Spiral of Lights – December 11^th at 9am in the kindergarten room.  Please RSVP by Thursday December 10^th if your child will be attending.  Please arrive at 8:45am and wait outside the kindergarten classroom.  We will begin promptly 9am and due to the quiet nature of the ceremony, we are to allow anyone to enter after we begin.  All children must wear pants, NO dresses or skirts please (there will be candles burning and we don’t want any accidents).

Kindergarten Holiday Party – December 17^th at 11am.  Families are invited to join the kindergarten for a holiday party with cookies, a special performance by the children and a story.  I hope everyone can come.  We will be baking cookies in class on Wednesday for the party and I need volunteers to help.  The time is 8:50-9:50.  Please sign-up on the volunteer sheet on the bulletin board.

All School Holiday Potluck – Friday December 18^th 6-8pm at McLaughlin Middle School.  Please note, the location of the potluck has changed.  Please see the bulletin board for the potluck sign-up sheet.  Please bring plates, utensils, napkins, etc. for your family.  I hope to see you there.

School Survey – Please fill out and return the feedback survey which was handed out at parent-teacher conferences.  If you need a new copy, please pick one up in the office.  Your feedback is very important to the school.  Thank you!

Canned Food Drive – Please bring nonperishable food items to donate to our school’s canned food drive.  There is a box located outside the classroom for your donations.  Thank you!

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!  This Thursday’s parent evening has been rescheduled for January 14^th 6-7:30pm – mark your calendars.  There will be no meeting this Thursday.

Holiday Parade in Jacksonville – Madrone Trail will be walking in the parade in Jacksonville this Friday evening (December 4).  All families are invited to join in this fun outreach event.  We will meet at 5:30 and the parade starts at 6:00.  Madome Brion will email the details of where to meet as soon as she finds out.  I hope to see you there and don’t forget to dress warm!

Spiral of Lights - Friday December 11^th at 9:00am.  Please arrive at 8:45 and meet outside the kindergarten classroom.  As the children enter the room they will find it transformed into a beautiful evergreen spiral pathway with a single candle burning in the center, lighting up the dark room.  Each child will have an opportunity to walk the spiral and light their own candle in the middle and then place it along the spiral pathway as they make their way out again.  After all of the children have walked the spiral, the room will shine brightly.  This festival is a reverent and amazing experience for the children.  I hope that all children will be able to experience the spiral journey.  Please RSVP if your child will be attending by Thursday December 10^th. 

Communications – I am making a list of families who prefer to receive communications via email.  Please let me know if you would like to be added to this list.

We have recently learned some new circle songs; here are a couple of favorites.

The Mitten Song

Thumbs in the thumb place, fingers all together,

That’s what we say in mitten weather.

Hats upon our heads and scarves around our necks,

Warm boot, warm boots, so we won’t get wet.

Little Jackie Frost

Little Jackie Frost nipped my nose.

Little Jackie Frost pinched my toes.

So I ran into the house and I shut the door.

Little Jackie Frost couldn’t find me anymore.

Blessings,

Miss Amy

On Friday we had a lovely Lantern Walk at Star of the Morning Children’s Center in Jacksonville.  I am so grateful to them for including us in the celebration.  It has come to my attention that there was some confusion over the location and time of the Lantern Walk and that some children and families missed our walk.  I sincerely apologize for the confusion.  In the future, when there are multiple times and/or locations for events at our school, I will do my best to communicate more clearly the kindergarten time and location.

Parent teacher conferences are next week.  There is a sign-up sheet on the kindergarten bulletin board.  Please sign-up for a 30 minute conference time.  If none of the times work for you, please speak to me so we can arrange another time to meet.

 Wintery weather has arrived.  Our morning walks and our outside play time have been quite chilly.  The children love our outside time.  In order for us to continue to go outside on cold days children need to be dressed properly for the weather.  I request that all children come to school with a winter coat on (jackets and sweatshirts are no longer sufficient).  If you are unable to provide a winter coat for your child, please speak to me privately so I can arrange to get a coat for him/her.  If you are finding it difficult to get your child to put on a coat, please bring it to school with your child and I will insure they wear it.  I also request that children wear socks to school and have all limbs covered in warm clothing.  It’s better for children to wear many layers and take some off if they are too warm rather than being cold while at school.  Please read the attached article about warmth.  Thank you.

The Siskiyou School Holiday Faire is on Saturday November 21^st from 10-5 in Ashland.  I hope you plan on attending this great event.  There are many crafts and activities for children and booths of wonderful crafts and gifts.  The faire is also a wonderful place to buy Waldorf toys and items to enrich your child’s Waldorf experience at home.

I want to ensure that all families are receiving communication from me, so I am providing a paper copy of this letter to all families.  I will post a copy our school website as well.  I request that all families let me know if they would like to receive emails of future communications. 

Thank you and blessings on our wonderful class,

Miss Amy

944-7477 amy.rudolph@madronetrail.org  

Next Thursday, October 29^th is our class Costume “Parade” and Halloween Celebration from 11-12.  Our parade will start at the school at 11 am.  The parade will lead to us to Alba Park, where we will have a treat and apple cider.

On the morning of the celebration, children should bring a simple, homemade costume to school.  Children should not come to school dressed in their costumes.  Costumes should consist of a few items that your child can put on over their clothes.  I request that costumes be free of masks, make-up, commercial/media characters and not be “scary” (vampires, blood and gore, etc.).  Examples of appropriate costumes for school are dog, cat, mouse, princess/prince, king/queen, fairy, gnome, cowboy/girl, fireman, etc.  If you have questions regarding appropriateness of a costume, please talk to me.  Get creative and have fun making a costume with your child.

Volunteers Needed!

On the day of the celebration:

1.     Helping to set up snack at the park

2.    Walking to the park with the class

Please let me know how you can help

Thanks,

Miss Amy

2009-2010

Jesse Gammon

Madrone Trail Public Charter School

September 8 – September 25

          Form Drawing – We will begin with curved and straight lines, the forms that provide the foundation for writing the alphabet.  Our preparation will also focus on posture, crayon grip, proper use of materials, and spatial orientation on a page.  We will practice raising hands, writing in Main Lesson books, following instructions and counting to 20.

September 28 – October 23

          Writing – Half the letters of the alphabet will be introduced using a multi-sensory approach.  Upper case block letters will be used and the focus will be on the sound of the letters.  Fairy tales and alliteration will be used to introduce the sounds of the letters through images.  We will practice the letters on a variety of mediums.

October 26 – November 20

          Arithmetic – In the beginning, we will explore the qualities of the numbers 1 -12.  Roman numerals will also be introduced.  Rhythm and movement will be used to begin working through the times tables(two’s through five’s will be the focus).  Manipulatives will be used to solve simple word problems.   Mental math and estimation skills will also be a focus.

November 30 – December 18

          Language Arts – The introduction of pure vowel sounds will be made through the soul experiences of characters from fairy tales and nature stories.  We will begin to play our pentatonic flutes.  We will also focus on crafts, cooking, and holiday preparations.

January 4 – January 29

          Arithmetic – Introduction of the four processes in math: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division through story images, acting out stories and manipulatives.  We will start to write equations in our Main Lesson books.  We will continue our work with the times tables, imaginative counting, and rhythmic exercises.

February 1 – February 26

          Language Arts – During this block we will complete the rest of the letters in the alphabet and writing words, short sentences and alliterations that come from the daily stories.  Long and short vowels, word families and sight words will also be a focus of this block.  The class will also practice writing and reading of known verses.

March 1 – March 19

          Arithmetic –Continued work on the four processes as well as writing of math problems and patterns found in math equations.  We will also begin work with patterns as a base for geometry.

March 30 – April 23

          Language Arts – The children will begin to practice the class play.  We will continue writing known verses and the retellings of stories.  We will also focus on typical blends and diphthongs.

April 26 – May 21

          Arithmetic – During this last math block odd and even numbers will be introduced.  We will review and solidify all of the previously introduced math skills and focus on more complex word problems.  We will work on more advanced times tables.  

May 24 – June 14

          Language Arts – Writing and reading a story from class.  Review of the year’s work.

Dear First Grade Parents,

Thank you to everyone who was able to come to our parent evening.  We have begun working with fairy tales and introducing the letters through drawings.  The children really enjoy seeing the letters come out of the drawings that they are making.

Tomorrow night is a great opportunity to learn about the different committees at the school and the many ways that our school needs volunteer help.  The volunteer orientation is from 7-8p.m. on Tuesday, October 6^th.

The first grade is going to the pumpkin patch on Friday, October 9^th from 11a.m. to approximately 2:30.  We will be going to Pheasant Farms and have a great lineup of activities, including a hay ride, pumpkin patch, and a hay mountain.  The cost for each child is $4.  Siblings are welcome, but they also need to pay the entrance fee.  Adults are fee as long as our ratio of adults to children is no more than 5 to 1.  Every child will need to be dropped off with a car seat. 

Just a reminder that as the rain comes children will need rain pants, jackets, and boots at school.  Please make sure that in addition to rain gear, your child also has an extra pair of clothes. 

Thanks for reading and have a great week,

Jesse Gammon

Dear First Grade Parents,

We’ve had a great first two weeks in the First Grade.  The fieldtrip to Denman Wildlife Area was full of fun and critters.  It’s great to have your support, especially during the beginning of the year when so much is going on. 

Here are some reminders about our school policy regarding media, dress, and nutrition:

 In support of our media policy we ask that clothing be free of television characters, video games, movies, cartoons and prominent advertisements. 

The weather in our area varies considerably from early morning to late afternoon and children should come to school dressed for that variety.  Except on the warmest days, every child should have several layers of clothing including a warm sweater or coat, so that they can keep themselves warm when outdoors and remove layers as the temperature rises. 

Shoes must be worn at all times for safety reasons.  Students wearing inadequate footwear may be restricted from recess or PE activities.

All students need a change of clothes that can be kept at school.  Although it hasn’t started raining yet, all students will need rain pants, jacket, and rubber boots to keep dry this fall.

For food at school we ask that you provide homemade fare rather than pre-packaged lunch products.  Sandwiches, leftovers, soup, etc. as well as fresh vegetables and fruits sent in reusable containers are best for school.  Candy, pastries, cakes or sweets (if sugar or high fructose corn syrup is the first or second ingredient it’s sweet), including soda, squeeze packets of artificially-flavored yogurt and chewing gum are not allowed at school. 

I know that we’ve had difficulty getting the school handbook online, so I just wanted to point out a few items that will make the year easier for everyone.

Thanks,

Jesse Gammon

Dear First Grade Parents,

I hope you are having a great summer!  I’m looking forward to a wonderful year of growth and learning.

As part of the Waldorf School philosophy, we visit all the families to see the children in their natural environment before the school year starts.  Please contact me to set up a visit that is convenient for you.  I look forward to seeing all of you later this summer! 

Our first parent evening will take place on the 15^th of September.  You will have the chance to learn about and experience your child’s education and find out what is in store for the school year. 

Your involvement in the class is greatly needed.  In addition to a Class Parent/Coordinator and Class Representative, it is very important that the first grade is able to continue their exploration of the natural areas that surround us.  It is my goal to have a weekly afternoon outing, which will of course require some parent volunteering.  Woodworking, sewing, and general handiwork skills are also in need.  I will be posting a needs list on the First Grade section of the school’s webpage.  Feel free to let me know of your aptitudes and interests!

We will be having our First Grade Family Picnic at the end of August.  I’ll gauge from your input during the home visits which weekend will best suit everyone.  It will be a great time to socialize, get to know each other, and talk about your wishes and concerns for your children.

Please call if you have any questions and to set up a home visit.  I will be out of town from July 19^th to the 26^th.  I am looking forward to a wonderful year!

Sincerely,

Jesse Gammon

First Grade Teacher

School: 541-245-6787

Home: 541-899-5938

Email: jdrgammon@gmail.com

Wow, it’s already October 1^st, and it is finally starting to feel like fall.  We are having a lot of fun in the kindergarten.  Last week we started our new circle and the children love shaking the apple trees to make those apples fall.  Here is one of our favorite verses:

“Way up high in the apple tree,

Two little apples smiled at me,

I shook that tree as hard as I could,

Down came the apples, mmmm, they were good.”

Fall Field Trip

Unfortunately, I was unable to locate an apple orchard that would work for a kindergarten field trip.  I have scheduled a field trip to Pheasant Fields Farm in Phoenix for Monday, October 12^th.  It is a great farm with a pumpkin patch, a corn maze, an herb garden, animals and a wagon ride.  The cost is $4 per child which includes admission to the farm and a pumpkin.  I will send permission slips home next week.  Please sign the permission slip and return with $4 to school no later than Thursday October 8th.  We will need parents to volunteer to drive and help out on the field trip.  I will post a sign-up sheet on our bulletin board.  Please indicate the total number of children, in booster a seat, you can take in your vehicle.  Please indicate, also, if you will be bringing any siblings (there may be a charge for siblings).  All drivers need to fill out paperwork in the office prior to the day of the field trip.  We will leave the school just before 9:00 and return around 11:00/11:30.  Each child will be required to ride in a booster seat, so please send one to school with your child on October 12^th.  If you have any questions please call me.

Parent Evening

I have scheduled an additional parent evening for October 22^nd, 6-7:30pm.  We will discuss the Waldorf kindergarten curriculum and do an activity the children are doing in class.  Very important information is discussed at these meetings and I encourage all families to attend.

Kindergarten Aftercare

Kindergarten aftercare is available each school day from 12:15-2:45.  Cost and information are available in the office.  If you need drop-in care, please call the office to sign-up, to ensure there is space available. 

Rain Pants and Boots

We had our first rain this week.  We will soon begin wearing rain pants and boots each day when we go outside.  Please send rain pants and boots to school, marked with your child’s name, if you have not already.  At the end of the day, please help your child out of their rain pants and hang them on one of the two drying racks.  Boots can be placed neatly together, near your child’s cubby outside.  This is a new pick-up procedure, so we may have to work out the kinks.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

The updated parent handbook is online at www.madronetrail.org.  Please read it, as it is full of valuable information.  If you prefer a paper copy, please stop by the office to pick one up.  I am really enjoying getting to know each of your children.  Thank you for choosing Madrone Trail.

Take Care,

Miss Amy

944-7477 or amy.rudolph@madronetrail.org