SASD 4K Family Newsletter
Grow. Play. Learn.
August 24th, 2023
Welcome 4K students and families! We would like to acknowledge and celebrate how truly remarkable our SASD 4K community partners are. We strive for a wonderful year of learning and belonging. Most of our 4K sites are holding Open Houses this week or next. If you want to ask for an individual conference, please reach out to the teacher to set that up.
If you have questions, concerns, know that we are all here for you. We stand strong and committed to ALL of our students, families and staff members!
Erin Conrad, 4K Principal
Sara Jane Lee, 4K Coordinator
Mindy Holverson, 4K Administrative Assistant
Meet the SASD 4K Staff
SASD District Administration
Erin Conrad, District 4K Principal
Sara Jane Lee, 4K Coordinator
Mindy Holverson, 4K Administrative Assistant
Our 4K mission as a collaborative community is to ensure quality early learning experiences that will positively impact the Stoughton area four-year-old children now and in the future.
PLAY
Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength.
Play is important to healthy brain development. It is through play that children at a very early age engage and interact in the world around them. Did you know that it is important as adults to play as well? You'll learn a new task better when it's fun and you're in a relaxed and playful mood.
Play can also stimulate your imagination, helping you adapt and solve problems. It can improve relationships and your connection to others. Sharing laughter and fun can foster empathy, compassion, trust, and intimacy with others.
Meet the Ginger Bread House Staff
Denise Kuehl, Director
Christina Hunkins, Site Director
Lynette Baker, 4K Teacher (AM/PM)
Courtney Erickson, 4K Assistant
Isaac Andre, 4K Teacher (AM)
Sandy Donner, 4K Assistant
"Each child is a unique individual with unique needs and contributions. It is our responsibility to recognize and meet these needs and to encourage and respect a child’s contributions. In turn, it is important that children learn to respect each other and work together in harmony within the environment."
Meet the Weebleworld Staff
Maggie Hamill, Director
Francene Hathaway, 4K Site Director
Wendy Vandermause, 4K Teacher (AM)
Ashley Thurber, 4K Teacher (PM)
Amy Anderson, 4K Assistant
Jessie Bienfang, 4K Assistant
Heather Johnson, 4K Assistant
"Your child will learn from the OWL Curriculum, self-led play, and structured learning that prepares them to advance to the next level. They will master new skills while gaining confidence in learning new concepts, knowledge, and subjects. Your child will engage in interpersonal activities that help improve their emotional intelligence, resulting in healthy relationships with their peers, a stronger understanding of themselves, increased confidence, and enhanced maturity."
Meet the Pumpkin Patch Staff
Devora Ballo, Director
Jenny Boettcher, 4K Teacher (AM)
Alex Johnson, 4K Assistant
Juli Becker, 4K Teacher (AM/PM)
Molly Patrinos, 4K Assistant
"4K is an exciting and positive step in your child’s life long journey of learning. Our main goal is to help prepare them for kindergarten, using a play-based academic curriculum. We are dedicated to planning and preparing activities that will develop your child’s literacy, math and language skills, building their confidence, and teaching them acceptance so that they can be comfortable to explore their vast potential."
Meet the LaPetite Staff
Kaycee Steele , Director/4K Teacher
Brooke Frusti, 4K Teacher/Assistant
"We know that every child learns, develops and grows at different times. We are here to guide children through many different experiences. Your child will have an additional opportunity to gain the academic and social-emotional skills necessary to be successful in kindergarten and beyond."
Meet the St Ann Staff
Kara Roisum, Principal
Patricia Johnson, 4K Teacher (AM)
Mary Hanson, 4K Assistant
" The goal of the St. Ann School 4K program is to provide growth and success for each child socially, physically, emotionally and intellectually. A safe, nurturing learning environment is created in the classroom for your child. The classroom fosters independence, creative expression and an appreciation for the unique talents of each child."
Meet the SASD Early Childhood Special Education Staff
Lisa Buechner, Speech and Language
Jane Dean, Speech and Language
Janet Molldrem, Learning Strategist
Gemini Rewey, Learning Strategist
Andrea Hanson, Education Assistant
Amie Rivest, Occupational Therapist
Kim Kicera, Physical Therapist
OWL Curriculum
Nurtured Heart Approach (NHA)
To kick off the year, I wanted to share information about the most magical thing we've ever used with our own children and for supporting students in the classroom- The Nurtured Heart Approach. Although it was developed to support children with extreme behavioral challenges, it works for all children! All it takes is a little practice.
NHA is more than just a parenting or behavior-management strategy; it is a philosophy for creating healthy relationships. It is about capturing everyday moments truthfully and reflecting them back to children in ways that celebrate great decisions, judgment and wisdom. It is about gently but steadfastly refusing to give energy to negative behaviors while never failing to enforce rules in a simple, powerfully effective way.
The creator of the NHA explains the basic HERE in a mere 5:04 minutes.
Each week the 4K classroom will focus on a Nurtured Heart word of the week to teach kids about their greatness. The first week they will learn about "greatness" and what it means to be "kind".
To your GREATNESS, HUMANITY AND SIGNIFICANCE!!!
Sara Jane Lee
The Pyramid Model Framework
Emotional Literacy: Using Feeling Faces
The Feeling Faces assist children with understanding their feelings and the feelings of others. It is important to teach children words to use to express feelings in replace of the use of challenging behavior. The feeling cards that follow can be used in a variety of ways to help children learn social emotional skills around use of emotional literacy and vocabulary. Use the pictures to talk about, identify, and describe different emotions when you or children feel this way.
- The feeling faces can be used as part of an “emotion check in.” Children can use the feeling faces to let you know how they are feeling throughout the day.
- Teach new feeling vocabulary words. Start with a few emotions then move to the more complex emotions. Teach a balance of “positive, comfortable” and “negative/ uncomfortable” feelings.
- Discuss how people can tell how you are feeling by looking at the expression on your face.
- Talk about how to tell the different feelings apart by looking at the eyes, the mouth or body position of a person.
- Use the feeling faces to help you point out and explain the different facial expressions.
Check out some of the feeling faces below and click on the link for more pictures and ideas on how to support your child's social/emotional development.
Tucker the Turtle
The Pyramid Model features Tucker the Turtle!
In September, the 4K teachers will introduce Tucker the Turtle:
Heggerty Phonemic Awareness
Learning without Tears
Developmentally Sequenced for empowered teaching and active student participation.
Research-based: Award-winning curriculum that integrates play-based and academic learning.
Play with Purpose: Play-based, multi-sensory instruction specifically made for young learners.
Unique Pre-Writing Activities: Complete pre-writing program for future success.
EQUITY CORNER
Our Compassionate School community will operate within a proactive system of support to promote a positive, inclusive culture with equity, respect, and dignity so we can thrive emotionally, socially, and academically.
Contact us!
Kate Ahlgren, Director of Curriculum and Instruction kate.ahlgren@stoughton.k12.wi.us
Sara Jane Lee, 4K Coordinator sarajane.lee@stoughton.k12.wi.us
Mindy Holverson, 4K Administrative Assistant mindy.holverson@stoughton.k12.wi.us
Website: https://www.stoughton.k12.wi.us/our-schools/4-year-old-kindergarten
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stoughtonschools/