Hi!  I have an odd question…but I seem to have misplaced my glasses.  I think I may have accidentally placed them in someone’s backpack while I was helping to pack up all of our snow gear and homework notebooks.  If you happen to see them, please let me know!  THANK YOU!!!!  xoxo

• Monday, January 26 – Black binders and baggy books are due; your child will bring both home with new assignments.

• Friday, January 30 – Baggy books are due back.

• Tuesday, February 2 – Black binders are due back.

Winter Break Febuary 9 & 10 – NO SCHOOL

It has been wonderful returning to school and see all of your delightful kindergarteners! I missed them tremendously during my time away! It feels fantastic to be back! We are currently working on re-establishing our classroom routine. Having two weeks off can make it tricky for young students to get back into the groove, but I believe we are all gradually adapting, and it feels great to be together again!

THANKS so much for all the wonderful Christmas gifts you gave me!  and all the happy thoughts you sent my way!!!  xoxox

Top Frog:

We started our second round of Top Frog this week!  It focuses on a name game, revealing our favorite food and sport with white crayon and water color paints, and having an opportuniy to bring something special in to share with the class.

Popcorn Words

This weeks words: have and are

Curriculum Info: 

This week we finished up our reading unit: Super Powers and our writing unit: writing for readers, focusing on personal narratives.  New units will start next week!

Phonics foucus for the next month will be vowels!

Math: We are continuing with adding, subtracting, and measurment as we finish off unit 4.

I wanted you to know I brought everyones towel home over break and washed them :)!

Important Reminders:

Please remember to send your kinder with a hat, gloves/mittens and coat every day!  Labeling everything is very helpful,  as well as practicing getting snow gear off and on :)!

If there is snow on the ground, please plan to pack your child’s snow pants.

Please remember an AM snack is provided everyday, but if your child would like an additional snack during our PM towel intervention time please pack your child one each day.  In the past,  kids would finish their lunch they brought from home…. but with MOST kids getting hot lunch this year…. you may want to consider packing a snack for the PM.

Congrats to those kids that did the Holiday Homework!!!!  So proud of you!!!!!!

***LET’S MAKE A BIG EFFORT to get into a baggy book/Black binder routine!!!

Black Binder is due every Tuesday!

Baggy Books are due every Friday – please take time to read books, practice sight word flashcards, and reading the decodable list of words!!!

Friday, January 16 – Early Release day!  Please have your child bring in one stuffy!  We will be teaching it everything we know about letters, sounds, and our reading super powers!

Our snack cupboards are EXTREMELY LOW!  Please think of us next time you go to the grocery store!!!  We are in need of filling the cupboards back up!  Please contribute 2 snacks that the class can enjoy on 2 seperate occasions.

Great to be back!!!  xoxo

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

Our Christmas Program is on for tonight!  The Christmas Program is at Felllowship Church!  Doors open at 6:00 p.m.

Drop your child off to me by 6:10!  (Be sure your child uses the restroom before drop off, either at home or at church)

Keep your child’s coats!

At drop off, be sure to grab 2 gifts to take home! (one is for your child from Me :)!!!  and one is for YOU from your sweet child). Parents, you may choose to wait to open your gift until christmas…totally up to you!  Please let the kids open the gift that I give them tonight!  They get so many gifts on Christmas morning, I want them to enjoy it now!

After the performance you will pick your child up from the stage!  I would love if we could get a class picture! VERY quickly before you snag them!!!  We will see if we can make this work!!!

Can’t wait to see everyone tonight!!!!!!!!  xoxo

No need to come before 9:30.  We will have a table for you to sign in.  I will greet everyone in the lobby when we are ready!

Black Binders & Baggy Books for the next 2 weeks

I collected black binders and will not send them home agian until after Christmas Break.

Be sure to hand in baggy books on Friday, December 5.  Mrs. VanderLaan will switch them out.

Baggy books will be collected on Friday, December 12 and you will not get new ones until after break.   Your child will be getting a packet of optional Holiday Homework.

Holiday Homework

On Friday (Dec. 12), I will be collecting baggy books/sight word flashcards until we come back to school in January.  (they tend to get lost over break) BUT…I will be sending a packet of holiday homework for those kids that are motivated to do it :)!  If they complete the acitivites they will get two sweet treats from me to enjoy at home!  Just make sure you place the finished work inside your child’s YELLOW FOLDER after break!

Work included in the packet:

• Letter writing Aa-Zz

• Number Writing 1-20

• Sight word and decodable word lists to read

Santa Secret’s Shop

Information on Santa’s Secret Shop went home today.  If your child plans to participate, you will fill out an envelope and turn it in anytime.  Our shopping day is scheduled for Tuesday, December 9 in the afternoon.  There will be volunteers to help your child make their purchases.

 We need your help!!!!  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get those donations in tomorrow!!!!

*Gingerbread House Project: All Donations due Monday, December 1! 

We will be making gingerbread houses on Wednesday, December 3 at 9:30. We will be collecting donations of items we can use to decorate our houses over the next few days. Any kind of small candy works well…M&M’s, skittles, gum drops, chocolate chips, red hots, peppermints…as well as stick pretzels and fruit loops. Unwrapped candy only!  You can get creative!  We will take anything!!!  If you can send something in, the kids will love using it to decorate their houses! Please have your donations in by Monday, December 1st so I can make sure we have enough supplies to decorate our houses!  Thanks, as always, for you help!

We had a wonderful time at our class Thanksgiving Feast!  We have so much to be thankful for.  We are especially thankful for all the fun friendships we have made so far this year!   This is such a great group of kids and we are thankful we get to spend the year together learning and having fun!  I can’t thank you enough for all the donations that helped make our feast a success.  Here are some pictures of the event!

*Also, I collected black binders for the Thanksgiving Weekend!!!  Black binders will come home again next Tuesday, December 2.

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

Our Christmas Program is Tuesday, December 2!  The Christmas Program is at Felllowship Church!  Doors open at 6:00 p.m.

Drop your child off to me by 6:10!  (Be sure your child uses the restroom before drop off, either at home or at church)

Keep your child’s coats!

At drop off, be sure to grab 2 gifts to take home! (one is for your child from Me :)!!!  and one is for YOU from your sweet child). Parents, you may choose to wait to open your gift until christmas…totally up to you!  Please let the kids open the gift that I give them tonight!  They get so many gifts on Christmas morning, I want them to enjoy it now!

No need to come before 9:30.  We will have a table for you to sign in.    I will greet everyone in the lobby when we are ready!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!  Hope you have a wonderful rest of  the week enjoying great food and family time!  xoxo

This Blog Post has lots of information!  Please read it carefully!!!

~CHRISTMAS PROGRAM IS COMING SOON~

I can’t wait!!!  The kids have been working so hard and are ready to entertain you!   The program is Tuesday (12/2/25) at Fellowship Church! Doors open at 6pm and your child needs to be there by 6:10, please bring your child to me.

**The concert will start at 6:20!! Please take all your child’s belongings/coat and have them use the restroom before or right when you arrive!! **

Also at drop off be sure to pick up 2 gifts……

***I  have a few packages we would like you to pick up at the church when you drop off your child BEFORE the program….one is a gift to you from your child.  They are all wrapped and ready to be put under the tree, but instead of having your child bring them home on the bus, I like to hand them out at the program.   Also, I have a Christmas present to give your son and daughter and I feel like the Christmas program is the perfect opportunity to do this!!!  Please give them permisson to open it and not save it for Christmas.  I feel so blessed to work with such wonderful kids!!!!  Merry Christmas and thanks for being so special to me!!!!!! xoxo****

Upcoming Kindergarten Holiday Activities

*Tuesday, November 25th  – Kindergarten Thanksgiving! 

This event is just for our kids!  We are so thankful for all the learning we have done and the friendships we have made!   Thanks for sending in contributions to make this event special for our kids!

*Gingerbread House Project: All Donations due Monday, December 1! 

We will be making gingerbread houses on Wednesday, December 3 at 9:30. We will be collecting donations of items we can use to decorate our houses over the next few days. Any kind of small candy works well…M&M’s, skittles, gum drops, chocolate chips, red hots, peppermints…as well as stick pretzels and fruit loops. Unwrapped candy only!  You can get creative!  We will take anything!!!  If you can send something in, the kids will love using it to decorate their houses! Please have your donations in by Monday, December 1st so I can make sure we have enough supplies to decorate our houses!  Thanks, as always, for you help!

*Tuesday, December 2 – Park Christmas Program

Doors open at 6:00

Drop your child off to me by 6:10

Program begins at 6:20

*Wednesday, December 3 – Gingerbread House Decorating 

We will be decorating gingerbread houses on Wednesday, December 3 at 9:30. 

Also, we are asking all guests to bring along a batch of white frosting so that we can “hold things together.”  Please buy a tub of white frosting at the store and bring it to school in a ziploc freezer baggie ready to use.  Also all visitors need to be sure to have a background check complete. 

Here is the link:  

Background check

*I am also looking for any volunteers to help glue graham crackers together for our houses.  If you are willing, PLEASE email me and I will get you all the supplies you need!  Really appreciate all your help!!!!  xoxo

I wanted you to know I will have to be taking some time off due to an upcoming surgery.

My sister passed away in May due to ovarian cancer. It was a difficult spring! Since then, I’ve had a number of doctor appointments and undergone genetic testing, all of which have returned negative results—a huge relief! However, my doctors and I agree that proceeding with a hysterectomy would still be a good choice for me. My surgery is scheduled for Thursday, December 4, after which I will take time off until Christmas break. I plan to return to school on Monday, January 5.

 I really do not like being away from the classroom, but I know I must put my health first.   After careful consideration, I believe that scheduling this surgery a few weeks before the break is the best choice for everyone involved.  My priority was to give the students a strong start to the school year, while also ensuring that we could all enjoy the majority of the holiday festivities together.  I wanted to be able to attend the students’ Christmas program and I have decided to schedule our Christmas party to an earlier date so that these kids won’t miss the chance to decorate gingerbread houses!  

While I am gone, the students will be in great hands. My sub will be Ms. OverBeek. You may remember her as Mr. Biemer’s substitute during his surgery in October. It’s great that the kids are already familiar with her, as she will provide a comforting presence. Ms. OverBeek will join us for a full day this Thursday to get acquainted with our class, routine, and procedures. I will also prepare detailed plans for her to follow, and we will stay connected as needed. Thanks for understanding. xoxo

Important Dates Coming Up (look for notes or additional blog post for details on all these events)…..

Tuesday, November 25  – Thanksgiving Feast for Kids

Wednesday, November 26 – Sunday, November 30: No School Thanksgiving Break

Monday, December 1: Gingerbead Candy Contributions Due!!!  – note going home tomorrow

Tuesday, December 2: Park Christmas Program (evening event at Fellowship Church) – more details to come

Wednesday, December 3rd: Decorating Gingerbread Houses 9:30 – 10:30 – note going home tomorrow

Thursday, December 4 – Friday, December 19: Mrs. DeSmit will be out and Ms. OverBeek will be subbing

CONFERENCES

I am looking forward to meeting with everyone on November 17 or 19.   I can’t wait to share your child’s progress :)!!!!

Here is a friendly reminder of my conference schedule!  If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!

Monday, November 17

4:30 Lainey

4:45 Graeyln

5:00 Graham

5:15 Giselle

5:45 Leon

6:15 Rowan

6:30 Zayden

6:45 Callum

7:00 Monroe

7:15 Hattie

Wednesday, November 19

4:30 Thomas

4:45 Cora

5:00 Hazel

5:15 Alec

5:45 Isaiah

6:00 Josiah

6:15 Zander

6:30 Vivi

Book Fair

Our Scholastic Book Fair is coming November 17-19. Students will preview the Book Fair on Monday the 17th.

We are offering Student shopping during the day (November 18) and Parent shopping in the evening during conferences (November 17 and November 19, 4:00-8:00pm).

If you can’t make it in during conferences to purchase books, your child may bring money to school.  We are scheduled to shop on Tuesday, November 18 at 11.  Please put money in an envelope marked Book fair and your child’s name.  Send it to school in your child’s Yellow Homefolder.

A small sandwich baggy will come home Monday to help your child shop.

You can fill it out and include it with your money so we can better help your child make his/her purchases.

Baggy Books and black binder update

Black Binder Homeowrk – Due Tuesdays

Library Books – Due Thursdays

Baggy Books – Due Fridays

Class Turkey

Look how great our class Turkey looks!  Thanks for all your participation!!!!  xoxo

Hope you have a great weekend!  xoxo