Parent Volunteer

If you would like to be a Parent Volunteer in your child's classroom please fill out the form attached in the link below!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfZ6dHy8vJgBlMHdM6FYVH7XUeHuRZQPT_XOBcAqRnb_NSAsQ/viewform

Raising Monarch Butterflies

The kindergarten classes have been learning about the life cycle of a monarch butterfly. We have seen our caterpillars eat milkweed leaves, grow bigger, shed their skin four times, and then go into a chrysalis. Once our butterflies emerged from their chrysalises, we released them. We observed as the butterflies drank nectar from our garden flowers preparing for their long migration to Mexico. This has been a very fun and exciting project! 

Potato Harvesting

Kindergarten helped to harvest potatoes last week for a Maine harvest potato salad. 

We learned that potatoes are root vegetables so they grow underground and that Maine grows a lot of potatoes.

We tried the potato salad at lunch today and it was yummy!

Musical Monday

On Monday we had a presentation by Palaver Strings, a musician led string ensemble that is dedicated to strengthening and inspiring the community through music .They introduced us to three instruments, the Viola, the Violin, and the Cello.

After listening to a few songs and learning about the differences in the instruments we were given the opportunity to play one of the instruments that were kindergarten sized!

It was a great introduction to instruments and we loved having the chance to play one just like the musicians.

Little Learners

Kindergarten is in full swing! We are learning our new routines, making new friends and getting to know one another more and more each day.

We have started the year off with Kindergarten Jump Start! Focusing on a letter a day, we are learning the sounds, the correct way to form the letter and strengthening our small muscles to become better writers. We are also being exposed to sight words, such as can, is and me,  that will help us with reading in kindergarten.

Speaking of reading we have been reading A LOT of books.  Some of the favorites so far are The Book With No Pictures, Dooby Dooby Moo, and Don't Let the Pigion Drive the Bus. 

During math time we have been talking about shapes and using pattern blocks. We also did a fun activity where we needed to find a partner with the same length shoelace. It was more challenging then we thought it might be but we found our equal partners.

Stay tuned for more Kindergarten Learning!

Kindergarten September News

Kindergarten News

Curriculum Updates

Literacy: For the first six weeks of school we are using Kindergarten Jump Start curriculum.
Each day students are exposed to high quality literature. They will focus on one letter of the
alphabet at a time and learn the sound and how to write words using that letter. 
They are introduced to concepts about print and practice the skills of being a reader,
writer, and illustrator. 

Math: This month in math we are practicing daily mathematics routines. We are learning how to count and keep track of the days of school. We are practicing the days of the week and months of the year. We have begun to keep track of the date on our classroom calendar. We are also collecting, recording, graphing and analyzing weather observations on our daily weather graph. These routines will continue throughout the school year as part of our “Everyday Math” program. Over the course of the year, children will engage in many hands-on activities related to a range of math topics, including counting, numeration, operations, geometry, and measurement

Centers: Fine motor centers with a focus on ABCs and shapes using clay, scissors,
and math manipulatives.

Integrated Studies: Classroom Community, Weather

Important Dates

Sept 19- PTO meeting @5:30 in the Media Center

Keep In Touch!

Mrs. Kalloch: kalloj@portlandschools.org

Ms. Nealey: nealej@portlandschools.org

Mrs. Burke: burken@portlandschools.org

Ms. Boyd : boyda@portlandschools.org