This is a very eventful week, so this email is mostly reminders to keep you organized during these hectic final five days! Last week we had our last days of centers & library in 2024. I want to thank you for volunteering your time in our classroom and in the library, and I look forward to seeing (hopefully) some new faces in 2025! Check out the Sign-Up Genius for openings through February.
Holiday Spirit Week
This is another schoolwide Spirit Week. Participation is always optional, but the children really enjoy seeing each other dressed up:
Monday: Grade Level Color Day: Kindergarten wears red
Tuesday: "Look Alike Day:" Dress in matching clothes with a friend OR just wear your Grasshopper shirt and you'll be sure to match with many people in the class!
Wednesday: Snow Day: Wear beanies, mittens, scarves and anything else that keeps you warm on a "snow day."
Thursday: We won't be able to participate due to needing to wear our Nutcracker clothes, but if your child wants to pack something in their backpack for after the show, the theme is Holiday Dress Day: Wear anything festive that goes along with a winter holiday that you celebrate.
Friday: Pajama Day (both the schoolwide theme day, plus what we're wearing for our holiday breakfast party).
Nutcracker
A reminder about clothing for the Nutcracker: please remember to dress your children in the clothes suggested in the letter sent home in the Wednesday envelope two weeks ago. Children should come to school dressed in these items on Thursday. Girls who are wearing leotards can wear something over the top of their leotards when they arrive and change into their ballet shoes (if wearing those) for the performance. As a reminder, here is the list:
MARIE/FRITZ: Bathrobe/pajamas & slippers
NUTCRACKER/SOLDIERS/TROPAK DANCERS: White Shirt & Dark Pants w/ dark shoes
MICE/MOUSE QUEEN/CHOCOLATE DANCER BOYS: Dark Shirt & Dark Pants & dark shoes
MARIE/FRITZ: Bathrobe/pajamas & slippers
NUTCRACKER/SOLDIERS/TROPAK DANCERS: White Shirt & Dark Pants w/ dark shoes
MICE/MOUSE QUEEN/CHOCOLATE DANCER BOYS: Dark Shirt & Dark Pants & dark shoes
CHOCOLATE DANCER GIRLS: Black leotard or t-shirt, black tights or leggings (skirt provided)
SUGAR PLUM, RIBBON CANDY, FLOWERS: Light colored leotard/light colored tights/ballet slippers or light colored shoes-- leotards with tutus attached are fine & encouraged for Sugar Plum Fairies & Flowers, especially. Ribbon tutu provided for Ribbon Candies.
COFFEE DANCERS: Light colored fitted shirt w/ leggings or more form-fitting pants/track pants OR leotard w/ no tutu (we provide the Harem pants)
TEA DANCERS: Shirt doesn't matter so much (will be wearing jacket we provide) dark pants or leggings, dark shoes.
SUGAR PLUM, RIBBON CANDY, FLOWERS: Light colored leotard/light colored tights/ballet slippers or light colored shoes-- leotards with tutus attached are fine & encouraged for Sugar Plum Fairies & Flowers, especially. Ribbon tutu provided for Ribbon Candies.
COFFEE DANCERS: Light colored fitted shirt w/ leggings or more form-fitting pants/track pants OR leotard w/ no tutu (we provide the Harem pants)
TEA DANCERS: Shirt doesn't matter so much (will be wearing jacket we provide) dark pants or leggings, dark shoes.
Please borrow whatever you need to borrow-- we don't intend for anyone to have to buy anything. We still have several leotards and ballet slippers in the classroom that are also available-- let me know if you need to borrow. I will send them home with children who want to borrow one on Monday. Please email me to let me know you'd like to borrow one.
Please arrive promptly in the cafeteria for the Nutcracker, as we intend to start the show right at 9:15. Also, please do not try to come early and save seats. We will be keeping the doors locked until about 10 minutes before the performance. If you do not have a visitor's badge from the office, you will need to get one before entering the cafeteria for the performance. As a reminder, you can check in with the office to get a visitor's badge anytime during school hours beginning on Monday. Once you have your badge, everyone will be directed to line up behind the marked cone that will be placed near the front entrance of the school until the doors are open. There are plenty of seats for everyone, so no need to stress!
Please arrive promptly in the cafeteria for the Nutcracker, as we intend to start the show right at 9:15. Also, please do not try to come early and save seats. We will be keeping the doors locked until about 10 minutes before the performance. If you do not have a visitor's badge from the office, you will need to get one before entering the cafeteria for the performance. As a reminder, you can check in with the office to get a visitor's badge anytime during school hours beginning on Monday. Once you have your badge, everyone will be directed to line up behind the marked cone that will be placed near the front entrance of the school until the doors are open. There are plenty of seats for everyone, so no need to stress!
Photography
We want everyone to enjoy the performance, so please refrain from standing and blocking the aisles. It is no fun to watch a performance with a raised camera in front of you blocking your view, and I ask that you refrain from this behavior. If you want to take pictures, please go to the back row or off to the side.
On another photography note, we will have my daughter at the performance recording a video of it on an iPad. She & I will also be taking photographs of the children in their costumes before the performance. You will have access to these photos & the video, so that you can spend your time on Thursday enjoying the performance. The only tripod that will be set up for videos is ours-- there simply isn't space in the cafeteria for multiple tripods, so please leave your tripods at home.
Front Row Tickets Auction
The auction is now live, and will continue to be through 7:00 pm on Sunday night. There will be eight seats marked in the front row with "Reserved for Auction Winners" signs. The four winners and their guests can sit in any of those eight seats (2 seats for each winner). Remember that all the proceeds from this auction go to support the AVHSC's enrichment activities.
The auction is now live, and will continue to be through 7:00 pm on Sunday night. There will be eight seats marked in the front row with "Reserved for Auction Winners" signs. The four winners and their guests can sit in any of those eight seats (2 seats for each winner). Remember that all the proceeds from this auction go to support the AVHSC's enrichment activities.
Make-Up and Costuming
Thank you to Shelbie and Emily for offering to help with getting the children ready for the performance. I could use one more person if anyone else is available. Please come into the classroom with the kids on Thursday morning and we will start right away.
Holiday Party
We will have our holiday party and gift exchange on Friday the 20th. Don't forget to send in one wrapped pair of fun socks with a "From" label on it by Wednesday. The party is a pajama party! Children are encouraged to wear their pajamas as we enjoy a fun breakfast and crafts. If you are helping for this party (Shelbie, Dawn, and Meeta) please come in with the kids and get all the food set up while they are doing their morning tubs. Thank you!
Curriculum this Week
We have now introduced all letters and sounds in Fundations! In 2025, we will move onto blending sounds to read and spell CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words. This week, we will just have a review week in Fundations, but we will introduce two more sight words: be and we. In math, we will wrap up our module on Comparison.
Library
Although we won't go to the library this week due to a Nutcracker rehearsal, please return your child's library book by Tuesday, as usual, so that you don't have to keep track of it over the holidays. Thank you.
Upcoming
When we return from Winter Break on January 6th, we are having a special district-wide few days called "Smart Restart." Basically, it's a couple of days of activities to get children excited about returning to school. We will be making Kool-Aid playdough and doing a collaborative art project, as well as having time to play to ease our way back into school.
Happy Holidays and enjoy your break!
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, 12/18: Last day to send in socks for gift exchange
Thursday, 12/19 @ 9:15 am: Nutcracker Performance
Friday, 12/20: Classroom Holiday Party
12/23-1/5: Winter Break
Monday, 12/6: School resumes
Monday, 1/20: No School: MLK Holiday
