Week 25

Dear TK Families,

This newsletter is coming to you a day early as there is information that you need to be aware of for tomorrow, Tuesday.

As we approach the beginning of Lent, we will reflect on how we can be a better person to ourselves and to one another.  We have been singing "Spread a Little Sunshine" each morning to remind ourselves to smile and share God's blessings of joy, friendship, and love with one another.

Tomorrow is Fat Tuesday.  Those that ordered pancakes can enjoy their pancakes in the Hall with their family beginning at 7:15.  However, if your child did not order pancakes, I ordered half portions for them to eat so that we all can enjoy a little syrup!  Those that did not order pancakes will need to be in class at the regular time.  We will enjoy those pancakes in the classroom.  Students who paid for their pancakes need to be in class by 8:30.  If you ordered pancakes but cannot stay with your child to eat, feel free to bring them to our classroom and we can pick up their order from the hall.  Just let us know upon drop off that you paid for breakfast.  If you have any questions, please let me know.

The TK class will begin working on our class play, The Three Little Pigs.  I will assign them their parts, please practice their role and songs with them each night.  It is best to have everything memorized.  The performance is scheduled for late May or June.  I have not quite picked up a date.

We will continue with last week's learning goals for this week.  It was such a short week that we did not finish.  Our theme will be centered on Dr. Seuss' books and Ash Wednesday/Lent.

Have a great week!

Mrs. Paragas

Week 24

Dear TK Families,

This week will be really short.  As you know, there will be no school on Friday due to the Religious Education Congress.

Tomorrow is a non-uniform dress day!  Thank you for doing your best to submit your child's intention form for Kindergarten.  Please refer to the St. I Parent-Student Handbook for non-uniform dress code.

Also, tomorrow Andrew Chin will be having a concert at school at 1:00 pm.  You are welcome to return to school to enjoy this concert with the school.

Do you have photos of the class or groups of children from the class?  If so, please e-mail them to me.  The Yearbook Committee is looking for photos to put in the yearbook.

Just a friendly reminder, please do not send a toy to school.  In the last few weeks, I have noticed an increase of children bringing toys to school.  As stated at Back to School Night, I would appreciate if toys are left at home as they pose as a distraction for your child and for the other students.  If your child needs a comfort item due to separation, please discuss this with me.  Thank you for your attention.

This week:
Theme: Presidents

Religion - Jesus' friends
Math - writing number 17, Counting to 30 and 100 by 10s, addition
ELA - writing letter Ee, Reviewing all letters and sounds, sight words (please refer to the sight words placed at the back of your child's folder).
Social Studies - presidents and our country

Have a great week!

Mrs. Paragas

Week 23

Dear TK Families,

I hope you enjoyed a day filled with love on Valentine's Day.  I felt so much love from your children with their Valentine's Day greetings, cards, hugs, and goodies.  Friday is our February Birthday snack and in combination, also our Valentine's "celebration".

Below is the note Mrs. Hayden sent out regarding returning your letter of intent.  Whatever your decision is for your child for next year (I hope you stay with us!!), please return your Intent Form which was given to you last week.  If every family in our class returns the form, we can have a chance for non-uniform dress!

Hello Parents/Guardians, Your kids love Free Dress and on Wednesday, February 22nd you can help them earn this fun privilege.  The Intent to Re-register Form was sent home on Monday February 6th through your oldest returning student (the form is attached if you did not receive it).  We still have many families who have not returned the form and the $50 per student re-enrollment fee.  We are currently in the careful process of planning and budgeting for the 2017-2018 School Year and need ALL Families to turn in their intent form by Friday, February 17th.  Every class with 100% response by turning in the Intent to Re-register Form will earn Free Dress on Wednesday, February 22nd (Andrew Chinn is coming that day so it will be extra fun!). Please help your child earn Free Dress and more importantly help us in planning another successful school year! Blessings,Mrs. Hayden

This week's theme:
Valentine's Day and 3 Little Pigs

• Religion - Valentine's Day, Love
• Math - Writing 16; Counting to 30 and Counting to 100 by ones and tens; Ten Frames, basic addition
• ELA - Characters and Setting of a story, comprehension checks; writing letter Cc and Dd, All letters sounds
• Sight Word: love, have

Have a great week!

Mrs. Paragas

Week 22 Newsletter

Dear TK Families,

Tomorrow is our 100th Day in TK!  We have been practicing how to count to 100 for the past couple weeks.  Hitting 100 days is a milestone as we have made so much growth this year.

Valentine's Day is next week.  If you choose to send Valentine's cards for your child to pass out, please do not write each child's name.  Please have your child sign his/her name only.  This will make passing out cards much faster and more enjoyable.  If you plan to send a little candy treat, please DO NOT send chocolates or candies that contain nuts - such as (but not limited to) Reese's, Snickers, etc.

Birthday Snack will be on Friday, February 17.  If your child has a birthday this month, our wonderful room parents will contact you.

February Mystery Share - this month's Share theme is love and presidents/patriotism.  Just a reminder to stay on topic so that it is easy for the students to guess their mystery item.  The following is the schedule for sharing:

February 13 - Numbers 18-20
February 14 - Numbers 15- 17
February 15 - Numbers 13-14
February 16 - Numbers 11-12
February 17 - Numbers 9-10
February 21 - Numbers 7-8
February 22 - Numbers 4-6
February 23 - Numbers 1-3


This week's theme:
3 Billy Goats Gruff/Goats/100 Days

Religion - Our family
Math - 100, number 15, ten frames/addition, patterns
ELA - fairy tales, 100 days of school, characters and setting
Science - goats
Social Studies - our county

Have a great week!

Mrs. Paragas

Week 21

Dear TK Families,

Happy Catholic School's Week!   I am always proud of being a product of catholic education and to even more proud to share that with my students.  Thank you for trusting me with your child's catholic education.

There are lots of events happening this week because of CSW.  Please refer to Sycamore and the school newsletter (which was emailed to you last Sunday) for dates and times of specific events such as free dress, dining out, etc.

This week:
Theme: Bears

Religion: Jesus' Family is called the Holy Family
Math: Patterns, ten frames, number 14, counting to 30
ELA: The 3 Bears, Characters, setting, vocabulary words; review letter and sounds Aa-Zz
Sight Words to Practice:  the, a, see, can, I, and, in, on, is
Writing practice:  Letter Bb
Science: Bears

Have a great week!

Mrs. Paragas

Week 20

Dear TK Families,

This Sunday begins Catholic School's Week.  During this week, we celebrate all catholic schools.  I hope you can stop by our classroom on Sunday to see your child's January work posted around the room.  Your children have been working really hard.

Because next week is Catholic School's Week, there are MANY activities going on.  Please refer to your Newsletter from Mrs. Hayden, which is emailed to you every Sunday morning.  In that newsletter, it will have a list of the activities happening at school, such as a special dress up day, non-uniform day, etc.  With that said, the TK class has been assigned to send out a gift basket to the fire station in our community.  A handout was put in your child's folder on Monday asking for your help.  We are also in need of a parent to put the basket together.  If you are able to come on Tuesday (next week) to put the basket together, please let our room parents know (Mr./Mrs. Rozak and Mrs. Hulgreen).  You can also let me know and I can pass that information to them.

A prayer sheet was placed in your child's folder yesterday.  Those are the prayers that I'd like all TK students to know before moving on to Kindergarten.  We have been reciting these prayers in class but would like you to help reinforce saying these prayers at home.  Before the end of the second trimester, your child will be tested on the following prayers:

• Sign of the Cross
• Glory Be
• Our Father

The Hail Mary will be tested before the end of the third trimester in June.

Progress Reports will be sent home on Friday to your child if they need improvement in specific areas.  If your child does not receive a progress report, please remember that ALL children have room for improvement and to keep practicing their skills to get better.

This week:

Theme: Polar Bears

Religion - The creation around us; the story of Noah

Math - Ten Frames, Solid Figures, and patterns; number 13

ELA - We have been heavily focusing on the letter sounds and recognition, we will transition our focus to writing these letters.  Please enforce at home that we write from top to bottom, from left to right.  

Science - Polar Bears and Arctic animals' habitat

Social Studies - Geography of the Arctic region

I can't stress enough about how proud I am of your children.  I feel like over Christmas break, they matured and are now "ready" to grasp so much information.  In the last week, we have discussed fairness and how Martin Luther King, Jr. helped us recognize that it is important to love one another, just as Jesus taught us.  The children demonstrated kindness and acts of love/sharing with one another.  I am just so blessed to be called your child's teacher.

Have a great week!
Mrs. Paragas

Week 19 Newsletter

Dear TK Families,

Yesterday we remembered MLK!  This week, we will be talking about diversity and how God has made each of us special and unique.  Despite being different, we will discuss ways to embrace each other's differences to help solve our problems.

Stewardship
Tomorrow is HOPE.  Please bring any food items that you may have extras around the house.  Also, don't forget to bring in warm jackets, blankets, and other items that will keep the homeless in our community warm.

Birthdays
Friday, January 20, we will be celebrating the students whose birthday is in January.  Feel free to continue to send a snack to school, but just be aware a special snack will be provided.

This week:
Theme: MLK/Polar Bears (and other Arctic animals)
Religion - Sharing and embracing diversity
Math - Counting to 30 by ones, Counting to 100 by 10s, Ten Frame to 12 (and introduction to addition concepts)
ELA - Reading non-fiction, real vs. fake, illustrations vs. photographs, understanding "hard" words, sight words: and, in, on
Science - Arctic Animals
Social Studies - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Have a great week!

Mrs. Paragas