Week of December 14, 2015

Hello Giraffe Families!  I hope everyone had a great weekend!  I can't believe that it is almost time for our Winter Break.  I am so proud of the progress each student has made so far this year!  We had a great time learning through all the Gingerbread Man stories we read.  The students did a great job comparing the stories and retelling the events.  They also learned so much about utensils through our utensil museum.  This week we will travel around the world as we learn about how other children celebrate the Christmas season.  We will study Sweden, The Netherlands, Germany and the good Ole USA.  It is going to be a Jammin' Giraffe Week!

Here's What's Happening!

December 14th- Military Monday

                                                              December 17th- Skate Night

  December 21-Jan. 1st- Winter Break

Week of December 7, 2015

Hello Families!  I hope you had a wonderful weekend.  I have decided to extend our unit on "The Gingerbread Man" this week, because the children are enjoying it so much, and have become quite good at comparing stories.  This week we will read a few more versions of the story, as well as look for "cooking" words and "describing" words.  Last week we had a discussion about utensils when we learned the letter "U", so we will also have a utensils museum for the children to explore and write about during our station time.  I am looking forward to all the learning that will take place this week!


Here's A Look at Upcoming Events!

Winter Days!

In connection with Spring Valley, Student Council is collecting items for “Helping the Homeless” and for needy children. Toiletry items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, washcloths, shaving cream, deodorant, travel sized shampoo & conditioner, etc. are needed for the Homeless. For the children at Palmetto Health Children's Hospital, we are looking to stuff Stockings with small toys, wrapped candy, novelty pens or pencils, jewelry, books, small hand-held games, a small stuffed animal, etc. We will be collecting until Friday, December 14th.


PTO Holiday Shoppe

December 7-11th
Your child can shop for the family and pick out special items all by themselves.  Just send money in the marked envelope to school, and leave the shopping to us!

Week of November 30, 2015

Hello Families!
 I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving break!  I am looking forward to spending the holiday season with my sweet kinder babies!  This week we will begin a mini unit on The Gingerbread Man.  We will read many different versions of the story and compare the characters and settings of each story.

This WEEK's Happenings...
Dec. 4th- College Colors Day

Special Olympics Send Off

Last Friday, our friends in Ms. Belk's class attended Special Olympics Bowling.  Our Kindergarten class cheered them on and wished them good luck on their way! What fun it was to watch them as they loaded the bus!

 

 

Veteran's Day Fun!

Our class had a great time celebrating Veteran's Day this past Wednesday!  The children especially enjoyed the parade that included our classmates, Branden and Gabe!  We are so thankful for all those who serve!

Week of November 9, 2015

Hello Families!
  I hope everyone had a great weekend!  I am looking forward to being back in the classroom full time this week!  Ms. Chastain did an awesome job teaching her units the past two weeks and the students learned so much from her!  This week we will begin a unit on Thanksgiving. We will look into the past and learn about the first Thanksgiving as well as compare it to our family traditions today.  The students will begin Writer's Notebooks this week. I am excited to introduce this way of writing with them, so they learn the importance of writing down their thoughts and telling stories based on real life events!


Veteran's Day is this Wednesday!
We are looking forward to the many activities our school will have on this very special day.  The children will participate in a parade that will honor the veterans that visit our school!

Week of November 2, 2015

Hello Families!
    I hope those of you who were able to come to Fall Fest had an awesome time!  Thank you for supporting our school.  I am sure everyone enjoyed Halloween as well.  This week Ms. Chastain will start a unit on transportation.  The students will explore different ways to go places, and be able to construct some using shapes.  We are looking forward to the week ahead!
Here's What's Happening!



Thursday, November 5th- Report Cards Go Home

Friday, November 6th- College Colors Day

Pumpkin Investigation

Today was an exciting day!  Ms. Chastain led the students in a pumpkin investigation!  They were able to feel the pumpkin, measure the height, count the lines in the pumpkin and see if pumpkins sink or float!  What an exciting afternoon in our Jammin Giraffe Class!

                          

  

Week of October 26, 2015

Hello families!
  I hope everyone enjoyed their long weekend!  I had the opportunity to go to some awesome professional development on Thursday!  Can't wait to begin using some of the things I learned in class.  Wednesday is the end of the first quarter.  I have already begun assessments for the first report card.   Please continue to read with your child every night and practice both the letters and sight words we are learning! Thank you!
 Here's a look at our week ahead!

Red Ribbon Week ~ Next Week Drug-Free Spirit Days 
Monday, Oct. 26th "Heroes make healthy choices" : wear camouflage 
Tuesday, Oct. 27th "Wake up Drug Free": wear pajamas 
Wednesday, Oct. 28th Wear Red  
Thursday, Oct. 29th "Be on a Drug-Free Team": wear your team shirt
 Friday, Oct. 30th "We don't do drugs- they're scary!": wear black and orange OR your book character costume (FALL FEST)



MAKE UP PICTURE DAY MONDAY - OCTOBER 26

 Any students who were absent on Fall Picture Day, September 11, and new students enrolled since that date will have their pictures made on October 26. Mrs. Khouri, at the front kiosk, has picture order packets for anyone that may want to place an order.

Fall Fest This Friday! October 30th!
(6:00-8:00 pm)
Come out and enjoy the fun!  Cake Walk, Dunking Booth, Face Painting,Bouncy Houses,
 Games, Prizes and more!
Meals are $5.00 each (Chick-fil-A or Marcos Pizza)
Tickets are $.25 each.. If you bring in boxtops for education, you will receive 5 tickets to use at Fall Fest!

Fall Fest

Our school will be having its annual Fall Fest on Friday, October 30th.  We are in need of volunteers to help run the stations.  Here is some information from our PTO on how you can help!

Please consider volunteering for Pontiac's annual Fall Fest on Friday, October 30th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. 

We have three shifts available:

Shift 1 - 6:00 - 6:30 pm

Shift 2 - 6:30 - 7:00 pm

Shift 3 - 7:00 - 7:30 pm

Or we could also use volunteers to help clean up starting at 7:30 pm.

Please contact Lisa Rayner (music teacher) at lrayner@richland2.org if you are willing to work one or more shifts that evening. We could use help from anyone 16 years and older. 

Week of October 19, 2015

Hello Families!
  I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend.  I was so excited to see the faces of my sweet kindergartners this past week.  Our schedule was a little different, but the children adjusted well, and continued to learn.  We did not finish everything planned, so a lot of our skills from last week will carry over to this week.  I will begin assessing students for their first report card.  Please make sure you are still practicing at home.

Here's a look at our week ahead:

Oct.19-21- 1 hour delay for school

October 22-23- Student Holidays

Week of October 12, 2015

Hello Families!  I hope everyone is doing okay after the tragedy our community has faced this past week!  Please let us know if your family has any specific needs. We are happy to help!  I can't wait to see the smiling faces of my sweet kinders!  I have missed them so much!  I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of things!

Week of September 28, 2015

Hello Families!  I hope everyone is enjoying this nice, cool weather.  I was so excited to see so many parents last week at our parent conferences.  I will be rescheduling this week with parents who were unable to make it.  For those of you needing phone conferences, I will be getting with you this week as well.
  I will finish up our beginning of the year assessments this week.  Once I finish, I will begin putting the children into guided reading groups to begin working on literacy skills at each student's level.  We are still working on our letter study each week and learning to read and write our sight words.  Please continue to read with your child at home, review sight words and use the letter cards I sent home last week to "make words" at home.
                                 I am looking forward to another successful week in Kindergarten!

Week of September 21, 2015

Hello Families!
  Thank you to everyone who was able to come to Open House last Thursday night!  It was good seeing so many families!  I look forward to seeing parents this Thursday for parent conferences.  Here is a look at our week!

                          **Thursday, September 24th- Half Day for students! Dismissal at 11:30**

**Proof of Residence If you have not turned in your Proof of Residence to the office, please do so immediately! Thank you for your attention to this very important matter!**

**Book Fair Ends 9/24 @ 2:00 pm Students may shop with an adult each morning from 7:30—8:30. After 8:30, teachers may send students on their own as their schedule allows. Thanks to those of you that have already shopped at the fair. These funds help to provide our school with many meaningful experiences for our students.**

Would you like to liven up your morning on Friday, September 25th with a Chick-fil-a chicken biscuit and some refreshing water for breakfast? $5.00 All proceeds go to Arts Day! Please help us keep this fun, educational day alive at Pontiac! We appreciate your support! THANK YOU!!!

Week of September 14, 2015

Hello Families!  I hope everyone had a great weekend!  We are learning so much already in Kindergarten!  Thank you to everyone who turned in their Name projects! The children will be working on a name project to go along with it in class, as well as creating a self portrait this week!
Please continue to read each night at home.  This is so important to your child's literacy growth.  Also continue to practice our letters and sight words.  I can tell so many are working at home because they have already made progress!  I am looking forward to a great week!
Here's What's happening!


Book Fair Our Fall Book Fair will be held September 15— 24. It is sure to be a fun event! The students and the teachers love buying books from our fair. The purchases that are made help fund a variety of experiences for our students. Please consider shopping with us as we strive to provide meaningful literacy experiences for every child. If you are willing to volunteer at the Book Fair, please contact Mrs. Haltiwanger or Mrs. Skipper @ 803-699-2700, ext. 81541.

Tuesday, September 15th-Grits for Grandparents at 8:15 in the school cafeteria

Thursday, September 17th- Open House from 6-7:30

Technology Tidbits!

Here is a list of helpful websites that you can use at home to help your child practice what we are learning at school!

      www.abcya.com                                                     www.sheppardsoftware.com

   
                                   

        www.starfall.com                                   www.turtlediary.com                 

Week of September 7, 2015

Hello families!  I hope everyone has had a nice long weekend.  Our kindergarten year has had a wonderful start!  I am looking forward to the week ahead!
Here's What's Happening!

Monday, September 7th is a district holiday! Enjoy some time with family and friends!


Friday, September 11th is school picture day!  Come dressed in your best with a smile in your pocket!!

Welcome to Kindergarten!

Hello Families!  Welcome to Mrs. Jackson's Kindergarten class.  I am so excited to begin this journey with you!  I am looking forward to a fun, and successful school year!  

Field Day Fun!!

We have had an awesome Field Day today!! Our class was the Tug-O-War Champs!! WooHoo!
Here are some pics from our fabulous day!!