Miss Schultz's Parent Letter

Thursday, December 1st, 2005

Dear Kindergarten Families,

We have begun our Christmas Around the World unit this week. The countries we studied were China and Africa. At the theme art center students made a kinara (kee-nah-rah) for the Africa Christmas holiday, Kwanzaa. They also decorated ornaments to be zawadi (zah-wah-dee) which are gifts that they gave to other students in their group. At the math center they made December calendars as well as paper chains to decorate our classroom tree like they do in China. Our letter of the week is Kk for Kwanzaa so at the language center student completed Kk books, Kk tongue twisters, a die-cut letter K and students that had time completed a couple letter sound activities. At the writing center students practiced writing the letter Kk, drew something that begins with Kk, wrote a sentence, practiced in sand and with wikki stix and they wrote words that begin with Kk from around the room.

During the Christmas season it is important to recognize people in need. We have families who are a part of our school that need our help so I will be collecting personal items such as: shampoo, bar soap, hand soap, toothpaste, deodorant, laundry soap, etc. If you are willing to donate any of these items please bring them in at any time. I also have a box in my room if you would like to donate to Toys for Tots (our high school students are collecting for this organization).

We have started our first Philanthropy unit. Philanthropy is studied beginning in Kindergarten and throughout the rest of the grades. Our particular unit has 3 main objectives. They are as follows:

To introduce and instruct students about the skills needed in order to work in a group, to teach students about responsible personal conduct, and to teach students that they are members of a community and to understand that all benefit when the community works together for the good of the group.

Our classroom Christmas party will be on Thursday, December 22nd. I like to do a book exchange that day. Please purchase a book for your child to give as a gift. Do not spend more than $5.00. Wrap the gift and write your child’s name on it. You may bring these to school at any time. My volunteers on this day are Jennifer Burgess, Jill Bronson, Lisa Morley and Peggy Pepera. I have Jennifer Burgess signed up to bring a drink. Jennifer Burgess, Lisa Morley, and Charity Domres are all signed up to bring snacks. Thank-you Ladies!!

Questions to ask your child this week are the following:

  1. What sound does the letter Kk make?
  2. Can you tell me 3-5 words that begin with the letter Kk?
  3. How do people in China decorate their tree during the Christmas season?
  4. What is the African Christmas holiday called?

Have a good weekend!

Sincerely,

Miss Schultz

http://www.onekama.k12.mi.us/e2006/kdg/

Thursday, December 1st, 2005