I hope everyone had a great first week back. I know we had a great time in our classroom. Everyone picked up right where they left off and seemed to be happy about being back in school. Last week we started our word families. Your students brought home word family sliders, one for the -am family and one for the -at family. Please encourage your student to read these with you. We also finished up chapter 1 in math and worked hard in our journals.
This week we will be working on chapter 2 in math as well as the -ug family and rhyming. Everyone is catching on really quick to everything I introduce. Keep up the great work at home.
A new homework format went home last week. Each calendar has 2 weeks on it so you will be using the same homework calendar this week as well. I know in my last blog I said you could turn it in weekly or biweekly but in order to keep everything together, I would appreciate it if you would hold on to it at home or in their folders and I will collect everything at one time. This way I don't lose track of who turned what in. The bottom box on each night is working with their little books. If your child does not have a little book that night, you may pick any book at your house or think back to a favorite little book. If your child is not getting little books yet, please take this time to practice the letters and sounds 5 times.
This Friday, the 15th, is our schools skateland party. This is always a fun time and I hope to see a lot of you there teaching your children how to skate!
Report cards and skills reports went home on Friday. Please let me know if you have any questions on them. I am proud of everyone of the tremendous progress they have made this year and know that everyone will continue to catch onto everything we learn.
If you have any questions about anything, please don't hesitate to ask.
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.