School Winter Sharing Assembly

The school Winter Sharing Assembly in on Friday, December 16th at 1:35 for P.M. Kindergarten and all second grade classes. This is a 'very' popular assembly. For good seating please arrive at least 15 minutes early. The children are doing a poem about the meaning of Christmas. I hope to see you there.

Happy Holidays Everyone!!

Secret Pal Gift Exchange

Our class is going to have a 'Secret Pal' Gift Exchange next week. Here is how it works. Each child selects a name out of a hat at class and provides a wrapped gift for that child at our class party. A girl picks a girl's name and a boy a boy's name.

The gift should be no more than $5 in cost. The dollar store always has some cute items. Your child should keep the surprise until they present the gift to their 'Secret Pal' during our party on the 15th.

During the next two weeks the children will be writing notes or coloring pictures to slip into their 'Secret Pals" cubby. They all work hard on being especially nice to their Secret Pals. This activity also teaches them the joy in giving to someone else at Christmas time.

Class Christmas Party

Our class Christmas Party will be held on Thursday, December 15th from 2:00 to 2:30. The student party helpers will be Trista, Austin, Paydon, Tanna, Sydney, Andee, and Salvador. A note will go home with these children tomorrow. The party food items may be brought to school the day of the party by your child, or you can drop off the items at school...whichever is most convenient for you.

If you have the time next Thursday, then feel free to come and join in the fun. Parents and grandparents are always welcome at our class parties.

A big 'Thank You' to all our party helpers!

Calling All Turkeys!!

Last week I sent home a turkey for you and your child to color and decorate. Some beautifully decorated turkeys have already been brought to school. It is so fun to see the many neat ways that these turkeys can be decorated.

The family turkey project is due November 10th. But please have your child bring in your turkey as soon as it is completed.

2nd Grade Music program is Next Thursday!

The second grade Music Program will be next Thursday, November 10th at 7:00 p.m. Students should arrive at our classroom by 6:45 at the latest. They will leave extra items or clothing with you, since you will connect with them in the hall near the multipurpose room after the performance.

The theme of the program is the garden, and students may dress in overalls, bandanas and other appropriate attire, but this is not required. This will be a wonderful experience for the children, as they share their songs with you.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Family Turkey Project!

Parents, today your child is bringing home a paper turkey. I would like you to decorate this turkey as a family project. Please return them to school when you finish decorating them. I would like the turkeys back by no later than November 10th. All turkeys will receive an award and will be displayed on our hall bulletin board.

Your turkey can be decorated in any way you would like. Be creative with anything you have around the house.....seeds, spices, tooth picks, fabric, paint, feathers, crayons, cotton balls, buttons, bows, noodles, cereal, small pieces of candy.... etc.

This is a second grade class project. When you come in during Conference Week in November you will see all the second grade turkeys displayed by their classrooms. Each year parents as well as staff members stop and remark about all the creative turkeys that are on display.

I hope you have fun working together with your child on your turkey!

Class Halloween Party

Our Class Halloween will be on Monday, October 31st from 1:45-2:30. Parents and grandparents are always welcome at our class parties. If you have the time, we would love to have you attend and join in the fun.

Our class helpers for the Halloween Party will be: Cash, Emily, Sam, Jasmine, Mason, Nik, Raelynn, and Mariana. These children have brought home a paper listing the food item that they are to bring to the party.

You can either send the food item to school with your child the day of the party of bring it to school by 1:45 on the day of the party. Whichever is most convenient for you. A big 'Thank You' to all those helping out with the Halloween Party!

If your child's name was not mentioned above, then they will get to have their turn at being a party helper at one of our other class parties.

Coats Need To Be Worn At Recess Until Spring

Mr. Williams has told the staff to remind our students and parents that coats need to be worn until spring. If your child gets hot outside they are to tie their coats around their waist.

Our concern is that children are not bringing coats to school. Or if they do bring them to school they are not taking them outside. With October came some cooler and wetter weather. Please realize that even in misty or light rain the students go out to recess. This can present a problem with children that do not have a coat.

Mr. Williams has said that children who do not have a coat will have to spend recess sitting in a chair at the office. So please be sure that your child brings a coat to school for recess.

Focus On Poetry

Next week your child will be studying poetry in our classroom and in their Penguin Reading Group. As a part of this, I would like the children to share their favorite poems with our group to gain experience reading aloud with expression for an audience, and for children to hear a variety of poems.

This is optional homework. If your child would like to share a poem, your child should give a copy to me by Wednesday, October 12th. Please have your child practice reading it at home and encourage him or her to bring the poem to life by using expression. The poem can be read and does not have to be memorized.

March of the Penguins Has Begun

This week we started our Penguin Groups for Reading. We have used the test results from your children and have grouped them into leveled groups to best help them. Our groups run for 30 minutes Monday through Thursday. The children join the "Parade of Penguins" to different second grade classrooms during this time. This is a concentrated time of reading skills for each student to help them reach their potential of being better readers.

Second Grade Music Program

Our second grade music program will be on Thursday, November 10th at 7 p.m. Mrs. Wellings is sending a note home to parents this week with the words of the songs for the children to practice at home.

Mrs. Wellings also needs some children from each second grade to do speaking parts. If you think that your child might be interested in this, then you will need to sign the form and return it to school by Friday, October 14th. It is important that the students doing this extra participation make a full commitment to attend the performance. They will be working with others who may be thrown off if one member of the group is absent.

Whether they want a speaking part or not, I hope that all my students can be part of this special program. I wouldn't want them to miss the fun experience of performing for an audience.

Penguin Groups For Reading Skills

Next week we will start our Penguin Groups for Reading. We have used the test results from your children and have grouped them into leveled groups to best help them. Our groups run for 30 minutes Monday through Thursday and the children will join the "Parade of Penguins" to different Second Grade classrooms during that time. This is a concentrated time of reading skills for each student to help them reach their potential of being better readers.

Late Start Day on October 12th

October 12th will be a Late Start Day. On Late Start Days the school will open at 10:00 a.m. and school will start at 10:15 a.m. The bus will be picking up your child two hours later than normal. There will be no breakfast served at school that day.

Crazy Hair Day!

Parents....the class earned 35 Positive Penguins slips. They got to vote for a reward. The class voted to have a Crazy Hair Day.

Crazy Hair Day will be this Friday, September 30th. This is not something that they have to do, only encourage them if they would like to participate.

I can't wait to see all the fun hairdos!!

Pumpkin Dash 11

The Tenino Combined PTA is having a FunRun at Tenino Elementary School on Saturday, October 29. Check in and on site registration begins at 8 a.m.

Participating in costume is encouraged! Strollers and wheelchairs are welcome on the 5K and the untimed 1 mile course which winds through the spooky town of Tenino. Refreshments are offered at the end of the course..while supplies last.

Small awards will be provided to the 1st and 2nd place winners in the 5K and 10K races. Run or walk in costume and be eligible to compete for Best Costume Prize. Children will have one prize winner for each age division. The adults will have one prize over all for best costume.

Mark your calendars and come join the fun on October 29th!

Earthquake Drill and Fire Drill

On Wednesday we had our first Earthquake Drill. The class did a great 'Drop, Cover and Hold' for a minute. Then we exited the classroom with our coats to line up with the other classes on the playground.

Mr. Williams said that both our Fire Drill that we had earlier in the month, as well as our Earthquake Drill went very well. It is good to know that the staff and the children are ready in case of a real emergency.

Class Holiday Parties

We will be having three holiday parties this year. They will be for Halloween, Christmas, and Valentines. A parent sign up sheet is being sent home this weekend. Please sign up for the party that you would like to help provide refreshments for and you will be called when that holiday arrives. Mark on the paper a second choice so that if we have too many for one holiday we can call you for another.

Parents and grandparents are always welcome at our holiday parties. Come in and join the fun if you have that party time available. As the date of the holiday party arrives I will again post on our blog the day and time of our class party.

Tenino Combined PTA Meeting

The Tenino Combined PTA will have a meeting on Thursday, September 29, 2011. The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. and it will be held at the Parkside Multi-Purpose Room. Membership in the PTA is not required to come to their meetings. Come help plan our PTA involvement for the coming school year.

Student Picture Day

Student picture day will be Tuesday, September 20, 2011. Your child will be bringing home in their Homework Folder this Friday a picture packet. Those that wish to order pictures will need to have your child bring in the payment on picture day.

Spirit Week At Parkside

Spirit Week supports Tenino High School and their Homecoming Week. Senior football players will be at our Friday Assembly.

Monday, Sept. 12th Red, White and Blue Day

Tuesday, Sept. 13th Hat Day

Wednesday, Sept. 14th Holiday or Vacation Day

Thursday, Sep. 15th Sports Day

Friday, Sep. 16th Red and Black Day

First Homework of the Year

The first homework assignment of the year will be sent home on Friday, September 9th. Homework will be due on Thursday, September 15th. One of the purposes of homework is to teach your child responsibility. Please review your child's homework and remind them to put their homework folder into their backpack each Wednesday evening.

Hot Weather For Next Week!

The weather forecast for next week is 'hot.' The temperature maybe in the 90's. Have your child wear cool clothing next week. Water bottles are welcome on your child's desk. They need not be fancy, but they need to have a secure top in case of spills.

We Are Off To A Great Start!

Today we finished our first week of school. The children have begun to settle into our classroom routine nicely.

We have also been taking a lot of school wide tests this week. There will be more school wide testing next week too. We will all breathe a sigh of relief when these school wide tests are completed!

Snacks

Many of the teachers at Parkside find that children at this age really function better with a morning snack. We will have a short Snack Time / Story Time close to 10:00 a.m. each morning. The first week of school I will provide a snack for the children. After the first week, if you want your child to have a snack then you will have to provide your child with something small and healthy each day. Some children bring something new each day, and others bring a box of crackers, etc. lasting them several days. Some students may choose to eat a piece of fruit, or half of a sandwich from their lunch that they brought from home.

Birthdays

Birthdays are special occasions and we enjoy celebrating them at school. Please know that you are welcome to send treats to the classroom on your child's birthday, or on the Monday following a weekend birthday. We will be sure to take a half hour to honor your child with singing and a few games.

Volunteers

In the past I have had parents volunteer their time in the classroom, and I encourage this because it provides opportunities for more children to receive personal attention. If you are interested in volunteering, please let me know. This can be on a weekly, monthly, or occasional basis for class parties or field trips or to share a special skill or area of interest with the students. All volunteers will need to complete a new volunteer packet to be eligible to assist in the classroom. Volunteer packets are sent home at the beginning of the school year, but they can also be obtained from the school office. A new application must be filled out every year.

Parkside Open House

Monday, August 29th will be Parkside's Open House and Ice Cream Social. It will be from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The Open House is a lot of fun for your child. They can have some ice cream at the Multi Purpose Room and visit with students that they know. After that you can find Room 7 and help your child find their new desk so that they can put their supplies away.

You will also have a chance to sign up for Fall Conferences. As we get closer to the date of the conferences, I will double check that the date you choose is still convenient for you. If it isn't, then we will find one that fits your schedule.

I hope to see you at the Open House. I am looking forward to welcoming you and your child to Room 7.