Several Reminders

Several Reminders

1. Please, please, please PRACTICE your child’s sight words EVERY NIGHT!!!  It is vital to their reading success!!!
2. Open House is Thursday, September 18, from 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.  If possible, please leave your child at home for the evening so that you are able to focus solely on the presentation.    

• Events:
• PTA Meeting - 5:30 p.m. 
• Session 1 - 6:00 p.m.
• Session 2 - 6:35 p.m.
• Notes:  The same program will be presented during both sessions.  We have two sessions so that parents with multiple children are able to visit each child’s classroom.  

1. Friday, September 19, is Twin Day at Douglas!  Coordinate your outfit with a friend at school or wear jeans and a gray t-shirt to be our principal’s twin.

Week 1 Down!

Whew, this week has been a whirlwind!  Exhausting – yes!  But, so much fun!  Your children are beyond fabulous, and I feel so blessed to be their teacher this year.  Thank you for sharing them with me!! 

We have spent the entire week learning all about our school/classroom and how to create a respectful and safe environment for all.  We have read lots of heartwarming stories, traveled to Letterland, learned some fancy words (scampered, nuzzled, gentle), launched Writer’s Workshop; and, began our study of numbers and quantities.  Needless to say, we have been busy, busy, busy! 

Next week, please begin studying your child’s sight words each evening.  Our yearlong sight word schedule is attached to your child’s green folder.  Please, please, please do your best to keep up with our sight word schedule.  I truly cannot emphasis enough how essential sight word recognition is to your child’s reading development and success!! 

Other Important Notes:

1.  Weekly homework will start in the coming weeks.  I will keep you all posted on an exact start date.  For now, please just continue to read with your child nightly and practice sight words.

2. It will help TREMENDOUSLY if your child would wear slip on or Velcro shoes to school on Dance days until they know how to tie their shoes independently. 

3. After the holiday break in December, Mrs. Camel and I will NOT tie shoes for children.  Please be sure to practice at home!  Here is a link that will help teach your child to tie their shoes in just one second.  Promise!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMuNjnNyaiA

Hope you all have a restful weekend and are able to enjoy some family time! 

Educationally yours,

Ms. Bruner   

Great First Day!

It was a fabulous first day in kindergarten!  Mrs. Camel and I have enjoyed getting to know your sweet little one today. 

Please note that your child’s green folder came home today.  Please take some time this evening to review the information and complete any necessary school paperwork.  The green folder will come home every day (except Fridays) and must be returned the following day.   

Educationally yours,

Ms. Bruner

Welcome to Kindergarten!

Welcome!

Summer vacation has flown by, and it is so hard for us to believe that we are about to kickoff another school year at Douglas.  We have so many exciting times ahead.  Lots of laughter and learning is about to take place for your kindergartener, and we can’t wait for it all to get started!

In the coming weeks, if you have any questions about Meet & Greet, staggered entry, Kindergarten Open House or anything at all, please contact our front office at 919.881.4894. 

We look forward to meeting you all very soon and working together to make your child's first year at Douglas fabulous! 

Educationally yours,

Ms. Bruner & Mrs. Camel

Read Across America Week!!!

We had such fun during Read Across America week in our classroom!  What a wonderful celebration!!  We spent the entire week reading classic Dr. Seuss books including Horton Hears a Who, The Cat in the Hat, The Lorax, Wacky Wednesday, Bartholomew and the Oobleck, What Was I Scared Of?, The Sneetches and Hooray for Diffendoofer Day.   The kids had such fun reading these stories, and we had some great class discussions.  The messages found within Dr. Seuss’ books are so powerful, and I loved listening to your amazing children latch on and embrace their themes. 

We also had some spectacular guest readers stop in this week and read to us.  I truly cannot thank each of them enough for taking the time out of their busy schedules to visit our classroom.  The kids had an absolute blast, and they have already requested return visits!!!  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

Dr. Kinsey-Barker

Dr. Kinsey-Barker is our area superintendent.  The kids loved having her in our classroom.  In fact, the minute she left, they were begging for me to schedule a return visit!  

Mrs. Taylor 

Mrs. Taylor taught me 4th and 5th grade!!  She is now the assistant principal at Brooks Elementary.  Hands down, Mrs. Taylor was the best teacher I ever had!

Mrs. Bruner

My Mom

I was thrilled that my Mom was able to stop by this year to read, and the kids really enjoyed having her visit.  Hope she can come again soon!!  

Mrs. Roberts 

My Aunt 

It was such a treat to have my precious aunt visit our classroom!  She certainly enchanted the kids!!

  

Mrs. Herb

4th grade teacher at Douglas

Mrs. Herb's class is our book buddy class this year.  The kids had a blast with her!  She is such a wonderful teacher and friend!

Mrs. Spickard 

Magnet Coordinator at Douglas

Mrs. Spickard drops by with her tour groups quite a bit.  It was so incredibly sweet of her to come read to our class.  Like everyone else, they just adored her!  

Mrs. Ramsay

Instructional Resource Teacher at Douglas

Mrs. Ramsay was a huge hit with your children!!  She is one of my absolute favorite people, and she quickly became one of the kids' favorites too!  

To wrap up our celebration, we spent the afternoon making Oobleck!!  And, I must say – what a mess!  But, it was such a fun mess!!  Luckily, my sister, Miss Elizabeth, stopped by to help out! Unfortunately, we didn't get a class picture with Miss Elizabeth, but if you look closely you can spot her in the background in one of these photos.  

As always, thank you so much for your continued support!

Educationally Yours,

Ms. Bruner