Early Childhood Distance Learning
May 18--Last Week
Welcome to week 8 of Distance Learning
We are on to our final week of distance learning. As outlined by Mr. Kelvington's email, there will be no new material presented to students after May 22, therefore this the last Smore you will receive in the 2019-20 school year.
We do hope you will make it out to the Big Truck Night Drive-thru on Tuesday (more info below). It looks like the weather is going to be beautiful! We've had a great response from our amazing community and we will have lots of vehicles in attendance.
Please check your email for a distance learning survey that we put together for all current ROCORI Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) and Preschool families. This survey is open until Friday, May 22.
As we've said many times the last two months, we are in uncharted waters. Although these are not waters we chose, it has been comforting to be in them together. It is disappointing that we did not get to end our school year as we had hoped. We would love nothing more than to have your children in our care and be able to celebrate a successful year, give our goodbye (see ya later) hugs, and see the excitement in their eyes as they leave for Summer Break! Today we are sending virtual hugs and wishing you and your family a safe, relaxing, and healthy summer!
Your Preschool and ECFE team
Big Truck Night Drive-Thru
Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, May 19th from 6:00-7:00 pm! We are excited to announce that we are still holding Big Truck Night, as a Drive-thru parade. Our Big Trucks will be parked and your family can drive-thru and see all the fun vehicles!
The Big Truck Drive-thru Parade route will be at the High School/CSE parking lots. I have attached a picture of the route. Please enter on County Rd 50, drive-thru a one-way route that will have the Big Trucks parked along the way, then exit onto County Rd. 2.
We hope to see you there!
Ready 4 K Class
We would like to formally invite you to meet with principals and kindergarten staff to learn about what it means to be "Ready 4 K." This year we would like to invite you to our first Online "Ready 4 K" class.
Please take the time to join us on Thursday Night, May 21st, from 6:30-7:15 pm at our "Ready 4 K" meeting via Zoom.
In order to prepare, please watch this Youtube video and familiarize yourself with ROCORI Kindergarten and prepare questions.
https://youtu.be/0BKyAlGjF_w
Watch your e mail for the link and password for the zoom meeting from principals:
Eric Skanson, Cold Spring Elementary
Keri Johnson, Richmond Elementary
Sam Court, John Clark Elementary
#ROCORIProud Padres de la ROCORI clase de 2033,
Queremos invitarlo formalmente para reunir con los directores y personal del kínder para aprender sobre que significa ser “listo para 4 K.” Este año queremos invitarlo a nuestro primero “listo para 4 K” clase en línea.
Por favor toma tiempo para reunir con nosotros en el jueves, el 21 de mayo, de 6:30-7:15 pm en nuestro “listo para 4 k” reunión por Zoom.
Con el fin de preparar, por favor mira este video de YouTube y familiarícese con ROCORI kínder y prepare preguntas.
https://youtu.be/0BKyAlGjF_w
Mire su correo electrónico para obtener el enlace y la contraseña para la reunión de Zoom de los directores:
Eric Skanson, Cold Spring Elementary
Keri Johnson, Richmond Elementary
Sam Court, John Clark Elementary
Preschool Registration
To see available classes and get your child registered, use our Eleyo registration system.
If you have any questions, feel free to email Erin Tronbak at tronbake@rocori.k12.mn.us
May 18th update on Early Childhood Screening
Breathe.
From Ms. Kerry~
We are about to pass from one season to the next- that means different things to different people. It could be moving from school to summer vacation, high school to college, or working to retirement. One thing that we all have in common is the experience of the last few weeks.
I am an optimist. I always try to see the positives, especially in situations beyond my control. I want to encourage you to do just that- reflect on the positive changes or lessons that have happened for you and your family.
I have learned a few things:
I enjoy chaos! The chaos of the preschool classroom!
I can choose to be happy… it is not always easy but it is something I can control.
My husband and I are very compatible to a 24/7 schedule, especially if he stays in his room.
I am a terrible singer… oh, wait, we all knew that already.
It is ok to wear the same clothes 3 days in a row, 5 if you have not slept in them.
I will not take for granted that I will always be able to gather with my kids. This includes my own children and my students. My students are like my own children!
It’s okay if I do not brush my teeth before a zoom meeting.
One last lesson I have learned over the last few weeks… quality toilet paper is now on my list of luxuries!
From all of the ROCORI Early Childhood Staff, we wish you a warm, sunny, healthy, and safe summer season!
Breathe. (Part 2)
ART is as Natural as Sunshine and as Vital as Nourishment. – MaryAnn F. Kohl
Play.
Painting helps children with hand-eye coordination which is an important skill at their age. Painting can help children learn sizes, shapes, colors, patterns and designs. Painting also can help children develop their decision- making skills. Paint is messy. Paint requires more from the adult. Painting requires time. But did you know adding creative play and activities like painting you will help the overall growth of your child’s whole brain. Allow them time to paint a picture, mix colors together, paint their hand, the project is endless. Send someone special your painting or take a picture with your painting and send it to your teachers email. What a fun surprise when they open their email to a student’s art work. If you don’t have paint or the ingredients to make paint, just use water, colored construction paper and a paint brush and explore or go outside and paint the cement with water. ENJOY!!!
Let’s explore with painting this week. Below are some recipes to make homemade finger paint or paint.
Homemade Finger Paint:
3tbs sugar
½ tsp salt
½ cup corn starch
2 cups water
Combine ingredients in small saucepan. Warm until mixture thickens. Cool and pour in containers. Add food coloring to create desired colors. Enjoy!!!
Homemade Paint:
I cup flour
1 tsp. salt
2 c. water
Food Coloring
Put water and salt in a pan to heat.
Slowly whisk in the flour.
Cook over medium heat while whisking until to begins to firm up.
Partition into several containers and add a different color to each.
Allow to cool before use. Have Fun!
Read.
This week, we have two activities for you to help develop your child’s language and literacy skills. These are foundational in communicating with others as well as the developing skills for reading and writing. These activities also encourage creative thinking, fine motor skills, and language and communication.
Activity 1: Create your own story.
Start simple. Encourage your child to draw a picture. It can be about anything they choose. Once they have drawn their picture, ask them to tell you about it. While they are telling you about their picture write it down like a story. This enables them to be the author and the illustrator of their own story. If they are struggling with starting, help them think about their favorite stories, animals, activity or toy. This may provide a starting point for children to focus on. If they want to expand on their book, read them their first page to help them remember their story line. Then, encourage them to draw what happens next. This activity could also be a fun turn taking activity with a parent or sibling. The child is the author and illustrator of the first page while the parent or sibling gets to expand on the second page. Have fun with this! There is no wrong way to do it!
Activity 2: Outdoor reading.
Plan this for a beautiful day! Grab a blanket and a book. Then, find a nice sunny or shady spot to read. Similar to when we encouraged children to create a comfortable reading place, finding a reading place outside allows them to hear the sounds of nature and feel the warmth of the sun while enjoying a good book. This encourages continued development in relationship-building with reading. It will help them from this age into adulthood and it is wise to begin this process early.
Our favorite songs
Bear Hunt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_ShP3fiEhU
You are my Sunshine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOM6VMkOcqc
Hurry Hurry Drive the Firetruck: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aD3LZe7IoOo
Five Green and Speckled Frogs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziGG_L9C12o
Five Little Ducks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG6GXdUOR_Y
Speech and Language Services--Last Week
Free Breakfast and Lunch
Ms. Kerry Peterson
Monday-Friday 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Email: petersonk@rocori.k12.mn.us
Ms. Emily Hadley
Monday-Friday 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Email: hadleye@rocori.k12.mn.us
Ms. Kristyn Farrell
Monday-Friday 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Email: farrellk@rocori.k12.mn.us
Ms. Laura Mueller
Monday-Friday 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Email: muellerl@rocori.k12.mn.us
Ms. Denin Knapp-Baykham
Monday-Friday 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Email: knappd@rocori.k12.mn.us
Ms. Jill Blomdahl-Skanson
Monday 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
"Home Visit" requests set up by email
Email: skansonj@rocori.k12.mn.us