Sorry for not getting things posted earlier in the week, but it has been crazy!! We are doing DIBLES Benchmark testing, assessments for report cards and trying to have a little fun with the holidays. We have finished the Alphabet!!! YEA!!! Everyone is now bringing home little books to read. This will now become a part of the nightly homework. Please try to read and sign off each night. Each book should be read at least 3 times and have the sheet signed before I will send a new book home. Don't forget to color in the reading calendar as you read. It's a free pizza from Personal Pan Pizza Hut for your child when they bring the calendar back to me at the end of the month filled with colored stars.
We are finishing up Chapter 3 in Math. We have really flown through this, but the children are really getting patterning and the graph part will be review again in first grade. We can even identify ABAB, ABCABC, AABBAABB, ABBABBA, and AABAAB patterns! We have enjoyed this chapter and having fun with the patterns.
The book order was sent last week; so it should be here at the beginning of the week. I know that most people are using it for Christmas presents, so I won't be sending them home with the children. I will just e-mail you and you can come get it whenever is convenient for each family.
A new homework packet went home today. The last one for the YEAR! No homework will be sent home over the break, but please keep reading each night. It scary how fast they will forget things if you don't keep them in the habit. Homework will actually take on a new look when we come back from break. It will focus on Reading and writing with math skills also included, but no more worksheets. It will be a two-week log that will be returned on the second and fourth Friday of each month. It will new homework will also be sent home that same day.
Several fliers went home in the folders today. One about our Polar Express Activity on Thursday, December 17th. We are asking that the children wear their pajamas and robes to school that day and we will be watching the G rated movie "The Polar Express" in our classrooms aboard our very own imaginary trains. It should be a fun day. Then on Friday December 18th we will be have our First Annual All-Day Kindergarten Holiday Concert. We are asking parents and anyone else who would like to attend to be in the music room at 9:15 am on Friday morning. Following the concert we will be going back to our rooms for our Holiday Celebration and parents are welcome to come back to class with us. School will be dismissed early that day at approximately 10:55 am.
Report Cards and DIBELS testing scores will be coming home the first week we are back from break. Also don't forget that the students DO NOT have school on Monday, January 4th. School begins on January 5th for the students.
Thanks so much for all your support and help through the first half of this year. I can't believe we are almost halfway done! It's been a crazy but fun filled year and I look forward to the second half!
I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable Christmas Season! Merry Christmas to ALL and to ALL a Happy New Year too!
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.