Dear Parents,
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!
P.M. parents-- 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 addition 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 (coming in January) 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. This day is also "Holiday Spirit Day." Please send your children in their holiday attire, hats included, if you'd like to participate. At the end of class that day, 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 last week. 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 attached 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. I have 2-3 leotards in the classroom that used to belong to my daughter that are also available.
Please arrive promptly in the cafeteria for the Nutcracker, as we intend to start the show right on time. Also, please do not try to come early and save seats. We will be keeping the doors locked until about 15 minutes before the performance.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 page will be added to the homework packet 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!
