Early Learners Highlights!
October 28, 2022
Dear Early Learners Families,
We are very excited to celebrate Halloween and we hope you're able to join us for our parade on Monday!
We are starting to get to that time when we think ahead to registration for the next school year. For those families that plan on returning to our program, we will send out an early registration form on November 8th. This form will allow you to tell us if you plan on returning, and if you have a session preference. We ask that you complete this form no later than November 18th. This will allow us to know how many spots we have to fill once open enrollment begins on 11/30. For those of you moving on to kindergarten, you will need to complete kindergarten registration with your home school. More information will be coming on the where and when of kindergarten registration later this year.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Marcia
Parent Teacher Conferences
We will hold our annual parent-teacher conferences on Monday, November 21st in the evening and throughout the day on Tuesday, November 22nd. All District 109 schools will hold in-person parent-teachers conferences this year with an option to Zoom for parents/guardians who are not available for an in-person conference.
We will have parents sign up for a conference using Sign-Up Genius. Links for teacher sign-up forms will be sent to families on Tuesday, November 1st.
Halloween Parade
We hope you are able to join us for our Halloween Parade on Monday, October 31st.
Morning Classes - The parade will begin at 11:20, and will culminate in a short outdoor performance of our favorite Halloween song by our classes! Our morning classes will be exiting the front door, parading around the front circle, and ending up by our Early Learner doors for the song. If you are available to watch the parade and performance, please make sure that you park your vehicle in our school parking lot.
Afternoon and Full Day Classes - Our program will participate in the schoolwide parade which begins at 2:00 with it culminating in a short outdoor performance of our favorite Halloween song by our classes! We will be parading outside, around the school. If the outside temperature (including wind) is above forty-five degrees and it is dry, we will be leaving through the gym doors, heading west on the Rosewood blacktop, north up the fire lane, east across the north blacktop, around the front circle. Our Early Learners families typically like to congregate around the circle drive near our playground. Our classes will be at the back of the parade and will step off the route there to give a quick performance.
Halloween Costumes
We want to remind families to be cautious when helping your child select a costume for Halloween. Using another's culture as a Halloween costume can be viewed as insensitive or offensive. In addition, we encourage students to be as inclusive as possible when dressing in group costumes so that students do not feel excluded during the Halloween festivities.
Below are some additional reminders about wearing costumes at school.
- Please do not send students with accessories (e.g witches broom).
- Toy weapons are strictly prohibited.
- Masks that cover the face as a costume accessory can be worn during the parade and party, not during class time as it may be a distraction during learning.
If you need assistance in providing your child with a Halloween costume, please reach out to Marcia Klita.
Families who are not comfortable sending their child in costume, please reach out to your child's teacher so that we can be sensitive to you or your child's feelings about dressing up for Halloween. We want everyone to feel comfortable.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN EARLY LEARNERS?
This week we learned about all things Halloween. In our classrooms we have been practicing the steps we go through when going Trick or Treating. We went through knocking on a door,waiting in line, and what words we say (“Trick or Treat”, “Happy Halloween”, and “Thank You”). Classes also discussed ways to be soft and not scratchy during Halloween festivities. We discussed scenarios such as, waiting in line versus pushing to the front, saying thank you versus telling someone you don’t like the candy they gave you, and taking one candy versus leaving some for everyone. In math students have been reviewing concepts such as shapes, number identification, and 1:1 correspondence. After Halloween we will move into our Family/Thanksgiving unit. We can’t wait to see the kiddos in all their Halloween excitement on Monday!
PTO Spotlight!
Be sure to check out the PTO spotlight for exciting updates and information!
In this week's Spotlight...
- Mom’s Night Out - 11/3
- MNO Raffle Tickets
- Pumpkin Decorating Contest
- Winter Coat Drive
- And much more…
SCHOOL HOURS
1/2 Day PM: 12:30 - 3:00 Monday through Friday
Full Day: 9:00 - 3:00 Monday through Friday
**Reminder - Early Childhood does not have Early Release on Wednesdays!
You can download our Early Learners calendar with program specific events HERE.
Upcoming Events
November 8th: Early Enrollment for Current Families Begins
November 8th: Election Day- No School
November 18th: Early Enrollment for Current Families Ends
November 21st: Parent Teacher Conferences (Evening)
November 22nd: No School- Parent Teacher Conferences
November 23rd-27th: Thanksgiving Break- No School. School resumes on Monday, November 28th.
**Reminder - Early Childhood does not have Early Release on Wednesdays!
KEEP IN TOUCH
Assistant Principal
South Park Elementary School
Early Learners Program Coordinator
Phone: 847-945-5895 x2105