Field Trip/Science/Future Letters

Our field trip to Green Meadow's Farm is coming up soon.  Please remember to send in the permission slip and fee by Friday, September 27th.

 

 

Green Meadow's Farm

 

 

Any parent who is chaperoning any Centerville field trips must have attended a Parent Volunteer Orientation (this could have been in the past); this is an FCPS policy.  Please make sure to attend one of the upcoming orientations if you would like to chaperone.  All chaperones must provide their own transportation to Green Meadow's Farm due to limited space on the bus.

Today we started an experiment to show the water cycle.  Ms. Bowie set up a bowl with water and then put a dry cup in the middle.  After this, she put cling wrap on the top and sealed it with a rubberband.  Then she put a heat source (the lamp is supposed to represent the sun) over it.  Already the children were able to see the condensation on the cling wrap.  This represented the sun heating the water (evaporation) and turning it into a gas.  Tomorrow, we will get to see how the cling wrap becomes heavy with water and drips water into the cup.  This will represent the gas turning back into a liquid in the form of precipitation (rain).

 

 

 

Be on the look out for letters to be sent home about items we are looking for in upcoming lessons.

 

Thank you for your support!

 

 

 

Back to School Night

Wow!  It is amazing how much time has past since the first day of school.  Children are continuing to learn the rules and routines of school each day. 

Back to School Night is being held Tuesday, September 10th at 6:30 p.m.  This event is for parents only.  You will learn about school and classroom rules/policies, academic and emotional expectations, and much more.

Thursday Folders

Important information goes home each week and children need a folder to put this information in.  Some families have already purchased a Thursday Folder at Kindergarten Round-Up back in May.  If you have not purchased a Thursday Folder, you can purchase one at Open House.  I will be putting your child's name in the plastic sleeve of this folder, so a folder with a clear plastic sleeve in the front is preferred.

***You can also purchase a folder by sending $2 to school.  If you write a check, please make it out to CES PTA.***

If you have any questions about this, please let me know or you can contact the PTA.

Open House

Wow!  This is what our classroom looked like before I began to prepare for the school year.  

Don't forget to visit Centerville this Friday, August 16th for our Open House!  You can come in anytime between 4:00-5:00 p.m.  Most families do not stay the entire hour.  This is a time for your child to see his/her classroom and meet the teacher.  You can also meet other families in the class, too.   There will also be important information and items at your child's seat; these papers can answer many of your questions.  I recommend bringing your child's school supplies during this time.  If you do not bring them, please send them with your child the following week.

Also, the PTA is having an ice cream social afterwards.  I highly recommend signing up for the PTA or at least attending this event.  They are a vital group at Centerville that plans lots of fun events and can also answer many of your questions.

It's hard to believe that the 2013-2014 school will be starting so soon!  

School begins on Monday, August 19th.  Please refer to your child's teacher placement letter which will be mailed home sometime in early to mid August.  On this letter is a staggered start date for your child.  This means that your child will only attend school 1 out of the first 3 days.  1/3 of the students attend on Monday, 1/3 of the students attend on Tuesday, and 1/3 of the students attend on Wednesday; then all children will attend school thereafter.  This process makes it easier for your child to make friends and have a smoother transition into Kindergarten.

If you have not signed up for the FindOut First resource, please do so.  Visit the "Websites for Parents" page.  You will find lots of useful tools here.  

Also, FCPS has a great Back-to-School one-stop webpage at www.fcps.org/backtoschool. 

Getting Ready for Kindergarten

Below are helpful tips to help prepare your child for the first day of Kindergarten:

Getting Ready for School
• Establish routines by introducing an earlier bedtime several weeks before school starts.
• Practice the morning routine of dressing and eating breakfast.
• Review several times with your child how he or she will get to and from school.
• Make sure your child understands and obeys safety rules such as:
        1. Crossing the street only at crosswalks.
        2. Walking on sidewalks.
        3. Remaining seated until the bus is completely stopped.
        4. Listen to teachers, bus drivers, crossing guards, principals, etc.
• Teach your child:
        1. To recite his/her full name, address, and phone number.
        2. To be responsible for and to recognize his/her own belongings. You can help by labeling
               ALL his/her belongings (clothes, backpack, coat, gloves…).
        3. To attend to his/her own personal needs: toileting (visit a public restroom; this enables
               your child to feel more comfortable with using the restrooms at school), using a tissue,
               and washing face and hands, covering nose or mouth with arm to sneeze or cough,
              zipping/buttoning/snapping clothes.
• Choose clothing for your kindergartener that is “easy on, easy off”. Choose pants with elastic
waistbands if your child has difficulty with zippers, snaps, and belts. Children should be able to put on his/her shoes independently if they come off.
• Read to your child daily. Reading increases vocabulary. Read everything, from
books to signs, even cereal boxes!
• Make sure that your child has time to play after school and on weekends. Now that your child
spends more time in a structured school environment, you should allow more free time at home
for play. Kindergarten homework includes playtime!
• Help your child develop strategies to resolve peer conflicts and to know when it is appropriate to ask an adult for
help.
• Promote the attitude of respect for rights and properties of others.

Supporting the Learning Process
• Be calm and positive when you speak about school in the child’s presence.
• Encourage your child to share school experiences with you. Take an active interest in your
children’s schooling. Ask specific questions about what happens at school each day and how your
children feel about it.
• Treat going to school as part of the normal course of events that will be a positive experience for
your child. A calm, matter-of-fact, positive attitude will best help your child get the most out of
Kindergarten.  Give a kiss and hug, then say have a great day!  The quicker this morning transition is, the quicker your child with adjust to the school day.