Please contact me at lsilva@holysavioracademy.com any time. I am available Mondays of every week, usually after school, if you ever need to schedule a conference with me, with specific questions or concerns about your child. I am usually available at the children’s recess time to provide extra help to them (unless I have recess duty or cafeteria duty that day). Mondays after school they are welcome to stay for extra help too. I do need some advance notice for before school and after school conferences on Mondays and after school help on Mondays due to my daughter’s child care needs.
Daily Homework
1)
See, I, a, like, the, we, and can. Is and an will be introduced soon. A is pronounced like the short a sound, a. Apple, alligator, astronaut, etc. I explain to the students it is a word, not a letter (while reading).
Homework & Absence Policies for Kindergarten
(Please note, most of which is stated below is in my Back to School night handout and was part of my presentation to the parent(s) that evening):
**Note, if there is ever a mix up, or I cannot get onto this web page due to technical difficulties at school or home, please note that whatever blank assignments are on your child’s Take Home, Bring Back side of their folder, that is the assignment I would like for them to do. As per my Back to School night handout, each child has 2 days to complete homework (if not, it is marked as late), except for Thursdays when homework can be brought back Friday OR Monday. After Monday, then, it is marked late. Most children usually bring Thursday’s homework assignments back completed on Friday so they can enjoy their weekend 
**Also, please note, if homework is incomplete, very sloppy and/or illegible, or very incorrect, I do send it back home with a “clean” copy and a dated note explaining why it’s being sent home. I also will pull your child aside to make sure they understand their mistakes and the directions.
**Every day, Monday-Friday, I explain to the children all their homework assignments and any blank papers in their Take Home, Bring Back side of their folder to avoid their frustration, becoming upset or confused, etc. at after care or home. E-mail me if you have any ? about homework, etc. please.
**If your child is absent, ill, has a doctor’s appointment and comes to school late or leaves early, will be on vacation, etc. Yes, he/she is responsible for all classwork missed and all Math & Language Arts homework assigned during their absence. Yes, I can try to assign homework and or/send it home in your child’s folder in advance if you know the dates of a trip, for example, but I cannot guarantee that due to weekly lesson planning, the childrens’ academic needs, my goals, the material I have to cover for the NJ Common Core, etc.
However, I will try to send home as much classwork and homework in advance as I can in your child’s folder Before their absence (if you know the dates in advance). Homework/classwork in that case, must be completed and returned before your child’s planned absence and/or the day they return to school from their planned absence.
A note or an email (dated and signed) must be sent to school about planned absences too. The lists should be listed and the reason for the absence stated please. I send this note to the Main Office.
Of course, I respectfully ask that due to all the school holidays in the HSA school calendar (posted on the HSA homepage too) and that usually, the first Friday of almost every month is 12:00 Noon dismissal for ALL students at HSA, due to Faculty meetings and Professional Development, in my professional opinion, please try to schedule appointments and trips (if it is possible) on those days on the HSA calendar when the children do not have school and/or when there is Noon dismissal. Yes, the HSA school calendar can/may change as well. Please be mindful of that too. Obviously, it is a benefit to your child’s academic success, etc. to not miss too much school (unless very ill, urgent appointment, family emergency, death), etc. God forbid.
This is the same reason I assign homework Monday through Thursday (rarely, will the students have an assignment on a Friday). If they do, it is due back Monday. I am trying to teach the students responsibility (handing in neat, completed homework on time), reinforce class Language Arts and Math lessons, informally assess the homework to see who is struggling and needs some one on one, etc. I also am preparing the students for 1st grade, regardless of their placement next year. I also determine if they can answer those challenging How, Why, What if ? higher level thinking questions that will help your child excel and grow in many ways. I do not look just for correct answers and neatness while grading papers. Also, all homework should be completed in pencil unless otherwise noted. All children should be writing their first and last names on all homework papers, if they can fit it. All homework should be done completely. This is all part of the Kindergarten report card Participation grade too.
Please, if you have ANY questions about any assignments, e-mail me or send a note to me in your child’s folder as soon as you can. Do not worry…this is another reason why I give all the children two days, and not one day, to complete homework assignments.
2) Language Arts: This was assigned today and is due back by Thursday. Treasures workbook pgs. 51-52 (front and back). (Letter p)
A note about colored and black and white classwork copes please. They are always Take Home, Keep Home if they are completed by your child in full.
3) Math: This was assigned today and is due back by Thursday. Progress
in Math review workbook pg. (two sides). Review corners and sides of a triangle please.
4) Children should read daily to an adult or older sibling for about 5 minutes or so and increase the time gradually. Reading Logs for Our Adventures in Reading Program went home in your child’s folder today. This program was launched Monday (yesterday).
What Did You Learn in School Today?
1) Math: We finished learning about the characteristics of a triangle. We reviewed plane and solid figures using my 3-D geometric shape models.
2) Language Arts: The children completed a review worksheet, largelyon following multi-step directions. We are reviewing how to hold a pencil correctly and the correct way to write if you are right handed versus left handed too.
Please continue to practice letter sounds at home with your child, especially beginning letter sounds. During Language Arts, I also look for your child’s knowledge of syllables, ending letter sounds, rhyming words, making predictions, different genres, etc. I do not just teach and look for reading fluency. These skills are on the Kindergarten report card too.
*There are several names from our class on the respect sheet in our classroom. When teachers and staff see children demonstrating good examples of respect toward others, they are added to the sheet. At our next prayer service next week, certificates and prizes are presented to the one student in each class Pre-K 3 through 8th with the most examples of respect toward others.
3) Science: Weather Bear and his clothing (he’s dressed for the season and weather) were further introduced today.
4) Religion: We discussed what our religious services are like. Obviously, not all children in class are Catholic. I briefly touched on the body and blood of Christ during communion. I spoke more about the Golden Rule, using specific examples of “problems” in school and how to handle them using Gospel values. (Also, on the K report card) Father George will be visiting our class tomorrow for a visit and to teach a Religion lesson
4) Yesterday, we practiced a Lockdown Drill several times in our classroom. Everyone did well, some of us need some more practice with walking to the wall quickly, etc.
Reminders
-Our Family Reading Adventures program launched yesterday, Monday, October 7th! Letters were sent home last week. Reading logs were sent home today in folders… This program runs throughout the school year.
-Gertrude Hawk fundraising envelope packets were sent home in your child’s folder too.
-Kids Coupon Book info was sent home yesterday in your child’s folder if you wish to purchase a coupon book. This is a fundraiser for school-we receive 50 % of the proceeds from these sales
-Please send in Picture Day money if you have not done so. For class picture purposes, please sned back the photo envelope even if you are not purchasing pictures. Picture Day is the 16th I believe.
-Thursday, October 10th is a Dress Down Day for all students. The children in K do not have to come to school in the gym uniform, unless they so choose. Same with Picture Day. Boys can wear jeans, shorts/tee-shirts or “Sunday Best” pants, shirts, and shoes please on Thursday. Girls can wear dresses, skirts, pants,shorts, tee-shirts or “Sunday Best” clothing on Thursday. Children still need shoes that are safe for running at recess.
Please no clip on hair extensions (colored or otherwise). Please, no jewelry, unless it is earrings, and certain watches. These items are very distracting and not always appropriate for our Catholic school. Any ?, please e-mail me.
-Thursday, October 10th is Pizza Day, due to no school for the children on Friday, the 11th.
-There is no school for all students this Friday, October 11th AND Monday, October 14th. Faculty Professional Development will be occurring and the 14th is Columbus Day. There will not be after care either of these days.The Main Office is open on Friday though.
Please always make sure whomever is picking your child up from school (any day, any time) is listed on your child’s Emergency Contact Form you filled out. We need their full name and their cell or home phone number for safety reasons. I can only release children to adults whose information is on this form in full or if Mom Or Dad sends in a signed, dated note with the above info. ahead of time. If you have any questions about this, please e-mail me.
-Library books are due back by Tuesday morning please. New books were checked out and brought home today.
-School pictures are next Wednesday, October 16th. Please read the information sent home last week with your child’s personalized envelope. Kindergarten students can wear their “Sunday best.” A class photo will be taken also. Please contact me if you have any questions.
-Please remember, even if you are not purchasing pictures, all envelopes need to be returned to school by the deadline listed. This is for Yearbook purposes. Thank you!
-Please continue to send in your Box Tops and Labels for Ed. Thank you for those that came in; they really help support our school’s resources!
A Note from the HSA at Holy Savior Academy (This is from their web page from our school’s home page):
http://holysavioracademy.com/clubs/home-school-association/
2013-2014 Home School Association Co-Presidents: Christine Casale & Michele Pigna
Vice-President/Treasurer: Beth Gregov
Secretary: Denise Waldron
Faculty Representatives: Mrs. Cynthia Sammons & Ms. Jennifer Durkin
The Home School Association is composed of all parents/guardians of students at Holy Savior Academy. The faculty and administration are included in the membership. The Home School Association works to support the school administration and serves as a vehicle of communication between the school and the parent community. All fundraising efforts conducted by the home school association are voluntary and contribute directly to support school programs.
Get rewarded with My Coke Rewards for Schools. Save the codes from your favorite Coca-Cola beverages including Dasani Water bottles to get codes, and then enter the codes online to get points and donate them to our school to redeem for items like sports gear and art supplies. Between now and October 31st, donate points to give Holy Savior a chance to win $10K to get the sports gear and equipment for students. Look for special contests which allow us the chance to win even more! Log on to mycokerewards.com today.
Clip Boxtops from many of the products you already buy to earn for our school. The classrooms hold a contest to see who can bring in the most Boxtops and Labels for Education. It is easy to clip and cut, so send in Boxtops today!
Go through the Boxtops Marketplace to earn even more for our school. eBoxtops will be awarded when you shop and you can watch our school total grow right online. Many of the stores you already shop at are in the marketplace including QVC, Best Buy, Lands End, Shutterfly, The Lakeside Collection and hundred’s more. You will need to create an account and select Holy Savior as your designated school.
Clip Campbell’s Labels for Education from many of the products you already buy to earn for our school. The classrooms hold a contest to see who can bring in the most Boxtops Labels for Education. It is easy to clip and cut from your favorite participating products including Pepperidge Farms, Campbell’s Soups, and even BIC pens. Look for products with the Labels for Education UPC.
Electronically collect an additional 1 point for each participating Labels for Education® product purchased when you use your shopper card at participating retailers like Shop Rite. You can still clip and redeem UPCs to earn the face value of the Labels for Education points, so it’s easier than ever to earn! Holy Savior can redeem points for FREE educational merchandise!
REGISTER Go to eLabelsForEducation.com. Create your profile, enter your shopper card number from a participating retailer, and then select the school(s) you would like to support. Sign up now. SHOP. SWIPE. EARN. Each participating product that you purchase from your favorite participating retailer will earn 1 point that will be credited to your school’s Labels for Education account automatically.
Starting October 5, 2012 through March 28, 2013, Holy Savior Academy will have the opportunity to earn cash through Stop & Shop A+ School Rewards Program. All you have to do is log on towww.stopandshop.com/aplus to register online OR dial 1-877-275-2758 to register your card over the phone. After you register your card, each shopping trip at any Stop & Shop using your STOP & SHOP CARD earns CASH for our school! Each month, the amount of CASH awarded will be updated on the Stop & Shop website. You can track the amount of points you earn for our school by checking your grocery receipt and online when you create an account at www.stopandshop.com. Our school will receive a check at the end of the program. The money can be used for any of our school’s educational needs. Remember, even if you registered your card last year, you must re-register this year for our school to receive credit. Attending to this simple process makes a HUGE difference to our school. We need your support. Please be sure to register your card Using Holy Savior’s school code 17944. Also, don’t forget to encourage your friends and relatives to do the same.
Office Depot 5% Cash Back to Schools
Help our school earn FREE SUPPLIES! Our school will earn credits equal to 5% of your qualifying school or office supply purchases to use for FREE supplies.
You can credit the school year round! Give our school ID# every time you shop at Office Depot. You can shop at any store in the U.S. at www.officedepot.com or when calling 1-800-GO-DEPOT. For details, visit www.officedepot.com/5percent. Holy Savior’s code is 7006789
Thank you and have a great night!