3-13-12
See below for a message from Katie!
Please click on links to the right for opportunities to volunteer:
Pizza Friday - most Pizza Fridays are open for volunteers through the end of the year
Ceramics - the next 2 dates have one volunteer, a second would be great, we need volunteers for April 16th and April 30th
Flower Sign Up - we have not had flowers in the class for awhile, the next 2 slots are taken, but there are still a couple open before the end of the year, it would be great to get back on track and have flowers for the remainder of the year.
MESSAGE FROM KATIE:
Hello,
Welcome to March! Wow, we are getting into the hotter months now. Make sure your child has the appropriate change of clothes in their box in the bathroom. Hats and sunscreen are probably a good idea.
This Friday, March 16th is a teacher in service day. NO PIZZA FRIDAY!! This means that only All Day Contract children will be here after 11:30. I will have the extended day/academic day children out in front of the school for carline at 11:15 on Friday. The lead teachers have meetings in the afternoon, so Rudy and Fran will be with the All Day Children.
We will celebrate March birthdays as follows:
Ryan-Thursday, March 15
Blake-Friday, March 16
Isaac-Monday, March 19
Samuel-Tuesday, March 20
What does this mean? We will have an in class celebration for the years your child has been on the Earth. I would love for you to send a picture of your child for each year of their life. You do not need to send a special snack or treat, however, it would be great for you to donate a book, gift card, helping hand or monetary donation in the name of your child for their special day. You do not need to attend. The celebration last only about 20 minutes or so, and it is more of a community builder for the children in the class. Please let me if you have any questions.
St. Patrick's Day is Saturday, therefore, I would love to celebrate in green on Friday. We will have some fun green things to eat and talk about some Irish things. So, have your child wear green on Friday.
Please make sure that your child's nap items fit in their box in the cubbies in the Outdoor Environment. We will send home items that do not fit. Also, some sheets are too tight for the children to be successful in putting on their mat, even with the help of an older child. If this happens, we will send it home with a note explaining this. Please send sheets that are loose around the edge, these work better.
We are working on manners a lot. Please be good examples to your children and remind them of, "please",, "thank you", "Your welcome", "Pardon me or excuse me". Grace and courtesy are fundamental parts of the Montessori philosophy and curriculum especially at this age level. Also, remind your child that they need to listen and follow the rules. Fran and Rudy have had problems with children not listening to them and being quite disrespectful.
We will have some volunteer positions open up for the next school year. We will need a new Volunteer Coordinator. If this is something you would be interested in, please let me and/or Leslie know.
Read to your child daily.
Thanks so much for all you do for us and your child.
Katie
Dear Friends,
Next Monday, Feb. 20th, the school is closed in observance of President's Day.
Friday, Feb. 24th we will have a visit from Martha Washington @10:00 am. She is a storyteller who will talk about the presidents as well as Arizona's birthday.
LICE - NOTE: The "Lice Lady" will be at both campuses today to perform additional checks.
These critters are very easily spread and extremely hard to get rid of as well. We are doing our best to clean/heat anything that they may be on. Even if you do not see them on your child I would take all precautions to keep your child lice free. We have had 4 children have lice in the past week and one more is being sent home today. If you do not know, ask. Do not be afraid to ask for help from those who are also dealing with the problem. One parent used a lice person, Michele Earl, RN 602 558 4646, using TLC Total Lice Control shampoo. This is a serious problem, so please do not take it lightly. They are hard to see, hard to get rid of, and easily passed from child to child. They do not like very short hair (buzz cuts). They do not like tree oils. I am not an expert and only pass along what I have heard works.
Thanks for your hard work and patience,
Katie
December 8th, 2011
Dear Parents,
It was nice meeting with you and discussing your wonderful children.
A few items of interest:
*Next Friday 12/16--Book Exchange and Pajama Day. Please send one wrapped book for your child to exchange. It should be a $5-$10 dollar book in value, non-religious, for boy or girl age 3yrs-6yrs old. Please explain to your child that it is a gift exchange and they will not be bringing their book home, but a book from a friend. And yes, let them wear cozy weather appropriate jammies, bring a small blanket and small pillow or stuffed animal (all must fit in their cubby box).
*Sometimes our children have bathroom accidents and sometimes they forget nap items. We used to have extra clothes and nap items just in case your child's box was empty. Our extra clothes and our extra nap items are now depleted. If you have Villa clothes and/or Villa nap items at your home could you please return them for those just in case times. Also, make sure your child has an extra set of clothes in their box in the bathroom at all times.
*Do you have extra pants, shirts, shorts, underwear, nap sheets, small blankets, that you do not need at home? We are taking donations to build up the depleted extra clothes and nap items.
*Tricia Ridder has contacted the Phoenix Rescue Mission and their is a family of six that needs our help this holiday season. We are planning on having a sign up for donations on the website and we will have a designated drop off spot in the classroom. Look for more information to come in the next few days regarding how you can help.
Please check the Villa calendar for all of the days that we are closed over the holidays.
Have a blessed and safe holiday season.
--Katie
November 21st, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving Week!!
Friday Dec 2nd and Monday Dec 5th are parent teacher conferences - please see the sign up on this website (P/T Conferences link to the left). Sign up for a 15 minute slot, or sign up for 2 slots if you feel you need more than 15 minutes. If none of these times work for you, please talk to Katie about arranging another time before or after school.
There will be early release both Friday Dec 2nd and Monday Dec 5th to accommodate the conference schedule.
NOTE: Katie will be having the annual Book Exchange at Christmas time, and there is a Scholastic Book Order due December 2nd - this is the perfect opportunity to purchase an inexpensive book for your child to wrap and bring for the book exchange (it should be non-religious in nature). Click the link to the left for "Scholastics" to get instructions to order online!
School is CLOSED Thursday and Friday this week!
That's it, have a great Holiday!
Leslie
See below message from Katie, and please note the important dates below... I delayed getting this out to you, so some of these dates have passed, I apologize for that.... please check out the ceramics sign up, I don't think we had any helpers this week! There is one volunteer signed up for the next 2, but there is room for 2 volunteers, so consider helping if you can!
Dear Katie's class--
First we have many thanks to go out. Thanks to all of you who manned our booth at the Halloween carnival. Thanks to Sara Uribe for organizing our classroom Halloween party it was wonderful. We could not have done it without the other parent volunteers who came to help out, brought all the food, drinks and craft items, etc...and for all of the parent monetary donations as well. We have a great group of parents. Another thank you goes out to Cindy and Dane Fernandes for hosting the parent social at their home this past Friday. I had hoped for a bigger turn out of parents, but those who attended seemed to have a great time. I know my husband and I both enjoyed chatting with those of you who were there.
CALLING ALL DADS (or someone else can stand in if needed)
Monday, Nov. 21st is our annual Dad's Thanksgiving. We will begin by having the Native American Hoop Dancers perform @ 9:30 on our playground and then we will have Friendship Fruit salad (please bring a piece of fruit or a can of fruit to add to the fresh salad and yes one piece is plenty) muffins/rolls with homemade butter (jam will also be provided) something to drink and a craft for the Dad's to do with their child. We will also have a questionnaire for you to ask your child (love the answers on these!) We will be finished between 11:00-11:30. Please, if Dad cannot come send someone in his place, grandpa, mom, uncle, aunt or whomever.
This week:
-The Amos Family is providing snack (posted on class web page)
-Ceramics @10:30 on Tuesday.(sign up on web page, or show up)
-Turn in your re-enrollment papers by 11/8
-All Day Contracts Only on Friday, 11/11,Veteran's Day NO PIZZA FRIDAY
-Last Soccer game of the season is Thursday
Next week:
- Siddha's family is providing snack (posted on class web page)
- Bill Magyar is helping with Pizza Friday
I have added some Helping Hands to the windows outside the classroom, any help is greatly appreciated.
Read to you child daily.
Thanks for all you do,
Katie
10/24/11
See below for a message from Katie...
Volunteers this week:
CERAMICS - Melisa Thesing - we could really use another, and also need a volunteer for the next ceramics on November 8th, please sign up if you have the time!!
FLOWERS - Blake Veniard next Monday
HALLOWEEN PARTY next Monday - see link to the left for items we still need, thanks to Sara for volunteering to head this up and for all those who have volunteered to make this a fun event!
PIZZA FRIDAY - Cindy Fernandes this week
MESSAGE FROM KATIE:
Hello parents--
It was nice to see some of you at the Halloween Carnival on Saturday, good family fun!
Tomorrow, Mon., October 24th, the picture orders are due.
Ceramics on Tuesday @ 10:30- Volunteers welcome.
Last week we carved a pumpkin (donated by Vartan), Jack the jack-o-lantern, some children got into it and some thought it was yucky. We dried out the seeds and then toasted them in the toaster oven on Friday and all the children tried them. Lots of fun.
Thanks to those families who have taken Helping Hands. A family donated a label maker and dish soap but I do not know who? Thanks for your donation.
Our Innisbrook sales(wrapping paper, chocolate, etc.) were not much. Our classroom received $169. Most of the other classrooms received at least twice that amount. But the parents in Katie's class, our class, are so generous with your time and money that I have no complaints. However, I have spent a lot of my discretionary money for the remainder of the year already, because we changed so many things from last year. I am counting on you guys to help with any donations you can. I will do some research on things that our classroom needs in materials and I plan on putting up more Helping Hands so you know what we need. I will also let Leslie know on a weekly basis what things we may need and hopefully some can donate that way. If you want to give a tax deductible donation to our class you can give a check to Villa Montessori with my name in the memo and our class will get the money and I will give the school receipts for $100. Some families have given me cash donations and I have used that for materials like vases for flower arranging, wood trays, beads and string for necklaces, oil and salt for cooking, etc. Thanks for your donations and for all that you all do for our classroom.
Some people have borrowed nap items (sheets and blankets) and extra clothes and have taken them home to be washed and they have not been returned. If you have any Villa sheets, blankets or clothes at home can you please return them in case they are needed again.
Some Kindergarteners have been asking to nap, but I am not sure they actually need to and they are just using it to get out of working /helping out. If a kindergartener needs a nap, they must have their own nap items in their box and please send a note, call me or text me to let us know that they are going to nap. My cell # is 602 573 7279.
Please check the lost & found box on top of the cubbies where you sign your child in and out. We will get rid of any items left in the lost & found this Friday.
This week, we need Indian corn for tweezing and for growing (science experiment). If anyone can pick some up at the store that would be great.
Read to your child daily!
Any questions or concerns please contact me.
Thanks a bunch,
Katie
Hi Parents,
School pictures are coming up the first week in October. Details on the specific day and time will be provided sometime this week.
There are still some new helping hands displayed outside the back door of the classroom. If you are interested - let Katie know what you are able to provide.
Many of you have asked for a volunteer sign up on the website. I do have a list of volunteers and will try to get that organized and posted soon; however, there is always a chance to be involved in the classroom:
CERAMICS – next Tuesday we need volunteers, and all the dates are posted at the ceramics link to this website!
Flower Volunteers:
This week the Schreiner Family has volunteered to bring flowers. The sign up is ready and posted to this website. The flower choice is up to you, but on Monday, please bring a bouquet of flowers containing approximately 18 flowers. The bunch of flowers does not need to have added greenery - this will help brighten the classroom the entire week.
Pizza Friday volunteers are also welcome to come help with Pizza Friday - see the sign up on this website.
Upcoming Dates:
Friday, October - 1st Soccer Game (delayed one week due to heat this week)
Monday, October 10 - Friday, October 14 - Fall Break - SCHOOL CLOSED except for children with an All-Day Contract
Saturday, October 22 - Halloween Carnival
Snack Calendar has been posted to the website with detail instructions, in addition, you will be contacted by Trish when your turn is coming up!
Have a wonderful week - cooler weather is around the corner! Please let me know if you have any questions or need anything at all!!
Leslie
MESSAGE FROM KATIE:
Hi-
This week we have music scheduled for Wed. We need ceramics volunteers for next week tues. (dates posted on the web page).
The Lungo Family (Joseph) has done a great job of preparing the garden for planting. It already looks great and it is empty. John Lungo is planning on coming in and helping the children plant in the weeks to come.
Please remember to send a cloth placemat for your child to eat on.
Katie