“`Kindergarten students created their own birds with a variety of beaks and feet! We studied birds as a class, and then in small groups we researched native birds  and made bird mosiacs which we will be displaying in the cafeteria.

Kindergarteners celebrated the 100th Day of School with lots of counting,both by ones and by tens! We brought in collections of 1oo things to share with our classmates, and wrote about what we would do when we were one hundred years old!

Kindergarten Pilgrims and Native Americans enjoyed a candlelight Thanksgiving feast together to celebrate their friendship. We would like to express our gratitude to parents for providing the food.

 

During our study of plane shapes and solid figures, kindergarten students created cylinders, spheres, rectangular prisms, cubes, cones and pyramids out of magnetics, playdough, marshmallows, and toothpicks.

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kindergarten students sang to a “full house” on Grandparent’s Day!

     On Thursday, October 18th, the elementary students practiced bus safety drills. Kindergarten students and their teachers boarded the bus as if on a trip. Mr. Granger informed students of all exits in case of a bus emergency. Students practiced using the back exit, and meeting at a safe spot.

        This week kindergarteners learned about fire safety, and experienced their first fire drill of the year.  They did an excellent job exiting the building quickly and quietly! The Grant Park Fire Department, and their mascot, Sparky visited on Wednesday to review what to do if students are ever in a fire, or if their clothes catch on fire.  Students got a chance to see what a fireman looks like and sounds like with his turnout gear and mask on. It was a very informative and age appropriate assembly. Thank you Fireman Nick, Fireman Paul, Chief Shronts and Sparky!

     Firemen suggested that parents check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. They asked families to establish an escape plan which provided two exits from every room, and established a designated meeting place outside. Once a plan is formulated and discussed, families should practice it often.

Kindergarten Reading Incentives

     Kindergarten students are learning sight words and blending sounds.  We have begun using those skills to read age appropriate books. We’ve started reading groups in class to focus on individual needs for reading development and enrichment.  Kindergarten students are very excited about becoming readers, and our school has several incentive programs to fuel their excitement!

     This week, we started the “Book-It” program sponsored by Pizza Hut! October goal sheets were sent home today! For every ten minutes that a kindergartener is read to, or reads him- or herself, a pumpkin can be colored.  When all the pumpkins on the sheet have been colored, return the sheet to school with a parent’s signature, and your kindergartener will receive a certificate good for one personal pan pizza at Pizza Hut! Goal sheets neet to be returned by Wednesday, October 31st. Students will receive a new goal sheet each month until March when the program ends.

     Our P.T.O., in conjunction with the upcoming book fair, is encouraging students to read with their “Every Reader Is A Star” incentive! By reading ten minutes every night for two weeks and reaching the goal of 100 minutes, students can have their name on the Reading Wall of Fame! If the students in our school read a total of 20,000 minutes, our superintendent, Dr. Palan (an avid Packer’s fan), will dress up like a Bears’ fan! If our school reads 80,000 minutes, Dr. Palan has agreed to have his face paiinted in “Bears’ colors” at Family Reads Night!    

     The great news is that both of these incentives can work together! Minutes for Book-It can count for “Every Reader Is A Star”! -Just remember that the books read for the P.T.O. incentive need their titles recorded on that goal sheet. Thank you for your help!