Don't Forget - Important Reminders

Our Spring is a busy time of year.  Please be sure to remember the following important dates and reminders.

Scholastic Book Orders - ALL orders due TODAY Monday, April 27th

All Scholastic Book Orders are due TODAY.  I will be placing the last order no later than the afternoon of Thursday, April 30th, so if you'd like more time to order please let me know.  I'm happy to keep it open for an extra day or two if need be.  This will be the last order of our school year so make it count.  Please visit Scholastic's Website to order.  First time orders should use the activation code:  NCNYY

Library Field Trip - THIS Wednesday, April 29th
We will be heading to the library THIS Wednesday.  Please make sure to send your child's library card!

Partner Book Orders - ALL orders due THIS Thursday, April 30th
Each student is required to order a Partner Book Anthology.  Partner Books are $8 and orders can be placed with THIS form via cash or check (made payable to Willowwind School).

Baby Pictures - Email by NEXT Monday, May 4th
Please make sure to email me a picture of your child as a baby.  More information to follow regarding how we will be using these adorable pictures in our class.  Stay tuned!

Who's That Baby? - YOUR HELP NEEDED

Next week, the Cottontails' will be talking about End of Year Wishes.  A wish is something we want that makes ourselves, and others feel better.  Students will take time next week to think about our Kindergarten year and brainstorm three wishes they would love to see come true before our Kindergarten year comes to an end.

By Monday, May 4th, please email me your Kindergartener's baby picture.  Each Wish Reveal Morning the Cottontails will play "Who's That Baby?" making guesses as to which Kindergartener is featured in the Baby Picture of the Day.  At Morning Meeting, I will reveal "Who's That Baby?" and therefore who's wish will come true that day.

Email me your child's baby picture by Monday, May 4th, and keep the picture you select a secret so your child can be just as surprised when their own baby picture is on display.  Now for a little "Who's That Baby?" fun!  Take a look below and can you guess…"Who's That Baby?"

I'll give you a hint.  It's actually a picture of two little ones...it seems like they could practically be twins...but they're not.  ;)  Enjoy, have fun, and thank you for helping us make the end of our Kindergarten year so magical!  REMEMBER, keep the baby picture you send in a BIG TOP SECRET.

Partner Book & Scholastic Book Orders Due

Please remember that two book orders are due soon.

Scholastic Book Orders - Due NEXT Monday, April 27th

All Scholastic Book Orders are due next Mondays.  April's ordering incentives are INCREDIBLE and your order will provide an extra amazing amount of free books and supplies for our classroom.  Your ordering support is much appreciated.  Please visit Scholastic's Website to order.  First time orders should use the activation code:  NCNYY

Partner Book Orders - Due NEXT Thursday, April 30th

Each student is required to order a Partner Book Anthology - a collection of stories written and illustrated by your child and their partners.  Anthologies are $8.  Using THIS order form please drop off your child's order and payment (checks payable to Willowwind School) to the Front Desk.

Partner Book Ordering - Due Thur, 04.30

Willowwind prides itself on providing authentic learning opportunities for all of its students.  This shows itself in a variety of ways but one of the most loved ways is through the planning, drafting, writing and illustrating Partner Books.  Willowwind families keep these Partner Books as a treasured part of their home libraries for many years.

This year, our Partner Book tradition is growing!!  Partner Books will be bound in a "Partner Book Anthology".  Students will not only be gifting their written work to their partner but they will also be given the chance (for the first time!) to keep their own work to look back on for years to come.  Because of this unique growth in our tradition all students are required to purchase a "PartnerBook Anthology".

Partner Book Anthologys are available for $8 (the cost of printing).  Click HERE for the order form.  If the printing cost creates hardship for your family please let me know.  Willowwind is happy to work with families to create a wonderful opportunity for everyone.  All orders are due no later than Thursday, April 30th.  Thanks for your support in this wonderfully authentic Willowwind tradition!  If you have any questions or concerns please let me know.

Change for Cancer Reminder - THIS WEEK

As a reminder, this week is our Change for Cancer Drive.  On Friday, your child brought home a coin box.  Please see below for more information.  In addition, if you could count the change at home and let us know daily the amount that would be great.  It will allow you to make a great coin counting experience for your child and will help us with our day-to-day needs.

Throughout the week, we will collect the following coins:

Mon 4.20:  Powerful Pennies

Tue 4.21:  Nice Nickels

Wed 4.22:  Dazzling Dimes

Thurs 4.23:  Charitable Quarters

Fri 4.24:  Last Chance Change for LLS

For every $0.25 cents a student donates, they can enter a class drawing to pick a silly costume item for their teacher to wear throughout the day on Friday, April 24th's "Dress Your Teacher Day".  Bring the coin box back to school daily (with change counted).

Impromptu Field Trip - TOMORROW Fri 04.17

Lou and I have decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather tomorrow Friday, April 17 (and that fact that it's Friday!) and take the Kindergarteners on a Spring walk to Friendship Park.  We will be leaving Willowwind at 9:00 and will return to school by 10:45.  Please be sure your child wears comfortable walking shoes, has a water bottle, and wears layers (while it may get up to 79 our Spring mornings can still be chilly).  While on our walk we plan to:
•  use our five senses to identify signs of spring
•  enjoy each other's company and our classroom communities
•  HAVE FUN!

Let me know if you have questions.  We are looking forward to it!

Annual Mtg - TOMORROW 4.16 @ 5:30

Don't forget!  Willowwind's Annual Meeting is TOMORROW Thursday, April 16.  The Annual Meeting will highlight the state of our school and will be the opportunity to announce exciting growth and changes at Willowwind School.  In addition, the meeting is an opportunity for you to voice your desires for the school by voting for nominated Willowwind Board Members.  This is an important opportunity for you to be a pivotal part of our community.  Child care will be provided.  Please email Rachel B at rachelb@willowwind.org if you are in need of childcare.  See you there.

Apr 20-24 Change for Cancer Coin Drive

Willowwind is excited to announce it's next charitable drive in partnership with the Leukemia and Lymphomas Society (LLS).  Beginning next week (April 20-24), Willowwind students and families can BRING THE CHANGE against cancer.  Each day, students and families are invited to bring in spare change to donate to LLS.  Throughout the week, classes will focus on collecting the following coins:

Mon 4.20:  Powerful Pennies

Tue 4.21:  Nice Nickels

Wed 4.22:  Dazzling Dimes

Thurs 4.23:  Charitable Quarters

Fri 4.24:  Last Chance Change for LLS

For every $0.25 cents a student donates, they can enter a class drawing to pick a silly costume item for their teacher to wear throughout the day on Friday, April 24th's "Dress Your Teacher Day".  Silly costume items may include: boas, oversized glasses, funny wigs and hats, goofy shirts, etc.  This Friday, April 20th, students will take home LLS coin boxes to collect coins.  They may bring this box back to school daily, throughout the week of April 20th, with coins to donate.  Each day, students and teachers will count up coins to enter into their class's drawing for "Dress Your Teacher Day".

Next week's "Change for Cancer Drive", is an optional charitable opportunity for your child to participate in.  Students are thrilled at another chance to help others.  If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.  Thanks for your support in "bringing the change".

Science Homework: Reusable Materials - Due Thurs, 4.15

Your help is needed!  For some Science fun, our Kindergarten classes are in need of

any items that can be reused and/ or repurposed into something else

Please bring in any reusable materials by THIS Thursday, April 15th.

Examples may include:
•  yogurt cups
•  paper towel / toilet paper rolls
•  plastic bottles and caps
•  cans
• jars and lids
Please be sure all items are clean before bringing into school.

Kindergarteners will begin studying the importance of caring for, and protecting, our Earth.  We will be defining and creating examples of ways to:

•  reduce

•  reuse

•  recycle

Thanks for your help!

Becoming 1st Grade Readers & Writers

Spring is here and we are already beginning to prepare for what's to come in first grade.  It is so hard to believe that first grade is right around the corner.  Please read the information below carefully as some routines are changing as we make way for routines to help us familiarize with activities similar to first grade routines.

Plastic Book Bag
In order to better focus our school time, and preparation time, on furthering students' reading abilities we have finished up our routine of taking home books from school.  Please note that your child will no longer bring their plastic bag home.   If you are further interested in finding leveled for your child at home please click HERE to visit Scholastic's Book Wizard.  I am happy to provide your child's current reading level if interested.  Feel free to ask.

Guided Reading Homework
Kindergarten students will continue to meet weekly in guided reading groups.  Here your child will work with texts and literacy activities appropriate with your current level of reading.  Reading strategies and activities may include exploring text, sounding out words, connecting to our reading, studying characters, mastering sight words, describing the story's setting, etc.  Beginning this week, students may receive guided reading homework.  Please look periodically in your child's take home folder for this homework.  Each guided reading homework will include clear instructions and whether or not this homework needs to return to school and it's due date if necessary.

Weekly Writing Homework
Today your child took home their first weekly writing homework assignment.  Please see your child's take home folder for the assignment and more information.  Each week, please discuss the homework's sentence starter with your child and have them use kid spelling (see previous blog post) to complete the prompt.  Your child’s writing homework can be worked on throughout the whole week.  If your child is excited to complete their homework at the start of the week then embrace their excitement; however, it is okay to work on it bit by bit, day by day.  We are working towards being able to write the same number of sentences as our age (5 or 6 sentences).

When they have completed their writing assignment have them draw a picture on the back of the paper with crayons or colored pencils.  Kindergarteners are encouraged to use the same number of colors as their age (5 or 6 colors).  We will share our weekly writing homework next Monday during Moring Meeting.  Please be sure your child is ready to share.

As always, please let me know if you have questions.  Please enjoy helping your child continue to grow.  Your support is much appreciated!

WW's FIRST Cultural Festival - THIS Sat, 4.18 @ 3:00

You're Invited to Willowwind's Cultural Festival Saturday, April 18th, 3:00-4:30pm Many PK-6th grade families have volunteered to share some traditions from their own culture with us. Culture booths will include music, crafts, photos, traditional items of clothing, dances, games, and traditional foods from different countries around the world.  This open house style event will begin at 3:00pm. Families will be welcome to move freely around the school, visiting each country and filling up their passport. Each preschool classroom will be representing a country and there will be several additional countries represented upstairs. The whole school will gather together at 4:15pm to conclude the festival with a folk dance led by several of our specials teachers. This is such a fun opportunity for us to learn even more about one another. We hope to see you there!!

Willowwind Friends and Family Update Where in the World Did We Come From? In preparation for the upcoming Willowwind Cultural Festival on April 18th, we are asking all families to take a moment and let us know where their family hails from. Please sign the sheet at the front desk with your family information by Tuesday, April 14th.  The Racerunners will be using this information to label a map of the world with all of the wonderful locations that are represented in our student body.

Reminders & Upcoming Events

Please read carefully as there are a number of important announcements and upcoming events.

NO Wolf Cafe - April 13-17
Due to the 5/6 grade's class trip to Camp Edwards there will be no Wolf Cafe.  Please be sure your child has a lunch from home each day this week.  If you have any questions please let me know or feel free to email 5/6 grade teacher Rachel DeMaris at racheld@willowwind.org.

Daily Snack
Please remember to pack two daily snacks (one on Thursdays) for your child.  A number of kindergarteners are without afternoon snacks each day.  If your family combines snacks and lunch into one lunch bag please be sure your child knows to leave something for afternoon snack.

Snowpants / Boots
It's official! Snowpants have gone home for the year.  Spring is here and the snow seems to be gone for good; however; our playground is still muddy with the Spring thaw and Spring rain.  Please be sure your child continues to bring boots to school throughout our wet Spring months.  They are welcomed to bring rain boots if you'd like to switch out the snow boots.  Please note that students must have boots to play on the grass and playground.  In addition, if your child still has a sled here at school it must return home.

Upcoming Event - Annual Meeting
Thursday, April 16th   5:30 - 7:00
Willowwind's Annual Meeting is this Thursday, April 16.  The Annual Meeting will highlight the state of our school and will be the opportunity to announce exciting growth and changes at Willowwind School.  In addition, the meeting is an opportunity for you to voice your desires for the school by voting for nominated Willowwind Board Members.  This is an important opportunity for you to be a pivotal part of our community.  Child care will be provided.  Please email Rachel B at rachelb@willowwind.org if you are in need of childcare.  See you there.

Upcoming Field Trip - American Legion
Monday, April 20th   1:30 - 2:00
On Monday, April 20th, the Kindergarteners will be walking to the Iowa City American Legion where we will be able to present our Community Night presentation on Acts of Kindness.  This is a huge honor to share with the community the wonderful things our students due to better our community.  We are looking forward to the fun!

Invented Spelling News Article

In conjunction with last's week's fun "Invented Spelling" blog, I found this interesting article from The Atlantic.

How Spelling Keeps Kids from Learning

Enjoy!  Last's week Invented Spelling blog is featured below:

Der Parints,

As ur child brings hom riting, do nut be serprizd at the speling. The inglish langwij is confuzing for studints. Prematur insistints that studints use standar or "correct" speling inhibits thair dezir and ability to rit. We will uz "kid speling" or "fnetic speling" in r wrk. It is a grat asesment to se wit yur child nos.

Az parints u can hlp ur child bi prazing awl thair riting. Let ur child red thair riting to u. Displa thair riting arownd ur hom. No that as ur child becomz familyr with riting, he or she wil mak the tranzishun to standar speling.

Sincrle,
Mz Mishel

Reminders

Just a few quick reminders to send your way...

Highlights Order
Don't forget to submit your child's Highlights order form by this Friday, April 10th.  Please remember that an order or no order does not matter to our class.  Simply return the form with your indication (yes or no) helps us receive free supplies for our classroom.  Your help is greatly appreciated.

Toys from Home
Please remember to have your child keep ALL toys from home at home.  Throughout the year they have become a large distraction to our learning.  To help minimize distractions during the school day please be sure your child keeps all personal toys and belongings at home.  If your child has a book to share with the class they are always welcomed to bring it in.  Thank you for your help in providing a classroom environment with minimal outside distractions.

VIP Day Fun

Yesterday's VIP Day was a huge success!  Thank you for helping facilitate its fun!  

While the day was so much fun and it was treat listening to students act as leaders as they led their VIP around the school and classroom - preparing for the big day was half the fun.  Gearing up to yesterday students:

1) created invitations to send to VIPs

2) selected activities to share with VIPs

3) cleaned and prepared the classroom

4) created a timeline of events for our VIPs

5) came up with lunch conversation starters

5) practiced, practiced, and practiced some more for their beautiful Spring Music Program.

Now that the day has come and gone our students are now working on writing thank you notes to VIPs for taking time out of their day to visit Willowwind.  If your child's VIP was different than a parent please send me your child's VIP mailing address by Friday, April 10th.

Below is a picture walk of the fun we had.  Enjoy!

Don't Forget! Burrowing Owl Cafe - Tomorrow 04.03

Please join us on Friday, April 3 for the annual Burrowing Owl Café. The Owls will be serving breakfast from 7:30 to 8:30. We are earning money for our class trip to the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge.  We will view an Iowa prairie with a herd of bison and do a stewardship project while we are there.  Come join us for a healthy breakfast and bring the whole family.  Don't have time to eat? You can take some goodies to share at work AND donations are welcome as well.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!

Volunteer Opportunities

Willowwind's NEW website has a NEW page to view upcoming volunteer hours.  Click HERE to see the new volunteer page.  As a reminder, 20 hours of volunteer time is required per family.  Enjoy the new website!