This week, the focus will be on all things "Nutcracker." We will be practicing daily for our show with the other kindergarten classes, so there will be no centers this week or next. We will still have library time on Wednesday, and that will be the last time we go to the library in 2023.
Please let me know if you did not receive the purple note in your child's Wednesday envelope with their Nutcracker role. If you have any difficulty rounding up the "base clothes" that we mentioned in the letter, please let me know. Remember that all costume accessories and many costume pieces are supplied by us. We also have a number of leotards available to borrow that have been donated over the years. Thank you for your help in getting the children prepared for the show on the 19th.
You will be able to start getting visitor's badges to attend the performance, on Monday the 18th. Please bring your driver's license to the office and tell Chitra that you'd like a badge for the Nutcracker performance on the 19th. All people attending the show must go through the office first and get a visitor's badge. It's a good idea to get it on Monday so that you don't have to worry about getting caught up in a line on Tuesday morning and missing some of the show. The show will start promptly at 9:15. A few other things:
Please let me know if you did not receive the purple note in your child's Wednesday envelope with their Nutcracker role. If you have any difficulty rounding up the "base clothes" that we mentioned in the letter, please let me know. Remember that all costume accessories and many costume pieces are supplied by us. We also have a number of leotards available to borrow that have been donated over the years. Thank you for your help in getting the children prepared for the show on the 19th.
You will be able to start getting visitor's badges to attend the performance, on Monday the 18th. Please bring your driver's license to the office and tell Chitra that you'd like a badge for the Nutcracker performance on the 19th. All people attending the show must go through the office first and get a visitor's badge. It's a good idea to get it on Monday so that you don't have to worry about getting caught up in a line on Tuesday morning and missing some of the show. The show will start promptly at 9:15. A few other things:
- The cafeteria doors will open at about 9:00. Please do not enter the cafeteria earlier and attempt to save seats. Anything on the seats before the doors open will be moved.
- We will record a video of the performance on an iPad and will share that video with all the families. Our iPad will be set up on a tripod for this purpose, and this is the only tripod that will be allowed in the cafeteria. Please do not bring your own tripod since there simply isn't enough room in the cafeteria for multiple tripods.
- We want everyone to enjoy the performance, so please refrain from standing and blocking the aisles. It is no fun to watch a performance with a raised camera in front of you blocking your view-- I've had this happen to me at several performances, and I ask that you refrain from this behavior. If you want to take pictures, please go to the back row or off to the side.
Front Row Tickets Auction
Finally, we wanted to remind you that the Home & School Club will be auctioning off 4 pairs of front-row tickets to the show. I believe the online auction will open on Wednesday and close on Friday. All money will go to the enrichment programs that HSC supports. It's a win-win! Get front row seats AND support Alta Vista's enrichment programs. Look for the link to the auction on Wednesday.
Holiday Party
We will have our holiday party and gift exchange (socks) on Wednesday the 20th. Look out for an email from Gina, who will be coordinating a pancake breakfast. This is a pajama party! Children are encouraged to wear their pajamas as we enjoy a fun breakfast and crafts. Please also remember to send in a wrapped pair of socks, with a label showing who it is "from" (so your child doesn't get their own sock gift) by this Friday the 15th. Thank you!
Language Arts
This week, we will wrap up the introduction of all letters and sounds with Qq and Zz! If you notice that your child does not recognize all upper & lower case letters, as well as know all letter sounds, please provide additional reinforcement at home. To help your child form this week's letters correctly, please see the Fundations Family Letter. In this week's newsletter, there is also an activity to review all letters and their sounds. Our sight words this week are run and ran. These words are perfect for our Gingerbread Man unit, which we will continue this week. We have several activities and many more stories to read!
Math
This week, we have an exciting collaboration with some 8th graders who are math tutors at Union Middle School. They are going to come over and present some centers that will strengthen the kindergartners' number sense skills. We are excited to have the 8th graders join us on Tuesday.
**Library is every Wednesday. Please return your child's library book by Tuesday each week.
**School spirit days are every Wednesday. Wear your Alta Vista t-shirts or your Bulldog t-shirts to show your school pride.
**Volunteering Sign-Ups
This Week's Helpers & Activities
Monday: No Centers-- Nutcracker Practice
Tuesday: UMS students come for math centers
Wednesday: Library @ 8:30, Dismissal @ 1:15
Thursday: No Centers-- Nutcracker Practice
Friday: Music
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, 12/19 @ 9:15 am: Nutcracker Performance
Wednesday, 12/20: Classroom Holiday Party
12/21-1/3: Winter Break
Thursday, 1/4: School resumes
Monday, 1/15: No School: MLK Holiday
Monday, 1/29: No School: Teacher Work Day
