HAPPY NEW YEAR! I can't believe that we are halfway through this school year. I hope everyone had a great holiday season and enjoyed the break.
2nd Quarter Reports Cards and Skills Reports will be coming home on Friday so be sure and check the folder for those on Friday. Everyone is progressing and working hard and I am very proud of each student and how well they are doing this year.
Yesterday in their folders you should have received our new homework packet. It looks a little different and is for two weeks, so please hold onto it until January 15th. Please complete each of the activities listed on the front page and initial them as you complete them. If you have any questions please e-mail, call or write me a note.
Also in the folder is a new reading chart. It has snowflakes on it. Reading is a very important part of what we will be doing the rest of the year so please make sure to read each night with your child and then color the snowflake in. Remember to send me the December calendar so I can hand out Pizza Hut Certificates.
We are coming straight to our classroom in the mornings until it warms back up. Please remind your child to come directly to our classroom before school.
We have covered all the letters in the Alphabet and most everyone has the letters and sounds down. Now we will focus on blending those sounds into words. When your child comes to a word they don't know help them try to sound them out and then put the sounds together. We are also making great progress with phonological awareness as we have mastered initial sound of words and can tell what the beginning sound is of most words as well as recognizing rhyming patterns. We will begin to work on final sounds of words. These are all skills necessary to be good readers.
Our next chapter in Math is Measurement. We will learn to compare length, capacity, weight and height. We will also continue to work on recognizing and writing numbers to 50 and counting to 100.
I hope everyone has a great week and keep on READING!!!
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.