Week of 11/17

In the upcoming week, we will continue parent-teacher conferences. I have enjoyed meeting with many of you so far, and have gained some great insights about your children from you. Thank you for meeting with me and being such active participants in your child's education. I look forward to meeting with the rest of you this week. Remember that for afternoon conferences, you will need to enter campus through Gate E (Gate F, where we enter in the morning, is usually locked after school). Gate E is on the other side of the school garden, near the redwood trees. You will enter K2 through the opposite door from where students enter in the morning. For this week, early dismissal at 1:15 continues through Friday.

There will be no classroom centers again this week, due to the early dismissal. Centers will resume on Monday the 1st. 

Field Trip
I have nearly all the permission slips for our trip on December 12th-- thank you! If you have not returned your child's permission slip, please do so by Thursday the 20th at the latest.

Language Arts
This week, we will introduce two "plane line slide" letters: Vv and Ww. Handwriting tips for these letters can be found in the Fundations newsletter. By the end of 2025, we will wrap up the introduction of all letters and will move onto blending sounds to read words in 2026. Our sight words this week are my and was.

Math
We have completed Module 2, and the workbook will come home in this week's Wednesday envelopes. We will begin Module 3 after Thanksgiving.

Nutcracker
Looking ahead on your calendars at this busy time of year, I wanted to make sure that you have all marked your calendars for Thursday, December 18th at 9:15 a.m.-- our performance of The Nutcracker. This is an annual kindergarten favorite. If you are heading out of town that week and your child won't be at school on the 18th, please let me know so that I can plan parts accordingly. I only know of one student at this time who will be missing the Nutcracker performance. Just so you know, all costume pieces (except leotards and pants/shirts) will be provided, and you will hear about your child's part following Thanksgiving.

Also, a reminder as the holidays are approaching, if you are taking a trip that will result in your child missing at least 3 days of school, please see the office ASAP to get an Independent Study Packet. You must notify the office at least 2 weeks in advance of your trip to be eligible. When you take out an Independent Study, your child will get some school work and the school will get credit for your child's attendance, securing ADA money, so it's a win-win. 

**Library is every Wednesday. Please return your child's library book by Tuesday each week.
**School spirit days are every Wednesday. Wear your Alta Vista t-shirts or your Grasshopper t-shirts to show your school pride.

This Week's Helpers & Activities
Monday: Dismissal @ 1:15
Tuesday: Dismissal @ 1:15
Wednesday: Library @ 9:10 (Reader: John, Checkout: Mary), Dismissal @ 1:15
Thursday: Field Trip permission slips due, Dismissal @ 1:15
Friday: Last Day before Thanksgiving Break, Dismissal @ 1:15

Upcoming Events
11/17-11/21: Parent-Teacher Conferences continue
11/24-11/28: Thanksgiving Break
Friday, 12/12: Field Trip to Center for the Performing Arts
Thursday, 12/18: Kindergarten Nutcracker Performance @ 9:15 am
12/22-1/4: Winter Break

Week of 11/10

It was great to see so many families at the Multicultural Fair! That is always one of my favorite Alta Vista events.

I am looking forward to meeting with everyone in the upcoming two weeks. Remember that for the next two weeks (except Monday, 11/10), dismissal will be at 1:15 daily. Please note that the sign-up can no longer be edited. If you need to reschedule your conference, please email me.  

Upcoming Field Trip

We have our first field trip coming up on Friday, December 12th! The kindergarten classes will be going to Center for Performing Arts to watch a live performance of The Nutcracker. Due to the Thanksgiving break, we need to return the permission slips within a week so that school lunches can be ordered in time for our trip (the vendor needs several weeks' notice). We will send the permission slips home with the kids in this week's Wednesday envelope, and we need them back no later than Thursday the 20th, especially if you are ordering a school lunch. If you do not return the permission slip by the 20th, a school lunch will not be ordered, and you will need to pack your child's lunch that day. **We will need three chaperones per class for this trip. Priority will be given to parents who have already helped in the classroom since they are familiar with the students. Please email me if you're interested.

Special Turkey Project                             

I am excited to see all the decorated turkeys this week! You can start sending those in on Monday, but no later than Thursday, when you return your child's Wednesday envelope. Please allow your child to lead this project. We are not looking for Pinterest-perfect turkeys and would much prefer to see child-created projects.

Language Arts

Four days a week, we have literacy centers in the morning. After our Fundations lesson, we switch to small group instruction. Each of the five reading groups in our class meet with me 2-3 times a week for instruction geared to their reading level. While one group is meeting with me, the rest of the class is engaged in literacy centers, which include: an iPad app called Lexia (an adaptive reading app), a writing center, an independent work center (reading worksheets, looking at books, etc), and literacy games. 

In Fundations this week, we will introduce the letters Hh, Kk, and Ll. The sight word this week is see. Did you know that there is a strong link between handwriting and literacy? Studies show that kids who practice handwriting do better at reading and spelling. Forming letters by hand while learning sounds activates brain circuits that promote literacy. If you notice that your child has not yet mastered the 20 letters & sounds we've introduced so far, please print out the letter pages in Fundations that are linked in the weekly update and have your child trace over them with their finger, while repeating their sounds, watching that they are forming them correctly. The pace of kindergarten is very fast, and by the end of 2025, children should know all letters & sounds. When we return from Winter Break, our focus will be sounding out words to read decodable texts.

Math

We will continue with Topic C, which covers constructing both 2D and 3D shapes. By the end of this week, we will have completed Module 2 on shapes. The next module is Comparison, where students will describe and compare measurable attributes.

Kimochis

This week, the Kimochis® Character named Cat will join our classroom to teach children about the feelings curious, cranky, and sorry. Cat is the Kimochis® Character who knows what she wants, when she wants it, and why she wants it! When Cat makes up her mind, there is no stopping her. When the group needs a leader, Cat is always ready to help. She loves to be in charge, but she can be a little bit bossy. Cat may seem mean on the outside, but on the inside, she is very sweet.

Nutcracker Performance

A reminder again to mark your calendars for our performance of The Nutcracker! This is a very improvisational version of the classic ballet. All children have parts in the performance, and it is a must-see event. Please mark your calendars for Thursday, 12/18 at 9:15 am. 

**Library is every Wednesday. Please return your child's library book by Tuesday each week.

**School spirit days are every Wednesday. Wear your Alta Vista t-shirts or your Grasshopper t-shirts to show your school pride.

This Week's Helpers & Activities:

Monday: No centers, dismissal at 1:40

Tuesday: NO SCHOOL

Wednesday: Library (Reader: Mary, Checkout: Eva), dismissal @ 1:15

Thursday: Return Weds. Envelopes, Dismissal @ 1:15

Friday: Dismissal @ 1:15

Upcoming Events
Tuesday, 11/11: No School: Veteran's Day
11/13-11/21: Parent-Teacher Conferences
11/24-11/28: Thanksgiving Break
Friday, 12/12: Field Trip to Center for the Performing Arts
Thursday, 12/18: Kindergarten Nutcracker Performance @ 9:15 am
12/22-1/4: Winter Break