Correction: Curriculum Night - WED 09.07 @ 5:30

Please Note:  CORRECTION
Curriculum Night is Wednesday, September 7th from 5:30-6:30.
NOT Thursday, September 8th as originally stated.

Mark your calendars!  PreK-6 Curriculum Night is NEXT Wednesday, September 7^th from 5:30 – 6:30.  Join your child’s classroom teacher as they discuss classroom plans for the 2016-2017 school year.  This event is designed to help families familiarize themselves with teachers’ integrative, engaging, project-based curriculum.  Specials teachers and our Program Director will be available to discuss this year’s Specials curriculum and Enrichment opportunities.

Parental attendance at this event is mandatory.  Childcare is available for all children three years old (and potty-trained) and older.  Email Rachel at rachelb@willowwind.org if you are interested in childcare.

We look forward to seeing you at this event.  Here’s to a successful school year for faculty, staff, families and – MOST IMPORTANTLY – our students!

Save the Date: Curriculum Night 09.07 5:30-6:30

Mark your calendars!  PreK-6 Curriculum Night is NEXT Wednesday, September 7^th from 5:30 – 6:30.  Join your child’s classroom teacher as they discuss classroom plans for the 2016-2017 school year.  This event is designed to help families familiarize themselves with teachers’ integrative, engaging, project-based curriculum.  Specials teachers and our Program Director will be available to discuss this year’s Specials curriculum and Enrichment opportunities.

Parental attendance at this event is mandatory.  Childcare is available for all children three years old (and potty-trained) and older.  Email Rachel at rachelb@willowwind.org if you are interested in childcare.

We look forward to seeing you at this event.  Here’s to a successful school year for faculty, staff, families and – MOST IMPORTANTLY – our students!

Field Trip: Summer Walk 09.01

School may be back in session but the summer heat is still in full swing.  Throughout the first week of school we have been talking about the season of summer.  We read Summer by Alice Low and drew and wrote about our favorite summer memories.  It looks like our Kindergarten friends had a GREAT Summer Break.

In the coming days we will also think like scientists while analyzing what Willowwind looks like in the Summer.  We will our realistic coloring to illustrate Willowwind at summertime - using blue for the sky, bright green for the grass, dark gray and green for our building walls and even red for the No Parking Zone.

This Thursday, September 1st, we will be taking our first field trip to further look at the season of Summer before it quickly gives way to Fall as we take a walking field trip to Friendship Park located off the bike trail just north of Willowwind.  On this field trip, we will begin to use our five senses to identify remaining signs of Summer.  We will plan to leave around 12:30 and will return to Willowwind by the end of the school day (2:00).  Please be sure your child is wearing comfy walking schools and has their water bottle.  We are looking forward to it.

Fall PEP Conferences - Sign Up & Parent Survey

Fall PEP Conference dates are right around the corner. During our 20 minute conference, we will discuss potential academic and social goals we would like to set for your child's Kindergarten year. We will also highlight your child's strengths and how we can use their strengths to further benefit their Kindergarten year. PEP goals are used to personalize and differentiate your child's instruction.

Please use the link below to sign up for a 20 minute conference. PEP Conferences are scheduled for Tuesday, September 13th and Tuesday, September 20th from 3:30 - 4:30 and Thursday, September 15th from 2:30 - 7:00.  Please sign up for a PEP conference time slot by Friday, September 9th.
Fall PEP Conference Sign Up

To best prepare you and me for this upcoming PEP conference please use the link below to complete the PEP Parent Survey. Via the link, please FIRST download a copy of the survey and then complete.  Once you have completed the survey please email to me by Friday, September 9th.  This survey helps the both of us better understand your child's strengths and ideal areas of focus for the coming year.
PEP Parent Survey

Kindergarten Routine: Cottontail Communicator

Yesterday (Monday), I sent home your child's first Cottontail Communicator.  On this gold Cottontail Communicator you will find classroom and school announcements, classroom activities, homework expectations and “due dates”, and suggested at-home activities for each week.  It serves an excellent way to aid in conversations with your young Kindergartener.  Most days, will detail an activity we participated in.  This allows you to ask detailed questions or prompt your child in conversations about the school day.  A new Cottontail Communicator will always go home with your child each Monday and should stay in your child’s Take Home Folder for that whole week.  Please make sure, with your child’s Take Home Folder, the Communicator travels back and forth to school daily.

It is a great place for you to add with quick comments, questions, and concerns, and a great way for me to do the same.  It is not required to sign or write notes, rather as an additional option for lines of communication between home work school.  If you do add a quick comment, be sure to let your Kindergartener know so he/she can aid in being sure I take a look at the note from home.

I will also continue to keep open communication with you via regular blog updates, Seesaw photos, videos, and notes, and personal emails.  Beginning next week, I will also communicate classroom events through our class’s weekly Cottontail Communicator.  

Please ask your child for this folder each evening as it may contain notes or handouts from me, homework, or completed schoolwork.  Be sure to empty the folder's "Left at Home side" on a daily basis and return it back to school every morning.  Anything on the "Right Back to School side" may require some home attention and then be returned to school.  Items on this side may include:  homework, paperwork, book orders, etc.  Please note:  Homework is minimal in Kindergarten and will go home after Curriculum Night where we will discuss our class homework policy for the year.  Homework expectations, when assigned, will be highlighted on the Communicator.  The activities listed at the bottom of the Communicator serve as optional ideas for ways you can continue learning at home. This folder a great tool that we will utilize everyday to aid your child in their growing independence, responsibility, and success.

Our First Day of Kindergarten!

Wow!!  The first day has come and gone!  What fun we had!!  I am so thrilled to be a part of your child's Kindergarten year!  We started the day by feeding our brains breakfast.  I could not believe how eager the kiddos were to be in Kindergarten and even more so how quietly they worked. After Brain Breakfast, we prepared our bodies for a busy day by stretching and moving at the start of Morning Meeting.

After focusing on the calendar and days of the weeks, a friendly bunny left clues throughout the school and we were able to participate in a "getting to know the building" scavenger hunt.  We enjoyed our snack and fun outside as we ran and played with some of our older friends at Morning Recess.

We met many more older friends at Group Discussion.  Group Discussion is a special Willowwind tradition where students young and old meet together to discuss all things important to friends at WW.  Today we discussed expectations for our lunch and recess times.  We also finished the sentence... "I am excited to be at Willowwind because..."

In the afternoon, we rested and we rested happily!  It might have been the most exciting time for many Cottontails as our bodies were tired from such a busy morning!   

Our final activity of the day was to draw a self-portrait. It was amazing to watch them to complete this job with such care.  Kindergarteners were asking their table mates to help them determine their eye color, asking about stripes in their shirts, and trying to find the perfect match for their hair color.  Look for our hard work to be on display in the coming days.

Our Brain Breakfast and a fun "1st Day of Kindergarten Coloring Book" went home in your child's new Take Home Folder.  Please see the following blog post for information about this routine.

This is an amazing group, and I am so excited for the year ahead.  It will surely be a great time with amazing growth all around.  Thank you for allowing me to share this journey with you.  Enjoy this class photo from the first day... See you tomorrow.

Kindergarten Routine: Take Home Folder

Today, the Cottontails were given their green Take Home Folder.  I typically send home Take Home Folder's during the 2nd week of school, but this class seemed eager and excited to start this routine from day one.  Below you will find information to help your child establish their own independence and responsibility with transporting their folder back and forth to school each day.

Take Home Folder

A green plastic folder has been established as your child’s Take Home Folder.  This folder needs to travel with them to and from school every day.  This will be one way to communicate between school and home.  Any notes can be sent inside the Take Home Folder or they can be written directly on the Cottontail Communicator found on the right side of your child’s Take Home Folder.  If you plan to send a note to school, fill your child in on the note – allowing them to act as a responsible messenger ensuring that your note makes its way to me.  Please be sure your child's backpack is large enough to zip up while carrying the Take Home Folder and any other necessary school supplies.

Cottontail Communicator

I will continue to keep open communication with you via regular blog updates and personal emails.  Beginning next week, I will also communicate classroom events through our class’s weekly Cottontail Communicator.  On the Cottontail Communicator you will find classroom and school announcements, classroom activities, homework expectations and “due dates”, and suggested at-home activities for each week.  A new Cottontail Communicator will always go home with your child each Monday and should stay in your child’s Take Home Folder for that whole week.  Please make sure, with your child’s Take Home Folder, the Communicator travels back and forth to school daily.  In addition, it is a great place for you to add with quick comments, questions, and concerns, and a great way for me to do the same.

Please ask your child for this folder each evening as it may contain notes or handouts from me, homework, or completed schoolwork.  Be sure to empty the folder's "Left at Home side" on a daily basis and return it back to school every morning.  Anything on the "Right Back to School side" may require some home attention and then be returned to school.  Items on this side may include:  homework, paperwork, book orders, etc.  This folder a great tool that we will utilize everyday to aid your child in their growing independence, responsibility, and success.

 

Welcome to the Kindergarten Website 2016-2017

Hello!  I am so happy you have found us here at the Cottontail Chatter.

Our website address is:  willowwindcottontails.weebly.com.

This website is your one stop shop for all things related to our busy days at Willowwind School.  Take a moment to look around.  In the coming weeks, I will be updating various pages & will let you know when updates to our website have been made.  Here you will find blog posts with reminders and sneak peeks into the classroom, a classroom calendar with important dates and events, curriculum focuses, photos, and links to other helpful websites.  Our Daily Schedule can be found in the Curriculum Tab's Daily Schedule sub tab.  Click HERE (click link) to visit our website's calendar page with upcoming dates through September.  Watch our website grow as our year begins.  The website will be completed updated by Willowwind's Curriculum Night on Wednesday, September 7th.  Save the date for your attendance at this evening event.  (More information to follow).

Interested in other classrooms' websites?  Visit our Website Page (click link) to access other websites.

Our blog is directly connected to our website allowing all of our Kindergarten information to be in one spot.  To make it even easier for you to access information please be sure to visit our website's Welcome Page (click link) where you will find a window at the bottom of the page to subscribe to our blog updates.  Simply enter your email address in the window, click "subscribe", and follow the onscreen instructions.  A verification email will then be sent to your email inbox where you must follow its instructions to finalize your website subscription.  Please be sure to subscribe to our classroom blog by the first day of school (Monday, August 22nd).  This is our primary way of whole classroom communication, so it is essential that you have subscribed as soon as possible.  If you subscribed prior to August 1st you may have to resubscribe as the website's contact list has been recently updated. In addition, please connect to your child's Seesaw account by Monday.  See August 14th's email for more information. Many thanks!

In addition to this post, look for blog posts below regarding:
•  Arrival / Dismissal Routine
•  Our Daily Schedule
•  WW's Healthy Eating / Snack & Lunch Routines
•  Sunscreen Needs

As you prepare for Monday, don't forget to look to our Kindergarten Personal School Supply List (click link) to be sure your child is prepared for school.  Until then, enjoy your weekend, and see you Monday.

Kindergarten Routine: Arrival & Dismissal

Beginning Monday, school starts at 8:15, but your child is welcome to come into class as early as 8:00 am.  Parents are always welcomed, too.  BSP is available for a part-time or full-time rate.  BSP takes place in the Gathering Space.  We will dismiss at 3:15 where friends who are going home will meet families outside the front entrance at the base of the steps.  ASP friends will make their way to the Gathering Space where ASP is available (for part-time or full-time rates) until 6:00.  Every Thursday, K-6 will dismiss at 2:00 following the same dismissal routine.

At dismissal time please DO NOT leave your car unattended in the fire lane.  This area with the red curb is meant to be a quick loading zone. If you arrive for pick up and the Kindergarteners are not outside waiting please loop around the circle drive to aid in pick up.  If you would like to greet your child on the steps please park your car in the designated parking spots.  Additional parking is available across the street at the River Community Church.

When your child leaves school at the end of each day, please be sure that they have said goodbye and confirmed with me that their designated pick up adult is here.  With the busyness of pick up it is essential that they say goodbye to me directly so I know that they have made their way to you.  Thank you for your help with this.

Kindergarten Routine: Daily Schedule

Here is our tentative daily schedule for the 2016-2107 school year.  As we build community and establish routines, it'll take a number of weeks to ease into this complete routine.  Specials classes will begin on Tuesday, August 23rd.  All times and activities are subject to change based on students' needs and interests.  Our daily schedule can also be found in the Curriculum Tab's Daily Schedule sub tab.

Kindergarten Routine: Sunscreen

We will be apply sunscreen during the afternoon hours of our school day.  If you'd like please be sure to apply sunscreen prior to school to aide in sun protection during our morning recess & Physical Education activities.

Please be sure to bring sunscreen to school.  If brand doesn't matter, Willowwind has sunscreen on hand with a SPF of 30 or higher that your child could use.

Kindergarten Routine: Healthy Eating - Snack / Lunch Routines

Please read the following information carefully as it details new routines regarding lunch, snack, and "treats" at Willowwind.

Cottontails' Snack Routine:
In Kindergarten, we have snack time twice daily (once on Thursdays).  Please pack your child a healthy snack for each morning and afternoon.  Click the Cottontails' Snack Routine handout for more information about our snack time as well as ideas for healthy snacks.  Please, NO JUICE OR MILK, during snack time.  The Kindergarteners will have frequent access to their water bottles throughout the day.

Willowwind's Pack In / Pack Out Routine:
Like snack, your family is responsible for providing your child a healthy lunch from home each day. Willowwind follows a "Pack In / Pack Out" snack & lunch routine.  All food (except compostable materials) are to be "Packed back In" to your child's lunch bag to go home.  Pack In / Pack Out allows families to be aware of their student's food intake throughout the school day.  This can, at times, become messy so please be patient as your family establishes a "Pack In" routine that works for you.  Some families provide washable containers with lids or Ziploc bags to store opened containers.  As our routine grows and changes from the voice of the students (i.e. future recycling routines) I will continue to communicate changes with you.  Please read the linked Pack In / Pack Out handout for more information.

Willowwind's Low Sugar Celebrations:
We continue to bring your child healthy and fun opportunities throughout the year.  Linked here you will find our Low Sugar Celebrations routine.  Please review as you prepare for your child's upcoming birthday.  Please note that all birthday treats must be low sugar (see linked document for ideas) and cupcakes, cake, and frosting is not allowed and will be returned home.

Thank you, in advanced,  for your support in creating health and Earth conscience routines for our students!  By the way...  Interested in learning about ways to eliminate waste in your child's lunch box and snack sack?  Check out these links below:
www.laptoplunches.com
www.lunchbox.com
www.goodbyn.com