Dear Families,

Mr. Buggs sent a message on Friday to let us know that ice skating is starting for KGA this Tuesday. Ice Skating will take place on Tuesdays at 1:45 pm, directly following our afternoon recess. If you are able to help with lacing up and putting on skates, it would be greatly appreciated! The faster the children can get their skates on the more time they have on the ice

Many of you have been inquiring about Ms. Jane. She was out last week and she has been missed! Unfortunately, she broke her toe over the holiday and is unable to wear proper shoes or get around very well. She will be back in the building this upcoming week but, to avoid getting her toes stepped on by little ones, she will be doing some alternative office work and will not be in the classroom with us. Ms. Marina will be subbing for Ms. Jane for the week.

Thank you to all the families who have sent in the Home Project. Several children have shared their interviews already and we will continue to share this week. It has been fascinating learning about what life was like in the past. We have learned from an older sister, a parent, several grandparents and an aunt. If you have stories or artifacts to share from your own past, please let me know. The more we can learn from others, the better.

KGA WWAIPT homework 2018.docx (1)

What’s coming up for the week of January 15th – 19th?

Monday – PE uniforms

Tuesday – PE uniforms & Ice Skating (Volunteers needed!)

Wednesday – PE Uniforms

Thursday –  Library, bring books and bag

Friday –   Swimming 

Dear Families,

Welcome back from Winter Break! I hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable time. A super special thank you to all the parents who helped organize the holiday party on December 15th. The children had a great time and it was such a nice way to start our holiday vacation!

This first week back, we will be reviewing our classroom essential agreements as well as taking some time to review school rules and expectations. Please remember to send children to school with warm winter clothing so that they can enjoy their recess time outdoors. If your child’s indoor shoes went home over the break, please return them to school on Monday.

Ice Skating starts this week (Tuesdays at 1:45 pm), directly following our afternoon recess. If you are able to help with lacing up and putting on skates, it would be greatly appreciated! The faster the children can get their skates on the more time they have on the ice.

If you have not done so already, please send in or email the Home Project KGA WWAIPT homework 2018.docx (1)that was sent home before the holiday. The students will be sharing these interviews with their classmates as we begin our unit on Where We Are In Place and Time.

What’s coming up for the week of January 8th – 12th?

Monday – PE uniforms

Tuesday – PE uniforms & Ice Skating (Volunteers needed!)

Wednesday – PE Uniforms

Thursday –  Library, bring books and bag

Friday –   Swimming (Sign up if you are able to volunteer)

What’s coming up for the week of December 11th – 15th?

Monday – PE uniforms

Tuesday – PE uniforms

Wednesday – PE Uniforms (Last day to send in Taganka bag donations)

Thursday – KG Winter Concert @ 10:00 a.m. (Formal Uniforms) & Library, bring books and bag, books checked out last week do not need to be returned today.

Friday –   Swimming & Holiday Party at 2:30 pm.

We wish all families a safe and happy winter holiday break! We look forward to seeing everyone back to school on January 8th!

Happy Holidays!

Mrs. Garrett & Ms. Jane

What’s coming up for the week of December 4th – December 8th?

Monday – PE uniforms & ICE SKATE LACING PRACTICE (Students will not be skating today but will need to bring skates)

Tuesday – Book Fair visit (send in money for children to buy books)

Wednesday – PE Uniforms

Thursday – Library, bring books and bag

Friday –  Pajama Day (students may also bring one small to medium sized stuffed animal if they wish) & Swimming

Important info:

Label ALL clothing, hats, gloves, boots, etc with your child’s name. Encourage them to responsible for their items.

If you child will not in school and will not be able to attend the winter concert on December 14th, please notify both Mrs. Garrett and Ms. Gist as soon as possible. Thank you!

amanda.garrett@aas.ru

laura.gist@aas.ru

In math, we will begin unit 3 this week which will focus on measurement. Please see the posting on the KG blog site for more information about this unit.

In reading, we’ve been completing  a book club discussion around the book, The Little Red Hen. This story has helped us to think more deeply about the importance of group work and how it feels when one person does all the work. We have talked about sharing roles and responsibilities, working together to achieve a common purpose and how to handle our feelings when group work doesn’t go as planned. We have also been continuing to build our reading stamina and reading-to-self as well as with a partner. We learned a new strategy last week too!

When decoding words, the children ask themselves:

Does is sound right? Does it look right? Does it make sense?

If their answer is no to any of these questions, they should try another strategy.

“Skip It” is a new strategy they have learned. Here is a little song to help us remember:

Skip it, skip it, read to the end. Go back, go back, and read it again. 

In writing, we will be finishing up our Illustrations unit this week. Both finished and unfinished books will be sent home along with a highlighted continuum to let you know how your child is progressing in their writing skills.

Please continue to practice Snap Words and read the books that are sent home each week. As a reminder, we are happy to change books more often when requested by the child in the morning. You can also email us to request new books.

As always,  if your family has a special holiday or tradition you and your child would like to share with the class, please let us know.

Dear Parents,

Mr. Buggs will be checking skates and helmet sizes next week on Monday, the first PE lesson.  If students check their skates on their first PE lesson, they do not have to bring them for the second lesson.

We will NOT be skating during this PRACTICE week

( Our January ice skating schedule will be sent out in two weeks)

Please note that we do not have room to store the skates in the classroom during the week. Ice skates should come to and from school each week.

On Monday:

Students will practice putting skates on/off

Blade sharpness check

Have all skates laced up before class

Please practice at home to be prepared. With practice, many KG students can become independent with getting in and out of the skates. Skating starts on the first week back in January. We will need volunteers to assist and guide student through getting their skates and helmets on and off! Please begin thinking about coming in to help!

WHERE TO PURCHASE / SHARPEN SKATES:

The PTO Exchange begins collecting skates on November 27 and selling gently used skates on December 4.

https://www.wildberries.ru/catalog/sport/vidy-sporta/konki/konki

Sportmaster (www.sportmaster.ru)  over 50 locations in Moscow

Decathlon Stores https://www.decathlon.ru/

What’s coming up for the week of November 27th – December 1st?

Monday – PE uniforms

Tuesday – Kindergarten Field Trip to Kidzania

Wednesday – PE Uniforms

Thursday – Library, bring books and bag

Friday –  Swimming

Dear Parents,

Two things:

Remember to return portfolios and please remember to send a snack, home lunch and a spill proof water bottle to school with your child tomorrow as we will be eating going to and from the field trip.

Thanks!

Important Dates to mark on your calendar: 

December 4-10 is Hour of Code week

Tuesday, December 5th – KGA will visit BOOK FAIR (send money)

December 13th – Last Day for Taganka Donations

December 14th – Kindergarten Holiday Concert, 10:00, Malyy Theatre

December 15th – Class Winter Party @ 2:30 p.m.

What’s coming up for the week of November 27th – December 1st?

Monday – PE uniforms

Tuesday – Kindergarten Field Trip to Kidzania

Wednesday – PE Uniforms

Thursday – Library, bring books and bag

Friday –  Swimming

Dear Parents,

Two things:

Remember to return portfolios and please remember to send a snack, home lunch and a spill proof water bottle to school with your child tomorrow as we will be eating going to and from the field trip.

Thanks!

Important Dates to mark on your calendar: 

December 4-10 is Hour of Code week

Tuesday, December 5th – KGA will visit BOOK FAIR (send money)

December 13th – Last Day for Taganka Donations

December 14th – Kindergarten Holiday Concert, 10:00, Malyy Theatre

December 15th – Class Winter Party @ 2:30 p.m.

What’s coming up for the week of November 13th – November 17th

Monday – PE uniforms

Tuesday – PE uniforms

Wednesday – PE Uniforms & Forest Walk (weather permitting)

Thursday – Library, bring bags and books

Friday – Wear Your Own Clothes Day and Swimming (volunteers needed!)

Please find an important letter in your child’s home folder on Monday about “Snap Words” as well as a list of the snap words we are learning in class.

In reading, we have been practicing the following reading strategies:

• Look at the Pictures
• Get your mouth ready with the first sound
• Slide Through the Word

As we continue to learn more about different word attack strategies that readers use, we will be using the chart below. A copy of the chart will be provided to you and your child for home use at the Three-Way Conferences.

If you have not already signed up for conferences on November 23rd, please do so.

At conferences:

• Your child will play an important role in this conference.
• We strongly feel that we learn best when we reflect on our experiences.
• It is important for our students to know that learning is something they do as opposed to something that is done to them.
• This type of conference allows for your child to showcase their understanding and their learning journey.
• Three-Way Conferences provide students with the opportunity to take control of their learning by becoming independent and self-directed learners.
• Please note that teachers will also be sharing about your child’s achievement during this conference.
• During the conferences, students are responsible for sharing a variety of work and learning engagements.
• Your child will lead you through discussions about personal, social, and academic achievements and progress.
• Your role as a parent is to be an active listener and help assist your child with their learning journey.

What’s coming up for the week of November 6th – November 10th

Monday – PE uniforms

Tuesday – PE uniforms & Health Screening

Wednesday – PE Uniforms & Forest Walk (weather permitting)

Thursday – Library, bring bags and books, Sign up begins for Three-Way Conferences on November 23rd (look for an email to be sent from the school)

Friday – Regular uniforms and Swimming

Friday, November 10th – Parent Presentation by Anne vanDam

Anne vanDam is a visiting consultant who will be presenting to parents on Friday morning at 8:45 regarding Encouraging Agency in Young Children. Please join if you are able.

A big THANK YOU to Melissa Schwartz, our room parent, and all the other volunteers for a fabulous Halloween Party. The kids had a great time!

Home Readers – please keep home readers in the yellow Home Folders throughout the week. New books will be sent home on Monday. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Winter Clothing – as the weather is turning colder, please send your child to school with warm clothing.

Remember…There is no bad weather, only bad clothing.

AAS School policy is that children go outside unless it is colder than -18 degrees C or raining. Please help keep our kiddos warm!

Math

In Math, the children have just begun a new unit on 2D and 3D Shapes.

Central Idea: Mathematicians can describe the world around them by analyzing and comparing 2D and 3D shapes.

Key Concepts:

• Form, Function, Connection  

Related Concepts

• Position, shapes, sorting, properties (attributes)  

In this the unit, the students will be inquiring about:

• Properties of shapes
• The use of positional words to describe objects
• Shapes around us

We are also beginning a new unit of inquiry: How We Organize Ourselves.

The Central Idea of this unit is:

People in groups are connected and have different roles and responsibilities to function effectively.

We began last week thinking about teamwork and what is a group. The children worked together in groups to clean out their pumpkins and separate the seeds from the pulp. Afterwards, they reflected on both positive and negative types of teamwork. We will also be working in various groups during the week to further develop our understanding of groups and teamwork.

What’s coming up for the week of October 30th – November 3rd?

Monday – PE uniforms

Tuesday – PE uniforms

Wednesday – PE Uniforms

Thursday – Library, bring bags and books & Swimming (schedule change is only for this week)

Friday – Halloween Dress-up Day and Party

Party begins at 2:30. Thank you to our room parent, Melissa, for organizing and to all the parents who are volunteering. The children are very excited and are looking forward to a fun filled party! Please remember to leave any toy weapons that may go with costumes at home on this day. They are not permitted in school. 

Important Information: 

Home Readers will start coming home this week. We will begin with books that the children choose that they would like you to read to them (Read to Me). The books will be coming home in your child’s yellow Home Folder along with a letter of explanation. In each book, please find a book mark indicating if the book is a Read to Me, Read to Someone, or Read with Someone book. The bookmarks have guiding questions to help you in discussing the books with your child after reading. This is a very important part of the reading process! Books will be sent home on Monday and are due back on Fridays. Please read the book(s) more than once. If you would like new books before Friday, please send them back and remind your child to ask for new ones.

Please note that due to the Halloween celebrations on Friday, November 3rd, our regular swimming time has been has been rescheduled for Thursday, November 2nd. 

Volunteers for swimming

Please sign up for the next few weeks! Sign up is posted outside the classroom door. We are continuing to building independence during changing time. Your help is greatly appreciated!