The document provides an update on activities in a Kindergarten classroom during the month of October and information about upcoming events in November. In October, students went on a field trip to a farm and had Halloween celebrations. They are now learning literacy and math skills through small group work and play-based activities. Important November dates are noted, including parent-teacher conferences and PA days. Reminders are provided about take-home folders, toileting independence, winter clothing, and arrival time.

1. N NOVEMBER
2012
Mrs. Benbow
October was a busy and exciting month for students as KINDERGARTEN
they continued to develop their skills and become more NEWS
comfortable with class routines. Our trip to Willowgrove
Farm was a huge success. Thanks to the parents who
joined us on the field trip to help supervise groups of
Room 106
students. The Hallowe’en celebrations were a ton of fun.
The children enjoyed showing off their costumes to each 905-642-1236 x 106
other, as well as parading around the school. Each child
Mrs. Dunham
had his/her picture taken in costume and these photos
W
will be shared with parents later. We carved our Room 102
pumpkins, counted the seeds and made fun crafts. A big 905-642-1236 x102
thank-youKindergartenfor preparing healthy, delicious
elcome to to parents at
treatsPeterson Public School.
Oscar for the classes to enjoy.
I hope everyone had a safe
The senior kindergartners are enjoying their role as the
and enjoyable summer. My
special helper. A number of students have had the
Inside This Issue…
name is Marilyn Benbow and I
opportunity to take the Special Helper Bags home and
will be your child’s teacher
theyyear. Ishared their writing with the class.
this have am excited to be
teaching Kindergarten this Pg. 2 Curriculum Corner
year and I look forward to Pg. 3 Reminders
working with you as partners
to help your child reach their
full potential. Our days and
weeks will be filled with many
DATES TO REMEMBER:
wonderful experiences and
opportunities to learn and
Nov. 8, 9 Bus evacuation
grow. I believe that a good
parent-teacher relationship is
Nov. 11
necessary
Remembrance Day
for maximum school
Nov. 20, 21 Progress Reports go home
Nov. 23 P.A. Day – No School

2. Language
During the month of November, we will continue to learn how to work at a variety of
literacy stations within a small group. These stations provide a variety of opportunities to
develop concepts and skills related to alphabet knowledge, reading, writing and oral
language. As we gain sufficient independence with these activities, we will begin to invite
small groups of children to participate in guided reading, guided writing and alphabet
work activities with the teacher. As well, through play-based programming, students will be
exposed to literacy tasks/explorations that are embedded in various centres in the
classroom (e.g., making a shopping list at the Drama/House Center).
We will continue to practice our alphabet letter names and sounds through songs and
chants and develop reading strategies such as, one-to-one matching while reading various
prints around the classroom. So far we have focused on the words, I, am, can, see, a, and
the in our shared reading and writing experiences. We will be adding the words, is, to, go,
he and her. SK students will soon begin to take home leveled books to practice their
reading skills. JK students will be taking home alphabet books that focus on a specific letter
or blend. Information about this program will come home with students when the first books
are sent home.
Math
In Math, we will continue to find opportunities to count objects throughout the day and
writing appropriate numerals to represent our counting. We will continue to work on
patterning with students identifying repeating patterns and non-patterns. Also we will
extend existing patterns and create new ones, using classroom/art materials, actions,
sounds and words.
Science
We will continue to explore and observe the environment outside, describing changes that
are occurring around us at this time of year. We have “adopted” a tree in our schoolyard
and we have been observing and discussing the changes that we see. We have also
collected various items from outside and have brought back to the classroom to observe
them with our magnifiers. We will be planting a few pumpkins seeds and they will be
discussing and recording their observations.

3. Reminders
Please remove the contents of theTake-Home Folders every day and return them the next
day that your child attends school. This is an effective way to make sure that you do not miss
any written communication from the office or myself.
Please remind your child of the importance of placing his or her folder and book bag in the
bin as part of the morning entry routine. Once again, please keep the folder inside a Ziploc
bag to protect it from lunch box leaks and other accidents.
Toileting: Please remember that we cannot help your child with this. For sanitary/hygiene
reasons, children must be able to dress/undress independently and wipe themselves without
adult help while they are at school. Please remind your child that it is important to use their
words to tell the teacher when they have to go to the washroom to avoid accidents.
Clothing: Please send your child in clothing that they can put on, take off and button/zip up
themselves. Fancy coats and lace-up shoes are cute but are difficult for most kindergartners
to handle independently. Remember that we are trying to encourage the children to develop
independence.
Now that the cold weather is upon us and children will be wearing jackets and coats
regularly to go outside, we are encouraging parents to have their child practice putting on and
zipping up their coats independently.
 It is very important that your child arrives at school BEFORE the bell rings. He/she needs
to be on time, so that he/she lines up with the class outside their classroom door.