Caterpillars and Butterflies

This week in Pre-K we will be learning about caterpillars and butterflies.  We will talk about the life cycle of a caterpillar and how it turns into a butterfly.  At circle time, we will discuss how butterflies are symmetrical, meaning they look the exact same on each side of their bodies. We continue to review the names and sounds of each letter throughout the days at school.  Please continue to do so at home.  Your child will be coming home with a book that is similar to The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  Please encourage them to read it to/with you and color in the pages.  It is a fun book!  This week some of our projects include making a symmetrical butterfly using watercolor paints, learning how to round off the corners of squares to make a patterned caterpillar, making a book about the life cycle of a caterpillar/butterfly, and tying up a few loose ends before the school year is finished.  On Wednesday, we will be heading over to the high school to visit with our high school friends.  Awhile back, our Tuesday/Thursday friends were invited to MASH to do a project with the high school students.  So now the other class will have a turn!

I have recently finished up testing all of the children on the 4th quarter skills and continue to work on getting those report cards ready to go home.  It is amazing how much progress the kids have made since the first day at school.  I am so proud of each and every one of them!  I keep telling them that they are getting closer and closer to kindergarten but that I'm not quite finished with them yet!  :)  Many big smiles appear on their faces!!  I think they're getting ready for what lies ahead.  I'm so thankful to have been given the opportunity to work with your children.  It has been a great first year!

REMINDERS/IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

·        Our theme for next week will be “Bugs & Frogs”.

·        There will be no school on Monday, May 28^th due to Memorial Day.

·        School Forest Field Trip: We will be exploring our school forest Wednesday, May 30^th and Thursday, May 31^st.

·        Park Field Trip: To celebrate the end of our Pre-Kindergarten year, on Tuesday, June 5^th and Wednesday, June 6^th we will be walking to the park and having a picnic lunch.

o       The school will be providing a bag lunch for each child.  The lunch will include an Uncrustable (peanut butter & jelly sandwich), a bag of chips, a fruit, a vegetable, a cookie, and milk.  If you know that your child will not eat this, please pack them a lunch for the day – all items in his/her lunch need to be disposable as we will not be bringing anything back to school.

·        Pre-K LAST DAY OF SCHOOL: Pre-Kindergarten’s last day of school will be Tuesday, June 5^th and Wednesday, June 6^th. 

o       Note: This is also the day of our field trip to the city park.  Your child will still need to bring his/her backpack to school this day.

·        LAST DAY OF SCHOOL: Medford Area School District’s last day of school will be Wednesday, June 6^th.  This will be an early release day (dismissal at 1:22 p.m.).

o       Note: The early dismissal time will only apply to our Mon./Wed. group.

·        Pre-Kindergarten Registration for 2012-2013 School Year:  If you have a child that will be 4 years old before September 1^st and you have not registered him/her for Pre-K next year, we encourage you to do so at this time.  To register, call Luanne Olson at (715) 748-4620.