The main business of this week is all things Nutcracker! We will be practicing daily this week, so there will be no centers. I still could use 1-2 people to help with costuming and makeup on Wednesday morning. If you are available for this, please email me. I will need help right at the start of school.
This Week's Special Events
Holiday Spirit Week:
This is another schoolwide Spirit Week. Participation is always optional, but the children really enjoy seeing each other dressed up:
Monday: Festive hat day
Tuesday: Tacky Sweater Day
Wednesday: Class t-shirt day (We won't be able to participate until after the Nutcracker-- pack your t-shirts in your backpack)
Thursday: Flannel Fun
Friday: PJ Day
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 Wednesday. Girls who are wearing leotards 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/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 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, 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 a few pairs of 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 between now and the date of the performance. 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!
Nutcracker 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-- I've had this happen to me at several performances, 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 Ms. Howe 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:
Finally, we wanted to let you know that the Home & School Club will be auctioning off 4 pairs of front-row tickets to the show. The online auction will open at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday and will close at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. All money will go to the enrichment programs that HSC supports. It's a win-win! Get front row seats AND support Alta Vista's enrichment programs. Look for the link to the auction on Sunday morning!
Holiday Party:
We will have our holiday party and gift exchange on Friday the 16th. We almost have all the food items, but there are a few things left on the Sign-Up Genius. This is a pajama party! Children are encouraged to wear their pajamas and bring a stuffed animal with them as we enjoy a fun breakfast and crafts. Please also remember to send in your gift for the gift exchange by Wednesday. Thank you!
Center Help
Thank you for such wonderful parent support in centers for all of 2022. There are still 14 spots left for those who are interested in joining us for centers in early 2023. Please see the Sign-Up Genius to sign up.
Upcoming
When we return from Winter Break on January 3rd, we are having a special district-wide week called "Smart Restart." Basically, it's a week of activities to get children excited about returning to school. We will be doing some hands-on projects and having time to play to ease our way back into school.
Happy Holidays and enjoy your break!
Reminders
**P.E. is every Monday-- please send your children in shoes & clothes appropriate for fitness (PE this week is Nutcracker practice)
**Library is every Wednesday. Please send your child's book back to school by Tuesday each week. (Even though we will not go to library this week, we are still going to return our books)
**Grasshopper t-shirt day is Friday each week (canceled this week for PJ Day)
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, 12/14: Nutcracker Performance @ 9:15
12/19-1/2: Winter Break
Week of 1/3: Smart Restart
Monday, 1/16: No School: MLK Day
Monday, 1/30: No School: Professional Development Day
