Ms. Bethanie's Classroom

Hello Parents:

 
We have been thoroughly enjoying investigating gourds, apples, and pumpkins! Be sure to check out our bulletin board to see all of the cool activities the children participated in. We want to thank all of the parents who accompanied us on the field trip!

We really appreciate all the help! I also want to thank Bernenice, Natalie’s mom for making an awesome batch of play dough for our classroom! If you would like to volunteer to make play dough for our class, please sign-up on our play dough calendar beside the sign- in sheet. The recipe that works best is behind the calendar, please take one!

 
November will be a very busy month for us. We will move onto to studying leaves. Please keep a look out in your child’s mailbox for a home “collection” activity in the next couple of weeks.
There will be parent teacher conferences on November 9th and after the Parent & Child Activity on November 10th.

 
Please be sure to sign up for the Parent Teacher conferences (on the clipboard beside the sign in sheet).

 
We are excited to conduct this year’s very first Parent & Child Activity on November 10th from 9:15 to 10:15 in the school cafeteria. This is a time where parents can experience some of the learning activities students participate in at school. Parents must accompany children during this hour. There will be no regular class on November 10th.

 
There will be no school on November:
4th- Teacher Professional Development Day
11th – Veterans Day
23rd-25th – Thanksgiving Holiday
Please mark your calendars!

Hi! My name is Ms. Katherine and I am SUPER excited to be your student teacher this fall! I cannot wait to meet all of you, and learn about you! But first, let me tell you about me! I was born and raised on the south-side of Chicago with my three younger siblings. I am currently a graduate student at DePaul University majoring in early childhood education, and I can’t wait to have a classroom of my own!

I am so happy to be a part of Ms. Bethanie’s Pre-K Class!

Hello Parents:

School Picture Day is Monday, October 17th. Please check your child’s mailbox for package choice and payment requirements.

We have been thoroughly enjoying exploring pumpkins and gourds. We have focused vocabulary words that describe the attributes of the outside and the inside of the pumpkin. Be sure to check out the vocabulary words the children came up with posted on the chalk board. We will continue learning about the life cycle of the pumpkin. The children experienced conducting their first Observational Drawings of the pumpkins and/or gourds.

 
In addition to continuing learning about pumpkins and gourds the children will taste a variety of apples and we make applesauce in class. We will be focusing on the parts of the apple. The following key vocabulary we will be using is: stem, leaf, skin, flesh, core, seeds, pips, tangy, sweet, sour, crisp, and crunchy. We will continue with our study of apples, pumpkins, and gourds until the end of October.

 
We will be welcoming our new student teacher Ms. Green this week. Please feel free to introduce yourself to her. She will post a brief “hello blog” introducing herself next week. Please be sure to read it.

 
I will be posting a play-dough calendar for parents to make play dough for our class. We love play dough and are always in need of new fresh dough. We ask that parents help us out in making it for our class.

 
Reminders:
*Please remember to join the Ray PTA if you have not already done so.
*If you would like to join us on the field trip please let me know ASAP. We are only allowed a certain number of volunteers. Please be sure to turn in the forms and payment by Friday, October 21st.
*Please see archived October 4th post for information about the Lottery for Kindergarten.

 
Dates to Remember:
October 21st Field trip forms and money due
October 31st- Field Trip Eden’s Place Nature Center 9:00-Noon

Hello Families:

We have begun our Autumn/Fall Topic of Study. We would like to thank all of the families that brought in cool gourds and pumpkins! The children will begin to learn how to complete the Pre-Project skill of Observational Drawings using the gourds/pumpkins as their focus. We will be focusing on using descriptive words when observing and recording our data. The key vocabulary words will be: bumpy, smooth, grooves, lines, round, long, top, bottom, and various colors. We will begin exploring apples in the next couple of weeks as well. I will be asking for volunteers to bring in a few apples so that we can taste the various varieties and make apple sauce.

 
Reminders:
Please remember to join the Ray PTA if you have not already done so.
If you would like to join us on the field trip please let me know ASAP. We are only allowed a certain number of volunteers. Please be sure to turn in the forms and payment by Monday, October 21st. The office is requesting that we only collect cash or money order, no personal checks please. Please refer to last week’s blog for details about volunteering for the field trip.

Please see archived post on October 4th for information about the Lottery for Kindergarten.

 
CORRECTION:
IF YOU GAVE ME CASH OR CHECKS FOR RAY T-SHIRTS PLEASE SEE ME ASAP. THE PRICES OF THE T-SHIRTS HAVE INCREASED TO $10.00. THE TIE-A-DYE SHIRTS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. WE ARE ASKING THE PARENTS PAY FOR T-SHIRTS USING CASH OR MONEY ORDER. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.

 
Dates to Remember:
October 15th- All Medical Forms are due
October 31st- Field Trip Eden’s Place Nature Center 9:00-Noon.

 
STRIKE INFORMATION:
It is likely that we will go on strike beginning October 11th. Please watch the news Monday evening. Teachers will not have access to any school related information. I will not be able to send emails or make phone calls, so please refer to the local media on strike updates. If we do go on strike the media will also report when school will resume. Please take a look at the Ray E-news for a list of alternative care. If we are out on strike please remember to read to your child every day and practice identifying their names, the letter’s in their name, and writing their names.

ATTENTION PARENTS
Selective Enrollment started October 3rd.

If you are NOT in the Ray school district and not returning for a 2nd year of pre-k you MUST apply to come to Ray (or any school other than your home district school) next year.

Please check the cps.edu/AccessAndEnrollment to register!

http://cps.edu/AccessAndEnrollment

http://cps.edu/AccessAndEnrollment/Pages/Apply.aspx