It’s pumpkin week in PreK!  This is one of my favorite weeks!  We opened a pumpkin to investigate the parts and used our 5 senses to observe what is inside the pumpkin.  We compared and sorted small pumpkins, tested to see if pumpkins float, created pumpkin crafts and had so much fun!  We’ve also been enjoying singing Halloween songs and rhymes.  Check Class Dojo and the website for pictures from this week’s activities.
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FANTASTIC FOURS

• Religion – We completed our unit “God Made the Bible.”  We read several Bible stories that taught us about God’s love for us and learned that we can tell God how much we love God by praying.
• Literacy – We have completed the letters through F.  We were able to identify the letter Ff in our names, used our Smart Books to make the letter Ff with stickers and rainbow write.  We played games to practice the sound that Ff makes and to review all of the letters of the alphabet.
• Math – We practiced sorting pumpkins by different traits and counted the seeds we found inside the pumpkin.
• Science – Pumpkins, pumpkins and more pumpkins!  We explored the inside of the pumpkin, and used our senses to investigate.  We did an experiment to see if pumpkins sink or float.

 
TERRIFIC THREES

• Religion & Science – We wrapped up this week with the last of our 5 senses, taste.  The children can now sing the song about all 5 of our senses!
• Literacy – We’ve been doing a lot of fine motor work in our “Smart Books.”  This week we created a pumpkin patch by drawing a pumpkin vine with a green marker and adding pumpkin stickers to it.  We’ve been learning to identify our names by playing “Who Stole the Pumpkin from the Pumpkin Patch?”  We read and acted out We’re Going on a Pumpkin Hunt.

• Math – This week we learned about the color green.  We made a sticker collage in our Smart Books.  We practiced sorting pumpkins by different traits and counted the seeds we found inside the pumpkin.
• Science – Pumpkins, pumpkins and more pumpkins!  We explored the inside of the pumpkin, and used our senses to investigate.  We did an experiment to see if pumpkins sink or float.

HALLOWEEN
This year our Halloween celebrations will look a bit differently than years past, but we are still planning on having a fun day!  The children are welcome to wear their Halloween costumes on October 29 & 30.  Please have them wear play clothes underneath and sneakers.  If the children become too hot, we will help them remove the costume.  Please leave any costume accessories home.  We will have a little parade through the halls.  I will purchase a special snack for the day. We will have many Halloween themed games and activities for the day.  Parents are welcome to send in treat bags for their child to pass out.  Please remember if you choose to do this, any food items must be individually packaged from the store.
IMPORTANT DATES

• October 24 – Fall Fest
• October 29-30 – Halloween celebrations
• November 5 – Terrific Threes Picture Day (*Please note the date change!)
• November 7 – Food Truck Fundraiser
• November 10 – Sub Sale Distribution
• November 20 – Mega-Shambucks Day
• November 25 – 30 – NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Break)
• November 29 – First Sunday of Advent
• December 1 – 3 – Secret Santa Workshop (More information will be coming soon!)
• December 21 & 22 – PreK Christmas Program at 8:30 AM (TENTATIVE)
• December 23 – Early Dismissal at 11:45 AM
• December 24 – January 1 – NO SCHOOL (Christmas Break)

 
REMINDERS & UPDATES

• As the weather gets chillier, please make sure your child has a jacket for outside play.  Please put your child’s name in the jacket.  Also, it is very helpful to us if you practice with your child putting on and zipping jackets.
• Please check the website or Class Dojo for pictures of our activities.
• There is also important school information in the Shamrock Newsletter that is sent out each week.

Thank you for your prayers and understanding as I recover from breaking my ankle!  The children were hard workers for Miss Anita and our substitute teacher, Mrs. Bortner. 
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FANTASTIC FOURS

• Religion – We completed our unit “God Made Churches.”  On Friday, we visited our church and were able to see many of the holy items we learned about.
• Literacy – We have completed the letters through E.  We’ve been learning to trace our names, identify rhyming words, and play alphabet games each day/
• Math – We’re continuing to review colors and shapes, practice patterns, identify numbers 1-6, and order numbers.
• Social Studies – This week we learned about the Fire Safety.  We used our Scholastic My Big World issue to guide us and did some other fun activities.  You can visit www.scholastic.com/mybigworld for more activities.   Our classroom code is Shamrocks34.

 
TERRIFIC THREES

• Religion & Science – We are continuing to learn about our 5 sense.  We’ve learned about hearing, sight and smell.  This week we started learning about our sense of touch.
• Literacy – We’ve been doing a lot of fine motor work in our “Smart Books.”  We’ve practiced cutting and gluing, and drew apples.
• Math – We continue to learn about the colors.  This week, we focused on the color yellow.  We made yellow bracelets, and reviewed basic shapes.
• Social Studies – This week we learned about the Fire Safety.  We used our Scholastic My Big World issue to guide us and did some other fun activities.  You can visit www.scholastic.com/mybigworld for more activities.   Our classroom code is Shamrocks34.

 
IMPORTANT DATES

• October 9 – Color Street Mom’s Night Out
• October 12 – NO SCHOOL (Columbus Day)
• October 16 – NO SCHOOL (PreK – Grade 5 for Parent-Teacher Conferences)
• October 24 – Fall Fest
• October 29-30 – Halloween Celebrations (More information will we sent home soon.)
• November 5 – Terrific Threes Picture Day (*Please note the date change!)
• November 7 – Food Truck Fundraiser
• November 25 – 30 – NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Break)

 
REMINDERS & UPDATES

• Please consider using a face shield for your child.  Many of the children cannot not properly wear a mask or need help putting masks back on.  This means that we are touching your child’s mask and face.  While we sanitize before and after, this is not a best practice at this time.  We’ve noticed that the children with face masks have an easier time putting them back on after mask breaks.
• Terrific Threes children do not need towels or toys.  We can use our carpet in the classroom and have started small play groups in the morning.  I apologize for any confusion.  I am still making adjustments to see how things will work best.
• Fantastic Fours children do not need toys.  We have started small morning play groups.  They may still bring a towel.  Most of them like it for rest time.  They may also bring a few books to look at during rest time.  We have several children who do not nap, but enjoy looking at books during quiet time.
• Please complete any of the office forms for back to school ASAP.
• Terrific Threes, please be sure to pay your milk fee for August, September & October.
• As the weather gets chillier, please make sure your child has a jacket for outside play.  Please put your child’s name in the jacket.  Also, it is very helpful to us if you practice with your child putting on and zipping jackets.