Welcome back for the start of Term 2. I hope everyone had an enjoyable break and got lots of rest and relaxation…..I know the teachers did!
But….we are so excited to be back at school, ready for another busy term. We have a lot in store for your child, including the start of literacy and numeracy groups, exciting events such as the horse festival, interesting themes/units and, most of all, some FUN!
Some parents have expressed an interest in establishing a “kindy” parents and friends register. The organising parents are interested in getting together for play dates, social outings, parent coffee sessions, and emergency contacts (if needed). If you are interested in being involved in upcoming “Kindy” social events just fill in your details on the white information sheet (sent home last week) or contact Catherine Bath or Makaala Bogaard (parents of students in KC). Alternatively, you can let your class teacher know and they will pass on your expression of interest.
Phonics
This term, the students continue to learn letter sounds and will also learn some letter blends. These are when two vowels or a vowel and consonant are together in a word, and make a different sound. Eg: ‘ai’ in snail, ‘oa’ in boat and ‘or’ in horse.
By the end of this week, your child:
MUST: Revise previous sounds and continue to learn new sounds (L and F).
SHOULD: Recognise and immediately recall all letter sounds learnt so far. Practice writing both the lower and upper-case version of each letter. Some children still write their whole name in capital letters. Please encourage them to only use a capital for the beginning letter, and lower-case for the others.
COULD: Say some simple 3 letter words aloud and have your child s-t-r-e-t-c-h the word out by saying each sound they can hear. They can clap the sounds as they say them. Some easy 3 letter words to use would be cat, man, ten, pin, den, gap, him, rock, sap.
Literacy
The Kindergarten teachers are looking forward to the start of literacy/reading groups this week. The children just love having their parent or relative come into the classroom and help out! It also promotes and models the value of education!
This week, students will be studying the following texts. Click on the links to listen to the stories.
KW: Rosie’s Walk
KP: Meanies (sorry KP, your book is not online this week)
KC & KF: Mrs Wishy Washy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3lPl26wO_4
Home Reading
Each student has been given a clear plastic case with a reading record and a small reader. Students should spend at least 5mins reading to an adult or older sibling each night. You should try and read the same book for several nights – this allows time for your child to become confident with the text. Encourage them to look at the pictures and follow the words with their fingers.
The readers need to be returned each Monday and Thursday so that a new reader can be given. Please keep a record of the books your child is reading each night, as they receive stickers for each level they achieve. Encourage your child to take care of the books by keeping them in the clear protective cases provided and transporting them in a suitable pocket of their school bag.
If you have any questions regarding your child’s reading, please contact your class teacher.
Here is a link to a great Australian clip about helping your child with reading at home:
Birthdays this Week
Happy birthday to the following Kindergarten children!
KC: Cody Wattus (3rd May)
KF: Brock Shone (23rd April)
Saturday 7th May is the annual Scone and Upper Hunter Horse Parade. The school will be participating in the parade and the costume theme is ARTISTS! Any students can participate, they just need a costume! Students will need to meet at Scone Public School on Saturday morning at 10am. Parents may leave their child with the supervising teachers so that they can head down the street to get a great viewing position. At the end of the parade, students must be collected promptly from Scone Public School. Hope to see you there!
