Last one in September!

Howdy, Folks!

I hope you all have had a great week! It has been a wonderful week in our classroom with lots of activities, play and exploring.

We got to spend a lot more time in our outdoor classroom this week, which has been super. The kids got to do some fairy village building, firewood collecting, and making areas to protect their precious eggs from storms. 

We also had a wonderful Dot Day. The kids got to do some activities, get their face painted if they wanted to, have a dot snack and got read to by Ms. Aly at Library time. For more information about International Dot Day, look here. I know we were a couple of days late, we always try to celebrate this day on Library day. 

We started our work on the alphabet over the past couple of weeks. We have been trying to figure out the letters in our name, learn the alphabet song and have started to work on the letter c, the first letter they learn to write in their handwriting program. We also introduce the sound /k/ as well as the picture to go along with it (cat). The handwriting program goes in an order that uses the magic-c as the basis for their first letters. If you are wondering why we don’t start with the letter a, it is because in large part, the order of the alphabet is arbitrary. We try to do the sounds at the same time we do the letters. The next letter is o, with a picture of an octopus. By using specific pictures for kids, it helps them cement the sounds without complicating the process by using lots of different pictures to represent sounds. 

It has been great seeing the kids find friends to play with, learning one another’s names and overall finding their groove as a group. What we see, and what we hear from all of their teachers is that they are a sweet, sweet group of kids. We couldn’t agree more!

I hope you got to see the book your kiddo took out of the library this week. The kids will continue to get out books on Tuesdays. Please try to send them back to school on Monday, if you haven’t already.

We got to release a butterfly this week, albeit one with very small, undeveloped wings. We still brought it outside and placed it on a flower. We talked a lot about how Mother Nature can be unpredictable and that these kinds of things happen. It was a sad, yet important learning experience for the kiddos. Interestingly this has been a theme in other classrooms as well. In any case, we should have more to release next week. 

In order to support the amazing work of our Rumney PTO, you may have seen a fundraiser packet from Meadow Farms. If you have any questions about it, please get in touch with Honi (hbarrett@u32.org). 

Picture Day is Monday at 10:00am. We’ll try to not go outside before pictures to ensure the best possible results. I can’t wait to see how they come out!

I know Jen Miller Arsenault, our acting Superintendent, sent out a memo this week describing the process going forward about how she is going to be reporting on Covid cases and sending out information to families. She welcomes feedback. If you have Covid specific questions, feel free to reach out to me or Maria Melekos, WCUUSD Covid Coordinator. 

Last, every once in a while I’ll send along something that comes across my radar that resonates with me. Maybe it will with you, too. Maybe not, especially if it bothers you that it feels a little too “Learning to Fly” by Tom Petty... In any case, here is a song I heard the other day. As a new kindergarten parent, it got me right in the feels. Find it here.

Enjoy the weekend weather!

Best,

Ben and Honi

Reminders

Class Blog

You can check out the blog here for the newsletter and resources

Pictures

The folder with class pictures can be found here. 

Class Gear

Please remember to send in all the tools for the kiddos to be using as we go through the year (change of clothes, raingear, camp chair, etc.). Sneakers are the best daily footwear for students. If you need help getting any of those, please let us know, the school will be happy to help.

 

Conversation starters:

*What project did you finish in Art? (paper glasses) What did yours look like?

*Ask your child how their day was and see if they can answer you in Spanish (bien=good, mal=bad, asi-asi=so-so).

*Did you try anything new on the playground this week?

*Do you remember your buddy's name? Did you have fun with your buddy?

*What happened in the book about the little engine?

Last, we are sending home new book order forms. Here is some information:

 

 With a $25 order, you can pick a FREE $5 Book (use code: READS).

 

Class Order Due Date: Thursday, Sept 9th.

Shop Our Class Page: https://orders.scholastic.com/XLZX8

 

Class Code: XLZX8

Another Great Week!

Good Afternoon, Kindergarten Families!

We have done a super job building our stamina this week, building our way into the rhythm of five day weeks. I am looking forward to seeing how the kids handle the coming days week(s). If you are seeing behaviors at home due to overtiredness, be sure to let us know. We can help by encouraging kiddos to take advantage of their rest times. 

First, a big thanks and shout-out to the Rumney PTO getting all of the kindergarten kiddos Rumney t-shirts. It was a big day and I know the kids loved them!

Today you will receive a packet in the event that we have to go remote at some point. Along with some materials, we also have made a letter to lay out what a remote day or extended period of remote days could look like. Please be in touch if you have any questions about it.

In the ever shifting world of Covid protocols, I hope you have gotten a chance to see the correspondence from our acting Superintendent, Jen Miller-Arsenault regarding this as well as other news in her weekly correspondence to families. If you have Covid specific questions, feel free to reach out to me or Maria Melekos, WCUUSD Covid Coordinator. 

We have been working hard to get to know the names of all of our friends in class. We have been playing lots of games and Ms. Honi even made a book mirroring the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? With the names of the kiddos in our class. It was a fun read today! We encourage you to chat about who your child is playing with and spending time with.

We got a chance to meet our fifth grade buddies this week! This is a long-standing and powerful Rumney School tradition. Matching younger kiddos up with older students yields super positive results in how kids feel about being at school. I know that 5th graders, kindergarteners and teachers look forward to these weekly get-togethers. 

Next week we should have some butterflies to release into the wild. It has been so much fun watching the kids come in everyday looking to see the progress. We will be doing some reading and art related activities related to them next week.

Again, thanks to all of you for sending in all the tools for the kiddos to be using as we go through the year (change of clothes, raingear, camp chair, etc.). Sneakers are the best daily footwear for students. If you need help getting any of those, please let us know, the school will be happy to help.

We hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Take Care,

Ben and Honi

Reminders

Pictures

The folder with class pictures can be found here. 

Dot Day

On Friday, September 17th we will celebrate DOT DAY in Kindergarten, and during our library time with Ms. Ally. Children are encouraged to wear dots next Friday. We'll have special Dot Day art projects. 

 

Conversation starters:

*What project did you finish in Art? (Name tags) What did yours look like?

*Ask your child how their day was and see if they can answer you in Spanish.

*Did you try anything new on the playground this week?

*Do you remember your buddy's name? Did you have fun with your buddy?

*What happened in the book about a jam sandwich?

Last, we are sending home new book order forms. Here is some information:

 

 With a $25 order, you can pick a FREE $5 Book (use code: READS).

 

Class Order Due Date: Thursday, Sept 9th.

Shop Our Class Page: https://orders.scholastic.com/XLZX8

 

Class Code: XLZX8

September Continued!

 Happy Friday Kindergarten Families!

We have continued our rhythm here in Kindergarten over this week. These kiddos are doing a super job adjusting to the longer week. Going from two days to five days is nothing to sneeze at and they have done a great job!

Again, Ms Honi has been taking lots of great pictures that are for sharing. The folder with pictures can be found here. 

Allied arts classes continue to go well. The kids have now met all of their Allied Arts teachers and have done a super job. They are all so excited to get to know all of these new faces and are working so hard in their classes.

We got to spend some time in our outdoor classroom. The kids are exploring the space and learning how to be safe while in the woods by learning about how to handle sticks and move about in a safe way. In the coming weeks we will be expanding opportunities to include cooking stations, building fairy houses and collecting firewood. 

The kids made it through a very busy week and have certainly earned the weekend. We had some nice quiet times and the kids benefitted from some daily rest. Thanks for all of your support in making sure your kiddos are ready for the pace and energy of daily kindergarten life!

Again, thanks to all of you for sending in all the tools for the kiddos to be using as we go through the year (change of clothes, raingear, camp chair, etc.). Sneakers are the best daily footwear for students. Again, if you need help getting any of those, please let us know, the school will be happy to help.

We’ll be sending home lots of paperwork every week as the kiddos are really churning out tons of work. There are so many special pieces of art being created, books being written and crowns being made. Enjoy!

We’ll be doing our annual Kindergarten screening at the end of this month. While I will be sending home more information about this in the coming weeks, in short Kindergarten screening is when a team of teachers (Me, Matt (math interventionist), Jess (reading interventionist), Maggie (Speech/Language), Brigitte (Special Education) and Dana (Occupational Therapist)) from here at Rumney get to meet with the kids to get a complete snapshot of where they are in their development in a number of areas.  

If your kiddo is feeling a bit shy or forgetful about their day when you are discussing it with them, here are some starters:

*What is your favorite part of the playground?

*What color group are you in?

*Tell me about practicing a fire drill.

*Who did you play with this week at centers? At PE? At recess?

*What animal did Ms. Kobb read a story about (a moose!)?

Last, we are sending home book order forms. Here is some information:

In your child's folder you will find our first Scholastic Book Order forms. We prefer that you order books directly online. Here is the link and ordering information:

 

 With a $25 order, you can pick a FREE $5 Book (use code: READS).

 

Class Order Due Date: Thursday, Sept 9th.

Shop Our Class Page: https://orders.scholastic.com/XLZX8

 

Class Code: XLZX8

I hope you all had a great week, enjoy the long weekend!

Warmly,

Ben and Honi

Week 1 Success!

 Hello Kindergarten Families!

What a great first week we’ve had! The kiddos have been working hard on routines and building stamina for the full days ahead. Ms Honi and I have enjoyed getting to know these kiddos as individuals as well as seeing the dynamics of the group unfold. It is going to be a magical year!

Ms Honi has been taking lots of great pictures that are for sharing. The folder with pictures can be found here. I really loved seeing their smiling faces from our first couple of days together! 

The kids have gotten to meet a number of their Allied Arts teachers such as Ms. Aly, the librarian, Mr. Mike, the PE teacher, Sharon Spector, the guidance teacher and Senora Donovan, the Spanish teacher. They will get to meet Ms. Campbell, the art teacher, and Mrs. Mishkin, the music teacher next week.

We have been doing lots of Center time so kids are getting a chance to explore some of the classroom materials and games. They are also working on skills like sharing and taking turns while playing. It has been great to watch them interact with each other so positively. 

Next week is going to be a full week and the kids are going to be tired. As a new parent of a kindergartener myself, I know I am working on (and not terribly successful, yet!) making sure my kiddo at home is getting to bed at an early, non-summer hour. Thanks to all of your support on this!

The children showed a great interest in getting breakfast (as a morning snack) and lunch this week! In your child’s folder, you will find a lunch planning sheet for you all to send in with your kiddo. This will help any confusion around your child’s daily lunch plan. The children showed a great interest in getting breakfast (as a morning snack) and lunch this week. As a reminder, lunches and breakfasts are free to all students through December. 

Next week we will be exploring our outdoor classroom that we will be using for ECO and lots of other activities throughout the year. We’ll be working on how to be safe in the woods while learning and having lots of fun!

Thanks to all of you for sending in all the tools for the kiddos to be using as we go through the year (change of clothes, raingear, camp chair, etc.). Sneakers are the best daily footwear for students. Again, if you need help getting any of those, please let us know, the school will be happy to help.

We’ll be sending home lots of paperwork every week as the kiddos are really churning out tons of work. There are so many special pieces of art being created, books being written and crowns being made. Enjoy!

If your kiddo is feeling a bit shy or forgetful about their day when you are discussing it with them, here are some starters:

*What is your favorite part of the playground?

*What color group are you in?

*Tell me about practicing a fire drill.

*Who did you play with this week at centers? At PE? At recess?

*What animal did Ms. Kobb read a story about (a moose!)?

Last, we are always here to answer any questions and get you any help we can. Please be in touch, anytime!

Thanks for your ongoing support and we wish you all a wonderful weekend!

Warmly,

Ben and Honi

Summer Letter, We Did It!

June 18, 2020

 

Dear First and Second Grade Families,

This school year (and year in general) has been different than any other; it is certainly one that we will never forget. First and foremost, we want to thank you all and let you know how much we appreciate your openness, flexibility and hard work during this remote learning time. We also appreciate all of your support from the beginning of the year when we were in the building as a community! It seems hard to remember the beginning of the year, but we did have a great school year together in the building too! Some memories include: Primary Sing, the All School Outing at Hubbard Park, writing narrative stories in the fall, Winter Wellness, Global Day of Play and our day to day fun together!

Ending this school year and transitioning to summer also feels different this year. We worked to celebrate and have closure on this school year. That being said, please feel free to contact us over the summer. Don’t hesitate to reach out- just send an email. Please understand that it will take us longer than during the school year to reply to emails.

You also may be able to access some of our apps this summer- such as SeeSaw, Epic  and iReady (through August 8th). Your child should feel welcome to use SeeSaw as another way to connect with us and share summer activities- academic or not, although we won’t be posting new assignments! Feel free to send us letters in the mail! (Our addresses are below). We can also be available to connect over the phone, Zoom, etc. if you feel like this would benefit your child! 

This year has been stressful for many of us and this summer should look however you would like and need for your family to help you recharge and relax. That said, if you are interested in continuing some school type activities for your child here are some ideas. We will also be sending home some summer packets if you are interested. These are totally optional! We just want you to have resources if you are interested!!

• Read, read read!

• A guide to leveled texts: https://www.the-best-childrens-books.org/guided-reading-levels.html

• Please get in touch with us if you’d like your child’s reading level to ensure the books you get them from Scholastic (see below) or the library are a “Good Fit”

• Ben’s Scholastic Class Book Code: MNQC2

• Other Online Resources

• Scholastic Summer Read-A-Palooza https://www.scholastic.com/site/summer/home.html

• TD Bank is offering a $10 incentive for reading over the summer.  It's an easy form to download and fill out. https://www.tdbank.com/summerreading/index.html

•  Just Right Reader - Serves PK-2nd Grades.  A box of books comes each month with activities for parents to follow to enhance engagement.  There is a cost involved, but they are offering one month free. https://www.justrightreader.com/how-it-works 
• Summer Reading Lists by Grade Range - Association for Library Service for Children

  http://www.ala.org/alsc/publications-resources/book-lists/2020-summer-reading-list
• Camp Wonderoplois - is a free online summer learning destination for that's full of fun and interactive STEM and literacy building topics. http://camp.wonderopolis.org/ 
•  NEA Read Across America - this site has all kinds of links to summer reading and activities
  https://www.readacrossamerica.org/kids-summer-reading-list/

• Have interactive books read to you online. Go to: Tumblebooks  and use the username: rumney and password: books. 

• Keep a journal about what you do this summer—write and draw pictures!

• Go outside, observe what you see. Ask questions!

• Count anything you can find!

• Look for words and numbers around you in the world. 

• Talk about money and practice counting pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters.

• Look around your family and/or neighborhood and see how you could help others.

• Draw, create art in nature, listen to music, dance, move your body, use Spanish words, be mindful! 

• Take time to relax and enjoy yourself—it’s summer!

• Run, play, laugh.

We also acknowledge that the end of this year and this summer brings more uncertainty than usual. This is something that staff and families are feeling alike! We are waiting to make decisions about placement and grade configurations for next year until we have the most recent information on both health practices and student numbers at different grade levels. Therefore, you can expect to hear more in August on what the upcoming school year will bring. We know that waiting  can be challenging and we appreciate your patience. We are trying to let time help us make the best decisions to support kids both academically and social/emotionally. 

Thank you again for all you have done and are doing. It has been a pleasure working with you all this year.  Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions. Take care and have a great summer!

Sincerely,

The ½ Team 

Christine Babcock, Caitlin Morgan and Ben Weiss

Mailing Addresses for letter writing: 

Christine Babcock

213 Bartlett Rd. 

Berlin, VT 05602

Ben Weiss 187 Worcester Village Road Worcester, VT 05682 Caitlin Morgan 12 Spring St. Montpelier, VT 05602

The Latest...

Hey Folks,

I hope this finds you well. My apologies for the barrage of information, emails and everything else. I am doing my best to make sure this time is productive and as smooth as we can make it. If I am totally overwhelming you, let me know. I recognize it is a lot.

Just so you know, I am available throughout the day electronically via email. Please let me know ahead of time if you'll be calling me (223-3677), if possible, so I can make sure I can prep my little one that I will be off limits. Who would have guessed that working from home could be so confusing for a 4-year old!?

I hope you all have had a chance to sign up for a phone/video conference time next week. I am really looking forward to touching base with you all!

I have added an additional list of resources on a page here on the blog. I encourage you to check them out and give any feedback. I pulled this list from an even larger one that I slashed and I tried my best to vet them...

I am sure there will be more to come but I think this is enough for now.

Be well, everyone!

~B

Vacation, The Flynn, Workshops Part II

Hello Families,

I hope you all had a restful break and enjoyed the sun this weekend! The kids have come back to school ready to go! I always appreciate the gradual easing back into our school schedule. This week we re-arranged the room, made new table groups and practiced our literacy routine. I hope you are all making sure to get lots of rest to counter-balance the time change!

We will be going to the Flynn to see the Peking Acrobats on Wednesday, the 18th. We will be sending home permission slips as well as other information regarding the field trip such as chaperoning, lunches, etc. this week. We are looking forward to it!

After some discussions with the 1/2 team, we have decided to open up workshop time to all kids in the 1/2 and have offered board games, wood/cardboard working, and crafts. We will be doing this every morning from arrival to 9:15 in our classrooms. As soon as the kids have checked in and done their morning jobs, they can head to their workshop rooms (ours, Ms. Caitlin's and Ms. Babcock's). They will be able to switch up choices every 2-4 weeks. This is going to be a great experience for our kiddos!

Next week we will also be continuing our work on our fiction story writing. The kids are doing a great job editing, adding details and thinking through their ideas. They did an amazing job talking about their story maps before break at the All School Meeting and these tools have been really helpful in them planning their stories and keeping their ideas organized.

We went to the sugarbush this morning and they did such a great collecting. When we came back, we estimated that the kids collected 12 full buckets worth (24 half buckets) which translates to about a gallon and a half of syrup. Not bad!

Last, I've sent home Scholastic packets the past couple of weeks. If you could, please remember to shop under our class code so that we can get bonus points to buy classroom books! Thanks for the help! Class code: MNQC2

Anyway, that's it for now. Please be in touch with any questions, thoughts or concerns anytime!

Best,

Ben