Thank You

Dear Parents,

Thank you so much for the wonderful gifts! I love them all! I will forever remember this group of kindergartens because of my awesome student book and mug. The gift cards will come in handy too! You did a great job pinpointing my favorite places to shop. I laughed a bit when I saw the folders. That was a great idea. The plastic folders are much better than the paper ones I typically hand out.

Have a fun summer!
Mrs. Newman

Slide Show

Dear Parents,

We had a wonderful attendance at our Author Share last week. Thank you!!!

Some of you asked if I could send out copies of the concluding slide show. I looked into it and found out that unless you have the "Kid Pix" program on your computer, the slide show is not viewable. I assume that the typical home computer doesn't have this program.  However, if you do have it, I would be happy to send you a copy of your child's page in the show.

Thank you again for participating in your child's education,
Mrs. Newman

My Last Kindergarten Year

Dear Parents,

I want to let you know that this will be my last year teaching full day kindergarten. Next year I will be at the Crisafulli School as a third grade Student Support Teacher. I have tremendously enjoyed my time here at the Miller School. I have had a wonderful six years teaching full day kindergarten and will greatly miss my kindergartners and their families.

Warmly,
Mrs. Newman

My Summertime Plans

Hi Parents,

I want you to know about my summertime plans. I will be a teacher at the Extended School Year program here in Westford. I am also making myself available for private tutoring. If you are interested in tutoring over the summertime, let me know.

Have a great day,
Mrs. Newman

Last Book Bag

This Friday, May 30th, I will be sending home your child's last kindergarten book bag. I will not being sending book bags home in June.

Last Homework Packet

I am sending home the last kindergarten homework packet today. There will be no homework packets in June.

Author Share

Dear families,

Please come listen as the children share written stories! They have worked hard all year long and have become great writers!

Date: Wednesday, June 11th

Time: 2:00pm

Location: Miller School Room 110

Hope to see you then,

Mrs. Newman

We Did It Again!

We filled our classroom marble jar again! This means we have been great listeners, followed directions, and have been super kind! As a reward, tomorrow we will have a snack picnic, play during extra recess time, watch a Magic School Bus video and play games within the classroom.

Great Job Class,
Mrs. Newman

2nd Grade Concert

Today we attended the Dress Rehearsal of this year's 2nd Grade Concert Music and Literature. The rehearsal was from 2-3pm. Therefore, we were not able to check out new books from the Miller Library. We will visit the library next Thursday (5/15).

Letter Bingo

The children made their very own letter bingo game. We had a lot of fun playing bingo in school today. I am sending home the bingo boards and letter markers this afternoon so that you may also have the opportunity to play bingo with your child.

Have Fun,
Mrs. Newman

Ask Your Child About...

Today we participated in an awesome enrichment program with the Lowell Textile Museum! Ask your child what they learned, saw, felt and made.

Eric Carle Paper Making Day!

It’s with great excitement that we announce Eric Carle Paper Making Day! We are studying the work of this great children’s author.  We will be watching a video about how he makes his own paper to use for collages. On Friday, May 16th (9:10-10:40) we will be using some of these same methods to make our own paper.

As you can imagine this is going to be a bit messy so PLEASE SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL WITH OLDER CLOTHES THAT CAN GET DIRTY! We are looking for two volunteers per classroom to help with our papermaking. We are going to have a great time, and look forward to creating some beautiful work!

If you are available to volunteer, let me know. **You must have an approved CORI on file.**

Me on the Map

Dear Parents,

Today the children created activity books about where their special places are on the map. These activity books were inspired by Joan Sweeney's Me on the Map story book. Please review the information inside your child's activity book. It is full of important personal information (country, state, town, street name and house number) that your child should know.

Thank you,
Mrs. Newman

Today's Book Bags

The students' book bags did not make it into backpacks last Friday.  Thus, they are coming home today. Please return the bags tomorrow.

Thanks!
Mrs. Newman

Submitted Book Order

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

What to Wear?

The Kindergarten Community Meeting has been moved to next Friday, April 11th. Therefore, your children do not need to wear their green "I don't Bully Shirts" tomorrow. In fact, the Miller School invites you to celebrate Opening Day by wearing Red Sox clothing.

Spoons

Dear Parents,

The classroom is running very low on spoons. Any donations would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you for your support from home!
Mrs. Newman

ELA in the Spring

During spring trimester the children will be studying the following in English language arts:

*Eric Carle author study
*Blending sounds in words
*Hearing, saying and deleting sounds in words
*exploring word families (-at, -ay, -and, -ake and -ike)
*Lowercase letter writing formation
*Lively Letter practice
*Writing GOOD sentences (beginning with a capital, using spaces between words and ending with punctuation) 
*Creating silly sentence alphabet books
*Writing sequenced stories (first, next and last)
*Writing creative stories

Math in the Spring

During spring trimester the children will be studying the following concepts in math:

*Coin identification and exchange
*3D shapes (cube, sphere, cone, cylinder and rectangular prism)
*Skip counting by 10s, 5s and 2s
*Counting backwards from 20
*Math symbols (+, -, =)
*Solving addition and subtraction situations
*Time

Social Studies in the Spring

During this spring trimester the children will be:

*Participating in mapping activities

*Indicating locations (near, far, up, down, etc.)

*Identifying  Massachusetts as their state and United States as their country

*Identifying the current president by picture and name

*Discussing Independence Day

Science in the Spring

During this spring trimester the children will be:

*Using tools to solve problems

* Exploring waterworks plumbing

*Comparing animal families

*Reviewing the four seasons

Book Orders

I placed January's book order last week, so the books should be arriving any day now. I apologize for the long wait. I am usually really good about placing orders in a timely manner.

New catalogs were sent home today for March and Spring. I promise to submit these orders on time. Cross my heart!

Warmly,
Mrs. Newman

March and April Dates

3/17: Happy St. Patrick's Day!

3/19: Ask your child about "Bingo for Books"

3/20: First Day of Spring. Ask your child about the "Spring Hat Parade"

3/21: Parent-Child Lunch (12:20pm)

3/26: Community Night (6-8pm, I will be there!)

3/27: Field Trip to the Living Lab at the Day School (9:15am)

4/4:  Kindergarten Community Meeting (9:30am) & PTO Ice Cream Social (5:30pm)

4/7: Red Sox Opening Spirit Day

4/8: No School (Teacher Professional Development)

4/9: Ask your child about the "Honeybee Lady" Presentation

4/16: Grade 1 Information Night (6:30pm)

4/18: Early Release (12:20pm, Happy Good Friday)

4/21-4/25: Spring Break

No Book Bags

Due to conferences, there will be no book bags going home this afternoon.

Have a great weekend,
Mrs. Newman

Book Bag

Hello Parents,

I didn't send home the traditional Friday Book Bag before vacation. Instead, I am sending the bag home today. Please read with your child this evening and return the bag tomorrow, Tuesday February 25th.

Thank you for your support from home,
Mrs. Newman

Cleaning Supplies

In an effort to keep a clean and healthy learning environment, we wipe down all our tables and classroom supplies quite often. We are running low on Clorox wipes and cleaning spray (Simply Green). Any donations would be very much appreciated!!!

Thank you for your support from home,
Mrs. Newman

Recess Reminder

Hi Parents,

Lately many students have been forgetting to bring in snow gear for recess. Please help your child prepare for our chilly winter weather.

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

Valentine's Day

Dear Parents,

We will be celebrating Valentine’s Day on Friday, February 14^th!

In the classroom each child will decorate a Valentine’s Day gift bag. At home, please help your child prepare valentine cards to be placed in everyone’s bag. We ask that no food or candy be sent in with the cards due to allergy concerns.

I have two parent volunteers that will assist with sorting and exchanging the valentine cards. 

Warm Regards,

Mrs. Newman

Mrs. Newman’s Class List

2013/2014

Clara

Alex

 Katie

Grace

Saanvi

Kanha

Stephanie

Brandon

Will P

Dylan

AJ

Will S

Jessie

Ella

Eric

Lily

January and February Dates to Know

Jan 10- Kindergarten Community Meeting (Green Shirt)
Jan 20- No School (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
Jan 24- Parent/Child Lunch (12:15pm)

Feb 7- Kindergarten Community Meeting (Green Shirt)
Feb 11- Kindergarten Math & Science Night (6:30-7:30pm)
Feb 17-21- No School (Winter Break)
Feb 28- Parent/Child Lunch (12:15pm)

Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Please remember...

- every Tuesday your child should bring sneakers to school for Wellness Class. Your child will not be allowed to participate in gym activities without sneaker

-every Wednesday your child should bring their Miller Library book back to school, so that they may check out a new book

Book Bags

Dear Parents,

Starting this week your child will bring home a “Book Bag” on Friday afternoons. In the bag is a book for your child to read to family or friends. The books belong to the Miller School, so please remind your child to treat them with love and care.

During the week your child has read the book with a teacher. Your child should be able to read the book to others with ease. If you notice your child is struggling to read the books smoothly, please inform me right away.

In school the books are used to teach reading strategies and concepts. Please keep this in mind, as your child may be able to decode words at a higher level.

On Monday the “Book Bag” should be returned to school.

If you have any questions or comments about this new routine, please feel free to email me.

Thank you,

Mrs. Newman

January Community Meeting

This month's Kindergarten Community Meeting will be this Friday the 10th. A notice went home today reminding your child to wear his/her green "I don't bully shirt."