Hi parents, it's been a bit of a long week this week. You may have noticed a few more green lights come home this week. We have been a bit chatty and hyper most of the week. Very typical for the week after Halloween in Kindergarten. Something about all that extra sugar. Hopefully we will settle down and get back to our great behavior habits next week.
We have been working very hard on those pesky teen numbers, as well as numbers over 20. They are starting to get it. We will probably try to get our Chapter 5 test in next week. We will continue to work on these numbers during large group and center time throughout the year as this is one of the most important things we learn in Kindergarten. We are almost finished with the alphabet. We have just a couple more letters to go. I will be starting the Book in the Bags the week of November 16th for those that have mastered on the sounds and are beginning to blend the sounds together. A letter will come home with specific instructions with the bag.
A big thanks to all of you who participated in collecting donations for the Juvenile Diabetes Walk and also those who came and walked with us. It was a fun event. We will be participating in the Turkey Walk here on our campus on November 24th.
Next week is also Character Always week at school. They are asking students to wear different colored T-shirts every day. The colors represent the pillars of character that we are working on. Monday is Green for Responsibility. Tuesday is Yellow or Gold for Respect. Thursday is Blue for Trustworthy. Friday is Orange for Fairness-or they can wear their favorite sports team shirt. There is a contest to see who can have the highest percentage of students from their class in these colors. So wear Green on Monday!!!
Don't forget the Veteran's Day Holiday on Wednesday next week. There will be no school that day. I will also be in Florence helping to facilitate a Reading workshop on Tuesday and Thursday next week. The same sub will be here for both days to help provide as much consistency as we can. I am sure that they will do a good job for her. I will be back in the classroom on Friday.
We will also be having an On-Site Field Trip here at school on Wednesday November 18th in the Library. It is about all about fish and should be a great learning experience for all of us.
Hope you all have a great but safe weekend and see you all on Monday!
Mary Wolters
Hi! My name is Mary Wolters. This is my seventh year teaching at Simonton. I taught second grade for four years and this is my third year teaching Kindergarten. I have 3 children; ages 22, 20 and 17. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, a Reading Endorsement and an ESL Endorsement. I am looking forward to an awesome year with your children!
Trisha Wright
Welcome to kindergarten students and parents. It is my pleasure to introduce myself to you. My name is Trisha Wright and this is my sixth year teaching kindergarten at Simonton. I am a graduate of Arizona State University with my bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. Kids and teaching are my passion and I look forward to working with each and every one of you. I am excited to start a fun filled school year with your child and would like to thank you for allowing me to be a part of your child’s first year in school.
Kelly Trowbridge
Welcome to Kindergarten! My name is Kelly Trowbridge and I was born and raised in Tempe, Arizona. I graduated from Northern Arizona University with a degree in Elementary Education in 2006, a Masters degree in Early Childhood Education in 2008, and a Masters degree in Elementary Education with a Reading Endorsement in 2009. This will be my third year of teaching at Simonton. This is my second year of teaching kindergarten but my first year of teaching an am/pm session. Teaching is my passion and I cannot imagine doing anything else. I am very excited and enthusiastic about getting the opportunity in helping your child start or continue his or her educational career.
Joline King
Welcome Kindergarten at Kathryn Sue Simonton Elementary School. We are so excited to be your partner in educating your child. My name is Joline King and this is my twenty-first year teaching, my eighth for the J.O. Combs District. I am a fourth generation Arizonian and have made the East Valley my home with husband, three children and our beloved dog Salvador for the past twenty-three years. I graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Early Childhood after completing an Associates Degree from Eastern Arizona College. I also have a Master's Degree in Adult Education and Distance Learning. My children, both at home and at school are my greatest joy! I have three children that are almost grown: Matthew 24, Jennifer 20 and Bryant 18. I look forward to a great year full of fun and lots of learning.