Jeremiah Gray Kindergarten Academy
Home of the Little Giants - September 20, 2019
Principal's Message
I hope that you are able to sit back and enjoy the growth you're seeing in your child each week. As I go in and out of the classrooms, I am amazed at the things our students have learned. They are working so hard!
Each year, we set a yearly school goal. Our goal this year is focused on early reading skills and reading comprehension. By the end of the year, want all students to be able to read and understand grade level text. I am placing an example of this below so you can see what is expected of your child by the end of the year.
While we will work on these skills each and every day, your child will benefit from any help you can give at home. Here are some things you can work on with your child:
(I've borrowed these ideas from various resources online)
Talk to your child
Ask your child to talk about his day at school. Encourage him to explain something they did, or a game he played during recess.
Use your child's name
Point out the link between letters and sounds. Say, "John, the word jump begins with the same sound as your name. John, jump. And they both begin with the same letter, J."
Trace and say letters
Have your child use a finger to trace a letter while saying the letter's sound. Do this on paper, in sand, or on a plate of sugar.
Write it down
Have paper and pencils available for your child to use for writing. Working together, write a sentence or two about something special. Encourage her to use the letters and sounds she's learning about in school.
Play sound games
Practice blending sounds into words. Ask "Can you guess what this word is? m - o - p." Hold each sound longer than normal.
Read it again and again
Go ahead and read your child's favorite book for the 100th time! As you read, pause and ask your child about what is going on in the book.
Talk about letters and sounds
Help your child learn the names of the letters and the sounds the letters make. Turn it into a game! "I'm thinking of a letter and it makes the sound mmmmmm."
Make reading a part of every day
Try to read to your child for at least 15 minutes each day. Bedtime is an especially good time to read together. You can read in your native language or English.
Talk about the pictures
Point to the pages and talk about the pictures in the book. Ask your child to look at the pictures for clues to what the story is about.
Make connections to your child's life
Help your child make connections between what he or she reads in books and what happens in life. If you're reading a book about a family, for example, talk about how what happens in the story is the same or different from what happens in your family.
Try different types of books and magazines
Encourage your child to read different types of books, articles, or stories. Some kids, especially boys, prefer nonfiction books. Others like children's magazines.
Turn on the closed captioning on your television
When watching a television show with your child, try turning on the closed captioning channel. This shows the words the characters are speaking on the television screen. Some people find it's a good way to learn English!
Remember, the more you do this, the better! I promise the time you spend will increase your child's confidence and abilities!
As always, thanks for all you do to support your child's growth!
Love,
Mrs. Hansell
Did you know:
That missing 10% of school days, or just 2 days each month, can put children at risk of academic failure?
Students who missed fewer than 2 days in September continued to average fewer than 2 days absent each month.
Absenteeism and its ill effects start early. One in 10 Kindergarten and first grade students are chronically absent.
By 6th grade, chronic absence becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.
Attendance improves when schools engage students and parents in positive ways and when schools provide mentors for chronically absent students.
Students are more likely to go to school if they know someone cares whether they show up.
Stay Connected with ParentSquare
ParentSquare is the newest communication tool designed to keep families informed. By providing your email and phone number, you will receive the following information from teachers and principals:
- Weather cancellation/delays
- Emergency notifications
- General announcements
With ParentSquare, you can receive notifications via the ParentSquare smartphone app, text message, email, phone or a combination of these.
Congratulations to our Little Giants of the Week!
Teacher
Name: Kennedy Henson
Number of years: This is my first year teaching!
Family Info: I live with my husband Anthony. We got married on June 15 at the Indianapolis Zoo. He is a customs trade agent at FedEx. We have two cats, Pax and Leif Erikson.
Favorite Hobbies: My hobbies include yoga, cooking new recipes, and playing board games with my family.
Interesting fact: I graduated from IUPUI, got married, and got my first teaching job within two months of each other. I had a very busy summer!
Aide
Name: Tracy Miller
Number of years: I am on my 3rd year at JGKA but have worked with kids for many years
Family Info: I am the mother of 3 daughters - Kelli, Lily and Jade and also have two perfect grandchildren - Ella and Eli.
Favorite Hobbies: My hobbies include coaching, watching several different types of sporting events and spending time with my family and friends.
Interesting fact: I work at the best school in Perry Township!
Achievement Wall
One way they can sign the wall is to read at a level C text. We will begin working on that each day in class. You can help at home by reading with your child each night.
Another way to sign the wall is to master all of our 100 sight words. We will learn these in class, but you can also practice at home, too. The words are listed below for anyone that wants to get started.
Our wall is empty now, so we can't wait to fill it with our students' names!
Child Nutrition
PTEF Family Fit Fest (Featuring the Coach Hathaway 10k, 5k & 1-Mile Run)
Saturday, September 28, 2019
9am-12pm (registration begins at 7:30 am)
Southport High School Cardinal Stadium, 971 E Banta Rd
Join us for the PTEF Family fit Fest, featuring the Coach Hathaway 10k, 5k & 1-Mile Run! This fun community event is open to people of all ages and ability levels. In addition to the run, enjoy a circuit of fitness activities led by district PE teachers, a health & community fair, and a ¼-mile Kiddie Romp with school mascots. New name, new look, expanded offerings for kids and families – same 10k, 5k, and 1-mile run you’ve come to know and love for the past eight years. Join us as we raise money for our mission to inspire learning, teaching, and community in Perry Township. Learn more and register: www.ptef.org
NOW HIRING BUS DRIVERS
Our students need you!
*We CDL Train*
Contact our Transportation Dept
317-789-6225 or apply online at www.perryschools.org
Important - Student Accident Insurance
Student Accident Insurance is available to any parent/guardian of a student in Perry Township. Please contact your school's front office for information on cost, coverage and how to sign up or you can visit our website at perryschools.org under the parent section.
Visitor Policy
Volunteer Policy
SCOPE: Volunteers who in the course of performing their service and have access to vulnerable populations, specifically minor children less than 18 years of age. This policy will cover all volunteers who volunteer on a regular basis with “ongoing contact” with students.
Such volunteers consist of:
- Volunteers who are with children on a regular basis
- Tutoring/Mentoring
- Coaches
- Extracurricular sponsors
- Volunteers who chaperone overnight trips/ or are attending field trips and have sole responsibility over a group of students or any student other than their own child.
PURPOSE: To establish a pre-screening program and an ongoing evaluation process to protect the students we are attempting to serve.
POLICY: It is the policy of Perry Township Schools to promote an environment in which the students we serve do so in safety and without fear in an atmosphere of trust and respect. Perry Township Schools, therefore, requires an expanded criminal history of volunteers who will have as part of their duties access to minors under the age of 18. Volunteers must wait until after their background screening process is complete to begin their volunteer assignment. However, the volunteer must contact Perry Township Schools if there are any personal arrests or filing of criminal charges while serving as a volunteer. A volunteer MUST complete the background check through Raptor each year. Volunteers will be interviewed by Administrators, teachers and/or Human Resources when deemed appropriate.
There is a $5.00 charge for the volunteer background check. The background checks usually take 5-7 days to be completed. Background checks will be maintained in Human Resources Office. The school will maintain a list of all current volunteers.
http://www.perryschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/VOLUNTEER-POLICY-2018.pdf
What''s going on in the Community
Southport Wresting Club
Southport Wrestling Club for Boys and Girls. Registration has begun. Age 4 through 6th grade. First practice is October 21st .
Register at an early registration date and gain access to a free 3-day wrestling clinic. Check us out online, or contact Coach Skinner for more information. askinner@perryschools.org
Jeremiah Gray Kindergarten Academy
Website: http://www.perryschools.org/jk/
Location: 5225 Gray Road, Indianapolis, IN, United States
Phone: (317) 782-2240
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JGKALittleGiants/
Twitter: @JGKAPrincipal