Week 20

Dear TK parents & families,

What a big week we have planned as we ready for Open House. I am hoping all of you will be able to visit the classroom on Sunday, Jan. 31st, anytime between 1:00 & 3:00. We have some wonderful examples of your children's work on display. Unfortunately I will not be here, but Miss Cuellar is looking forward to visiting with all of you.

Open House kicks off the start to Catholic Schools Week. This is the time we celebrate being a part of Catholic education and honor those who contribute to our success. With that in mind, I would like to invite all of you to attend mass on Wednesday, Feb. 3rd at 8:30 a.m. This mass is in honor of our families and volunteers. There is a continental breakfast afterwards in the hall.

There are a couple of topics I would like to ask you to do with your children. Please discuss your occupation/job and what you do on the job with them. There are some funny things they think/say you do for work, i.e. talk with your friends all day, sit on the computer, etc. This can make for interesting dinner conversation. The other thing is their last name. Many of them don't know their last name nor understand the concept. I have discussed it with them and would appreciate you reinforcing it.

In regards to the "teacher...parent communicator"/red folder, please empty it out every day and especially on Fridays. Your child's work should stay at home unless there is a note attached asking you to return it to school.

Progress reports went home on Friday. Please sign and return them to school. Thank you to those who have already done so.

Things we are working on this week:

• God always loves us
• the story of Noah and God's promise
• the number "17"
• the letter "Mm"
• sight words (a, the, and, in, on, is, see, at, I)
• penguins 

Thank you for all you do as we partner in your children's education.

In God's grace,

Mrs. Dorie Collins

Week 19

Dear TK parents & families,

I hope you and your family enjoyed the 3 day weekend. Please ask your TK child what they know about Martin Luther King Jr. We read books and watched videos about Dr. King and his work for peace and fairness.

Last week's buddy time went very well. All of TK students were able to read their books to their buddies, and were very proud to do so. These books will be the first piece to go into their "reading treasure chest." Please remember to send in a shoe box (at least 5 x 9, but no bigger then 8 x 12) to school by this  Friday, January 22nd, I have received a few. We will start making the chests as soon as we have every one's box.

I am in the process of assessing the TK students. Progress reports will go home this Friday. Please look for them in your child's folder.

We continue to do great work in school. This week we are working on:

• "We belong to a family"
• the number "16"
• patterns
• the letter "Ll"
• polar bears & their habitat
• sight words

Have a wonderful week!

In God's grace,

Mrs. Dorie Collins

Hope Food Collection

Dear TK parents & families,

Help! We forgot to give out the Hope bags. If you have anything to donate, please bring the items tomorrow morning (Wednesday, January 13th) and place them on the table outside our classroom.

Thank you!

In God's grace,

Mrs. Collins & Miss Cuellar

Week 18

Dear TK parents and families,

Can you believe we are halfway through the school year? Today is our 80th school day and your children have grown so much in the short time I have been with them. One area I have noticed gain is with sight words. Please continue to work with these words and point them out wherever you can.

We have been working on a "pre-decodable" book all last week and will be reading them to our buddies on Thursday. I would like the students to keep these books in a special place, so we will be making treasure chests for each child. Once they have mastered a book they will place the book in the chest. I do need help with this task, so if you would please send a shoe box (at least 5 x 9, but no bigger then 8 x 12) to school by Friday, January 22nd, I would appreciate it.

This week we will be working on:

• the Holy Family & our family
• the letter "K"
• the number "15"
• sight words- in, on, is, the, see, and, a, I, at
• snow & snowflakes
• magnets
• puzzles
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Please remember there is no school next Monday, the 18th, in observance of Dr. King.

Thank you again for the opportunity to be with you children.

In God's grace,

Mrs. Dorie Collins

Week 17

Dear TK Parents & Family members,

Happy New Year! I trust that everyone had a blessed Christmas, filled with love and happiness.
Thank you for the wonderful wishes and generous gifts. I am truly blessed.

We are in full swing, ready to learn new things. It seems appropriate, with the weather we are having, that we will be talking about winter and the Arctic & Antarctica.
Other things we are working on are:

• the letter J, its sound and how to write upper and lower case
• the number 14, identifying, counting, and writing
• reviewing the gift of Jesus and gifts to give to Jesus
• patterns
• character of a story
• reviewing sight words: I, a, and, is, in, the, see, on
• 
  

If you remember we sent home the emergency clothes before the break for you to check the fit. Please return these as soon as possible.

We will be sending home book order forms tomorrow. Please return them by this Friday, the 8th, if you are interested in ordering.

In God's grace,

Mrs. Dorie Collins