Our week in the PreK Classroom

We are in the home stretch!  You should be extremely proud of your child and his/her accomplishments.  

SPRING CLEANING:  If you are cleaning out your child's toys, books, etc. please consider donating gently used items such as Magna Doodles, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Heads, Puzzles, Coloring Books, Matchbox Cars, Fisher Price Little People sets (zoo, train, farm, market, nativity, etc.) to the PreK class.  I would like to add to/update the toys in our classroom.  I also need baby dolls and doll accessories such as clothing, bottles, little dishes, etc.  We also
need sidewalk chalk and bubbles for outside time.
Thank you!

Our daily schedule is:  Arrival from 7:40 - 8:00.  Find a book, sit on carpet quietly until all have arrived.  We put our books away, participate in morning prayers and listen during morning announcements.  The children are then directed to their assigned center for the morning.  These centers incorporate learning while playing.  We clean up, have snack, and begin our Morning Meeting where we open with our prayer, mission statement, pledge of allegiance, calendar and weather discussion, recitation of the alphabet and silly sounds, and number line.  We also review our colors.  I will then introduce our theme of the day or week, followed by a story, discussion and projects/work.  These things will be reflected on the monthly calendar.  Lunch, recess, rest time, followed by free choice or social studies with LITTLE PASSPORTS, and a Caldecott Award book end our day.

Thursday afternoons are "Playdoh Thursday."  We play with Playdoh after rest time.

MOVIE FRIDAYS:  each day the class must earn a letter by doing good things, following rules, being kind, etc.  We must spell the word PRIDE by Friday.  The result will be a movie and popcorn on Friday afternoons.  

The flash cards made by your child will now be kept in the classroom.  If you have the set at home please return.  Since we are almost at the end of the alphabet I will be using them as a center.

All children with summer birthdays will have a "special day" in May where we will sing to them.  Your child's day will be indicated in the May calendar which will be sent home later this week.

MAY 23, 24, and 25:  COMMUNITY HELPERS WILL VISIT THE PREK CLASS!!!!
We will be learning about community helpers during this week.  I have arranged for the York City Fire Department, the York County Sheriff's K-9 Unit, and hopefully the York City Police Department to visit our class during this week.  If your child attends MWF, please adjust the schedule so they may attend TWTH of this week.  It will be very exciting!  

  I have a poster of  Caldecott Award winning books for children.  These are the most distinguished picture books for children.  Each day we will be reading a Caldecott winner and discussing the illustrations.  I have also created a book-making center for the children to inspire them to use their creativity and become authors/illustrators.

Our Caldecott books are a hit with the children.  We circle the book on our poster before reading.  We discuss if the illustrations help tell the story and what we like best about the book.

We our celebrating summer birthdays in May.  Please check the calendar and if mentions your child's name and "special day" we will be singing to your child.  You may bring a treat for celebration at snack time.  I do ask that NO large cupcakes be brought for birthdays.  It is a huge mess to clean-up and the children really only like the icing :)  Some suggestions are strawberries, cookies, donut holes, little brownies, Teddy Grahams, marshmallows, etc.  Please see me if you have questions.


Our "specials" schedule will generally be as follows:
Monday - Music 
Tuesday - No special
Wednesday - No special
Thursday - Computer
Friday - Mass, Physical Education

Reminders:
Please provide a snack each day for your child.  Drinks are not to be provided.  I serve water with snack.
Your child needs bedding for rest time. This can be a blanket and travel size pillow, a favorite stuffed animal, etc.  These items will remain at school for the week and be sent home on Fridays (or the last day of the week) to be laundered and returned on Mondays or the next school day.  Please make sure you provide a change of clothing for your child in the event of an accident or illness.  
PLEASE CHECK YOUR CHILD'S FOLDER DAILY FOR BEHAVIOR CALENDAR, PAPERS WHICH MAY NEED RETURNED, AND WORK COMPLETED BY YOUR CHILD.

Upcoming Events:

May 23 - York City Firefighters visit PreK
May 24 - Community Helpers visit PreK
May 25 - Ascension Day Mass 8:30 a.m.
May 25 - York County Sheriff's K-9 Unit visits PreK
May 26 - No School
May 29 - No School
May 31 - Field Day
June 2 - Mass 8:30 a.m.
June 4 - Pentecost
June 5 - PreK Beach Party/End of Year Celebration - please remember to send in $5.00 for this event
June 6 - 6th Grade Sending Forth Ceremony - Mass 9:00 a.m.
June 7 - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!  Closing Mass 8:30 a.m.
Early Dismissal and No Extended Day
HAPPY SUMMER!!!!!!!

NOTE:  PreK is in DESPERATE need of extra clothing for the children.  Please send in extra sweatpants, underwear, shorts, socks and shirts for your child.   Label all items with your child's name.

Also, please consider donating gently used sweatpants, shirts and socks in PreK sizes (boys and girls) to our classroom.  We need to restock our office closet.We will also accept packages of new underwear for boys and girls in PreK sizes.

If your child returns home to you in clothing items that belong to the school please launder and return  ASAP.  
Thank you so much!

Finally, remember to read to your child and say prayers with him/her before tucking into bed!  Establishing good routines at home prepares your child to be successful in school and in life.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Javitt
kjavitt@stpatrickyork.org

“Children learn what they live."