Madrone Trail Public Charter School

September 20, 2009

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

July 10, 2009

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

Dear Kindergarten Families,

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

Dear Kindergarten Parents,

Thank you to all the parents who were able to make it to the parent evening last Thursday.  At the meeting we discussed child development of the 51/2 to 7 year old.  We also did some circle activities and discussed them.  If you would like information on these topics, please let me know.  I hope even more families will be able to attend our next meeting.  I am thinking of scheduling another meeting next month.  If you have any feedback on days or times that work best for you, please let me know.  This week we started a new circle with songs and verses about going to the orchard to pick apples.  It has been a lot of fun.  This week we had our vision and hearing screenings.  I will speak to parents individually if your child did not pass either the vision or hearing test.  If you do not hear from me, your child passed the tests.

Field Trips – I am working on planning a couple of fall field trips for our class.  I am hoping to take a field trip to an apple orchard next Thursday to pick apples.  The apples we pick will be brought back for use in classroom activities.  I am currently looking for an orchard or farm or someone’s house with several apple trees the children can pick from.  I prefer the apples to be no spray or organic.  If you know of any such place, please let me know as soon as possible.  If we find a place, we will need parents to volunteer to drive and help on the field trip, so please let me know if you can help.  I will let everyone know as soon as possible if we are going on a field trip next Thursday.

Volunteering Opportunities

Laundry fairies – The kindergarten accumulates one load of laundry each week.  The load of laundry is taken home by the “laundry fairy” on Thursday after school and returned clean on Monday morning.  A sign-up sheet is on the kindergarten bulletin board.

Walks to the park – Every Monday and Wednesday the kindergarten walks to the park to play.   Starting next week, we would love to have parents join us.  There are two spots available each park day.  Please sign-up early to join us.

Multicultural Fair – Madrone Trail will have a booth at the Multicultural Fair this Saturday in Hawthorne Park.   This is a great outreach opportunity for our growing school.  There are still volunteer shifts available.  The shifts are only 30 minutes and there is an activity for children.  The sign-up sheet is on the kindergarten bulletin board.

Volunteer Orientation Meeting – Tuesday October 6^th from 7-8 pm.  Come and find out about the many ways you can volunteer and support our school.  There will be information on various committees and snacks too!  Unfortunately, there is no child care available for this event.

Fall weather – Fall is here and the mornings have been cool and crisp and the afternoons hot and sticky.  It certainly makes it difficult to dress children for the day.  Please remember that we start our day outside and it is cold, so please be sure your child has a jacket in the morning.  It is also a good idea to put tights or leggings on under skirts, as these are easy to remove later in the day as the weather warms up. 

Bread bags – We bake bread each Tuesday and the children get to bring their little loafs home.  I have made a cloth bread bag for each child.  Please return this bag each week by the following Tuesday morning. 

Blessings,

Miss Amy

944-7477/amy.rudolph@madronetrail.org

Dear Parents,

It was a wonderful first couple of days of school.  We have an amazing group of children.  I am enjoying getting to know each child more and am looking forward to a wonderful year together. 

Parent/Teacher Communications: 

Throughout the year, I will update parents through letters and announcements.  Our school website allows teachers to post information online, so I will post all communications online at www.madronetrail.org and on our class bulletin board, located outside the classroom.  I will also print several copies of communications, so if you prefer to receive a paper copy, please ask me for a copy. 

Communication between parents and teachers is very important, so please let me know if you would like to speak with me about anything.  I am available by phone (541-944-7477) Sunday through Wednesday from 5-8 pm (or other times if the matter requires immediate attention). I am happy to discuss things over the phone or we can schedule a time to meet and speak in person.  I am also available by email at amy.rudolph@madronetrail.org.  During drop-off and pick-up times, I am focusing on many things so it is generally not a good time for me to have in-depth conversations with parents.  Drop-off is a good time, however, to briefly let me know about anything going on with your child that may affect their day, such as “he didn’t sleep well”, “we had a hard morning”, “she wouldn’t eat breakfast”, etc. 

Drop-off/pick-up:

This year’s drop-off procedure is slightly different than last year’s and I appreciate everyone’s understanding as we work out the kinks.  Drop off begins at 8:20 each morning. If you arrive before 8:20, please wait with your child outside.  Miss Inderiah and I will come out to greet the children at 8:20. Children should be dropped off at the fenced-in portion of the playground.  I will be standing at the entrance to this area (at the end of the sidewalk).  Please check-in with me before you leave your child, so I am sure to know they have arrived.   Please remember to check-in with me each day when you pick up your child, so I know they are leaving with you.  Thank you.

Parent Council:

The parent council is a great way for parents to support the school and faculty.  All parents are welcome and encouraged to join the parent council. The first parent council meeting of the year will be this Tuesday, September 15^th, 3:30-4:30 in the handwork room (the classroom closest to the playground). I hope to see you there.

Water bottles:

 All children need to bring a water bottle to school, filled with fresh water, each morning.  Please mark the bottle with your child’s name and place it on their picture symbol on benches outside the classroom.  We have water glasses for drinking water indoors, but the children get thirsty while playing outside.

Toys from home:

Children often want to bring toys from home to play with at school or to show to their friends.  I ask that all home toys be left at home or in the car. 

Parent Evenings: 

We will have four parent evenings/meetings throughout the year.  These meetings provide valuable information on Waldorf education, child development, classroom activities, upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.  Our first parent evening is scheduled for this Thursday September 17^th from 7-8pm.  We will discuss the development of the 5-6 year old and the work we are doing in circle time.  This is a great opportunity to meet other families in our new class.  I look forward to seeing you there.  Please note, parent evenings are for adults only.  Thank you.

Blessings,

Miss Amy

Madrone Trail Kindergarten Schedule

(Updated September 8, 2009)

Daily Schedule

8:20-8:30 – Drop – off (outside)

8:30-8:40 – Walk

8:40-8:45 – Transition indoors

8:45-10:00 – Daily activity/free play,/clean-up

10:00-10:25 – Circle/rest

10:25-10:30 – Snack prep/washing for snack

10:30-10:55 – Snack

10:55-11:05 – Snack clean-up/transition to story

11:05-11:15 – Story

11:15-11:30 – Transition to outside (rain pants, boots, etc.)

11:30-12:15 – Outside play

12:15 - Dismissal

Weekly Schedule

Day:                       Activity:                          Snack:

Monday                Painting                            Rice w/Beans

Tuesday               Bread Baking                 Bread w/ Butter & Trail Mix

Wednesday          Drawing                           Granola w/Bananas & Rice Milk

Thursday              Beeswax or Craft           Soup

Outside Play Schedule

Day:                                                                    Location:

Monday/Wednesday                                   Walk to Alba Park

Tuesday/Thursday                                      School playground

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The second grade play was fantastic! Everyone had a great time, and the kids did an incredible job.

Auction news: The school earned $8,245 at this year’s cocktail auction. Good job! Thank you again Holli for chairing this event.

Many families came out for the potluck and it was a great chance to get together and enjoy the great weather. It was a hot day, but we stayed cool under the shade and shared cold lemonade, great food, and good company.