom fills their jar with cat coins, the mountain lion moves along its path. When it reaches its final rock, we have a school-wide celebration. We are very close to filling our classroom jar for our first celebration. We are VERY excited!I hope that your child has enjoyed his/her first few days of school. I know that many are adjusting to the longer days and have been feeling very tired at the end of the school day. It may take several weeks until the school schedule becomes a normal routine for some children. Until then, I apologize for any grumpiness that you may experience at home in the evenings and encourage you to try early bedtimes to help them with the transition.
Curriculum Update
Math - Students are beginning to explore some of our math materials. This week, we learned how to use pattern blocks, unifix cubes and counting bears.
Literacy
✩ Reading - Students have been enjoying our read aloud time each day. This is a time when we sit together to read and discuss literature.
✩ Writing - Students wrote about their hopes and dreams for Kindergarten, this week.
Additional Information
✩ Lunch/Dismissal Forms - These forms are extremely helpful in informing us of what your child will eat throughout the week and more importantly, where they will be going after school each day. Please be sure to fill out these forms and send them to school with your child at the start of each school week (in their PAWS folder). If plans change during the week, please call Cindy Castle in the main office (802-453-2314) or send an email as soon as possible.
✩ Lunch/Milk Money - If you would prefer to add money to your child's account by cash/check, please be sure to send any money to school in a bag or envelope clearly labeled with his/her name.
✩ Lunch Pin # - On Friday, I sent home a paper pin pad with your child's lunch pin number. To assist your child in memorizing his/her number, please have them practice touching the numbers frequently at home.
✩ Home to School Communication - Be on the look out for your child's PAWS folder which will contain important communications from school as well as student work for them to share with you and keep at home. I hope to post a newsletter on our classroom blog at least twice a month and do periodic check-ins with families as needed.
Should you ever have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me by email anytime (sharon.lynch@mausd.org). I have my email open during the day and will see when messages have been received. However, due to my busy schedule with your children, it may take up to 24 hours for me to respond. Also, please note that I often do not respond to emails after 4:00PM on weekdays or on weekends or holidays. If your message is urgent, please be sure to call the school office and they will relay any messages to me or forward you to my voicemail. Should you wish to meet with me in person, please call the school or email me in advance to set up a time for us to meet. Before and after school drop-ins are not always a great time for me to meet (without prior notice) as I use this time to prepare for my work with the children or to meet with colleagues.
✩ Volunteers - If you think you may want to chaperone a field trip or assist with an occasional special event in the classroom this year, please be sure to complete the appropriate paperwork (click here) and have it signed by Cindy Castle in our main office. If you have any questions regarding background checks or submitting paperwork, please contact Jennifer Willey at the MAUSD offices (802-453-6946 or Jennifer.Willey@mausd.org).
