Happy New year, we have lots to do!

Dear Parents,

Welcome back after our winter break. I hope that all of our families had a wonderful holiday season, and all the children got what they asked Santa for. I am so happy to be back in school, and it is wonderful to see all of the children again.
We have lots to do this month, and to start we have introduced the parts of a fish. This is our introduction to the vertebrates. I will be getting a gold fish for the classroom, so that the children can see how a fish lives and eats. I will also be getting books from the library about fish as well as videos. For our Botany studies, we will be introducing the parts of the roots, and we will continue to learn the names of different leaf shapes. In our geography studies, the children will be introduced to the directions of north, south, east, and west, we will review naming the continents, and we will introduce the country of Africa. We will learn about some of the animals on this continent, read stories from there, and see pictures of people from this continent. We will also be introducing the children to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the great endeavors he created for equal rights in our country. The Author for this month will be Beatrix Potter, the author or the Peter rabbit stories, and the artist we will explore this month will be Van Gough.
The composer that the children will be introduced to this month will be the composer Bach, and I will continue to talk to the children about winter and prepare them for the coming of spring.
I would like to extend a big “Thank You” to all the parents who help us with snack, as the children truly love to have food available in the morning. I completely appreciate all the parent participation that takes place for this.
A few things that we will be needing for the classroom: If any parent is willing and able to pick our classroom up some felt from the fabric or craft store, of varied colors. We would like to create more practical life sewing activities available for the kindergarten students, and I have plans to do pouch sewing and pillow sewing with them. We are also in need of two more embroidering hoops and some small glass breads. If you are able to help with this, please see Mrs. Niederhauser.
We are also planning to do a waking field trip to the Children’s Museum by the end of the month or the beginning of February. Unfortunately due to the schools budget crunch, parents will have to pay for their children to attend this field trip, but I thought this heads up would help. It will cost $9.00 for each person who goes, whether they are a parent or a child. I will put our information when a date has been solidified for this event.
Our classroom will be going through some staff changes. Ms. Rojas will be leaving us to seek full time educational opportunities with in a week, and we will be getting a new teaching aid in the classroom. Please feel free to wish her the best in her educational endeavors. The children will miss her, however, they will not forget her.
I am also currently seeking a new laundry parent, as we do not have a volunteer for this job anymore. If you would like to help our classroom out with this job, please see Mrs. Niederhuaser
Again it is wonderful to be back with the children at school, and we have lots to do.
I look forward to all the wonderful things the children will be learning this month.
If you have any question, please feel free to call me, email me, or just ask.

Thank you

Mrs. Niederhauser.