Dear
Parents,
This
week has flown by! The children
have been busy in class with Math, Robust Vocabulary, Social Studies, learning
about subjects and predicates, how to form complete sentences, and learning
about emotions, honest, and respect.
We also enjoyed learning about a box turtle, a ball python, a hedgehog,
and a ferret with the visit of Cindy Schall from the Career Center. She took time with all the classes to
explain adaptations these animals make to protect themselves from predators, as
well as how they hunt for food and live in the wild. The children asked
thoughtful questions and enjoyed Mrs. Schall’s visit to the classroom. Overall, it was good week. As we look at the month of October,
there are several housekeeping items I would like to bring to your attention.
First, please take a few minutes to review your
child’s assignment notebook each night with them. This will help them organize which assignments need to be
completed on which evening, and to pace out the work for the remainder of the
week. In the next week I will
begin to back off checking the assignment notebooks each day before your child
leaves. It will be up to them to
make sure they have all their supplies for the night. Should you see that your child is not coming home with all
they need on a repeated basis, please let me know. I will also be keeping a close eye on completed homework
that will let me know how your children are doing with this responsibility.
Second, we are asking for your help in getting
your child get to school on time each morning. We begin direct instruction at 9:00am. If your child comes in 5-10 minutes
late they have missed the initial instructions for the day. It is in these first few minutes where
we explain what will happen during the day as well as the expectations. Missing these beginning minutes of the
day can put your child at a disadvantage.
We want to ensure all the children experience success each day, and
being at school on time will help them do so.
On a related note, please try to schedule doctor’s
appointments for afterschool or other non-school times. While I know how difficult it is to get
appointments and that later appointments are sometimes not available, I would
like to ask you to keep this in mind when scheduling them. Missing parts of the day and getting
caught up during lunchtime is not always most beneficial for your child. Also if your child does have to leave
early for an appointment, please let me know the time to expect to pick your child
up. This will help me have your
child as ready to leave as possible.
Fourth, as you may know, Fall Enrichment is begins
next week. I am reposting the
message the PTA sent out on Wednesday about sending notes in each day your
child has a class.
PTA Update for October 3, 2012
FALL ENRICHMENT BEGINNING - BRING YOUR
NOTES! With
the start of Fall School Enrichment programs next week, please be sure your
students bring written notes regarding their participation in an Enrichment
program to their teachers so they are aware of where your child needs to go for
their program. Please keep in mind that a note must be written each day that your
child is participating in a program. This is to ensure that children
arrive to their programs at the right time and at the right location. A master
list of the programs and room locations will be posted outside of the office on
Tuesday so you will know where to pick up your children. Your cooperation in
this matter is greatly appreciated.
Please know these enrichment notes, as
well as all other notes concerning a change in dismissal, are essential for us
to ensure your child’s safety.
Finally, I have posted the Parent Teacher
Conference form on the blog.
Please take a look at it to make sure you can make the time you signed
up for at Back to School Night.
Should you need to change your time just send me a note and I will do my
best to accommodate your request.
I am looking forward to talking with each of you during our conferences
to hear your perspective of how your child is transitioning into Third
Grade. Please know I will I will
also share some of my initial observations as well.
As always, I appreciate all you do for your child
to ensure they come to school ready to learn each day. I hope everyone enjoys a relaxing
weekend.
Sincerely,
Mrs.
DiNardo
kim.dinardo@apsva.us
Upcoming Events
Mon.
10/8- Columbus Day- School Holiday
Fri. 10/12- Building Museum
Field Trip- 9am-12:30 pm
Thurs./Friday 10/18-19- Parent
Teacher Conferences
Tues. Oct. 23- ASPAN Homeless
Walk- 9:15 am
Fri. 10/26- Harvest Fest
6:30-9:30 pm
Thurs. 10/31- Halloween Parade-
10:00 am
