Snowy Recess Rules

Hi Parents,

The kids will go outside for recess during the winter season as long as the temperature is higher than 20 degrees with wind chill.

Snowy Recess Rules
*Students without boots must stay on the pavement, away from the snow
*Students with boots may walk through shallow snow
*Students with snow pants and boots may play in the snow (shallow or deep)
*Students must have gloves to touch the snow
*Students may never throw snow
*The play structure will be closed if covered with ice or snow

**We will not put snow pants on every recess, as dressing and undressing can be very time consuming.

Thanks,
Mrs. Newman

Mystery Sweater

I found a navy blue, knit sweater with buttons down the front on the floor. However, nobody is claiming it! Does this belong to your child? If so, please email me!

Winter Fun

Dear Parents,

Our class Wintertime Celebration is approaching. I am looking to work with three volunteers to organize, donate, and run craft activities or games with the kids during our celebration.

Our celebration will be Wednesday, December 18^th from 2:00-2:45pm.

Please email me if you are interested in organizing and planning for our celebration! If there are more than three volunteers, I will hold a lottery and you will be notified if you are chosen.

In your email please include: 

*your child's name

*your name (which is CORI approved)

*your craft and/or game ideas 

Thank you for your support, 

Mrs. Newman

Everyday Math Games

FYI...I added a link to the Everyday Math Games to the right sidebar of this blog.

Kindergarten Community Meeting Changed Again!!

There may be bad weather on Monday the 9th, so the Miller staff thought it would be best to have the Kindergarten Community Meeting today. We didn't have our "I don't bully" shirts, but that was okay. We all "go with the flow" in Room 110.

Have a great weekend,
Mrs. Newman

We Did It Again!

Dear Parents,

We filled our classroom marble jar! This means we have been great listeners, followed directions, and have been super kind! As a reward, today the students watched the fun winter movie, Frosty the Snowman. Also, we will have a “show and tell” on Monday, December 9^th. The students may bring in a special item from home to share with the class. This special item should be non-breakable, inexpensive, and able to fit inside a backpack.

                     Great Job Class,

Mrs. Newman

Community Meeting Date Keeps Changing

The Kindergarten Community Meeting was this Friday the 5th. A notice went home today saying that it was changed to tomorrow, Wednesday the 4th. However, I just received a message saying that Kindergarten Community Meeting is going to be changed again to next Monday the 9th. If you see this post, don't bother sending your child in with his/her green "I don't bully shirt."

The Magic of Christmas!

Several people have donated very generous gifts for our adopted family (Wish Project of Lowell). I am very excited for our adopted family to receive so many wonderful, thoughtful gifts from our class. Thank you to everyone who participated in this project!!!!

I will continue to accept donations up until Dec 4th.

Warmly,
Mrs. Newman

Book Fair

A few parents have asked about the Book Fair...

There is a Scholastic Book Fair in the Miller School Lobby. It will be open during all conference hours. Your child will be visiting the fair during normal library time (Thursday Dec. 5,  2:20-2:50) next week. If you would like, you may join our class visit and possibly help your child make purchases, or you may send in money with your child and a teacher will help.

Everyday Math Online

As you know, our school has adopted Everyday Mathematics® as our core math
curriculum. As part of this program, we have access to the Everyday Math Online website, which will
be integral to your child's learning experience.

The site can be used on almost any computer with high-speed Internet and a common web browser, such as Internet Explorer, Safari, or Firefox. Before you begin, you should

• receive your child’s individual Login Card from your child’s teacher.
• install (or update) the Adobe Flash and Adobe Shockwave plug-ins from www.adobe.com.
• add exceptions for everydaymathonline.com and emgames.com, if you restrict Internet access on the
computer used by your child.

***I am sending home the Log In Card today!***

The Magic of Christmas

A few families have emailed me about donating to our adopted family (The Wish Project of Lowell). If you are are willing to donate, please email me so that I may guide donations.  My hope is that each member of the family receives three gifts.

Early Release

Reminder: There is an early release tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 15th. 

Dismissal time will be 12:20 pm. 

Please only send in one AM snack, as there will be no lunch or PM snack break. 

Also, please inform me of any changes to your child's PM transportation.

Thank you, 
Mrs. Newman

December/Winter Scholastic Book Orders

I will be putting in our next scholastic order on November 22nd.

The Magic of Christmas

The Wish Project of Lowell

The Rita Miller School is reaching out to help those most in need in our community during the holiday season.  We are teaming up with the Lowell Wish Project’s Magic of Christmas by adopting a family who barely has enough to provide basics, let alone any extras to help celebrate this holiday season. Our family includes a 44 year-old female and two eight year-old girls.

If you choose to participate, but do not want to buy a gift, please consider purchasing a gift card to Target, Wal-Mart, a grocery store, or you may donate cash. If you choose to help our adopted family in need, please send in all gifts and donations by Monday, December 2nd

Guidelines:

¨           Gifts must be new

¨           Gifts must be unwrapped

¨           Think practical

¨           Think healthy

¨           Seasonally appropriate

¨           No pets, plants, or anything that requires tending

¨           No video games

Please contact me by email (hnewman@westfordk12.us) as soon as possible if you will be making a donation. My hope is to collect at least three gifts for each member of our family. Thank you very much for considering this important project!

Our Family:

44-year-old female

Shirt size: M/6            Pant Size: 6            Shoe Size: 9

Wish List: painting, sewing, creating candles, body lotion, Target/Wal-Mart/grocery gift cards

8 year-old female

Shirt size: L/10-12            Pant Size: L/10-12            Shoe Size: 2

Likes/Interests: iTunes gift cards/ roller-skating, Chuck E. Cheese gift cards, shirt/sweaters, and pants

8 year-old female

Shirt size: L/10-12            Pant Size: L/10-12            Shoe Size: 2

Likes/Interests: iTunes gift cards/ roller-skating, Chuck E. Cheese gift cards, shirt/sweaters, and pants

Thank you,

Mrs. Newman

November Dates to Remember

*11/11 No School       
           Happy Veteran's Day 

*11/15 Early Release 12:20pm
            Picture Retakes
            Miller Movie Night 6:00-8:30pm

*11/22 Report Cards go home
            Kindergarten Parent/Child Lunch 12:20pm

*11/25 2-hr Delay School Day Start 11:10am
            Morning Parent/Teacher Conferences

*11/26 No School
            Evening Parent/Teacher Conferences

*11/27 Early Release 12:20pm
            Happy Hanukkah

*11/28 No School
            Happy Thanksgiving

*11/29 No School

Warm Recess Clothing

Brrrrr, it is getting cold outside! Please send your child to school with warm clothing as the season is changing.

Thanks,
Mrs. Newman

November Book Order Sent

I submitted the November Scholastic book order. The books should be in soon!

Raz-Kids

Dear Parent,

I'm happy to inform you that your student has access to hundreds of eBooks using the school's subscription to www.raz-kids.com. Children can read and listen to books on Raz-Kids and even record themselves reading. Afterwards they can take a quiz to check for comprehension. To access your child's assignment, log in at www.raz-kids.com/login/hhnewman using the teacher username: hhnewman (there is a link attached to this blog page).

See which books your student has been reading, send them messages, and review all their activity with our Parent Access area. Simply log in as your student, click the "Parents" link in the top right, and register today.

Enjoy!
Mrs. Newman

Halloween Fun

The Miller School Halloween parade will be on Thursday, October 31^st at 1:35pm. On the day of the parade, students are welcome to bring costumes to school in a labeled bag.  As we will have limited time to change before the parade, please select costumes that can be put on over clothing. We also request that no masks, makeup, or weapons be sent to school as part of your child’s costume. 

It may be helpful to have two or three parent volunteers assist with costume changing. Please email me at hnewman@westfordk12.us if you would be willing to come in 15 minutes before and after the parade to help. Please remember that only those parents with CORI and confidentiality forms on file are able to volunteer.

Happy Halloween,

Mrs. Newman

Scholastic Ordering

November Scholastic Book Catalogs are going home today! I will be putting in our next order on November 1st.

Even though I am sending home the SeeSaw Kindergarten Catalog, please feel free to order from other catalogs by clicking "shop by flyer" or browsing other grade level flyers.

Also, some parents have asked how they may donate books to the classroom through Scholastic. As you are ordering books online, you may see the words "Buy from Class Wish List (1 remaining)" under some book titles. I update the Class Wish List each month.

Living Lab

Dear Parents,

We will be visiting the Living Lab at the Day School on Tuesday, October 22nd. We will take a bus from the Miller School leaving at 9:15 and return back around 11:00. I thought I sent home permission slips weeks ago, but realized I didn't when I went looking for them today. Woops!! Please sign your child's permission slip going home today and return it to me ASAP.

Thank you,
Mrs. Newman

Special Guest Reader

We had a very special guest reader today! Ask your child about the story that Lily's big sister, Sierra, read to us. It was about her visit to Fenway Park and the Green Monster.

Thank you for visiting our classroom Sierra!

Columbus Day: No School

Enjoy this upcoming long weekend! There will be no school next Monday, Oct 14th. Happy Columbus Day!

Community Meeting: Oct. 11th

We have a Community Meeting this Friday, Oct. 11th. Remember to dress you child in his/her green "I Don't Bully" t-shirt.

Early Release: Oct. 10th

There is an early release this Thursday, Oct. 10th. 

Dismissal time will be 12:20 pm. 

On the 10th, please only send in one AM snack, as there will be no lunch or PM snack break. 

Also, please inform me of any changes to your child's PM transportation.

I will send home a reminder notice.

Scholastic Book Orders

I submitted the September Scholastic book order today. I will be submitting the October order on the 11th, as I want any Halloween books ordered to come in before the holiday.

Mini Chart

This week I sent home a mini Lively Letter chart as a resource for the children to use while completing homework. The children may refer to this chart while coloring the characters at home. Please keep this resource somewhere safe to be reused each week.

If there are any questions about homework, please feel free to email me at hnewman@westfordk12.us

 

Reward Day

We filled our classroom marble jar! This means we have been great listeners, followed directions, and have been super kind! As a reward, room 110 is having its very own pajama day. Friday October 4^th, everyone in room 110 may wear their favorite pair of PJ’s to school! Also, to celebrate our special day, the students may bring in a special stuffed animal friend. This special stuffed animal friend should be able to fit inside a backpack.

Homework

 Dear Parents, 

The first homework packet will be sent home next Monday the 23rd.

You will find a packet in your child's Take Home Folder that includes:

A Weekly Reading Log
Please read with your child every night, even if it is only for 5 minutes. Take turns reading.

A Math Page
Follow the directions. Many of these sheets include directions to games/activities, which do not get sent back to school. If this is the case, please record somewhere on the sheet that the game/activity has been completed.

A Lively Letter Page
The letter character on the front side should be colored with care. Then write 3 words beginning with the targeted letter, and draw a picture to match. Your child should be writing and sketching with a pencil and coloring with crayons or colored pencils.

Handwriting Pages
In the classroom we say, "trace and try.” Trace a black letter, then try it, then trace, then try... until the pages are complete. The targeted letters should be written with your child's best effort in pencil.

Homework will be due back to school every Friday. Feel free to send an email if there are any questions.

Happy Homework, 
Mrs. Newman

Curriculum Night

Dear Parents,

It was great seeing so many of you at Curriculum Night last night. I hope you find the information I shared to be helpful through out the school year.

Have a great weekend,
Mrs. Newman

Scholastic Book Ordering

Shop Online: scholastic.com/readingclub

One-Time Class Activation Code: FMQWC

Dear Families,

Encouraging reading is one of the most important things we can do to help
your child succeed. It can be tough finding the right books to keep them interested,
which is why I am so excited that our class will be participating in Scholastic
Reading Club this school year.

With Scholastic Reading Club:

*Every book you buy earns FREE Books for our classroom library

*You can choose from handpicked, grade- and reading-level-specific books
  for your child

*You'll find the best values on a variety of formats, including eBooks

Each month, your child will bring home Reading Club flyers. Together you
can choose from books hand-selected by teachers and experts, and then
order online or by returning your order form and payment to me.

 

If This Is Your First Time Ordering Online:

*REGISTER at scholastic.com/readingclub

*ENTER the Class Activation Code at the top of this letter

*CHOOSE from thousands of print titles, value packs, and Storia eBooks

*SUBMIT the order to me by the due date listed on the website

*EARN FREE Books for our classroom too!

School Photos

We had our pictures taken yesterday. We were all smiles! But just in case any eyes were closed, there will be retakes Nov. 15th.

Curriculum Night

Reminder...

Kindergarten Curriculum Night is tomorrow night, Thursday Sept. 19th at 6:30pm located in our classroom, Rm 110.

I encourage you to attend! This is an opportunity to learn about the curriculum used to teach your child.

Please leave the children at home, as this is an adult only night.

See you then,
Mrs. Newman

Dear Parents,

It was so exciting to meet all of you at orientation. I am looking forward to starting new adventures with your children this school year. Our kindergarten class will create many spectacular learning experiences. I hope you will share in our enthusiasm to make this year a memorable one.

The first days of school went very smoothly. The children will probably come home very tired during the next few weeks. They may need to play or have some quiet time before they’re ready to talk about their day. They may also need extra sleep during this adjustment period. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me.

On a more practical note, I would ask that you please continue to label the children’s am and pm snacks in separate bags from their lunches. Hungry tummies in the morning are often tempted to eat both snacks and lunch, leaving them hungry in the afternoon. Every Thursday, your child will be coming home with a library book. You may keep the book for one week. Please return the book the following Thursday so that your child may choose a new book to take home. One last note… Ms. Frost has asked me to forward along a message for all the children to wear sneakers every Tuesday during her wellness lesson.

I hope to see you all during the school year and encourage you to be actively involved in your child’s education. I am looking forward to an exciting and enriching year.

Warm regards, 
Mrs. Newman 

Early Release

There is an early release this Wednesday, Sept. 11th. 

Dismissal time will be 12:20 pm. 

On the 11th, please only send in one AM snack, as there will be no lunch or PM snack break. 

Also, please inform me of any changes to your child's PM transportation.

I will send home a reminder notice.

Thank you, 
Mrs. Newman

"I Don't Bully"

Last Wednesday (Sept. 4th) teachers wore bright pink t-shirts saying, "I Don't Bully."

All kindergarteners received bright green t-shirts that said, "I Don't Bully" as well. First and second graders are already proud owners.

Teachers and students are asked to wear these t-shirts on Community Meeting days. Last Wednesday we had our first Community Meeting. Each month we have a meeting. The October date is Friday the 4th.

The t-shirts bought for kindergartners are intended to last all three Miller years, thus the t-shirts were ordered extra large for growth.

Day One

We had an awesome day in room 110 today!!! Your children are wonderful!!!

Folders and Blankets

*Just a reminder that your child should bring his/her "take home folder" to school everyday.

*Also, your child should bring in a blanket or towel (beach size) to place on top of his/her rest mat. I also told the children that they may read books in the classroom or from home during rest time. They may also rest with ONE small stuffed friend from home. Rest blankets/towels will go home every other Friday to be cleaned. Please return the items the following Monday.

Take-A-Break Chair Information

In the beginning of the school year the class will spend a lot of time generating and reviewing classroom rules. I will also introduce the children to the “Take-A-Break Chair.” This is a chair that is used to give the children a chance to cool down, calm down and think about their behavior. Children are asked to take a break in the “Take-A-Break Chair” when they are not following a classroom rule. The “Take-A-Break Chair” is a place where the children can think about how they may change their behavior and gain control over their body, voice and choice making.

The class will also spend time talking about how it is okay to make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes. The “Take-A-Break Chair” is not a punishment. It is a tool for the children to use when trying to change their behavior and gain control. A child simply goes to the chair, takes a deep breath, thinks about why they are there and when they are ready, they rejoin the class.

The children and I will discuss that one or two visits to the “Take-A-Break Chair” may be needed to help stay in control. However, three visits means it was a very difficult day. If three visits occur, then a note will go home so that moms and dads can help review classroom rules.

Teachers and children will generate the classroom rules as a team together. The children will play an important part in deciding what rules are needed to maintain a safe, productive, and happy classroom environment. Just to give you an idea, below are the classroom rules from last year:

Example of Classroom Rules:

1) Always keep your body in control

2) Always follow directions

3) Always be respectful of school supplies

4) Have Fun!

I thank you in advance for your support from home.

Welcome to Kindergarten!

Dear families,

I am very pleased to have your child in my class! The beginning of the school year is a very busy and exciting time for everyone. The first few weeks will be spent learning classroom routines, meeting new teachers, and making new friends.

        

I will frequently be posting on our classroom blog, http://mrsnewmanclassroom.blogspot.com/ to inform you of classroom news and information. The best way to contact me is by email. My email address is hnewman@westfordk12.us. You may also contact me by phone at the Miller School: 978-392-4476 ext. 4110, or by putting a written note into your child’s Take Home Folder. I will get back to you as soon as possible.

        

The remainder of this letter includes some important information regarding our classroom. Please take a minute to read it over.

Snack Time: We have snack time in our classroom twice a day. Please send two snacks and two drinks in two separate bags or lunch boxes with your child’s name clearly labeled on the outside. I encourage you to send nutritious, non-messy snacks.

Lunch and Rest: The children will have a lunch period every day. Please have your child’s lunch labeled so that it is easy to find in our classroom lunch bin. Students also have the opportunity to buy milk, individual lunches, and lunch tickets. Each day after lunch the students will have a short rest period where they will need a beach-sized towel or blanket to rest on. Rest time will be a quiet time in the classroom; the lights will be off and soft music will be playing.

Absence from school: Please leave a message with our school secretary at: 978-392-4476. She will call your home if she does not receive a message from you. If you have a planned absence you may send a note beforehand and I will notify the office.

Dismissals: Please send a note in your child’s Take Home Folder if he/she is going home any way other than their usually transportation. I may not have time to check my email or voicemail during the school day. If you do not have a written note, I must follow normal procedure and send your child home on their typical transportation. If you are picking up your child, please sign him/her out and wait in the office area.

Bus Tags: I will be sending home a laminated bus tag the first day of school. The tag will be attached to your child’s backpack. Please make sure this tag stays attached to the backpack for at least the first two weeks of school. It really helps at dismissal time! 

Teaching Assistants: We are very fortunate to have Mrs. Sevigny and Mrs. DiMatteo as our teaching assistants this year. They are both incredible assets to our classroom and the children are sure to love them.

I am looking forward to a wonderful school year together.  Thank you for sharing your children with me!

Hello!

Hello everyone,

I have come to realize that blogging fits my communication style better than a standard newsletter or webpage. Therefore, please feel free to follow along as I post classroom news, information, and reminders.

Thank you,
Mrs. Newman