Kindergarten

 Mrs.  Martin's  Kindergarten            

August 31, 2009

Dear Parents,

Kindergarten is off to a wonderful start.  Last week was filled with much excitement and many great memories!  The children enjoyed making the gingerbread man and searching for him, after a mysterious disappearance.  It was extra special to have “The Gingerbread Man” come and help us search all over the campus for the special cookie that we had made.  We all enjoyed munching on him too!!! 

This week we will begin our introduction to our Houghton Mifflin Reading program.  This week we will review some of the favorite nursery rhymes and begin learning the sounds and how to write the beginning letters of the alphabet.  This is a very exciting time in kindergarten!

Our Religious studies this week will be taken from the first chapters of Genesis, the first book of the Bible.  We will be studying God the Father’s miraculous creation of our universe.  This week we will focus on the order of events in the creation story.  The children’s memory work for the week is listed in the Sunday box on the September Calendar.  Please note that Memory Work will begin this week.  We will ask the children to recite the memory verse on Thursday.  This week we will also introduce the children to the concept of the Triune God, (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).  This is a difficult concept for adults, as well as children. We will compare the Trinity to many items that are 3 in 1, such as an apple.                                                 

We will introduce the children to our math series this week with a few hands-on activities to the topics that we will be learning such as shapes, top, bottom and middle.

Apples will be the topic of discussion in Science.  We will look at the parts of an apple, learn the names of some common types and also discuss how apples grow.  Don’t be surprised if your child becomes a real apple expert!!!

As noted on the monthly calendar our Chapel day is on Wednesday.  As a reminder the small envelope attached to our Bible Story Family Letter can be used for a Chapel offering if you choose to do so.

A few reminders; the kindergartners do not have to wear belts as part of the uniform dress.  Many of the boys had a very difficult time getting their belts to work last week!  Please remember to send a snack for morning recess for your child. We are helping the children to pick out a nutritious snack for their morning treat from their lunch box.  They will also need a drink if they do not get milk. If you have purchased milk for your child, they will receive it at morning recess, not at lunch.

It is very important to take some time to read through all of the information that comes home in the weekly envelope.  We will ask that you return the laminated envelope no later than Friday so we will have it for the following Monday. 

Our field trip to Riley’s Farm will be Friday, September 18^th.  Be sure that you return your child’s permission slip along with the payment for this trip. Any parents joining us for the trip will also have to pay the field trip fee.  We will leave for Riley’s Farm at 9:00 a.m.  The bus will pick us up in the Hephatha parking lot and we will ride to Oak Glen.  Oak Glen is located near Yucipa, about 1-¼ hours from school.  You need to pack a SACK LUNCH for your child for this trip.  NO HOT LUNCH WILL BE AVAILABLE!!!  If you are joining your child on this trip, you may want to bring a lunch for yourself.  We will return to school at the normal ending to our day.  The people at the Farm have asked if we would have the children wear long pants because of some of the events that we will be participating in.  Also, have your child wear a RED HEPHATHA UNIFORM SHIRT for the trip.

Have a wonderful week.  If you have any questions or problems, feel free to stop by or give a call.

Please check the kindergarten window for a reminder of when you signed up for Back to School Night!  I am looking forward to meeting with you.

 Joyfully Serving,

 Mrs. Martin