Happy New Year to all. I hope that the new year has gotten off to a great start for everyone. How many of you have made resolutions? Every year I set out to make a resolution and by January 31 it falls flat. This year I decided to make small changes in my life. By small changes I mean things I can actually do with success. For example, since going back to work I lost some valuable "mommy" time with my boys. One of the resolutions I made this year was to make sure that I have at least 30 minutes each evening to snuggle up to read and talk with my 5yr, 2yr and 7 month old children. I have slowed down to enjoy these fleeting moments with my kids. My boys are happier as a result and I get more cooperation out of them. This one small part of my resolution has improved the quality of my family life! If you are interested in making some small changes to experience more parenting joy, please let me know. I have a library of books and articles in my office that can offer insight and help.
Ms. Joanie
Getting Your Preschooler to Read
Play with Sounds:
Phonological awareness is the ability to hear and play with different sounds that make up a word.
How can you help your child play with sounds?
- sing songs
- recite nursery rhymes and poems
- make up silly rhymes
- read stories and emphasize the sounds of words
- find pictures that begin with certain sounds
- clap, snap, tap out the syllables
- label household items with letter or word cards
- sing "Going on a Letter Hunt" (tune of "Going on a Bear Hunt")--make it up as you go ie: "I'm going on a letter hunt, I'm going on a letter hunt and I'm gonna find, and I'm gonna find things that start with "A"...I found an "alligator"...
The following books are fun to read and help to develop phonological awareness:
Itsy Bitsy Spider by Iza Trapani
Over in the Garden by Jennifer Ward
Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
Guided Reading Levels
Several parents have asked me about guided reading levels and their correlations. The following is the letter associated with an approximate grade level.
A=Kindergarten L=2nd and 3rd
B=Kindergarten M=2nd and 3rd
C=Kindergarten and 1st N=3rd
D=1st O=3rd and 4th
E=1st P=3rd and 4th
F=1st Q=4th
G=1st R=4th
H=1st and 2nd S=4th and 5th
I=2nd T=4th and 5th
J=2nd U=5th
K=2nd V=5th and 6th
Name Writing
If you are teaching your child how to write his or her name, please model by writing the name in the proper case format. Only the first letter in your child's name should be an uppercase letter. It is very difficult to break the "uppercase" habit. Helpful hint: instead of making dotted letters for tracing try using a highlighter. Tracing a highlighter written letter provides a more fluid motion.
Hurt Feelings
No one likes to have hurt feelings, but we know it happens all the time even when we don't realize it. Recently I was approached by a few families about "birthday invitations." Apparently invitations have gone out via classroom mail and some children have been left out. It is school policy that invitations can only be distributed at Bethpage Nursery School if ALL students are invited. This includes same gender parties. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Parent Teacher Conferences
Conferences have been ongoing this month. I have read through all of the progress reports and signed off on them. If you have any additional concerns about your child please contact me directly.
Registration
Registration for the 2010-2011 school year is in progress. If you have not registered your child as of yet contact Darlene Flaherty (Pre K AM or Two of Us AM) or myself for paperwork. In order to save a spot you must pay the $95 registration fee. Anyone who has asked for a spot to be held will lose it as of 1/25/10 if the fee has not been paid.
Enrollment thus far:
Two of Us : Wed class 2 (6 spaces left)
Fri class 0 (8 spaces left)
Toddler Separation: T/Th class 4 (8 spaces left)
M/W class 0 (12 spaces left)
Nursery AM: FULL (waiting list)
Nursery PM: 2 (14 spaces left)
Pre K AM: 13 (6 spaces left)
Pre K PM: 0 (18 spaces left)
Summer Fun
Ms. Sara will begin Summer Fun registration in February. The board will be finalizing the details of the program at the end of the month. Flyers will be sent home during the first week of February.
Kindergarten Registration
Bethpage Public Schools will be sending out information regarding K registration for the fall of 2010. I will post the information in the main lobby. It is your responsibility to fill out and provide the district with the proper paperwork. The district will contact you to set up a Kindergarten screening at "their" convenience.
Dinner Auction
Our annual dinner auction will be held on March 4, 2010 at HR Singletons. Each family is entitled to 1 ticket as per the fundraising fee. Additional tickets may be purchased for $42.00 per person. All proceeds go to Bethpage Nursery School. If you would like to make basket donations or know anyone that would like to contribute to the auction please contact Danielle Tesler (Toddler Separation). The dinner auction is a guaranteed fun night out!
50/50 Birthday Box Raffle
In the main hallway we have the 50/50 raffle. $5 per birth date box. The winner will be chosen at the dinner auction. If all the boxes sell out the winner can take home up to $912.50. If you would like to buy out your boxes before the auction please see me or one of the teachers for details.
Tuition Reminders
Please remember to put your tuition in the mailbox by the 1st week of each month. There is a $15.00 late fee for tuition turned in after the 10th of the month. Please come to me if there are any extenuating circumstances that might prevent a timely payment.
Parking
Please refrain from parking on the school driveway. Staff members are required to park on the driveway or on Nibbe adjacent to the school lawn. I have staff members that arrive by 9:15AM and are often forced to park on Lexington Avenue. In addition, please do not block the driveway with your vehicle. Our neighbor directly across the street has made several complaints that she cannot exit her driveway.
Arrival
Every year at this time we change our arrival procedures for the Pre K classes in order to prepare them for Kindergarten. The children are all well adjusted to the routine and separate well. Starting on February 1, 2010 the Pre K classes will line up outside and enter the building without parents. Our goal is to have the children develop some necessary independence skills. They will be responsible for handing in their mail folders, checking in for attendance, finding their cubby hooks, hanging up their coats and for finding a carpet space on their own. Please support the teachers by preparing your child for the change.
From the Health and Safety Archives
In order to keep all the children and staff healthy please remember the health and safety guideline:
IF YOU SUSPECT YOUR CHILD IS ILL, PLEASE DO NOT SEND THEM TO SCHOOL.
Mary Had A Little Cold (author unknown)
Mary had a little cold and would not stay at home
And Everywhere that Mary went the cold was sure to roam
It wandered into Molly's eyes and filled them full of tears
It jumped from there to Robby's nose and then to Jimmy's ears
It painted Anna's throat bright red and swelled poor Johnny's head
Dora had a fever and a cough put Jack to bed
The moral of this little tale is very quickly said
She could have saved a lot of pain by just one day in BED!
Snow Days
In the event of a snow storm the Board President and I decide if the school will be closed. Generally we follow the Bethpage School District for closures, however in the past we have disagreed with their decision and have closed on our own. You will receive a call from your class parent or child's teacher in the event of a self directed closure. Tune into channel 12 news--if Bethpage Schools are closed we WILL be closed too.
Snow Removal
If we have a snowstorm and anyone is available to volunteer for snow removal please contact Jenny Looney, Tracie Schappert or me. We would be most appreciative of the help. The average snow removal can cost the school $200 per clean up. If we can avoid contracting out it would be quite beneficial.
Dates to Remember
2/6/10 Family Fun Day
2/15/10-2/19/10 Winter Recess
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