May
31
May 31-June 3
May
11
May 9-13
We are down to the last few weeks of school! They will surely fly by! As we begin to wrap up our year we are busy reviewing all we have learned in kindergarten and also getting ready for first grade. The students are constantly hearing me say things like, “Read like first graders, write like first graders, act like first graders..” I am so proud of all they have learned this year. These kiddos impress me every day! Thank you for your continued support as we have a fabulous ending to our kindergarten year!
Dates of Interest
May 13th– Hands on House coming to Brecknock (for Kindergarten’s In-House field trip) Five Senses!
May 18th– SAVE THE DATE! First Grade Night! 6:00-7:00 (Parents and kindergartners are invited to meet the first grade teachers and learn ways to keep their children learning this summer.) – Please return green RSVP form ASAP.
May 20th– PTO Illustrator Assembly 9:45-10:30 (PM students may attend with their parents) “I Draw Cartoons and So Can You!”
May 20th – Final ST Math Party- 60% completion- Snow Cone Party
May 25th– Early Dismissal- PM students only (NO AM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30 – Students may pack a snack and drink.
May 26th – Field Day- Kindergarten will be participating during their normal ½ day session. Please send a water bottle and don’t forget to check the weather and apply sunscreen if needed. Students MUST wear SNEAKERS on this day!
May 27th– Mini Relay- Collecting coins in milk bottles for the American Cancer Society. Please return milk bottles by this day.
May 30th– NO SCHOOL
June 1st– Kindergarten End of Year Picnic- Parents and siblings are invited. Please pack a sandwich and drink. Bring a snack/dessert to share. Don’t forget something to sit on. (This will be held in the Brecknock Memorial Garden which is in between the 4th grade wing and the 6th grade wing, near the “big kid” playground. The ladies in the office will direct you where to go.)
AM Class: 10:00-11:00 Outdoor activities & 11:00-11:30 Picnic
PM Class: 1:00-1:30 Picnic & 1:30-2:30 Outdoor activities
June 2nd– Early Dismissal- AM students only (NO PM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30 – Students may pack a snack and drink. This will be the last day of school for AM students.
June 3rd– Early Dismissal- PM students only (NO AM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30- Students may pack a snack and drink. This will be the last day of school for the PM students.
Mrs. Kelly Thomas
Kindergarten Teacher
Brecknock Elementary
http://blog.elanco.org/kthomas/
May
03
May 2-6
Things we are working on in kindergarten:
*Reading harder books
*Learning about vowel pairs and silent e
*Reviewing all of our kindergarten high frequency words (reading and writing)
*Writing longer and longer stories- Challenging students to write 2 pages in their journals!
*Practicing writing smaller and neater (Writing like first graders!)
*Learning about our 5 Senses!
*Reading short vowel CVC words quickly (like a grown up… saying the sounds in our brain)
*Adding and subtracting using dice, dominos, blocks and our fingers
We are down to exactly one month of school left! I can’t believe it! It is going to be a very busy month and I will try to keep you updated as much as possible! One new item on our dates of interest is on May 18th– SAVE THE DATE- The first grade teachers will be hosting a night where you and your child can come to school to meet the first grade teachers and learn about ways you can continue to practice reading, writing and math over the summer. It should be a fun night! More information will be coming home soon!
Don’t forget Thursday, May 5th the kindergartners will be eating in the cafeteria. I am still looking for a couple blue forms back to find out if your child will be packing or buying. Please return them tomorrow if you haven’t already. I know the children are very excited about this day! (They keep asking me when it is!)
Dates of Interest
May 5th– Moms and Muffins – Last Names A thru L 8:15-8:45, Cost $1 per family
May 5th– Kindergarten eats lunch in the cafeteria (Lunch money due by May 3rd)
May 6th– Moms and Muffins – Last Names M thru Z 8:15-8:45, Cost $1 per family
May 6th– Scholastic Orders are due. These are the last book orders of the year! Stock up for summer!
May 6th, 7th, 8th– Barnstormers Reading Nights- Order your tickets online and use the vouchers that were sent home.
May 10-12th Kindergarten Registration for 2016-2017
May 13th– Hands on House coming to Brecknock (for Kindergarten’s In-House field trip)
May 18th– SAVE THE DATE! First Grade Night! 6:00-7:00 (Parents and kindergartners are invited to meet the first grade teachers and learn ways to keep their children learning this summer.) – More information coming home soon!
May 20th– PTO Illustrator Assembly 9:45-10:30 –( PM students may attend with their parents) “I Draw Cartoons and So Can You!”
May 20th – Final ST Math Party- 60% completion- Snow Cone Party
May 25th– Early Dismissal- PM students only (NO AM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30 – Students may pack a snack and a drink.
May 26th – Field Day- Kindergarten will be participating during their normal ½ day session. Please send a water bottle and don’t forget to check the weather and apply sunscreen if needed. Students MUST wear SNEAKERS on this day!
May 27th– Mini Relay
May 30th– NO SCHOOL
June 2nd– Early Dismissal- AM students only (NO PM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30 – Students may pack a snack and drink. This will be the last day of school for AM students.
June 3rd– Early Dismissal- PM students only (NO AM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30- Students may pack a snack and drink. This will be the last day of school for the PM students.
Mrs. Kelly Thomas
Kindergarten Teacher
Brecknock Elementary
http://blog.elanco.org/kthomas/
Apr
27
April 25-29
Some highlights of the things we are working on in kindergarten right now:
- Reading and writing “ING” words
- Compound words
- Writing stories with 3+ sentences
- Addition number stories and number sentences
- Reading words “like a grown up” (saying the sounds in our head)
- Reviewing how to read and write ALL of our kindergarten high frequency words
- Reading harder and harder books! J
PTO is looking for interested parents to join them at their meeting on Monday, May 2nd at 7:00. There are a few officer positions for next year that they are looking to fill and would love to see some new faces join them. The PTO does so much for the students, the school and the teachers here at Brecknock. We really appreciate all of their hard work and all of the time put in by our parent volunteers. Please consider joining them at their meeting on Monday and learn more about Brecknock’s amazing PTO and all that they do for our Brecknock community.
Dates of Interest
April 29th– PTO Art/ Music Gala in the evening
May 2nd– PTO Meeting in the Brecknock Library @ 7:00
May 5th– Moms and Muffins – Last Names A thru L 8:15-8:45, Cost $1 per family
May 5th– Kindergarten eats lunch in the cafeteria (Lunch money due by May 3rd)
May 6th– Moms and Muffins – Last Names M thru Z 8:15-8:45, Cost $1 per family
May 6th, 7th, 8th– Barnstormers Reading Nights- Order your tickets online and use the vouchers that were sent home.
May 10-12th Kindergarten Registration for 2016-2017
May 13th– Hands on House coming to Brecknock (for Kindergarten’s In-House field trip)
May 20th– PTO Illustrator Assembly 9:45-10:30 –( PM students may attend with their parents) “I Draw Cartoons and So Can You!”
May 20th – Final ST Math Party- 60% completion- Snow Cone Party
May 25th– Early Dismissal- PM students only (NO AM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30 – Students may pack a snack and a drink on this day.
May 26th – Field Day
May 27th– Mini Relay
May 30th– NO SCHOOL
June 2nd– Early Dismissal- AM students only (NO PM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30 – Students may pack a snack and drink. This will be the last day of school for AM students.
June 3rd– Early Dismissal- PM students only (NO AM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30- Students may pack a snack and drink. This will be the last day of school for the PM students.
Mrs. Kelly Thomas
Kindergarten Teacher
Brecknock Elementary
http://blog.elanco.org/kthomas/
Apr
13
April 11-15
We are learning…
This week we are learning our final 2 kindergarten high frequency words: where and come. For the remainder of the year we will review and practice reading and writing all of the “word wall words” we have learned this year. I remind students that these are the “rule breaker” words and we can’t sound them out. These are the words we just have to practice and memorize. Please continue to practice these at home as well.
We are also working hard on writing. The students are now expected to write three sentences independently. I am really impressed with their writing this year. I am challenging many of them to write even more. We took a peak at our journals the other day and looked at our first writing compared to our current writing. The children were really proud of themselves… and they should be!!! Ask your child to write you a story at home too. I bet you might be able to figure out what it says without them reading it to you! J
Lunch in the Cafeteria!!
Coming home today is a paper in your child’s folder regarding a special day I always set up for the students as we approach the end of kindergarten. The students will have the opportunity to eat lunch in the cafeteria on May 5th. Mrs. Marilyn Martin, from the cafeteria will talk to the students and explain to them how things work in the cafeteria. They will learn where they will put their lunch money, how to walk through the lunch line, carry their tray to their tables and how to clean up when they are done eating. They will also talk to them about the rules in the cafeteria as well. The students may pack or buy lunch on this day but all students will walk through the lunch line so that they have experience with that before the first day of first grade. If you would like your child to buy lunch please return the bottom portion of the blue paper with your child’s name and $2.20. If you have any questions please let me know. (Weather permitting we will also play on the first grade playground!!!)
PSSA Spirit Weeks
The students in grades 3-6 will be participating in the PSSA test from April 12-21. To encourage the students to do their best we are having PSSA Spirit Week and the kindergartners may also participate to show our support of the “big” kids! J
April 14th– We’ve got taking the test down to a “T.” T-shirt Day!
April 15th– We’re taking the PSSA… No Sweat! Sweat Pant Day!
April 19th– Hats off to our test takers- Hat Day!
April 20th– We’re all geniuses! Wear Jeans!
April 21st– Show your BRECKNOCK pride! Wear a Brecknock shirt or blue & gray.
Dates of Interest
April 15th– Scholastic Orders due
April 22nd – STMath Party- 45% completion
April 29th– PTO Art/ Music Gala in the evening
May 5th– Moms and Muffins – Last Names A thru L 8:15-8:45
May 5th– Kindergarten eats lunch in the cafeteria (Lunch money due by May 3rd)
May 6th– Moms and Muffins – Last Names M thru Z 8:15-8:45
May 10-12th Kindergarten Registration for 2016-2017
May 13th– Hands on House coming to Brecknock (for Kindergarten’s In-House field trip)
May 20th– PTO Illustrator Assembly 9:45-10:30 – PM students may attend with their parents
May 20th – Final ST Math Party- 60% completion
May 25th– Early Dismissal- PM students only (NO AM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30 – Students may pack a snack.
May 26th – Field Day
May 27th– Mini Relay
May 30th– NO SCHOOL
June 2nd– Early Dismissal- AM students only (NO PM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30 – Students may pack a snack and drink. This will be the last day of school for AM students.
June 3rd– Early Dismissal- PM students only (NO AM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30- Students may pack a snack and drink. This will be the last day of school for the PM students.
Mrs. Kelly Thomas
Kindergarten Teacher
Brecknock Elementary
http://blog.elanco.org/kthomas/
Apr
06
April 4-8
This week is flying by already and I just wanted to update you on a few things:
Specials this week:
Wednesday: STEM
Thursday: Art
Friday: Library
Monday: Music
PSSA Spirit Weeks
The students in grades 3-6 will be participating in the PSSA test from April 12-21. To encourage the students to do their best we are having PSSA Spirit Week and the kindergartners may also participate to show our support of the “big” kids! J
April 12th– We’re RED-y for the test! Wear RED!
April 13th– Sock it to the test. Crazy Sock day!
April 14th– We’ve got taking the test down to a “T.” T-shirt Day!
April 15th– We’re taking the PSSA… No Sweat! Sweat Pant Day!
April 19th– Hats off to our test takers- Hat Day
April 20th– We’re all geniuses! Wear Jeans!
April 21st– Show your BRECKNOCK pride! Wear a Brecknock shirt or blue & gray.
Dates of Interest (from now until the end of the year! WOAH!)
April 8th– Report Cards coming home
April 22nd – STMath Party- 45% completion
April 29th– PTO Art/ Music Gala
May 5th– Moms and Muffins – Last Names A thru L 8:15-8:45
May 6th– Moms and Muffins – Last Names M thru Z 8:15-8:45
May 10-12th Kindergarten Registration for 2016-2017
May 13th– Hands on House coming to Brecknock (for Kindergarten’s In-House Program)
May 20th– PTO Illustrator Assembly 9:45-10:30 – PM students may attend with their parents
May 20th – Final ST Math Party- 60% completion
May 25th– Early Dismissal- PM students only (NO AM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30 – Students may pack a snack.
May 26th – Field Day
May 27th– Mini Relay
May 30th– NO SCHOOL
June 2nd– Early Dismissal- AM students only (NO PM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30 – Students may pack a snack and drink. This will be the last day of school for AM students.
June 3rd– Early Dismissal- PM students only (NO AM KINDERGARTEN) Students will ride the bus to and from school. 9:00-12:30- Students may pack a snack and drink. This will be the last day of school for the PM students.
Mrs. Kelly Thomas
Kindergarten Teacher
Brecknock Elementary
http://blog.elanco.org/kthomas/
Mar
29
March 29-April 1
This week we are learning:
Our last vowel! Uu Please practice reading and writing words like fun, spun, fun, up, dump, shut, bus, dug…
Here is a song we will be practicing this week to help us remember the short vowels and the long vowel sounds:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TjcT7Gto3U&index=8&list=PLXofoXOytWk8BqWQ04O4t4CFI_vuOw1Se
We will be starting our final math unit this week. It is an important one… focusing on addition and subtraction! This unit will be our main focus during the entire fourth quarter. We will work hard to learn addition and subtraction facts up to 10. At the beginning we will be using many types of objects to help us figure out the math problems. Please find ways to practice his at home and use the vocabulary: addition, subtraction, add, subtract, minus, plus, equals, sum, total, number sentence… We will be sending home a new Math newsletter soon.
Specials this week:
Wednesday-STEM
Thursday-Art
Friday-Library
Monday- Music
Tuesday-Gym
Dates of Interest:
March 30th – Students dress like Mrs. Epler/ Mr. Brandt (Jump Rope for Heart reward)
March 30th– End of Third Marking Period
April 1st – Day of Service donations due
April 1st– Book Exchange Day
April 6th– Box Tops Store
April 6th– Dress like a Ninja day (Jump Rope for Heart reward)
April 8th– Report Cards coming home
April 15th– STMath Party- 45% completion
April 29th– PTO Art/ Music Gala
May 5th/6th– Mom’s and Muffins (Mark your calendars… more information coming home soon)
Mrs. Kelly Thomas
Kindergarten Teacher
Brecknock Elementary
http://blog.elanco.org/kthomas/
Mar
23
March 21-24
Dates of Interest
March 24-28 No School
March 30- Students dress Mrs. Epler/ Mr. Brandt (Jump Rope for Heart reward)
March 30th– End of Third Marking Period
April 1st – Day of Service donations due
April 1st– Book Exchange Day
April 6th– Box Tops Store
April 6th– Dress like a Ninja day (Jump Rope for Heart reward)
April 8th– Report Cards coming home
April 15th– STMath Party- 45% completion
April 29th– PTO Art/ Music Gala
May 5th/6th– Mom’s and Muffins (Mark your calendars… more information coming home soon)
Have a wonderful Easter break with your family.
Mar
14
March 14-18 Update
Changes in red!
Dates of Interest:
March 18th– PTO Spaghetti Dinner, Talent Show & Basket Raffle (Mark your calendars… one of my favorite nights of the year!)
March 18th– ST Math Celebration- 30% complete to attend- moved to Monday, 3/21
March 18th– Book Exchange (bring a gently used book to trade for a “new” book… please label with sticky note)
March 18th– Dress like a Super Hero Day (Jump Rope for Heart reward)
March 21st– ST Math Celebration- 30% complete to attend
March 21st– Science Explorers Assembly- 2:30-3:15 – AM students are invited to attend with their parents in the PM-CANCELLED- will be rescheduled
March 24-28 No School
March 30- Students dress like ninjas (Jump Rope for Heart reward)
March 30th– End of Third Marking Period
April 6th– Box Tops Store
Mrs. Kelly Thomas
Kindergarten Teacher
Brecknock Elementary
http://blog.elanco.org/kthomas/
Mar
14
March 14-18
This week we are focusing on the letters Jj and Ww!
Practice reading and writing these words: jet, wet, Jen, Will, west, nest, job…
New High Frequency Words: yellow, blue, green
Here are some videos to help your child learn how to spell these words:
Yellow- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHGYLqvfygE&index=6&list=PLXofoXOytWk8BqWQ04O4t4CFI_vuOw1Se
Blue- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrMfOhv0Qm0&list=PLXofoXOytWk8BqWQ04O4t4CFI_vuOw1Se&index=7
Green- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzgY_S7rEoo&list=PLXofoXOytWk8BqWQ04O4t4CFI_vuOw1Se&index=5
We have been working extremely hard on our writing lately. The students are impressing me with how much they can write. At this point in the year I am looking for three sentences independently. Ask your child what they have been writing about in school and ask them to write you a story at home. We are focusing on capitals, periods, using spaces between our words, writing smaller and neater, making sure our letters are touching the line (not floating away), adding lots of details to our story, and most importantly stretching out words and writing all the sounds we hear.
FRIDAY! Brecknock’s Annual Spaghetti Supper! Basket raffles, yummy food, talent show with student performances… fun night for all! Hope to see you there!
Specials:
Monday- Art
Tuesday- Library
Wednesday- Music
Thursday-P.E.
Friday- STEM
Dates of Interest:
March 18th– PTO Spaghetti Dinner, Talent Show & Basket Raffle (Mark your calendars… one of my favorite nights of the year!)
March 18th– ST Math Celebration- 30% complete to attend
March 18th– Book Exchange
March 21st– Science Explorers Assembly- 2:30-3:15 – AM students are invited to attend with their parents in the PM
March 24-28 No School
March 30- Students dress like ninjas (Jump Rope for Heart reward)
April 6th– Box Tops Store
In other exciting news…
I am happy to share with you… our family is expecting our second little GIRL in early September!
Mrs. Kelly Thomas
Kindergarten Teacher
Brecknock Elementary
http://blog.elanco.org/kthomas/