Ellie's Weekly Newsletter. 12 January 2014

It sounded like a good idea at the time - how hard can it be to chisel through 3 inches of ice at the end of a driveway that has been driven over by a truck all week?  Conclusion - I'd much rather be teaching your little ones!

It never ceases to amaze me, how after introducing a discussion explaining what an invention is and how inventions help us, that immediately little minds are at work, creating their own invention ideas!  This week we should be sending home Invention Ideas papers, explaining in some detail the invention your little one wants to "Invent."  Our Invention Fair, happening in March on Grandparents' Day, will display these Invention Models and Illustrations.  This annual event has become quite a popular one!  It is hoped that it does not become a stressful experience, but a fun time for parents and little ones to brainstorm and create simple models.  We emphasize that invention idea models do NOT work, they are prototypes!

This week we will also be creating paper insects.  But we will make them fly!   it will be magnetic!

Measuring objects using inch measurement, using the "ing" ending, and writing with invisible ink are a few other topics for the week.

Have you heard about our new LOFT?!  It is the result of an Eagle Scout project, thanks to Carter Knupp (a once upon a time ago Kindergartener!)

Ellie's Weekly Newsletter. 6 January 2014

This is the first time I've written our new year!  May it be a happy one for all!

We will not be meeting tomorrow, but I wish for everyone to enjoy a warm day off!  

I also thank each of you for the outpouring of  generosity at Christmas!  Your monetary gift paid for my plane ticket to visit my daughter and her family!!  Thank you for making my visit FREE!  I spent my every thought on getting to know my grandsons!  Bythe way,they are positively perfect!

This week we will celebrate Ephiphany a day late, but we can always remember the arrival of the three kings!

We will also concentrate on inventions.  Those of you new to Grace May not be familiar with the Sr. Kindergarten Invention Fair.  It has become an annual event, amazing all who view our Invention Ideas. This week we will investigate what inventions have changed our lives, have made our work and play easier, more interesting, or more convenient.  You will be receiving your little one's Invention Idea later this week.  At a future date, we will display our ideas in model or illustrated form.  Right now, just enjoy hearing about you child's creative idea!

Another "annual" happening is our igloo- quite appropriate for this season!  I hope you have saved gallon milk/water jugs!  We will need over 300 of them to complete our construction!

Until we gather, stay warm!

Ellie's Weekly Newsletter. 15 December 2013

Can you hear it?   The sounds of Christmas!  They abound in kindergarten - in song and squeals of excitement!  The joys of the season fill our classroom. 

We have been very busy creating Christmas wonder.  Just wait to see all your surprises!  A large package will be coming home this week.  

If your little one hasn't already brought home his/her math book, it will also be sent home this week.   You cannot miss it, it is huge!  It's contents are well behind the ability of your child, however, the little ones love working in their big books - it makes them feel big to do homework, and the practice in writing numerals and review is beneficial.  So enjoy.  We will keep volume 2 at school!

We are so excited about our pageant: showcasing Thursday, Dec. 19 in Fellowship Hall.  The little ones will process into the room as they sing, and will depart the room after the program singing a song never before sung - thanks to Mrs. Nelson!  You may meet your child back in our classroom after the program.

Friday we will celebrate Jesus Birthday with a birthday party!

This is the last newsletter of 2013!  May each of you enjoy a most blessed Christmas and Happy New Year!  We will meet again on Epiphany!

Ellie's Mid-week Newsletter 11 Dec.2013

What a wonderful weekend!  What a blessing it was that I could attend my newest grandson's baptism.  He is an absolutely perfect child!  As is his big brother!!

I imagine you have heard all about our upcoming Christmas pageant:  Mary Had a Baby.  Each little one has a very important part; some parts were cast and others were chosen.  Now we are making and collecting simple costumes.  I am including each child's part in the program, and may ask for costume collection.

Our amazing Mrs. Hammer and her art interest is creating all animal head wear!!!

Narrators may want to be in "dressy, church clothes" for Audrey, Julia, Simon.

Inn keeper, Noah - done!

Stage managers: Fynn and Jordan, school clothes or dressy, their choice

Props manager Keira, school clothes or dressy - her choice

Angels Elissa and Blythe: we have borrowed angel costumes,but may need a set of wings.

Mary, Louisa - said she had a bath robe!  Perfect!!

Joseph, Lincoln - done

Donkey, Remke - please wear gray or brown pants and shirt.

Cows: Madison and Jocelyn - please wear black or white pants or leggings and shirts

Star, Meredith may wear dressy clothes.  She will be decorating the star she will hold.

Wisemen: Andrew, Mia, Ryan.  Ryan will be perfectin his Halloween king costume.  If Andrew and Mia have colorful capes or colorful fabric, that would be perfect.  We can make crowns.

Camels: Alec, Amee, Hailey.  Pleasr wear brown pants or leggings and shirts.

Shepherds and sheep are JKs and the multitude of angels is the pre-K class.

Our program is Thursday, Dec. 19 at 10:30 in Fellowship Hall.

Our Christmas party will be Friday, Dec. 20.

Kindergarteners do not have to attend school on Monday, Dec. 23.

Ellie's Weekly Newsletter #2. 1 Dec.

There will not be a weekend blog sent next week.  I will be in Spokane, Washington attending the baptism of my newest grandson, born Nov. 8.  I will be taking a personal day from school on Dec. 9.  Ms. Johnson will be teaching for me!  Have fun!!

PS.  Please begin saving empty, plastic milk/water jugs.  Lids are not needed.  After Christmas we will begin construction of our igloo.  Drink lots of milk - we need over 300 jugs!

Ellie's Weekly Newsletter 1 December 2013

I hope each of you enjoyed a most blessed Thanksgiving!

Already we arrive at The season of Advent.  This is a word we will explore for the next four weeks.  We learn the meaning of patience as we await the birth of Jesus.  Stop by and see our Christmas tree countdown in the hall outside our classroom  ( it should be ready for view by Wednesday).  Your little one will be bringing home an Avent door hanger.  Please keep it handy, as each week we will be sending home another bell to hang from it.

It has become a tradition in SK to study Christmas traditions around the world.  So it is that tomorrow we will learn about Hannukah.  Friday we celebrate St. Nicholas Day.  You will see the celebration book after Christmas break- it is then we remember Boxing Day in England.

This week we'll learn about the working of the heart, half and symmetry, what makes a house a home, and we will fly hoopsters - a study of half while adding aerodynamics.

Thank you to those of you who sent in payment for our field trip to see Charlotte's Web.  If you forgot, please send the $10.00 this week.  We want to get our reservation in as soon as possible.

Keep Thursday, Dec. 19, 10:30 on your calendar.  Location: Fellowship Hall is where the Pre-K, JK, and SK classes present the Nativity.

I regret that since my lap top ceased working, I have not been able to attach photos on the blog.  But the photos do exist and will be saved.

Ellie's Weekly Newsletter 24 Nov. 2013

It was wonderful meeting with each of you last week.  It seems hard to believe that it was already  conference time!

This week - all two days of it - will be busy as usual!   Thanks to the timely return of hand prints, our Thanksgiving gifts are well under way, and should be ready just in time!  Our Halloween pumpkin has been cut, seeded, cooked, and the puréeing will be finished tomorrow, in time for our pumpkin pie making.  Look for the recipe on Tuesday.

Our Thanksgiving actors are ready to perform!  We hope many of you will be able to attend our "performance" Tuesday, 10:00 in the Seminar room - just down the hall from our classroom.  WARNING:  it is a short production!  Do not be late!

SAVE THE DATE:  Dec. 19, Thursday,  Pre-k, jk, SK Christmas pageant, 10:30 am, Fellowship Hall.

May you each have a most blessed Thanksgiving holiday!