First of all, we would like to say that our hearts go out to the families and community of Newtown, Connecticut. I want to assure you that we do have a plan in place and annual training/review for this type of disaster. I also wanted to post the letter that was sent by Karen Miller last Friday regarding this tragedy:
Dear Alta Vista Community,
We
are all saddened by the horrific school shooting that occurred today in
Connecticut, and our hearts go out to the parents and families. I want
to assure our parents that we have safety and
security procedures in place to protect our students and staff. Our
staff is prepared to assist students and parents in dealing with the
news of this tragic event.
Living
in the age of information, some of our children will undoubtedly hear
about this tragedy. This is a good time for parents to discuss with
their children the importance of speaking with
a trusted adult concerning matters that they hear about in the media.
Even though none of us will be able to understand this senseless
tragedy, it is important for children (who hear of it) to be able to
talk with a trusted adult. As adults, it will be important
for us to assure the children that our school campus is extremely safe.
For
more information on Alta Vista's emergency procedures, please visit the
school website > About Us > Emergency Procedures.
You can also find links to resources to help children deal with tragic events at www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ss/cp/tragedy.asp
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the school or district office.
Respectfully,
Karen Miller
Of course, the main "business" of this week is all things Nutcracker! We will be practicing daily this week, so I am canceling centers. We do not have a new letter or any new sight words. Therefore, there will also be no homework/red bags this Wednesday. Enjoy a stress-free week to focus on your holiday preparations!
Please be sure to check the "Helper Schedule" link on the website for the schedule for the next trimester. Let me know if there are any problems. Thanks!
We will be wrapping up our topic on subtraction this week. This is definitely a concept that needs continued reinforcement at home as well. Get out those iPads over the break, or go to a math reinforcement website to work on both addition and subtraction facts. This week's share is Song, Poem, Nursery Rhyme. Children can choose a song or poem that they are familiar with, or sing an Alphafriend song or a color song that we've learned in class. Songs and poems in other languages are always welcome, too!
We have a Wacky Wednesday this week for the p.m. class, and then afterward, at 1:25, we will be having a costume-making party in K2. We are asking a few parents from each class to come in and help us make the paper costume pieces for the Nutcracker. We have patterns for everything, and it shouldn't take too long. Kids are welcome to play in the room while we work. Thanks to those who have volunteered to come in!
Please continue e-mailing the room moms to let them know how you can help for our Nutcracker post-party. Also, we have our photographers, but we will also need just a few parents to help us with the theater make-up and costuming. Please let us know if you can help with this.
A reminder about clothing for the Nutcracker: please remember to dress your children in the clothes suggested in the letter sent home a few weeks ago. Children should come to school dressed in these items on Friday. Girls can wear something over the top of their leotards when they arrive and change into their ballet shoes for the performance. As a reminder, here is the list:
MARIE: Bathrobe & slippers
SOLDIERS/RUSSIAN DANCERS: White Shirt & Dark Pants w/ dark shoes
MOUSE KING/MICE: Dark Shirt & Dark Pants & dark shoes
SUGAR PLUM, RIBBON CANDY, FLOWERS: Light colored leotard/light colored tights/ballet slippers or light colored shoes-- leotards with tutus are fine & encouraged for Sugar Plum Fairies & Flowers, especially.
ARABIAN: Light colored fitted shirt w/ leggings OR leotard (we provide the Harem pants)
CHINESE DANCERS: Shirt doesn't matter so much (will be wearing jacket we provide) dark pants.
Please borrow whatever you need to borrow-- we don't intend for anyone to have to buy anything.
Please arrive promptly in the cafeteria for the Nutcracker, as we intend to start the show right on time. We want everyone to enjoy the performance, so please refrain from standing and blocking the aisles as much as possible. Also remember that school-aged siblings are not to be pulled out of class to watch the performance. Thank you!
Remember to bring your blue bags tomorrow. Starting in January, a journal will be added to the blue bags so that your children can write a response to the book in the bag each week. No blue bags this Wednesday, but there will be Wednesday envelopes. Please return those on Thursday so that they don't get lost over the long holiday.
Happy Holidays!
