December has been a busy, busy, month for our kindergarten students. In math, we have been learning and constructing different types of patterns. We also love participating in engaging math games on the smart board. In reading, we are learning all about our unit on farms and are working on our word families it & ip. We are also working on the letters i, g, f, b, & k and are learning how to decode simple words.

Additionally, we have been reviewing our letters, sounds, high frequency words, and numbers. Please review all these concepts at home as well. Practice makes perfect! Be on the lookout for our fun holiday writing that your child can complete during Winter Break. Also, don’t forget that Winter Break is from December 22 until January 2.

Since it is chilly, please make sure that your child is dressed for the cold winter weather. If the weather or roads look bad outside, feel free to check the colonial website for school closing updates and cancellations at www.colonial.k12.de.us.

Castle Hill Kindergarten students participated in a lot of exciting activities over the last couple of months. Our PBS rock concert was a lot of fun. The kindergarten students enjoyed listening and dancing to Mr. Holmes rock concert! In addition, the kindergarten students at CHS had a wonderful time at Millburn Apple Orchards. We learned all about apples and even got to feed some goats. Thanks to all the parents that chaperoned on that trip. We also had a special visit from the Goodwill Fire Company and they taught us all about fire safety. The kindergarten students loved receiving their fireman hats and sitting in the fire truck. Stay tuned for next month to hear more about our next PBS celebration.

Have a Happy Holiday!

The 2011-2012 school year has gotten off to a great start for the kindergarteners here at Castle Hills!  We had a wonderful turn out at Open House as well as for Math and Literacy Nights.

The kindergarteners at Castle Hills have been very fortunate to have many special visitors lined up.  In September the kindergarteners had a great time learning about recycling during our presentation from the DSWA.  We also learned alot about preparing for an emergency from the State of Delaware Office of Emergency Management.  This month we are excited for our visit from the mounted police.  We will also be learning more about fire safety during our visit from local firefighters.

Our first PBS assembly will take place Friday 10/28/11.  The kindergarteners are very excited to see the rock concert featuring our very own Mr. Holmes!  45 CHESS pieces are needed to attend this wonderful event.

Kindergarten’s field trip to Milburn Orchard will take place on Friday, November 4, 2011.   This trip will include a tour of Milburn Orchard, a hayride, a visit with the barnyard buddies,  a presentation on Johnny Appleseed, and a tour that will teach us what happens once the apples are picked at Milburn.  The cost of the trip is $10 per person.  Students need to return their field trip permission slips no later than October 24th in order to go on the trip.  If any parents are interested in chaperoning this trip please send a note in with your child.  Chaperones will also need to pay the $10 fee.  We are all looking forward to a wonderful day at Milburn.

Best wishes for a fantastic fall!

The following is general kindergarten information…..

Arrival and Dismissal:

Staff members are not available before or after official school hours (8:15-3:14) each day for student supervision.  It is very important that we here at school are made aware of any changes in your child’s dismissal information.  A child must have written permission from a parent or guardian or a phone call to the office, before 3:00pm, in order to go home any way other than their normal procedure.  If there is no note or phone call before dismissal time I have to send your child home based on their normal procedures.   

Illness:

If your child is absent from school it is required that you send in a note stating the reason for your child’s absence. 

Book Bags:

Your child will need to have a book bag in school daily.  It is important that you check your child’s book bag each day.  Please check the green Castle Hill’s folder provided by the PTA for important information and homework.  

Breakfast:

Students at Castle Hills have the option of eating breakfast in the classroom each morning.  It is important that all children eat a good breakfast, so if your child is not able to eat at home in the morning please encourage them to eat breakfast in the classroom. Breakfast costs $.80.

Lunch:

Your child will be eating lunch in the cafeteria.  Students can either bring a lunch to school or buy their lunch from the cafeteria. Lunch menus will be sent home each month. There are no microwaves for heating up children’s lunches, so please do not send in any food that needs to be heated up. 

How to Dress:

Castle Hills does have air conditioning, but the temperature may vary from one classroom to the next. Please dress children appropriately for kindergarten activities and for the weather.  Children will be playing outside on the playground (weather permitting) and should have sneakers on for those outside activities.  Students will also need sneakers for gym class or they will not be able to participate. 

Calendars:

Monthly calendars will be sent home with information about important upcoming dates and activities.  Another monthly activity sheet will accompany the calendar and will contain enrichment activities that you and your child may do at home together. 

Open House:

Open House will be on September 19, 2011.  Information about the curriculum and our classroom will be shared at that time.  Hope to see you there.