Week 5 Newsletter

Dear TK Family and Friends,

We made it to the end of September!

This week we will cover:

• More apples
• The biography of John Chapman
• Apple parts
• Sorting and classifying
• Jesus calls us to be his friend.
• Numbers 3 and 4
• Letters Aa to Tt (recognition)

We sent home the Yellow,Fun Run T-shirts on Monday.  This Thursday is the first Fun Run Collection.  Please send the envelope to school with your sponsors.  Your child is encouraged to wear their yellow Fun Run shirts as well.

I will be putting a volunteer sign up sheet.  For now, I am opening up Tuesdays only.  Please sign your name if you are interested in volunteering.  I will have to verify if you have been fingerprinted and Safe-Environment trained.  Tuesday volunteer hours are from 8:30 to 11:30 am (3 hours).

As part of the school's uniform policy, please make sure nail polish is removed before school.on Monday.  Also, just a reminder that hair accessories must be red, navy blue, and/or white.  Other colors are not part of the uniform.

Thank you to all the September Birthday parents for the snacks.  The kids really enjoyed it.  We will celebrate the October Birthdays on October 9.  A special snack will be provided for all the students.

{EDIT @7:15 AM}
I forgot to mention, Mrs. Roberts will head the photography for TK.  Please send any TK photos to: sticlassof2025@gmail.com and she will organize them for an end of the year keepsake.  

Have a good week!

Mrs. Paragas

Volunteer Needed

I am looking for an adult volunteer that can accompany TK to the Atrium of the Good Shepherd every Tuesdays from 8:30 am to 11:30 every week.  The volunteer with assist Mrs. Ruth Bradley on a weekly basis with the class. Let me know if you are available.

Volunteers need to be fingerprinted and safe-environment trained.

If you are able to volunteer, but cannot commit for an entire year, please let me know what your availability are so that I can try to fill in the gaps.  Mrs. Bradley prefers a consistent person so that the volunteer is aware of her expectations.

Thank you!

Gate Procedures / Pick up and Drop offs

The gates were added for additional security for our TK/K area.  With the gates being locked at certain times of the day, we wanted to give you some guidelines to follow in case you came to drop off or pick up when the gates are closed.

• If you are dropping of your child past 8:10 AM  - you will need to go to the office and pick up a tardy slip.  The office will call the classroom to inform us that you are on your way with your child.  A school employee will greet you at the gate.

• If you are picking up your child between 11:45 AM to 2:20 PM - you will need to go to the office and let the office staff know that you are picking up your child.  The office will call the classroom to inform us that you are on your way to pick up your child.  A school employee will open the gate for you.
  Due to the school's early dismissal on Tuesdays, the gate will be reopened at 1:30 PM.

Prior to 8:10 AM, the school gates will be open.  Please remember, no adult supervision will be available before 7:30 AM.  You are welcome to sit with your child prior to 7:30 AM, but please do not leave them unattended.  

The gates will be opened at about 11:20 AM for you to pick up your child.  After 11:45 AM, the gates will be closed.

The gates will be reopened at 2:20 PM for Kindergarten dismissal (or 1:30 PM on Tuesdays).  

If you have an appointment with me during the times the gates are closed, please go to the office first so that they can call me to let me know that you are on campus.  I will personally greet you at the gate. 

If you have questions, let me know.

Have a great day!

Mrs. Paragas

Week 4 Newsletter

Dear TK Family and Friends,

Yesterday, we joined the school in the Fun Run Assembly.  The theme this year is Super Heroes!  We are all super heroes in some way of helping each other.  The TK-ers are really excited about this year's Fun Run theme.  A Fun Run folder was sent home yesterday in your child's Take Home folder. The goal is for every child to raise at least $80.  I hope you will support the school and help bring in donations.  The envelopes are due every Thursday starting Oct. 1 up until the day before the Fun Run.  Every Thursday, your child can wear his or her Fun Run T-shirt when they turn in their envelope.  I have already placed orders for the t-shirts and should expect them to come in very soon!

This week, we will focus on the following:

• Friendships and how Jesus wants us to be friends
• Songs: Come Be My Friend and It's Story Time
• The legend of Johnny Appleseed
• Apples and their parts
• Matching Quantities
• Sorting
• Letters up to Mm
• Reading our Sight Word books - focus is the word "A"
• Number 4

We are having Birthday snacks this Friday to celebrate Sydney, Frances, Issa, and Jayden's 5th birthdays.  You are welcome to still send a snack with your child to school; however, please know they will be served a special snack (in case they come home on Friday with the snacked you packed untouched).  

Those children celebrating their birthdays in the month of October.  I have scheduled your birthday snack day to be Friday, October 9.  A note will go home with those children to remind you.

Our cubbies are here and have been assembled!  Your child has been placing their tote bags in their own cubbies.  I'm excited to see how fast your child is learning his/her class number.  Remind them of their number each morning and every so often show them that number to familiarize themselves with it.  They are getting the hang of it pretty quickly!  Because they each have their own cubbie, they are each asked to pull out their own snack from their tote bag.  If they are a daycare student, remind them of which bag or items are for snack and which is to be saved for lunch.

I am keeping this week's newsletter short.  If I am forgetting to address something, please send me an email to remind me.

Have a great week!

Mrs. Paragas

Did you get the E-mail regarding Eagle Shirts/Sweatshirts?

I hope you received the newsletter from St. I regarding the last day for ordering the Eagle Shirts or Sweatshirt.  If you did not receive it, please add yourself to receive the newsletter by going to the school website.

Here is the order form to order.

Scholastic Book Order

Don't forget, if you want to order books - all orders must be placed by tomorrow before 2:00 pm... If you plan to order books but can't place the order by 2pm, please email me ASAP.

Thanks!

Thank You for you HOPE participation!

I saw many of you bring in bag full of donations for our HOPE project.  TK and K filled an entire lunch bench full of food to share with those in need.  I can't imagine how much food the entire school brought in!

HOPE bags will be sent home on a monthly basis.  As a school, the bags are given to the children on Tuesday prior to the Wednesday they are due.  If you would like to know when HOPE is scheduled, please refer to your school calendar as it is already listed for the ENTIRE year.  This will give you ample time if you want to plan ahead on the weekend to purchase food to donate or to clear out your pantry.

You can either view the calendar from the school's website* OR simply look to the right column on this page.  A mini school calendar is posted for you to scroll.  All the important dates are already there.  Please check the calendar regularly to see any upcoming events.

I hope this helps!

Again, thank you for your help and donations :)

Mrs. Paragas

*You can even subscribe to the school calendar and merge it with your work/personal calendar.

Picture Day & HOPE Collection

Don't forget!!!

Tomorrow is Picture Day!  Send your children with a big smile and neat hair with their regular school uniform.  Say CHEESE!

If you want to order pictures, please have those ready first thing in the morning in your child's red (new) folder.

The HOPE bags were sent home today.  You can fill it up with as little or as much food as you'd like.  Remember, this is to help those in need.  St. I collects food once a month as one of our stewardship projects.

Have a great day!
Mrs. Paragas

Week 3 Newsletter

Dear TK Family and Friends,

We are in Week 3 of TK!  The children are settling in well and are getting the hang of the routine.  I have seen so much progress in just the last 2 weeks.

I just wanted to thank all the parents who have met with me for our Back to School Night Conference.  I appreciate the time and the valuable information that you have shared with me.  I can't wait to make a difference in your child's life!

This week we will learn:

• How are you a friend? How are you a friend to Jesus?
• Learn the Sign of the Cross
•  5 Senses
• Apples
• Letters Ii - Ll (Review all previous letters)
• Attributes: Shapes, Size, Matching Quantities and Problem Solving Strategies
• Grandparents

TK Website/School Newsletter
I really do hope all parents are reading the newsletter/blog on a regular basis.  Please check at least once in the evening in case I post something in the afternoon.  Any feedback is appreciated.  Please know that I will not be sending home paper newsletters or notices unless it's a last minute important message (rarely!).  I do expect (and will assume) parents and guardians will take the time to read this website as there are a lot of very important information being shared.

The School also have a newsletter that is emailed directly to you every Sunday morning.  If you are not receiving that, please go to the school website and subscribe.  Here is the link: http://stischoolcypress.org/subscribe/

Future Events are listed in the School Newsletter.  For example, the Fun Run, Trunk or Treat and the Parish Craft Fair has already been discussed in the newsletter.  If you are unaware of that, please subscribe!

Tote Bags

At this point in the year, everyone has purchased a tote bag.  Please make sure your child's bag has his/her name permanently visible on the outside of the bag.  You may either embroider, iron on, or paint your child's name on the outside of the bag or you can simple attach a luggage tag.  Please take care of this by the end of the week.  Thank you.

Snacks

I have noticed a couple families have been sending glass containers with their child to hold their snack.  Please use non-breakable containers as even the Pyrex glass has shattered.  Consider using plastic, aluminum, or a Thermos to contain your child's snack.

Uniform

This pertains to the girls.  Please refrain from using other colors other than red, navy blue, white (or a combination of those colors),  No pink, purple or other colors other than those stated may be allowed to be worn at school.
   

To read more about the Uniform, please download the St. I Handbook p. 23-24 (PDF page 25 - 26).

HOPE Food Drive
Stewardship is an important aspect at St. I.  We take pride in helping others, both in and outside our community.  This Wednesday is the first HOPE Food Drive.  As a school, we collect non-perishable food items that will be donated to those people who are in financial need.  Please send a grocery bag to school with food items you'd like to donate by Wednesday morning.  I highly encourage your child to help pick out something to bring... every can counts!

Picture Day
This Wednesday is Picture Day.  Students are to come in their uniform.  If you plan to order pictures, you must have the money and order form ready first thing in the morning on Wednesday (you can turn them in earlier if you'd like).  Purchasing pictures is optional; but all students will have their photos taken.

Scholastic Book Order
If you plan to order books from Scholastic, please make sure to have your orders in by this Friday.
Click here to get more information regarding the book order.

Homework 
The homework I am about to post will be grouped by month.  Please download the month and work on the assignments accordingly.  The assignments in the packet can be challenging or easy depending on your child's level.  I ask that you supplement as you see fit.  Again, homework in TK is optional. The best kind of homework is the kind your child enjoys - consider having more "play-like homework" such as playing in sand, helping with cooking, doing chores (teaching responsibility), playing at the park, riding a bike, giving directions (such as giving steps - first, second, next, then, last) and so forth.

Please Note:  I also ask that when you download the homework, that you do not share the file outside our classroom.  I only purchased one license for the homework to share only with my students. Sharing the digital file outside of my class will violate the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

FISH Hours
I remember a parent asking me about FISH Hours.  I verified it with Mrs. Maxon and here is what she said:

• If you have a TK student but no other children in the school, you DO NOT have to do FISH hours.
• If you have a TK students AND another student or students in the school in grades K to 8, you DO have to complete your FISH Hours.  

Let me know if this does not make sense to you.  I can help clarify. 

If you have any questions, let me know.  Have a great week!

Mrs. Paragas

Book Order Due Date

Dear Parents,

I sent home 3 Scholastic Book Club order forms.  If you plan to order, please make sure to submit your order by Friday, September 18.

Thank you,
Mrs. Paragas

How to Navigate the TK Website Tutorial

Hi Parents,

I hope you are comfortable viewing the website.  If you are having trouble finding a section, you are always welcome to ask me.

I created a PDF tutorial of how to get onto the "Current TK Families" link (also known as the password protected section of the website).

Click on Image to download the PDF

Steps:
1.  Find the Current TK Families link.
2.  A prompt will appear on your screen and ask you to enter your password.  If you forgot the password, please email me.

*If you are having problems viewing the site, please make sure you are NOT using Safari or Internet Explorer.  The best browser to use to view this website is Google Chrome or Firefox.

**If you need me to walk you through how to view the website, come by in the morning or see me after school.

I am hoping this website makes it easier for you to access class related information.

Have a great day!
Mrs. Paragas

Week 2 Newsletter

Dear TK Family and Friends,

I hope you enjoyed your Labor Day weekend.  Even though school just started, I enjoyed that extra day off.

This week, TK will be working on the following:

• Jesus has special friends called apostles.
• Practice the Sign of the Cross.  
• The numbers 0 and 1.
• Letter recognition Aa-Hh.  
• Attributes is a fancy word to help us sort.
• Colors - Primary Colors make more colors
• Introduction to shapes
• Introduction to reading (I, see, a)
• We are all special and unique.
• The U.S. flag
• How to read a book (left to right; top to bottom)
• Parts of a book (front, back, cover, spine, title, author, illustrator)
• Introduction to the 5 senses (sight)

We are learning the routine and I can see how comfortable your child is becoming.  I can see their enthusiasm for learning and can't wait to feed them with so much knowledge.

During the month of September, I will be conducting a lot of assessments to get a feel of where each student is a the beginning of the school year.  I will send some work home this week, but it will not be as much since I will be keeping the assessments to share with you during our conference in October.

Some things to note:

• Scholastic Book Order
  I sent home 3 Scholastic Book Order catalogs today.  It is optional to purchase books, but I highly recommended starting a home library to encourage reading.  I do try to send a catalog on a monthly basis but will not during some short months.
  
  There are 2 ways to order:
1. Online -  click here to get instructions.  You can pay by credit card by ordering online.
2. By check - fill out the catalog form and send a check made payable to Scholastic Book Clubs
   
   Should you have any questions with how to order, please email me and I'll be happy to walk you though it.

• Birthday Celebrations
We will celebrate your child's birthday during a special day each month.  Parents of those children have the option to participate by preparing a special snack for the class.  The snack should be "healthy" and appropriate for the 9:00 am hour.  No cake or cupcakes, please.

FOOD:

Suggested snacks would be fruit, veggie sticks with dip, pretzels, yogurt.... additional food suggestions can be found here.

We do have children with food allergies.

ALLERGY ALERT:
Please do not bring the following items during class celebrations:
NO PEANUTS or NUTS.

It may be difficult to avoid these other food items, I do ask that if the food you do bring contains the following items, that you alert the teacher ASAP before setting the table for snack. Food with dairy or milk products, eggs, pears, beef, pork, or seafood.


GOODY BAGS and PARTY FAVORS:
Please refrain from bringing goody bags in the classroom for the student or teachers to pass out to the class.  I ask that if you do plan to pass out goody bags that you do so at pick-up outside the gates.  It is too difficult for me to keep track of what is inside the bags.  With all the allergies and possible choking hazards, it is best to hand the bags out with the child's guardian under their supervision so they can monitor what they can or can't have.


PARTY INVITATIONS:
As much as you'd like to invite the entire class, I do understand the cost and restrictions of having a birthday celebration and the need to cut back on the guest list.  If you plan to invite specific people from the class, you are welcome to do so, but please hand out the invitations outside the TK/K Gates.  This is to avoid other children from feeling left out.  However, if you plan to invite the entire class, you are welcome to give Miss Cuellar or myself the invitation and we will gladly insert them in the folders.  Please do not write specific children's names on the invitation to make it easier for us to distribute.  


• Homework/Extra Practice Work
  I will begin to add practice work in the Current TK Families link.  Please visit it some time this week.  I will upload it sometime today.

• Back to School Night is tomorrow at 6:30pm.  Since you have already met with me, there will not be a meeting specific to TK, however, I encourage you to attend the first part of the whole school meeting as Mrs. Hayden will address school-wide information.  This meeting will take place in the hall.
• Parent Conferences this week will be inside the Ed Building.  Feel free to wait by the TK room and I will greet you there.  Remember, this meeting is for you to tell me about your child.  I will not be giving you a report of how your child is doing at this time.  If you misplaced your "green sheet" and need a guide to help with the conference, you can download it here.
• St. Irenaeus Parish School Newsletter - if you are not receiving this very, very important newsletter, please make sure to sign up.  you can find it on the school website or by clicking on this link.  This is a must have newsletter by all parents and those involved in your child's education.

Lots of information is being shared as you are trying to familiarize yourself with the school.  If you are having trouble finding information, please let me know.  I am here to help you.

Have a great week!

Mrs. Paragas

Labor Day / Conferences

• This is just a reminder that we have no school on Monday.  Enjoy your long weekend :)
• Conferences are next week.  I can't wait to meet with you!  If you forgot you scheduled time, feel free to email me.

Birthday Celebrations

We will celebrate birthdays by doing a special snack once a month.  We will not celebrate September birthdays until the end of the month (after conferences) once I have discussed any food allergies in the class.

I will schedule birthday celebrations for Friday, September 25 during snack time.  

Here is an example of appropriate Birthday Snacks:

Approrpiate Birthday/Holiday Snacks * String cheese or individual cheese snacks * Crackers * Fruit - grapes, sliced, apples, oranges, etc * Lunch meat slices/rolls - turkey or ham * Vegetables with dipping sauce (example mushrooms/carrots with ranch) For those who want to bring in something sweet, I will allow ONE sweet treat from this list: * Jello (gelatin or pudding) individual cups/student * 1 cookie (per student) * Rice Crispy treat * Apple Sauce Appropriate Drinks: * water * milk  * chocolate milk * juice boxes

**Food Allergies have not yet been considered.  I will make a list of food that we must avoid.**

Week 1 Newsletter

Dear TK Family and Friends,

Our first week of school is running smoothly.  I appreciate all of you and your commitment to your child's education.

This week we will be learning about:

• Prayer and Love
• Pledge of Allegiance
• Calendar Skills - Days of the Week, Months of the Year, Numbers on the calendar
• Emergency Procedures
• How to be a good student
• Classroom rules and apply them
• We are all different and special
• Zero is a number
• We all can "read"

We are busy this week with learning how to be a student.  Remind your child of the 5 class rules and the importance of following those rules (safety and to learn).

1. Looking Eyes
2. Listening Ears
3. Quiet Mouths
4. Helping Hands
5. Walking Feet

Just a few reminders to help make the classroom run smoothly:

Morning Procedure

• Please do not leave your child unattended within the gated area at morning drop off until 7:30am (please wait for the bell).
• Have your child place his or her tote bag in the appropriate bin.  There are labels on the bin to guide you.
• Remove their daily folder (currently the blue folder) and place it in the tray labeled "FOLDERS".
• I will lead the class into the classroom at about 7:45 am.  Please have your child lined up and ready to go.

Tote Bags

• All tote bags must have your child's name clearly visible at all times.  If we placed a temporary sticker, we asked that you replace it with a luggage tag, iron sticker, or have it embroidered. Placing your child's initials inside the bag makes it really difficult for us to efficiently sort the bags.
• You are welcome to personalize the tote bag by decorating it.  Remember, your child will use the same tote bag in Kindergarten.

Snack Bags and Lunches

• If your child goes to Daycare, please separate snacks from the lunch by placing the snack in its own bag.  This makes it easier on your child to distinguish what you expect them to eat for lunch.  You may place the snack in a gallon size ZipLoc and the lunch can be placed in a lunch box/bag.

Emergency clothes

• If you have not done so yet, I have sent a gallon size plastic zip bag with your child's name.  Place the following items inside the bag:  t-shirt, shorts, socks, and underwear.  The purpose of these clothes is if your child has an accident, he or she can change themselves right away.  
• If your child does have an accident, we that you replace the clothes the following day.
• Half way through the school year, we will send home the emergency clothes to be checked for size.  If your child has outgrown the outfit, place the new appropriate size in the bag.  I will remind you of this in a couple months.

Labeling

• Be sure to label all your child's personal belongings - uniforms, snack/lunch bags, tote bags

After School Pick-up Procedure

• We will try to have the gates open before 11:30.  You are welcome to come in quietly and wait at the benches.  Please be mindful that Kindergarten will still be in session and to keep the volume to a minimum.
• We exit only using one door - the classroom door furthest from the gates.
• I will call your child to the door one at a time.  This will take a while especially while I try to get familiar with the grown-up faces.  I am starting to recognize you, but am still having trouble matching with the children.  I appreciate your continued patience.
• You must pick up your child before 11:45, otherwise, they will be part of the Daycare group.  
• I welcome parents to gather and chat, but I do ask that you take the conversation outside the gates as the Daycare children need the lunch tables to eat.  
• If you are running late, phone the office and let them know.  They will page me in the classroom.  This allows me to tell your child that you are on your way and not to worry.  

Current TK Family Link

• The link to this section of the website is now working.  I will upload photos, videos, practice work and other TK information to this section of the website.  I ask that you do not share the password.  I do use YouTube to upload some videos.  My settings on YouTube is strictly private and can only be accessed with a specific link.  I ask that you refrain from sharing the link on social media.

Conferences

• If you have not yet schedule a TK Conference, I still have some slots available.  As much as this conference is optional, it is a good way for you to tell me about your child.  
• This conference is not for me to tell you what I have assessed or have noticed, it is for you to tell me what your child's strength and areas of improvement are; medical conditions; family situations, and so forth.

I have provided you with tons of information in this week's newsletter.  I regularly try not to over-do the post, but this week was filled with information.  

If anything is confusing or you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Have a wonderful week!

Mrs. Paragas