January+11,+2010+(vol.+1,+issue+9)

= __Important Dates__ = = = Jan. 20 – ES workshop – Developing Social Skills in Children, 7.45-9.00 a.m. Jan. 24 – No School, Teacher Inservice Day Jan. 28 – Elementary Report Cards Sent Home

= Happy New Year! = = =  I hope you had a wonderful holiday. The second half of the year will be filled with exciting units, events and learning experiences. I’m looking forward to seeing more growth in the children for the remainder of the year. We have two new students, Lorenzo and Aakash, who joined us last week. Lorenzo is from Switzerland and Aakash is from India. We look forward to getting to know them!

= = = **__Tommy the Tortoise__** = = = = = Tommy has been with the Pre-K for some time and he moved with us from the Pre-K house. Ms. Teresa’s class took care of him last semester, so now it is our turn to feed and take care of him. You will receive a letter if it is your child’s week to bring in food.

= **__Small Group Time__** =
 * __Mathematical Games__** – We are playing a variety of mathematics games in order to associate number names, quantities and written numerals. These games also required the children to take turns and cooperate with each other.


 * __Journal Entry__** – Students shared what they did during their winter holiday with each other and wrote their first entry in a new journal. They were given opportunities to share their stories.


 * __Symmetry Painting__** – We painted many different symmetry pictures by folding paper in half. This assisted the children in learning about the mathematical concept of symmetry.


 * __PE time__** – We have been playing different types of games from around the world such as duck, duck goose. We are also learning different ball skills.