It has been such a joy watching our students grow and settle into our classroom community! We want to take a moment to share some of the wonderful progress we’re seeing and what you can expect next week. 

Celebrating Our Progress

The first few weeks of preschool are a big transition, but we are so proud of how well the children are adjusting. We’ve seen a decrease in separation anxiety, and it’s a delight to see them eagerly say goodbye and walk into the classroom with their confidence growing. They are becoming more comfortable with our daily routines, from morning Large Group time to Choice Time, Rest Time, and Outdoor Play. It’s been especially heartwarming to see new friendships blossom as they learn to navigate social interactions.

A huge part of this growth involves learning to share and listen. We’ve been consistently working on taking turns with toys, using our words to ask for what we need (with “please” and “thank you”), and listening attentively to both adults and their peers. This is a skill that takes time to master, and we would be so grateful if you could continue to reinforce these expectations at home. Simple things, such as taking turns with a favorite toy or waiting patiently for their turn to speak, can make a big difference.

Preschoolers are also learning to wash their hands quickly and effectively. We are using a handwashing song for this purpose, set to the tune of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” (“Wash, wash, wash your hands, play the handy game, rub and scrub and rub and scrub, germs will go away.”). Children seem to enjoy this, and it helps them take care of basic hygiene in a timely manner. You might want to reinforce this at home as well! 

No Lunch Wagon Beginning Next Week 

As we strive to help children acquire more independence, we kindly request that children bringing cold lunches from home bring their lunch boxes to the classroom and place them in their designated cubby. Please do not put lunch boxes in their backpack – have them carry their lunchbox in their hands. For students who are getting hot lunch, please also indicate ‘hot lunch’ on the lunch ribbon. Clip their clothespin on – that way, we’ll have confirmation that they are indeed getting a hot lunch, and we won’t have to look for potentially misplaced lunch boxes. 

Looking Ahead: Building Our Community

Next week, we’ll shift our focus to reinforcing what it means to be a good friend and community member. We will be talking about what our classroom should look like, sound like, and feel like. We’ll discuss how we should be kind to our friends, use our gentle hands, and respect our classroom materials. The goal is to create a space where everyone feels safe, included, and valued. We will continue to focus on the feelings we might have in school and how to deal with them in a way that’s safe and respectful to our peers. 

Feathers, Hearts, and Ribbon 

Please complete the “homework” we’ve sent home with your child today and return it on Tuesday. The instructions are in the bag. 

Beginning of the School Year Assessment Data

In this week’s Friday folder, you should have also received your child’s beginning-of-the-year assessment data. Please remember that this is simply a baseline to inform our teaching. This data helps us understand your child’s unique strengths and the specific skills we’ll need to focus on this year, from number recognition to the first stepping stones of literacy development. It is not a reflection of your child’s overall abilities, but rather a tool that helps us tailor our instruction. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Upcoming Bus Safety Event and Field Trip Preparation

We have an exciting learning event planned for Monday, September 9. We will be having a bus safety assembly in preparation for our first field trip – please sign and return the permission slip included in the Friday folder by next Wednesday, at the latest.  This assembly will introduce the children to the basics of traveling on a school bus, including how to sit safely and listen to the driver. This will help them feel more comfortable and confident when we take our field trip in November to see the play Goodnight Moon! More details about the field trip will be sent home as the date approaches.

Birthday Treats

We’ve received some questions about ways families can help children celebrate their special day. Please note that – per Jeffco’s Healthy Schools initiative – families are not allowed to bring/send in sweet treats as a birthday celebration. However, if you’d like to send in small trinkets for your little one to hand out on their birthday, you are more than welcome to. These include a small toy, a fidget, or other items you feel are appropriate – just make sure there is one for all students in the class.

Enjoy the long weekend with your wonderful children. We can’t wait to see their smiling faces again on Tuesday! 

Kindly,

Annie and the team