This year we are starting a new staggered schedule in kindergarten.  The kids will be divided into two groups. The first day of school is Thursday, August 18th.  The schedule will go:

Thursday 8/18/11-Group A

Friday 8/19/11-Group B

Monday 8/22/11-Group A

Tuesday 8/23/11-Group B

We will release kindergarten classlists in mid July, along with information about A and B group.

Eagles Loft Daycare is working with us to help with childcare needs during those days!  Call them at 232-8299 for more information. 

Ways To Help

There are lots of ways to help in my classroom.  I LOVE having parents help!  Here are just a few ways you can contribute.  You can sign up for all of these at our signupgenius site by clicking HERE (search under email angie@ilovekindergarten.com for all my sign ups!)

1. Volunteer during reading groups, small group math, and intervention time in the morning. My daily parent helper works with a small group working on literacy or math skills.  That usually means playing a game (Letter or Number Bingo, Dice games, etc.) or helping kids sound out words.  There are 3 half hour slots to sign up for every morning!  .
2. Come along on a field trip!  We have several field trips during the year.  Let me know if you want to come along!
3. Come and help at a party!  You can volunteer to bring treats plates and napkins, or you can come and help out during the party.  Being a parent helper during a party means you will stay at one table doing a game or craft project, while the children rotate through all stations (you will make that candycane necklace 5 times!).  It's a lot of fun, and I promise to not make you do anything too difficult.
4. The Giving Tree:  I keep a running list of items we love to have donated in the classroom.  We always seem to run out of gluesticks and clorox wipes!

First Day Fears

       The first day of kindergarten can be a scary time for some kids (and some moms and dads too!).  Starting school is something that kids have probably been thinking about all summer.  Now, they walk in to a new room with all these new kids, and new grownups, and new “stuff” and maybe Mom looks a little teary-eyed that her “baby” is growing up so fast... well it’s no wonder some kids suddenly cling to parents and cry!  Here are a few tips for getting through those first few days.

• Try to act confident yourself.  If you seem anxious and unsure about leaving your child at school, children pick up on that and start wondering if there really is something to worry about!
• If possible, plan on staying for 5 or 10 minutes the first day getting your child settled.  A longer or shorter amount of time may make separation harder.
• When it is time for you to leave, make sure you say goodbye.  Trying to “sneak out” when the child is busy and not looking, sometimes makes kids panic a few minutes later, and may make separation even more difficult the next day.
• Separation problems sometimes show up on the second or third day, just when you think you’re getting off easy!  It is also common for children to have problems when there are major changes in the home.  Let me know if there is anything happening at your house that you think is important for us to know.
• Please remember that I am a parent myself and really do understand how hard this can be.  I know that you are entrusting me with a very precious gift, and I feel very honored that I will be your child’s first teacher.
• I promise to send out an email that first day as SOON as I get a minute, letting everyone know how it is going.   

I’m looking forward to a great year!

                                          Angie