Mrs. Graham
MRS. GRAHAM'S GROUP
WELCOME TO KINDERGARTEN !
Contact Information
Phone: 217-965-5424
E-mail: jgraham@northmacschools
Boy has this year gone fast! I have sure enjoyed watching them grow and learn this year.
Dates to Remember
Friday, May 4 - Firemen Presentation/Field Trip
Tuesday, May 8 - Horse Ranch Field Trip (9:30-1:30)
Friday, Ma-y 18 - Kindergarten Picnic @ West Park 11:00-2:00
Monday, May 21 - 1:20 Dismissal
Tuesday, May 22 - FUN DAY & 1:20 Dismissal
Wednesday, May 23 - Teacher Institute-No Students
Thursday, May 24 - Report Card Day (Pick up and go)
The students have enjoyed waiting and seeing the baby chicks hatch in Mrs. Wernsing's room. This tied in with their learning about oviparous animals and their life cycles.
Please make sure students are dressed appropriately for the daily weather since we usually go outside for recess. Thanks!
Students are bringing home sentence pattern sheets each week. This activity incorporates the sight words into sentences and helps the students learn left to right tracking for reading. Thanks to all of you for practicing these sentences with your child and returning the signed note. It is extremely beneficial for your child. Thanks so much!
*Our class will be following the PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Support) Plan that the district uses.
The three rules of PBIS are:
Be Safe-do no physical harm to anyone
Be Respectful-do no emotional harm to anyone
Be Responsible-do our job and what is expected of us
The classroom has a stoplight display with a parking lot to keep track of student behavior.
Green light - Expected Behavior
Parking Lot - Warning for Needed Improvement
Yellow Light - Consequence (Missing part of recess or center time)
Red Light - Further Consequences
Good Behavior is rewarded with Panther Pride tickets, which are turned in to the office for a weekly drawing, and/or accumulated for classroom and grade level rewards.
Backpacks
Your child needs to have his/her backpack daily. Setting up a routine for his or her backpack as well as having a permanent place for it at home will help your child learn this important responsibility.
Folders
The daily folder is the primary form of communication for the classroom teacher and parents. It is vitally important to check it every day and send it back in your child's backpack. Thanks so much!
How do I go home?
This is one of the most important things to know for students to eliminate any anxiety. Verbal reminders to your child daily helps them to remember. However, if your child is going home a different way than the primary way, please send a note to me so I am clearly informed. Also, please fill out the gold form and return it to me in your child's daily folder. I truly appreciate parents' full cooperation and clear communications. It makes for a successful school experience for your child.
Lunch and Milk Money
Any time you send money to school, please place it in an envelope or zip lock bag with your child's name on it and what the money is for. Lunch money is collected on the first day of the week. You may pay by the week, month, or a set amount which will be put on your child's account. This account's balance can be accessed through the school's website to keep track of when more money is needed. On Friday, the office will send notices if your account has a negative balance. Children bringing their lunch may purchase a milk at the price of $ 0.35. The daily snack milk is separate and can be paid by the week, month, quarter, or year. Anything you pay by check should be made out to the Virden Elementary. Thanks.
Snacks
As a kindergarten class, we have a milk snack and another healthy snack daily. According to the handbook no snack can have peanuts or any tree nuts in them as well as being process where these nuts have been processed. We have students with allergies to nuts and need not be put in an unsafe situation of having a snack he/she may be allergic to. I sent home an August snack calendar please check it to see when your child's snack day is and make sure the snack is nut free and healthy. This also applies to birthday treats. Our school no longer accepts cookies or cakes for birthday treats. At the present time, please send in enough snacks for 18 students. Again, I appreciate all of the parents' support!
READING BEGINS WITH LETTERS AND SOUNDS.
Reading is all around us in our environment. Use the environment to practice the letters and sounds. For example, when you are eating breakfast, point out letters on cereal boxes or have your child identify letters and words in books, magazine, and papers. Find simple books for your child to try to read. Have your child chop the sounds in the word to figure out the words.
At school, we have learned all 26 letters and their sounds as well as writing the letters. Practicing at home of any kind will definitely help your child secure strong skills.
Let's work together for a wonderful year!
