PreK Parent Newsletter

Good Day, MAS PreK Families!

Welcome to the second edition of the MAS PreK Monthly Newsletter! We’re excited to continue sharing valuable insights into our PreK program, helping you stay connected to your child’s experiences at school.

Thank you to all the parents and guardians who attended Parent-Teacher Conferences! On behalf of the MAS PreK team, we appreciate your commitment to your child’s growth and learning, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with you in their educational journey.

Each month, this newsletter will bring you updates on classroom themes, fun activities, and important reminders. This month offers a glimpse into what your PreK student is learning and exploring.

At MAS, we prioritize preparing our PreK students for a successful educational journey. By focusing on social, emotional, and academic growth, we’re building a foundation that supports your child’s current and future achievements. We hope this newsletter enhances your connection to their progress and development!

Warm regards,

Ms. Allysha White
District Elementary Literacy Director

As we continue our PreK journey together, we want to share a recap of October’s PreK attendance. Regular attendance is essential for building the skills needed for Kindergarten success, and we truly appreciate your commitment to making each day count for your child!

Our Attendance Goal: 95 percent

October Attendance Results:

• Yale Campus PreK: 87.5 percent (-0.8 percent)
  
• Old Coors Campus PreK: 94.8 percent (-0.5 percent)

While attendance decreased slightly from September, we are grateful for your ongoing efforts to ensure that students are present and ready to learn. Let's keep working together to meet our attendance goal!

Friendly Reminders About Our Attendance Policy

To help every child succeed, please note the following guidelines:

• 10 or more unexcused absences over the school year will lead to withdrawal from the MAS PreK program.
  
• Three consecutive unexcused absences without communication will also result in withdrawal.

We understand that absences are sometimes necessary. If your child will be out, please let us know ahead of time. so we can stay connected and support their learning.

Thank you for your partnership in creating a consistent and nurturing environment for all students.

This month, our PreK students are diving into exciting themes that not only make learning fun but also build essential skills for their journey toward Kindergarten. Here’s a look at what your child is experiencing in PreK:

Winter Prep with Barry the Bear

Students are captivated by Barry the Bear’s journey to prepare for hibernation. Through stories, hands-on activities, and interactive discussions, they’re discovering what Barry needs to keep warm, safe, and healthy during his long winter nap. This lesson helps students connect to seasonal changes and the natural world, sparking curiosity and building early science knowledge. Each day is a new opportunity to engage with Barry’s story—one your child won’t want to miss!

Family Tree Project

Thank you to all the families who’ve sent in pictures for our family tree project! This activity not only builds family pride but also encourages students to share their unique backgrounds with friends, fostering a strong sense of community and belonging in our PreK classrooms. If you haven’t sent photos yet, you’re welcome to email them to the PreK staff or tuck them into your child’s backpack. (Note: MAS students in Pre-K are the only students allowed to bring backpacks to school. If you have a Pre-K student and a child in another grade, please note that the older child is not permitted to bring a backpack.)

Every photo makes this activity more meaningful for our students, creating a colorful and heartwarming family tree in our classroom. For your child’s PreK staff member, please see the list at the end of this newsletter.

Fine Motor Skill Building for Strong Handwriting

As students prepare for Kindergarten, developing strong fine motor skills is crucial for confident handwriting. Each day, your child participates in activities that improve hand strength and control — from fun art projects to playful tracing exercises. These foundational skills will support their writing ability and give them a head start in Kindergarten!

Each of these activities is designed to help your child grow, connect, and get excited about learning. We can’t wait to see them in class as they continue this important journey!

We’re excited to announce our annual PreK Fall Harvest Celebration — a special family engagement event where we can gather, celebrate, and enjoy time together! We invite all PreK families to join us in the classroom for an afternoon of food, arts and crafts, and seasonal fun.

Event Details:

Date: Friday, November 22, 2024
Time: 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: MAS PreK Classrooms at Yale and Old Coors

The Fall Harvest will be potluck-style, so please bring a favorite dish to share with everyone. It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with other PreK families, make crafts with your child, and enjoy a delicious variety of foods from our community.

As the date approaches, your child’s teachers will send out more information through the Class Dojo platform. We look forward to celebrating with you and making this a memorable day for all!

As we approach the exciting events of November, please take note of the following important dates:

Tues., Nov. 5: School is closed in observance of Voting Day

Mon., Nov. 11: School is Closed in Observance of Veteran’s Day

Friday, November 22: PreK Fall Harvest Celebration (12 p.m. to 3 p.m. - Join us for food, arts and crafts, and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate together as a community!

Mon., Nov. 25 – Fri., Nov. 29: School is Closed for Thanksgiving Break (Please remember that there will be no school during this week as we take time to celebrate Thanksgiving with our families.)

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our PreK program!

As the weather begins to change, we want to remind parents to dress their children in warm clothes. While students can wear their jackets to the classroom, please note that they will need to remove them once they are inside and warm. If your child feels chilly in the classroom, they are welcome to wear their MAS long-sleeve polo or MAS sweatshirt for added comfort.

Additionally, we kindly remind families to send in their family portraits for our family tree project. These photos are a wonderful way for our students to share their backgrounds and strengthen classroom connections.

Lastly, we encourage all students to bring their water bottles to school to stay hydrated throughout the day. Thank you for your cooperation and support!