This week we continued our Letter of the Day work. Our Letters of the Day this week were: I, P, N and C. Students are excited about the mystery box during group time and enjoy trying to figure out what the letter of the day is based on the first sound of each of the items. Each day we talk about the letter sound and each student has an opportunity to write the letter on our white board. We have noticed students clapping out syllables on their own during play time, during lunch, and while moving between areas of the room. They are really working on their literacy skills!

We are noticing students are becoming much more independent in following our classroom routine. They often know what comes next, and many are able to move through the day with only a few reminders about what will be happening. Learning to follow a classroom schedule and take teacher suggestions and directions are great kindergarten readiness skills.

To work on our math skills this week, we counted friends in the room, talked about shapes, and used position words (beside/next to, on, above, below, behind). We also talked about patterns. Students had opportunities to extend patterns and create their own patterns.

It was wonderful to see so many preschool families at kindergarten roundup last night. If you were not able to get registered, or need help doing so, please let me know.

Conferences will be held on March 7th (12 pm-8 pm) and 8th (8 am-4 pm) this year. If you have not already done so, please sign up for a time to meet with me regarding your child's experience in preschool so far this school year. If we have already discussed meeting later in the year, due to an IEP meeting, there is no need to set up an additional meeting.

Did you know that Hopkins Preschool has programs at all of the elementary schools, as well as at Harley Hopkins Early Learning Center? Children are eligible for half day programs when they turn 3 years old. 4 hour preschool programs are available at most of the preschool sites.

Here are the registration dates for families interested in enrolling in preschool for NEXT year:

• Families currently enrolled in Hopkins Preschool: Feb 10, 8 am to Feb 17, 7:59 am
• In-District families not currently enrolled in Hopkins Preschool: February 17, 8 am to Feb 24, 7:59 am
• Out of District families not currently enrolled in Hopkins Preschool: opens on February 24, 8 am

Please reach out to me if you have any questions about Hopkins Preschool or the registration process.

As the weather gets colder, please make sure to send snowpants, boots, mittens, a jacket, and a hat to school. Students love to go outside, and when it is cold and snowy, we want to give them the opportunity to get fresh air and use their imagination in the snow. Please label your chlld's gear! When there's even a little bit of snow on the ground, taking kids out to play on the playscape is difficult, since kids will sit to play and their clothes will become wet quickly, leading to uncomfortable kids.

If you need help getting winter gear, please let me know, and I can put you in contact with our school counselor, who has resources to help with this.

Thank you so much for sending a water bottle to school with your child. Please send water only in the water bottle. Juice and vitamins in juice can be consumed at home. Thank you for your help in this matter.

If your child has not been seen for early childhood screening, please make an appointment soon! Appointments fill up and we are getting closer to the end of the year every day (it seems hard to believe). The appointment takes about 40 minutes for your child to complete. There are some forms to fill out prior to the appointment. Please let me know if you would like assistance with this.

https://communityed.hopkinsschools.org/early-childhood/early-childhood-screening

At Alice Smith, we have a FREE market with fresh produce, protein, pantry staples and more. It is open Wednesdays from 3:30-6:30. Case managers will be on site to assist families. Please see the attached flyer for more information on how to make an appointment. ALL families are welcome. All services free of charge.

Please keep your child home in the following situations:

• Fever: A fever of 100 or more in the past 24 hours. Student can return once they are fever free for 24 hours without needing medicine.

• Vomiting or Diarrhea: If your student has had these symptoms in the past 24 hours, keep them home. They can return once they are feeling well for 24 hours without needing medicine.

• Rashes: A rash where the cause is unknown. Please see a health care provider before returning your student to school.

If your student is not feeling well enough to fully participate in learning or needs medication to feel well enough for school, please keep them home until they feel better. If your student is staying home, you can fill out an attendance form online to let the school know.

If your child rides the bus or a van, please contact me by 7:30 to let me know that they will not be on the bus. Thank you for your cooperation!

Please email me (anne_from@hopkinsschools.org) or call our classroom directly (952-988-4226) if your child will be absent from school. It always takes a little while for messages left on the attendance line to make it to me.

Anne From: anne_from@hopkinsschools.org

Direct Classroom Line: 952-988-4226

Email: anne_from@hopkinsschools.org
Website: https://hopkinsschools.org/schools/elementary-schools/alice-smith-elementary
Location: 801 Minnetonka Mills Road, Hopkins, MN 55343, USA
Phone: (952) 988-4200
Facebook: facebook.com/AliceSmithElementarySchool
Twitter: @AliceSmith270