Big Fun Coming!

We have some big days coming that are just packed with fun activities!  Please check out each one below so that you can help us keep everyone "in the know!"

DICTIONARY DAY:

Directions: Homeroom teachers will collect $3 from each student that would like to participate in Dictionary Day. Money and word chosen are due this FRIDAY, Jan. 23 to the homeroom teacher! (Write out on piece of paper with student's name) Each student that turns in $3.00 may choose a word from the word bank below and be approved by their teacher. The student is to dress up as that word! Be creative, and have fun with it. Please remain within the appropriate dress code guidelines and if you have questions ask the homeroom teacher or Mrs. Parsons. This gives the students the chance to be creative and build their vocabulary. We are excited to see what the students can come up with!

   Kindergarten Words:

Big            Cat           Weather

Cow          Dog           Safe

Pig            Exciting     Pattern

Old            Rich

Neon         Small

100 DAY!  Monday, Jan. 26

     Monday, we celebrate our 100th day of school!  We will have a variety of opportunities to count to 100 and lots of fun ways to show 100!  One is by bringing in a collection from home!  A Ziploc bag with directions will be in our blue folder tomorrow.  This is to be a fun way to practice counting to 100.

     If you want to be an extra pair of helping hands with activities that day, please email me as soon as possible!  That way I will know how to plan!

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS' WEEK: Jan. 26-30

     Next week is Catholic School's Week. During the week, Holy Spirit will be recognizing cancer awareness. If you know of somebody who has lost his/her fight to one of the cancers, is currently fighting, or has survived one of the following cancers please let the office know so that we may pray for that individual on that particular day over the announcements as a school. 

Agenda for Catholic School's Week:

Monday, 1-26: Dictionary Day $3.00 (see above concerning Dictionary Day)

Tuesday, 1-27: Pink for Breast Cancer (may wear pink with uniform pants)

Wednesday, 1-28: Hunter Green for Liver Cancer (Mass day, so please wear school hunter green uniform)

Thursday, 1-29: Orange for Leukemia (may wear orange with uniform pants)

Friday, 1-30: Green and Gold for Bladder Cancer (may wear green and gold) This is also the Staff vs. 8th grade volleyball game in the afternoon. 

Go Blue!

Go COLTS!  Way to show some Colts colors today!  And especially with a Holy Spirit School alum on the team... Jack Doyle!  

This week has also been a chance for us to collect some change to help MAKE A CHANGE by supporting Riley Hospital! Since many of us forgot our $2 RED SHIRT day earlier this week, we are trying again tomorrow, Friday!  If you already paid, just wear your RED!  If you want to help, bring your $2, wear a RED shirt, and wear school pants!

MOBY MAX:  You've all been hearing or reading about the school's use of Moby Max.  This is a web based resource to reinforce / practice skills at an individual level.  We are resending logins TODAY in folders now that we have our school account (not just the trial).  Your child has taken the placement assessment with me.  This was done at school so we could see what students could do on their own.  I quickly saw, however, that using the tools (mouse, keyboard, headphones, speaker) was a bigger unknown than the questions!  We will be working on all of that, too! 

For Kindergarten, I would emphasis the word PRACTICE!  We will be using this as a resource within our school time as well!  Here are a few pointers to remember when practicing at home: (LOOK FOR THE LETTER IN FOLDERS)

TO DO:

• Keep the parent letter in a handy place until students get familiar enough with their login and password. 
• Keep an eye on your child to only focus on the 2 areas (MATH & NUMBERS) for now.
• Make sure they know how to use the "tools" (mouse, keyboard, speakers, headphones, tablet) they need to do the task
• Make sure they listen to the directions carefully!  They can even have it replay if needed by clicking on the speaker image.
• Talk about what they thing they should do, why they should do it, or even why a choice is better than another.
• If they choose the wrong item, just say "o.k., go to the next one."

WHAT NOT TO DO:

• Don't "teach" the right answer!  This is to practice skills they are comfortable and familiar with... at a level they can understand what is needed.  If they don't, the computer needs to "learn" what they can AND CAN NOT do so it shows the correct next piece.
• Don't worry that they don't move "fast enough!"  :)  I know this is hard!  But practice is so important and it helps me see what they are still working on if you are careful to not over influence the answers they choose.

I'm looking forward to seeing what fun things we can do with this program!

QUICK SHOTS:

Awards Day - 2nd Quarter

 

Wacky Week Back!

Happy New Year.... Welcome Back!  I'd like to say "to our normal routine," but that isn't how this week played out at all!  You've all handled it well... Thank you!

I know that weather can make it challenging!  Please know that our goal is to try and have school as close to normal as possible without closing.  This is simply for 2 reasons: many of you still have to go to work, and we would rather not have to make up days!  However, you are always welcome to make a choice that is best for you and your family.  We hope you can join us for any wacky days to come!  Not because I wish them... it is just still so early in the winter season :)

Kindergarten did jump right back into our routine!  I hope you all took time to look over the letter sent about our mid-point update.  I also hope that you take time to log into www.mystudentsprogress.com to see more of what your child is demonstrating at school.  You can do this by looking for the report card, or simply by going into each subject for second quarter.

Backpacks have had a lot of important information coming home!  Please make sure you check for:

• Family Registration Packets (There is a raffle for early registration!)
• Pacer Ticket Sales Fundraiser
• Mid-point Update for your child

As you settle back into a more normal routine this January, I hope that you will make time each night to review one skill from the update list.  This could be done while making dinner, a game before bed, or even with a story at bedtime.  Find a special time just to help reinforce or practice with your child!

UPCOMING DATES:

Jan. 12 

• RILEY WEEK - Bring $2 to wear a red shirt (w/ uniform pants).  Bring pennies for our Riley bucket all week!
• RAM of the WEEK: Nathan W.

Jan. 19 (No School)

• RAM of the WEEK: Brooke C.

Jan. 26 (Catholic Schools Week)

• RAM of the WEEK: Miguelangel H.